Thanks Scott, Nothing nuts about being creative and the serger thread cone makes the stretching oring issue a 'non issue'. I'll post photos of the marrying of the body to the powertrain including how to install those difficult hoses without breaking a sweat.
Great Job Chris , lots of credit to you , I dont think I could tackle such an intimidating job ! You'l be on the road soon ....
At this point the motor is completed with the cam covers installed, tbelt covers installed, new waterpump installed plus the new auxillary belts on. Image Unavailable, Please Login
Installed new gas filters (2) with new seals. Note: when you first take the motor out you should leave the gas cap open (1/4 turn on) to prevent pressurization of the fuel tank and subsequent leaking of fuel out of the fuel filters. You need the leave the cap on a bit though to prevent fumes in your garage. Despite this I still found a little dribble periodically and had to empty the plastic bags I attatched to the fuel filter lines (again fumes). What you should do, is take off the old filters and drain them and just reinstall them till you are ready to install the new ones. This stops the drips completely (and I also bagged with elastic bands the fuel line ends for fumes). And you should also run your tank down to low before you start your service. Installed all new hoses on firewall with clamps except for 2" L hoses (2) and S hose (1) Position Ypipe (exhaust) vertical for clearence for dropping the chassis Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
I am concentrating on the mechanicals on the car but once the car is put back together and running I will fully shampoo and detail the engine bay. I'll post some photos when its done.
Ok. By the way - nice work you have done there. I have worked on my engine/subframe/chassies the whole winter. Had a lot to do. But now its getting time to put it back in, very soon. Just gonna replace the fuel lines and couplings, and then its going in. After that im gonna build a new exhaust. Here are some pics.(Borrowing your thread, sorry). Regards, Kimmo /// Sweden. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Very sweet ride. What make of headers are installed on your car? Did you powder coat the subframe? I'm interested in hearing about the exhaust your going to build.
Thank you... My Headers are still the factory ones. They have been replaced ones, but i founded a small crack/hole in one primary pipe, so i have gone trough them, and welded them one last time. They will last the summer, then its time to replace them too. I have also wrapped them in exhaust-bandage. The exhaust im gonna build is gonna be SS-steel, of course. 2 small Mufflers after the "main-cats" and then free flow over 3500-4000 rpm, when the bypass opens. No mufflers then, after the bypass valve. Replacing the bypass with a Capristo one. All flanges and such are gonna be lazer-cutted. I think the exhaust will be very nice. I have drawed it already, just waiting for the parts to start building it after i have got the engine in to the car. This winter i have also made new fully adjustable Anti-sway-bars in front and rear. Thats the yellow "knife" with the shiny drop-link in one of the pics. Gonna be interesting to see how they perform. Kimmo /// Sweden.
Oh sorry, forgot - I did not powder coat the subframe. Its cleaned and sand-blastered, then painted in ordinary way with a heat resistant matte black finish. It looked like this when i got it out: Second pic is after the work. K. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
When you get the exhaust built you need to post photos of it and a soundtrack. Will you be building new headers next winter or are you going to go with something like fabspeed or tubi? And those adjustable sway bars would be excellent for track use.......you need to post the results after you have put the car back on the street.
Yes, i can post some pictures when the exhaust is ready. I used quite thick pipes for the sway bars. 35 mm in fact. Not solid bars, but Chrome Moly bars with a wall thickness of 3 mm. The OEM mounted sway bars are way to thin for track use. Also turnable knives, uniballs and adjustable droplink. I also had my shocks completely redone. Opened and revalved + new Proflex/Demerde racing springs. The shocks are now optimized for clubracing/track. Apx 50/60 % stiffer than the factory settings. More pics will come, in another thread. Regards, Kimmo / Sweden.
That must be really harsh to drive on the street, but sweet on the track. Are you going to lower the car also, or did you accomplish that with the new springs?
Personally i think that the OEM 355 suspension is too soft and "non performing" even for the street. There are so much that can be taken to a higher level with these cars. Im gonna lower my car, i ordered the Proflex springs shorter and harder. I think the car is gonna be like a new car efter these mods. Kimmo /// Sweden.
Looks like you have been busy, it is all looking very nice looking forward to see you on the road soon...
This is the final leg in dropping the chassis back on to the power train. You must check all the clearences as you drop the car a few inches at at time, especially paying attention to the rt hydraulic line and oil tank which will hang up. The hydraulic line may hang up on the oil tank and the oil tank may hang up on the frame Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
and watch the clearence for the bypass pipe. Once the frame is totally lowered, you pull it into position. p.s. all the electrical cables are gently tied out of the way Image Unavailable, Please Login
The 2 inch L hose and the s hose can be a pain to install if the chassis is fully down....so what you do is........ Lower the chassis till it is about 2 inches above the FULLY lowered point. Install the small 's' hose and the right 2" 'L' hose so that they just rest against the firewall connection. Then slowly lower the car till the chassis is married to the powertrain and the 2 hoses will slip on their fittings. Next install the left 2" 'L' hose on the thermostat and bolt the thermostat cover down. Install the hose clamps and you are done in no time. The power streering lines that go over the bulk head are also hooked up at this time. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Nice work there... I see that your gas/throttlewire is in place in the last picture. Seems to be as tight as it should. When i took my engine out i found my wire loose/slacking with apx 10-15 mm, wich is not good at all. Some people say it should be pretty much slack in this wire, otherwise the car can be very "stressful" or aggressive to drive, but i find it hard to belive. If the wire has alot of slack, you are gonna loose some throttle respons, wich in my opinion is worse... Kimmo /// Sweden.
I concur that too much slack is not a good thing and 10-15 mm sounds like a lot. I just re-assembled it the way it came off making sure the throttles are fully closed at rest.
Install 8 frame bolts at rear of subframe and 12 bolts at firewall. Jack car up an inch using hydraulic bottle jacks and install rear tires. Remove dollies and reinstall ramps and push car back onto main hoist. Note: the dollies are from princess auto . They allow one to easily roll the motor anywhere in the garage and are inexpensive. The wood is bolted to the dolly. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login