Project in a coma.

Ok this project is on terminal hold...I have run out of cash and can't see any coming my way in the foreseeable future (other family obligations have taken precedence)...So I hope to be able to finish it next spring but I am declaring it dead for 2009....see you in the spring.

I'm a fan of this....

I installed the fan I got from Jay on HPJ. Not much more to say...here it is.

IT'S ALIVE!

That's right...The flying rust bucket lives again! I went out this morning and put in the collector gaskets, and gave the fuel system a test...leaks, leaks everywhere...it was leaking at the pump, regulator, float adjustments, and tap of the gas...fuel sqirting out of both accelerator pumps! Damn it... I went through and tightend up all the fittings and took the carb off and tightened he acc pumps (oops guess I forgot to do that in the carb build - doh!)...any-hoo...leak free...turned the key...nothing... battery dead...it had enought to run the pump but wouldn't even turn the engine over....plan B - Stole the battery out of the wife's car....turned the key. Bang! first revolution fired right up! - Turn on your speakers!

So, I still have a butt-load of stuff to do but it sure was nice to hear it again after being silent for 9 months.

Hello Mr. Murphy

I did get some stuff done today. I installed the fuel pressure gauge.

I also managed to get the turbo mounted for real...with gaskets, feed and drain lines plumbed in.


(no this is not heater hose. It is $8 a foot oil safe hose.)
As well as weld in the wastegate. I had to do a little trimming on the gate where I had welding in the flange previously. I was hitting the valve in the gate and holding it open just a bit...but enough to leak...a little time with the dremel and it now has a tight seal.

You may also notice that it is installed backward from how I had it mocked up. I decided not to plumb it in so close to the turbo outlet as it does cause some power loss at high rpm by putting turbulence right at the mouth of the turbo...which I knew, but initially didn't care too much and it was the easiest routing. Now I will either plumb it in past the O2 sensor or may even just let it dump outside the exhaust all together.

The day was not without it's murphy law moments...I had a kit to install the fuel gauge- wrong fitting for the gauge end. I bought bolts to mount the fuel pump block off- wrong size. I thought I had a tap for a 1/4" NPT fitting - wrong size. So, I didn't get done as much as I would have liked...but progress is progress...

Update tomorrow....

I went out today and rounded up the fittings, hose and such that I need to complete the pumbing of the fuel pressure gauge, boost gauge, wastegate hose, and boost reference for the fuel pump. Look for an update tomorrow...

Back in the Saddle...

Ok so after a short hiatus from the truck (reason: see previous post) I got some work done on the truck today.

First I fixed the electrical issue (see: not very electrifying) ...turned out to be a bad ground...so the pump has got juice. (note: bought a nice new test light at Loop Road - still down one multimeter)

Next, I welded up the rest of the the merge pipe. I ran by RJ's custom piping in Raleigh and picked up the 90 degree pipe I needed. It had all been mocked up and tacked...so I did the "real" welds. I had little scare in the middle of it...my welder just stoppped...dead. Oh, crap. It turns out it just overheated...after cooling down for a while it started working again...whew. Anyway, done.


I also removed the mechanical fuel pump and built the drain to replace it. I fuel pump block off plate that I drilled and welded a bung to and threaded in a 5/8 fitting.


Finally I had an issue when I added the drain to the turbo...it hit the bracket I had made....so I had to rejigger the bracket (note the cut and reweld in the bottom bracket below) to clear the drain and it was just tacked as well...so I burnt some metal there too. I then painted up all the crap I built or modified before putting it all back in...

No work = Lots of Work

Well, I haven't got much done on the truck the last few weekends...why? The wife's Wagoneer blew a head gasket...so I got to tear into the 360...so, here it is: "How to replace head gaskets in 30 seconds or less!"

Not very electrifying.

I didn't get much done today...I did get the fuel pump wired up...but then got a visit from a Mr. Murphy something about a Law.

...I get the pump wired...hook the battery up...Nothing. Dead. I appearently have a short somewhere ...no problem...I pull out my multimeter. Dead. ...Ok there is more than one way to skin a cat...I'll trace it with my test light...I pull out the test light. Dead. I couldn't win today....It was stinking hot...so I decided to cut my losses and call it a day.

