karl's-92'-z28

iTrader: (5)

Curious why didnt you drop the K-member & put the engine in yhat way? Progress is looking goid by the way.

silentkillzr

iTrader: (2)

That would be ridiculous. Ive always done motor pulls from the top. Easier than lifting the car off the kmember

bradley23150

iTrader: (10)

Been a while since an update:

A few things have happened since then, I once again got my self revved up to install the hedman longtubes. I jacked yhe car up as high as I could comfortabley get it, and struggled for quite a while with the passenger side header from underneat and up top and it WILL NOT go in. I have never been this defeated by a car part before. I went to put in the drivers side header, and it got snagged on the dipstick tube and snapped it off flush with the block. Needless to say I got pretty frustrated and walked away from it. I dont know what I am going to do about the dipstick problem now, or the headers...

So, if anyone local is a fellow thirdgen lover and has installed these wretched headers before and wouldn't mind giving me a hand, that would be awesome! lol

I also may trade the longtubes for a set of shortied straight up if anyone would be interested in that by chance..

Also, this happened:



It happened the day after christmas leaving the airport. It was the first rain in a while and it was the new off ramp which is very steep and veers right pretty hard. I got cut off over the white dividing line and hit my brakes, before I knew it my Nissan was headed for the wall backwards. It hit pretty hard and broke my 350z wheel, literally snapped it. The unibody is bent now my nissan is un-fixable but I did get it driving, atleast..

That's whats been going on, I just need to get my t/a back on the road!

bradley23150

iTrader: (10)

I haven't forgotten about my Trans Am! I had saved up some money and had to use that towards a new daily driver so I can still take my time working on my Trans am, but it is taking too much time.. lol.

I had a sudden fascination with Jeep Cherokees and decided to go on the hunt for one, and after much searching I finally found one that met my criteria:



Its a 96 XJ, 4x4, lifted, power everything and even has Ice cold AC! I've never had that luxury before and it's definitely a plus!

So, now that I have another DD, I am really going to try and focus my free time on my T/A. I am going to try and tackle those headers again, I think I am going to have to loosen the motor mounts and lift the engine up and slip the headers in that way, and lower the engine back down.

KITT1983

iTrader: (3)

that is a nice jeep how much did it cost you

tylercamaro

iTrader: (1)

bfg allterrains what size 33? youll love those tires especially if you have the warranty on them. my friends laster him a good 100k on his truck.

bradley23150

iTrader: (10)

Got it for $1700 +TTT. A pretty nice deal, everything on the jeep works and the interior is very clean, and the body is straight with only minor dings.

The tires are 32's, I doubt I have a warranty on them, but they have alot of meat left, and seem to perform pretty well for what I need them for.

tylercamaro

iTrader: (1)

the warrantys are sweet if you had them, they will replace the tire if any foriegn obstacle punctures your tire. my friend ran over an old rake while driving his truck through a field once and they replaced the tire pretty sweet stuff.

CharcoalBird

iTrader: (4)

Sucks about the 300z Brad, good deal on the Jeep.

bradley23150

iTrader: (10)

Yes it does, Jim.. But I guess it happens so I won't dwell on the bad, hehe.

When I get the T/A back up and running we really need to set up some sort of 3rd gen meet, in or near Tampa.

CharcoalBird

iTrader: (4)

Hurry and get it running! I finally got the wheels/tires on, new battery...now I just need to register the damn thing. Need to come up with $350 somehow...

bradley23150

iTrader: (10)

I am trying, I just got discouraged by things not fitting/breaking. I am determined now, I am going to get some stuff done on it starting tomorrow. This weekend I am REALLY hoping to get the headers mounted. When those are finally in, I can install the starter, plugs, coolant temp sender, wires, hoses, the belts, radiator...... hell I can install near everything when I get those stupid things in.. lol.

Good to hear you got your wheels on, I actually just saw a pic of your car in another thread and I gotta say, it is seriously looking B/A. Loving the RAII and wheels in that color! It should really be illegal whet the damn DMV charges in order for you to drive your car.. I will go through it when I get the T/A back on track and I am not looking forward to that bill.

