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Well everyone, it's time to finally make a solid contribution to the site.
I've been on TGO for a number of years, reading through various posts and occasionally chiming in, but ive never really had a reason to add much to the forums....until now!
Now some of you may not agree with altering an original car, (trust me! I look forward to everyone's feedback.) but I've decided that it's time to build this car into something I've always envisioned.
I purchased my car in the fall of 1997 with 14,000 original kilometers (yes I'm Canadian) from an add that I had seen in the paper (OK! OK! I'm old.) After meeting with the original owner and taking the car for a test drive, I knew that I had to have it.
I walked into my bank and begged for every single penny that I could get. After all, it was my first loan and thinking back, I'm sure the manager thought I was a nutcase and just wanted me out of there.
MINE! I was finally able to buy the car that I had loved since I was a child. I took that car EVERYWHERE.....with EVERYONE.
After a few years of driving it, I was finally hit with the bolt on bug. I added the usual parts (headers, exhaust, chip...some questionable TGO alterations) and even took it down the track on a few occasions. But like most stories on here, it was eventually parked in the fall of 2003 for something a little easier on gas. And even-though I was always receiving offers from others to buy it, I knew I would never let it go.
Which brings me to now. It all started with me wanting to upgrade the stereo...
Last edited by reddawg; 07-26-2015 at 03:35 PM.
Reason: Hit the wrong button
After reading all the pro's and con's of reusing the old block, it was a fairly easy decision to make for the horsepower I'm looking to achieve. I ordered a Dart SHP 427 small block with a fully forged bottom end.
Was finally able to get the car up on jack stands and dig into the motor. After removing "most" of the fluids I realized I was going to need a lot of kitty litter. Gonna replace the current brake system with a 6 piston setup from Baer. The front suspension will be a mix between UMI and Hotchkis.
Got the motor up on the stand and installed the new moroso oil pump. I read a few articles regarding the use of a gasket and decided to not use one. Went with a full MSD ignition system.
After removing the last of the top end I had to wait for my oil pan to return. I decided to have it ceramic coated inside and out. It turned out to be my first error of the project. (More on that later) also received my new lifters from Howard's Cams.
Went with an Edelbrock water pump with the endurashine finish. Also made my second mistake of the build. I had originally thought I would go with the shorty system for clearance, but decided that with all this performance I would rather have a fabricator design a full long tube setup. Was able to sell off the headers fairly quickly.
After polishing up the timing cover and installing it, I got the oil pan on to prevent the authorities from kicking in my door and declaring my garage floor a national disaster.
Test fit the MSD starter and realized that I had to make a modification to the starter bolts. Also thought I'd set the intake up on the block to see how my goal was coming along. Also installed the TCI rattler, harmonic balancer.
Pulled the old Edelbrock TES headers out and received the new oil pan from Milodon. The issue that I had with the Moroso pan was that I would have had to drill out a bolt hole that was missing at the rear of the pan, and since I had already had it coated, I didn't feel comfortable using it. Plus, I like the fact that the Milodon pan has a built in windage tray.
Holly crap!! yesterday when you started this, and you said now you were going to make a contribution to the site, and you posted 2 pics of the car... Im thinking...... this is it?? wtf. lol.
I get on today and look and BAM! Parts and good stuff everywhere!! Are you sure you didnt rob a bank? and what is KD? I am blown away at this thread from yesterday.
I'd love to spend a few hours on that Short Block with a feeler gauge and mic to see what tolerances they hold. Not that I doubt Dart at all, just curious what the crank end play is and a few other things..
Great Build!!! Keep them posts coming!!
-Dan
(edit) Sounds like you have a great girl. some nice gifts! (any sisters?) lol jk car girls are getting tough to find....
Picked up these gaskets last week. I'm trying to keep the gaskets all Fel-Pro and the fasteners all ARP (yeah, I'm a bit of a name brand wh@re).
The UMI pieces also showed up on the doorstep. I gotta say that dealing with their customer service is unbelievable. I dealt with Zach, I believe. I can't say enough about that company.
Holly crap!! yesterday when you started this, and you said now you were going to make a contribution to the site, and you posted 2 pics of the car... Im thinking...... this is it?? wtf. lol.
I get on today and look and BAM! Parts and good stuff everywhere!! Are you sure you didnt rob a bank? and what is KD? I am blown away at this thread from yesterday.
I'd love to spend a few hours on that Short Block with a feeler gauge and mic to see what tolerances they hold. Not that I doubt Dart at all, just curious what the crank end play is and a few other things..
Great Build!!! Keep them posts coming!!
-Dan
(edit) Sounds like you have a great girl. some nice gifts! (any sisters?) lol jk car girls are getting tough to find....
Haha! No I didn't rob a bank, but I can promise you that my wallet is ALOT lighter, lol!.....I might need to rob one after all of this is over.