This intake pipe blows

Went out this afternoon and rounded up some of the final things needed before I can turn the key...Came home and made the intake pipe. Don't get me started on the fact the NO ONE in this town on a Saturday has mandrel-bent pipe...So, I'm short one 2.5" pipe...which I'll just order..

...and welded up the downpipe and instaled the bung for the O2 sensor.

My activities director (read:wife) has given me the all clear for tomorrow morning...so more updates to come. I hope to get the wastegate welded in place, the fuel pump wired up, and the rest of the hot side welded.

Making a fuel of myself...

I spent the morning installing the fuel system in the truck. I mounted the regulator and the lines...mounted and added clear sight plugs and a 4.5 power valve to the carb...

Installed the fuel cell and lines...although I have the wrong brackets for the cell...not sure why the tag says 5 gallon??...I'll look into that...

and installed the pump...so that about covers it...Fuel system...check.

Summit comes through....

Got home today and the missing Summit parts were here already. Wow...that was fast. My wife is out of town this weekend...so no excuses...I'm getting some stuff done...period.

My usual Thursday night at Benson got rained...so here I sit watching a repeat of pass time..I think I'll go to Kroger and get some french fries to cover with chili and cheese...What this has to do with the truck...nothing...but it's raining and I'm hungry.

Where's the rest of my parts?

Well I got a box from Summit today....opened it up and about half the stuff was missing...I looked at the label...package 1 of 1...Check the packing slip...says it all shipped....wtf?...

So, I called Summit...they got the info about what was missing and said they'll send it out...then he asked "Was the tape clear?"...I said "yeah."...He says "Oh they've been in that box...we only use brown tape UPS has retaped it. We'll file a claim with them.". Anyway...now I have to wait a few more days for the rest of the fittings for the fuel system and oil drain...damn.

I did get my fittings for the carb from Quick Fuel...and bought a 8 foot braided line off ebay...this (and the missing Summit stuff) should complete the fuel system...now if I can just get some dry days to get some work done.

Wastegating away in Budweiserville...

Got some more stuff done tonight...I got the pipes cut, mocked up and ready for welding to install the wastegate.

...and made the turn from the downpipe.

So, I think one more weldapalooza the hot side will be done. Then on to the cold side and fuel system install...there's a rise in my levis...I'm getting close to turning the key....aw, who am I kidding...I'm probably still weeks away...levis back to normal...

Lookin' hot...lookin' damn hot!*

Well, I scooted out of work today with the intension of getting the yard mowed and getting some of the downpipe done...well 1 out of 2 aint bad...I'm guessing that band clamp is not gonna cut it..so just using it till I figure out something else (I should be using a v-band but I'm cheap and trying to avoid it...welding is free...right?)

* Name that movie.

...and the girls tell me 4" isn't big.

All my 4" down pipe stuff arrived today..it looks ginormous next to the 2.5" stuff I've been dealing with. mandrel-bends.com rocks...no one sells pipe this this cheap.

Hopefully I can clear out some time tomorrow to get some of it in place....cause Sunday's mothers day...I'm gonna guess there will be no work that day...

It's getting hot in here...

I got the hot side feed all mocked up. I also bought the piping for the wastgate so that is coming up as soon as the downpipe stuff arives(as I am going to run the wastegate dump into the downpipe).

FYI - it's an anomoly in the photo that makes it appear that the pipe is sitting right on the control arm...it's not. There are several inches of clearance for movement.

This is getting exhausting....

Ok, I have more crap on the way...all my 4" stuff for the down pipe as well as the turbo feed line and drain flange...

I'll mark those off my shoping list.

Hi, my name is Holley...Blow Me!

(WARNING: long post.) My Holley 600 Double Pumper got the the blow-thru treatment today. I'm not really a carb wizard this is based on the hanger 18 mods (which has a much more detailed explaination of what I'm doing here) I started with a stock 600DP that I bought on ebay.

Disassembly. Removed the float bowls, removed the metering blocks, separated the body, removed the sqirters, and turned it upside down to get put the small check valve. Removed the accelerator pumps and springs. This has the old style with the check ball in the acc pump so I left that alone. Removed the needle and seats as well as the jets and the brass floats. This has vent extensions so I removed them as well. I also removed the idle adjustment screws and the cork gaskets. I then ran a file over the main body where the metering blocks mount to knock down any high spots. I went through with a razor blade and scraped down all the gasket surfaces clean.