FooFighters92

iTrader: (2)

Can I ask how you got that decal made?

CharcoalBird

iTrader: (4)

Thanks, it only took me 8 years to get it to this point. Coming up with $350 to register it is going to take me forever with the wedding coming up and buying a house.
Did you get the headers on???

bradley23150

iTrader: (10)

I know a guy at a flea market around me that makes any vinyl decals that I want for a good price, so I had him make that one for me.

I've been having other things come up, and have been enjoying the jeep and the t/a kind of took the back burner again. But I am hopeful that they'll go on here today or tomorrow.. (fingers crossed!)

bradley23150

iTrader: (10)

Worked on getting that header in today. Ended up removing the steering shaft, moving the brake lines, unbolting the wiper motor, loosening the motor mount and lifting up the drivers side of the engine with the hoist. The header finally slipped in at that point but hits the frame in 3 locations. I dented in one of the header tubes where it hit the frame about as far as I want to and it still hits there. It also hits the a-arm mount near the collector and wont lay flush against the head where it mounts to the engine.. I am not sure what to do about this. It also seems that there is some damage done to my k-member from one of the previous owners, it looks like it bottomed out pretty hard in the center of the k-member and that may have some effect on the header hitting the frame. The design of these headers over-all seems very poor and I am really contemplating a tubular k-member or shorty headers (which I don't want to do).

Anyway heres a pic oh how the header is sitting right now.. It would be nice if a "direct fit" part would actually bolt on my engine with minimal effort..



How the motor is sitting right now:





Also the motor mount will not go back in place now that I pulled the motor from it.. So to not feel totally defeated, I washed her because I couldn't stand seeing her covered in pollen and leaves anymore.. :P

CharcoalBird

iTrader: (4)

All that sweat you put into washing the car and no picture?? My car used to ALWAYS be clean, but since I took it off the road im always snapping shots after I wash it. Who knows when it will be clean again.

Sucks about the headers. Have you read anyone else's thread on those headers?? Surely there are better fitting headers that won't require modification of so many other things. If your k-member is damaged which is hard to believe without something else being messed up too, those things are very sturdy. A hit as hard as to damage that and i'd imagine the body twisted or buckled pretty hard. I would change it out if I were you. And change headers too. BTW, what are you using for your strut mount covers? They look like spray can tops. Just curious.

bradley23150

iTrader: (10)

Yeah, I used to always keep her clean but since I havent been driving her, she just stays dirty most of the time. I would've snapped a pic but it got dark on me.. =/

I am fairly certain that the k-member is dented in, I will get a picture in the daylight and see if I can show what I mean. The front wheels have always sat too far back in the wheel well and cause rubbing issues, so I am hoping that I found the cause (damaged k-member). I have looked at every thread I can find on those headers and everyone has some issues installing them, maybe they have more patience than I do, I get frustrated pretty easily.

And haha yes those are spray-can tops. The car didn't have any strut caps on it when I got it and I stuck those on there as a joke, and they actually look okay.. lol

FooFighters92

iTrader: (2)

I have a friend that can make decals as well, but he can't find the third gen Trans Am/Firebird font. Do you know how he found that decal/font or how he made it?

KITT1983

iTrader: (3)

now that is a beautiful chrome job

bradley23150

iTrader: (10)

I am not sure what the font is that he uses. I asked him before about it and he said it wasn't exactly what Pontiac uses because it's trademarked, but it is very close.

Thanks, just a shame that the valve covers look like crap already, finger-printed up and dull looking now. I will try to polish them with some mothers mag polish, or some of that Nevr-dull stuff and see what happens.

I plan on trying to remedy that header clearance issue on the a-arm mount tomorrow (well today.. lol). Headed to the store to get some cut-off wheels.. >: )

bradley23150

iTrader: (10)

Got the cut-off wheels and trimmed the a-arm perches in 3-4 seperate places and its still close. Also found that after those were trimmed, the header now hit the frame on tube #7, so that had to get beaten with a hammer, too. I took them on/off a seemingly endless number of times. Now that the headers seems to be OK and maybe it will hit the frame maybe not, now my motor mount WILL NOT go back in. Tried for a couple hours, even had the neighbors helping me out and still nothing.

