Hi...long time no see Been busy and gone and busy etc. A quick look back in time...Got the 383 running in Nov, had some issues with leaking studs, and a lack of oil to the tops of the pushrods. Talked to Bret, he said he'd fix it...sweet. Shortly after that I went on leave back to Mass, so I couldn't have it fixed then. Then I volunteered for a short-notice deployment to Iraq in Jan, so I was gone until mid-may. Had 2 weeks off after that, then came home again to MA for 3 weeks, just been a REALLY difficult time getting our schedules to mesh, but finally, the stars have aligned, and he should be here in crappy San Angelo, TX in a couple hours. I gotta say, that's EXTREMELY badass of him to stand behind his work this much to actually drive all the way from NY to TX and fix this for me. Sounds like he had some fun on his way down here too though!

This project has been a LOOOOOONG time coming! Hopefully everything goes smoothly and we get this running this weekend. On Tuesday I'm leaving out of town yet again, so we got a few days to do this. I'm kinda hoping to hit test-n-tune on Fri Night though j/k

So anyways, I'll finally be hanging around here some more again, now that I'm working back on the Firebird...just have too many forums to keep up with, and the new toy is a '97 RAM 2500 with a Cummins 12V...that's getting a bit of work done to it as well, keep an eye in the Lounge for those updates.

Bret...she's ready for ya!

 

Bret just wanted to get away from the heat here in NY. Actually we're about 4*F warmer than you are right now. Hope you guys solve the oiling problem quickly.

Are there bars in Texas? According to a current Toby Keith song, I figured there might be.

Good luck....with the car.

The Ol' Man.

 

Dave,
How/why were the studs leaking??

 

Good Luck. Let us know how it goes.

 

Well it looks like the oil system issue was resolved, and the studs have been resealed...so tomorrow he'll button up the intake, and we'll get the bitch in the cradle and see how it goes. Hopefully I remember where all the stupid hoses go etc. Should be OK though.

Would have a lot more done by now, but beer got in the way

 

Yes beer did get in the way....

I figured out all the "problems" I basically just had a brain fart on two things... nothing major no harm no foul, but we will get this puppy up and running today. I'm sure Dave will keep with the updates.

Bret

 

Pearl?

With or without ice?

 

Had a brain fart last night and didn't hook up the power steering hard line before dropping the car down. Fished it up through, but it is KICKING MY *** trying to get it to thread on, it simply won't go. Fussed with it til about 5:30 am...then I quit before I started crying

10am now...going to go back at it. Have to get that line hooked up, hook up the starter, connect the battery, fuel lines, and it SHOULD start.

Bret's still sleeping.

 

When you said "studs leaking" were you referring to head studs? If so what's the fix? I have a set of head studs for my car, but haven't gotten that far yet and have been warned that the studs have sealing problems (after I bought the damn things ).

Don't let that power steering line kick your ***, you show that thing who's boss!

 

Moron (me) didn't TQ the studs down right after he put the studs in the block with the sealant on them, one of those great things about having a short attention span. Just blead and pressurized the coolant system now so that's all fixed, this puppy is almost ready to fire.

Pops, Pearl is in San Antonio we are in San ANGELO ;-)..... so it's just Corona Light.

Bret

 

I'll be sure and torque the studs down properly on mine then

 

Update....

Dave is beelding the brakes and I'm putting the Y-Pipe and Magnaflow on. She is running but that was with open headers so we are trying to finish the car all up.

More fun...

Bret

 

It runs like a raped date, at idle. I can't wait to get this thing on the ground. All that's really left is to get the wheels on it, tighten up the exhaust clamps, and put the swaybar on.

The power steering pump KICKED MY *** this morning.

EDIT: Whoops didn't notice Bret was logged in...this was Dave.

 

Well, it runs runs now. I got my idle oil pressure hot at 25-30psi @ 800-950rpm and max at 55-60psi where I wanted it so I'm happy. Taught Dave how to "seat" in the rings, and we probably woke up some middle Texas farmers doing flybys at 2:30am. My job is done, all I had to do is machine, blueprint and assemble the motor since he gave me all the parts (heads, cam, bottom end etc...) We have a couple cool videos of this thing doing some flybys so he should have them up and posted here at some point.

Off to the Petrolium Museum tomorrow to see the Chapparal race cars before I head out to Lloyds.

BTW Dave had a good goof on not pluging in the brake vacuum line, I thought he was smarter than that lol ;-) Idles like a champ now!

Bret