Not necessary for blow-thru but helpful for tuning I took a file and knocked off the ridge on the vacuum port. This allows the bowl to be removed more easily for jet changes.

This is one of the big mods with a blow-thru...I drilled the PVCR (Power Valve Channel Restrictors) to .0650 The idea is this...when the power valve opens it allows more fuel into the main well...increasing the size of the PVCR allows you to richen up only under boost (when the power valve is open) and lets you run a smaller jet for cruise conditions. .0650 is only slighty larger than stock which is about .0590...but I can always go up if need be. The tape around the drill bit is so I accidentally do drill too far

...Here is the finished product. The metering blocks, float bowls, and other misc small parts then went for a soak in carb cleaner...The main body and base plate got a good scrub down with a soft brush and carb cleaner ...and then all got a blow dry with compressed air.

Next up Nitrophyl floats and jet extensions. Because with a blow-thru you are pressurizing the float bowls you cannot run standard brass floats...they will crush under the pressure. So, I added Nitrophyl floats which are solid and will not crush. The rear also got jet extensions as well...they come with a special notched float to fit over the extensions. These are so that under acceleration when the fuel sloshes to the back of the bowl it doesn't uncover the jets leaving you lean...not a good thing in a turbo car.

Bigger needle and seats. A blow thru can go through a lot of fuel...and the fuel system must keep up...this includes filling the float bowls...I added .120 needle and seats to allow more fuel into the bowls keeping them full under high demand conditions.

Power valve. Nothing fancy here...just a standard 6.5 power valve. We'll see how this works come tuning time I know a lot of blow thrus use something lower like a 4.5. [Edit: I ended up going with 4.5 to start with...]

The rest of the reassembly. Here are the metering blocks all ready to go back in...new jets, PV, needle and seats, and gaskets. I took a shot in the dark for jetting...I put in 74/84 as a baseline...I figure at least it should not be lean with this to start.

Next since the choke horn has been removed from this carb I have to block off the hole where the rod used to come through as this would cause a boost leak. I small chunk of the JB Weld Stick worked great.

That is it. Here it is reassembled. I'm still gonna run some epoxy over the tops of the metering bocks where the plugs are just for extra insurance so that the boost won't blow them out...but otherwise I'm ready for a blow.

I mounted my turbo...and didn't even buy it dinner.

I finished up the turbo mount today. I got the support rods made and the center cut out to fit the flange I had made previously. I mocked it all up and it fits pretty well...maybe just a little trimming to clear the drain flange...but for the most part done.

Casualties of war..

Some days it just goes this way...

While working on finishing up the turbo mount...I burned up my 4" angle grinder...dead, finished, gonzo. It was a cheap-o that I have abused for a couple of years so no big loss.

...Next the air compressor started making a strange noise..I went and investigated an it had broke the feed line...it was 5/16 copper and of course neither Lowes nor Home Depot carries it...But my boys at Loop Road Auto Parts came through...they had a steel 5/16 and the compression fittings (although I don't get a warm-fuzzy from 120psi and compression fitings)...I came home repaired the line on the compressor and back to work...


So while finishing up some holes for the rods I had made, the drill jambed and bit the big one...another one on its way to the great power tool graveyard...

This must be a record for me...breaking three power tools in one day.

Fuel system almost there....

Well, my fuel cell arrived today...and I ordered (most of) the rest of the fuel system...including the cell brackets, Mallory 4309 regulator, hard lines, and fittings. I also remembered to order the missing bracket for my quarter stick. I'm still gonna be shy a filter, and some braided lines to the carb

Since my boy is way into drag racing at the moment I also have (as he calls it) a "ready, steady, go light" (Christmas tree) clock coming for him.

Dictionary.

Squat [skwat] –noun Slang. (usually used in the negative)
1. A minimum amount or degree; the least bit.
2. The amount of work I got done on the truck this weekend.

So, no carb build, no finishing the support rods, nada, zip,...squat. Yard work all damn day...

Carb build coming up....

I went out tonight and bought the drill bit I need for drilling the PVCR (Power Valve Channel Restrictors) in the carb...So, I have everything I need now. I will be doing the tear down Sunday...and maybe reassembley...depending on how long I soak stuff...Stay tuned.

Fuel Cell

Snagged a fuel cell on ebay tonight...an RCI brand new for $67...sweet...I can mark that off my Shopping List

Flange done.

