Well I just wrote a long explanation of the frustrations of the car today, just to inexplically delete everything.

Thus my level of p**sed off'ness just went right through the roof.

Bottom line, I went from being ready to literally turning the key to start the car, to a point where the whole front end is torn off AGAIN.

Thanks to Cory once again for his time, talent and company.

Because I have had to take about 5 steps back today, I have concluded that I might as well install the electric vacuum pump (requires brackets fabricated) and a solid intake tube and relocate the air filter. (GIANT PITA)

Prolly done for the year. These are big jobs and my available time is limited. been at this every available day the last three weeks and the wife is going to start becoming a little less tolerant if I'm not careful

 

No need rushing it, seasons over, there is always going to be those little things that drive you crazy, i think it comes with modding Take your time and have it ready to rock for the first event next year......

 

Damm shaun...sorry to hear that....But when it does get finished u r gonna have one hell of a ride!!

 

Frustrating is my middle name . I know how you feel shawn in time all things will work out.
Later
Mike

 

sorry to hear that Shaun. I hope it gets better.

If you get a chance type that list up again for us to pounder

 

Well last weekend Cory and I were working on it Sunday and it became apparant that there were some things that needed to be bought. I sent the blower bracket, pulleys etc to SDC Concepts over the winter and they sent back a new hub, ATI Super dampner, a tension pulley and reinforced bracketery. All well and good.

However when we out the thing together, the crank hub still did not align with the blower pulley, and even my adjustment spacer I made before did not line things up, thus I decided to get a new spacer machined. Thats is now done and it is perfect.

In addition, the tensioner pulley - which looks to be really good - looked like it was certainly at risk of fouling the water temp sensor and also the water pump right angle 'thingy'. I had bought a polished water pump with an electric water pump and the stock metal, 90 angle things had been cut off and -AN fitting installed. However, the AN fitting would possibly foul the tensioner.

Thus it was decided to cap both those holes and make a fitting out of brass and -AN fitting and install on the OTHER pump outlet. Again, parts had to be bought. Agian, that has worked out well.

On Saturday and Sunday we finished installing everything and double checked it. I charged the battery over night and this morning I installed the battery and turned the key. Sure enough, the fuel pump and water pump came on. PERFECT.

Rash had said that he wanted to be there at start up and I was pouring water into the rad as the LAST thing to do.

Then the dripping started....

Just then Cory arrives and we determine that it is a serious leak from the back of the water pump. I check the original and see that there is a spline and bearing there. Obviously, the new pump does not have it. We check the web to see that a freeze plug is to be installed before the pump is installed soooooo we have to take the pump off.

However, that means taking the crank pulley off and most of the blower etc etc.

As a result of this set back I decide to take the time to completely remove the blower as I needed to rotate the blower shell so that it lines up better with the intercooler y-pipe. Tough to describe online, but basically it meant taking the whole blower off. That lead to removing the fans and rad as well.

Once we got to THAT place, Cory and I got to thinking as to where we would install the electric vacuum pump and puke tank, both of which are fairly large. We decided to place in front of the rad now that the A/C rad has gone. Again however, we have to fabricate some parts. In addition, the 1 1/8 freeze plug appeared to be too big so Lordco had to order in a 1 5/32 one for tomorrow.

We also spent some time saying that we might as well try and fab up a solid intake pipe and try to relocate the air filter somewhere 'safe'. If any of you have seen the air filter, you know what I mean.

However, I'm away Thurs through Sunday, so that is next weekend shot to get it going.

Of course the good news is, the vacuum pump and relocated filter will get dealt with. Just disappointed. Hoping to start the car today even if not driving it.

 

Wow. I wish I had come by. You could have done with a third set of paws.

The freeze plug you refer to, not sure if its just a typo, but you mention the 1 1/8 being too big so your getting a 1 5/32 plug. Isn't that even bigger?

So you managed to get some swivel brass fittings from Tidewater? How do they look? Fit in nicely? That water pump issue has been nasty so far.

Glad that the pulley alignment has worked out though. Your getting close. As long as its done right. Be patient Shaun. If its 2 weekends from now, I might try and come by with some extra tools and such, to at least act as a gopher for you and Cory.

 

yeah you are right 3/32 I mean.

Yes, I'm pleased with the way the new fitting look. Can't complain.

Hoping to work on the car Thursday Sept 16th and the sat 18th in the morning / early afternoon and Sunday the 19th.

 

Jeez man, I can literally feel your frustration. There seems to be light at the end of the tunnel that beast your building. BEst of luck.

 

1 1/64" freezeplug is what it looks to be. Also may be 27mm. Either way ramming a freezeplug in there is not the way I would design it. I would recommend getting the rear hole and the weep hole welded up. No chance of leaks then and water flow will not be hindered.
The fittings look awful IMO. I am allowed to say that because it was my own design . Brass/steel fittings just dont look right underhood. I am happy with how all the hoses are routed now though.
The filter re-location is going to be nasty but it must be done. Because it wasnt planned for at the start it now requires three hard curves to get the filter into a spot thats a tight fit. The filter is pretty much useless where it was though as it packed with dirt and water washed out the oil so fast. A fresh engine deserves a clean air intake.

Anyhow, lots of work has been done. Slowly but surely I am getting Shaun to fix up the areas of the car that I dont like . If I had my way the car would be ready for a magazine shoot after this build up but we will see
Have to get it running first

 

Note to self: don't let Cory see brass fitting on TB bypass on car.

 

Well the AN fitting are so stinkingly expensive. But as Cory said, once I emotionally resigned myself to not getting on the road this season, it became easier to decide to get ALLLLLL the projects done 100% perfect and not leave until another time.

nonetheless, painful to not have the car on the road for what will amount to 18 months.

 

Join the club Shaun!

 

18 months hell i havent had mine move on its own power for 2 years or more :S

Go buy yourself a GTP shawn nice and cheap and fun. Mine should be able to pull off a 13 in the quarter with just a little more tweaking and a huge shopping list of only 500 bones It would be perfect for your driveway nice black one with a ram air hood. It would be the little pontiac with a blower

It works for me to get my little fix