KD is short for Kraft Dinner, lol!
The crank came out to 0.005 inch and the cam was set the same, or 0.007 I can't remember.
Yanked out the K-Member and A-Arms. There are very few pieces on this car that I'm going to keep. However, I'm gonna clean up these front braces that attach to the K and see how they turn out.
Removed the front nose the other day, and disconnected the wiring harness at the firewall. The plan is to get the engine bay painted and get some of these parts installed.
Also, I've pretty much caught up to my build, so I'll stop with the pics all at once, lol!
I knew someone was going to say something about that. Only Canadians know what KD is. To everyone else, macaroni and cheese in a box.
Well! Well! Look who it is, lol! I can't tell you how many times I seen your car at Race City Alky! Every time I drive through that area it tugs on the heart strings.
I have some Canadians in my classes at collage, Im out now for summer, but when classes are back on, I will have to ask em if they know. lol.
Reddawg, Careful how/where you place your front bumper skirt. They can easily warp and get disfigured if left in a funky position and in the heat/sun... If you leave your head light rack in it that helps with keeping its shape..
Got out to the garage today and spent the morning sanding (fun.) thought I'd get some of the little details sorted out. I painted the hood latch and the K-Member braces. Right now I'm working on the headlight assembly. When I took it off I found some 20 year old gunk, which I think was dried up lithium grease? smeared all over the inside. I'm gonna give it a coat of paint and if it doesn't look too bad I'll post a pic
I have some Canadians in my classes at collage, Im out now for summer, but when classes are back on, I will have to ask em if they know. lol.
Reddawg, Careful how/where you place your front bumper skirt. They can easily warp and get disfigured if left in a funky position and in the heat/sun... If you leave your head light rack in it that helps with keeping its shape..
I literally just finished doing the exact same build you are doing. Everything came out amazing. I will post pics of my build soon.
Advice:
Take your time and do it right! I would really recommend getting the car painted first (especially the engine bay) and refinish the underbody. I spent weeks cleaning and perfecting the bottom of my iroc. Came out amazing! check out the photos.
I literally just finished doing the exact same build you are doing. Everything came out amazing. I will post pics of my build soon.
Advice:
Take your time and do it right! I would really recommend getting the car painted first (especially the engine bay) and refinish the underbody. I spent weeks cleaning and perfecting the bottom of my iroc. Came out amazing! check out the photos.
Good luck on the build its gunna come out awesome!!
Awesome build pro paint! Great information! I'll be sure to hit you up for some advise. I am currently planning to have the bay painted in the next month. I just have to do more research to see if anything has to be fabricated to fit the new radiator.
What king of radiator are you going to put in? I was going to go with an aluminum radiator but the cheapest USA made one is 600 bucks and you have to modify the **** out of the mounts to get it to work... I went ACDelco stock. Cant even see it with the electric fan shroud
Originally Posted by reddawg
Awesome build pro paint! Great information! I'll be sure to hit you up for some advise. I am currently planning to have the bay painted in the next month. I just have to do more research to see if anything has to be fabricated to fit the new radiator.
What king of radiator are you going to put in? I was going to go with an aluminum radiator but the cheapest USA made one is 600 bucks and you have to modify the **** out of the mounts to get it to work... I went ACDelco stock. Cant even see it with the electric fan shroud
The plan is to drop in a Be Cool #83015. I know there are cheaper alternatives, but I've built the rest of the car so over the top, I figure why stop now.
That's what I was going to do too but I bailed on it. Youre definitely going to earn your way into the fabrication thread now! Don't listen to scooter ;D
I had my stock radiator built up. They added cores and added a nice tran cooler. Fits great, looks stock and stays cool! think it cost like 250.00. So when its all said and done, a new custom rad for 250 isnt bad.
Becool is a good choice tho. Only heard good things about them. Make sure your fans are dialed in.. Read lots of threads of guys putting in new rad but car still overheats cause they have old, worn out fans or fans that just dont move enough air..
That's what I was going to do too but I bailed on it. Youre definitely going to earn your way into the fabrication thread now! Don't listen to scooter ;D
Fabrication is about building something, not buying a bunch of parts and installing them on the car. If that was the case all the build threads should be in here.
This week I painted the headlight assembly brackets and removed the 9 bolt Borg Warner axle housing. Everything came apart easily until it was time to remove the control arm at the frame. Man, that sucker was on there tight.
Also removed the sway bar support brackets and removed the rear suspension. I'll be coating the undercarriage with EZ Liner. Thanks for the idea Propaintball. Though I'm not sure I'll be thanking you while I'm under the car sanding off all that old crap, lol!
I loosened the gas and brake lines so that I can remove the gas tank in the morning. I'll keep everyone posted.
07-26-2015, 03:27 PM