I also managed to get the flange finished today...it was much work work than expected getting the hole in the center to line up with the pipe. Anywho, it's done...I decided to go ahead and weld it myself with my little 110V wire-fed...and it turned out pretty good...I set it to low with the range in low and it made much prettier welds with less splatter...I might even consider welding up some of the other stuff myself...

Holy crap an EZ-Out actually worked.

The turbo I bought had 2 broken bolts in the housing...so I took it a part today and drilled them out...put in the ez-out and much to my surprise they both came right out...I have not had much luck with ez-outs in the past one more than one occasion I have broken the ez-out inside the broken bolt...that really sucks...because drilling a broken ez-out will wipe out a drill bit in a hurry...anyway...I bought some new bolts and the turbo is now ready to go.

10.5 Outlaws at The Rock

Ok, The race season has offically started for me...not that I'm running - yet...but that I'm spectating...I went to The Rock last weekend for the Spring Civil Wars...Tim Lynch was there with his new ride and was bad-ass. He riped off a couple of high 4.20's @ 180+ mph...on 10.5's that's pretty impressive. Couple of guys stuffed cars into the walls..one Saturday a yellow twin-trubo mustang...and a nitrous Camaro that had a bye going in the finals against Lynch...that's right...packed it into the wall on with an empty lane next to him when headed to the finals!...giving Lynch the event win.

Shopping List

I decided to keep a list of what I still need...so, here goes:

• Turbo downpipe (4" mandrel bends & v-band)
• Turbo drain/feed fittings and lines
• Fuel Cell
• Fuel Reguator
• Fuel Lines
• Fuel Fittings
• Electric Fan
• Switch panel (for pump and fan)
• Boost Controller (manual)
• Blow Off valve
• Cold-side pipe
• Cold-side pipe couplers
• Battery reloaction kit

I think that will be enough to get me running...well, that and a bunch of time.

Pssst...Dave, I got the stuff....

Dave's not here man...But I did get the stuff. All my Holley stuff arrived from Summit...
The 4" bends deal did not come through...but I found mandrel-bends.com (a site sponsor of turbomustangs.com) that has the cheapest I've seen. So I'll heve them coming soon....
So just lookin for some time to get more done...Tomorrow looks good...

Hey Mr. UPS man...hurry up!

I ordered some more stuff for the truck today...is it here yet? Bunch-o-Holley parts for the blow through conversion...Major kit, nitrophyl floats, jet extentions, jet assortment and .120 needle and seats...as well as the heim joints (ok Summit referes to them as Rod-Ends) no one had locally....and a Summit coloring book for my boy!

I'm also trying to round up some 4" exhaust pieces from a guy on turbo forums..we'll see how that goes....

Cost: $152

Being back from vacation is Flangetastic!

Back from vaction...and back to work on the truck...I had no flange for the turbo...it's an oddball...it's a T4 international...which means that it's slightly different than a regular T4. So, I decided to make one. It's not welded up yet...but you get the idea.


Cost: $0

Nothing going on...

I haven't posted in a while...just haven't touched the truck...busy one weekend...cold-as-ass the next...going to be out of town next...so no work there either. Good news is I have a shopping list of stuff coming from Summit...carb mod stuff, heim joints, battery relocation kit, and the fuel regulator... With the exception of fuel lines and such this just about wraps up my parts needs.

So many parts..so little time to install them....I'm hoping the upcoming daylight savings switch will give me some time after work so I'm not trying to stuff it all in on the weekends...

Bye Bye TPI

The TPI is on it's was to Louisiana. It went for $202.50...$102.50 profit...not bad for doing nothing but spraying it down with carb cleaner and taking a picture of it...

Double Pumper is here.

The 600 double pumper I bought off ebay arrived last night...looks good and has a professionally milled choke horn...not a hatchet job...I'm happy about that...now to sell off all the Edelbrock stuff....

Update: The TPI ends on ebay tomorrow I'm hoping it will go for around $200...it is at $137.50 now and has 23 watchers...There is another one on craigslist for $125...do I dare do it again?

Squirt, Squirt

I snagged a 600 Double Pumper on ebay for $70...I will be doing what is known as the Hanger 18 mods (See: Hanger 18 Fabrication) to it...so stay tuned for that...One of the mods it to mill off the choke horn. With a blow-thru you have to remove it for use under the bonnet. This one already has that done so that is a big bonus for me as I don't have a mill and would have had to do it with a Dremel.

Cost: $70

Oh and I put the TPI on ebay last night and it already has a $125 bid...so I'm making money for sure there...I watched two others go for over $200...so I set the buy it now at $250...well see what happens when it ends Saturday.

Merge Pipe part 2

Ok I made the merge pipe today...and managed to not screw this one up! So it is good from the headers up to the engine compartment...I ran out of cutting wheels so I called it a day or I would have added the 90 and pipe up to the turbo. I have a hard section between the headers right now...I'm debating on adding a flex pipe here to allow for the expansion due to heat (reducing the risk of breaking welds - but they cost about $40...)

I need a Heim-lich

Good Lord is there no one in Raleigh that sells heim joints?...or even knows what they are for that matter...As I said in the "bracket" post I want to add two rods to support the weight of the turbo...and thought it would be nice to have adjustable heim joints on either end. I've been to hardware stores, auto parts stores, agri supply (to be fair agri-supply did have some for tractors - they just the size of Rhode Island)...I suspect that Grainger would have them but they aren't open on Saturdays...I guess I'll order them online.

In case you are an employee of Home Depot, Lowes, Carquest, Pep Boys, or Agri Supply (Yes I even had to point them out to their employees) - or anyone else I had to explain it to - This is a heim joint:

Seeing in the dark followup...

I got to test out my new welding helmet today...Works nice...you can see what your doing and makes life much easier. However, it add nothing to the strength of the welds which act like they are made of glass...good lord this welder sucks...hard! So, I have decided to just use it to tack stuff and get it welded by someone that can do some real welds. My wife's massage therapist's husband is a welder...I'm gonna see if he wants to do some side work ;-)

I need more pumping - like double

I have decided to not only ditch the TPI...but the Carter (Edelbrock) as well...I think in the long run a Holley will be more tunable and has the support of just about everyone else that runs a blow-thru. Sure there are a couple of Edelbrock guys out there...but the vast majority are Holleys. It didn't help break off all of the frickin screws in the throttle plates! So, as usual...I'll be posting all that Edelbrock stuff on ebay (I think I'll do it as a blow-thru Edelbrock package and see what happens)

That being said...I'm in the market for a 600 or 650 Double Pumper. I just missed a good deal in a 600 last night on ebay $70...I got out bid at the last second...by $.50! That sucks. As stated in the lame-ass post there was nothing worth a crap at the expo...just idiots going "I'll let that go for $185"...yeah I'll bet you would! idiots.

Before I get arrested...

I'm pretty sure it is against the law to own a turbo and not take a picture of it next to a soda can. So here is my obligatory turbo next to a can photo...

Mounting Bracket

I spent a couple of hours today making the bracket that mounts the turbo...It's still not 100% as I'm still gonna add two rods with heim joints for additional support...(hence the need for the 4x4 in the photo)

Cost $10

Lame-ass Drag Racing Expo

I went to the drag racing expo in Greensboro on Friday...I went last year as well...but I don't think I'll be going back next year. An hour drive, $4 to park, $12 to get in...and it was the same bunch of cars, vendors, and even the swap meet sellers were the same...Hell, I think they were selling the same parts as last year!

I was looking to find some of a list of stuff I'm still looking for: Fuel cell, regulator, 650 Double Pumper, 4 inch exhaust tubing, racing seats, tach and other miscellaneous stuff. I came home with a giant bucket of nothing!..ok not really true...I got a subscription to Drag Illustrated...which came with a cool T-shirt...but no real parts

Carb deconstruction

In preparation for building a blow-thru Carter...I tore down the carb today...about froze my butt off doing it...it was cold and carb cleaner is like alcohol...it evaporates fast and makes your hands even colder...Anyhow I got it stripped. It was pretty rough...everything was frozen and stuck...the big suck came when removing the throttle plates...8 screws...5 of the snapped off...so that sucks drilling and tapping is in my future.

I still have some reservations about doing a Carter (Edelbrock, Weber, whatever you want to call it...) So, I still have my eye out for a 650 double Holley...but none are falling into my lap... The Carter is nice though...simple, easy to understand, no gaskets below the fuel line to leak...a nice carb...but 99% of the blow-thrus out there run the Holley...so there must be something to it???