If you're thinking about buying hedman LT headers; DON'T.

I've never had an engine swap fight me so endlessly, like this one has.. Ugh..

bradley23150

iTrader: (10)

Pulled the blower housing to make the passenger side header go in easier. Went to slip it in and it actually went down in there with little coaxing. I will need to bend the Trans cooler lines a bit to get them out of the headers way, and it also seems this header is hitting the a-arm perch, too! In all the research on the headers that I've done, I haven't seen an instance where anyones' passenger side header hit anything! But mine does..

Heres a couple pics, but it might be hard to see what I mean:





And the drivers side:

bradley23150

iTrader: (10)

I believe I just achieved victory over these wretched headers!

I had to dent in two of the runners on the passenger side, but it actually bolted on and isnt hitting the frame! The drivers side is close and only time will tell if it will pose a problem, but as of now it is also mounted. Aannnnddd: With the help of my neighbor we finally got the engine mount back in, too!

Today I was successful at tackling these headers, and I still hate them. lol

Tomorrows' goals:
-Starter
-Wiring
-Finally figure out/install the modulator valve fitting
-Set valve lash, and install valve covers for good?

Maybe more if I can get the lash set.

bradley23150

iTrader: (10)

Woke up not feeling so good, but tried to get something done anyway and didn't get very far.

Tried to install the starter, and BIG SUPRISE; the header is inhibiting it from being installed. The bolt wont go past the tube near the starter, which isnt a big deal because all I have to do is loosen the header bolts and swing it a little out of the way to mount it. I felt that the corner of the starter was a little close to the header, so I trimmed a little notch in it:



Also- Does this starter bolt look right?



It's one of the bolts that came with the starter, and it seems that the knurls in the shank aren't sticking passed the starters mounting pad far enough to be effective. The bolts also came with lock washers to be used to hold the starter in, but I have never seen lock washers used on a starter, it just seems like I should get different starter bolts.

New battery cables secured down with insulated rubber clamps; and I am going to give the Duralast Gold battery a try:



Hoping I feel better soon so I can get some real work done!

CharcoalBird

iTrader: (4)

Good to see you got them to fit and the motor mount back in.

bradley23150

iTrader: (10)

Yeah, but what sucks is that while I was under the car fiddling with the starter, I noticed that the drivers side header was touching the k-member. So now I have to see a way that I can stop it from touching.. ugh..

Bullydawg

iTrader: (7)

Sounds a LOT like my Formula... If there is a possible problem with an install, it WILL happen. I always prepare for the worst, or the car still for a few weeks... either way! Keep plugging away! It will be worth it.

bradley23150

iTrader: (10)

Yeah man, seems like you know my pain! lol

I am trying to just do baby steps, and eventually my t/a will be tearing up the streets.

Got the starter installed by the way, had to totally unbolt and drop the header down and FIGHT with that bolt, but it eventually caved in and let me win..

f-bodyz28

sounds like oh some much fun hahawhat kind of starter did you go with?

Blackknight

iTrader: (1)

Looking good man, getting the starter in is always a pita took me like 15mins to get my old one out on my stock TA and almost 2 hours getting the new one back up there

CharcoalBird

iTrader: (4)

Hey, how is the build going? Also, I saw you were selling a sub box on craigs. I have that exact same one and can't seem to get it to fit in my cargo area...how did you get that one to fit? Mine keeps hitting the hatch motor, I even tried removing the hatch motor first, and then try dropping the box in and it still didn't fit.

bradley23150

iTrader: (10)

The starter is one that I found on ebay for a reasonable price, not sure of brand anymore..

I got the valve lash set (I hope) and the valve covers on, that's about it. Haven't gotten much done lately. My car doesn't have a hatch pull down motor, or even an electric release solenoid, so that may be part of the reason. I also trimmed the end of the box on a table saw where it would lay against the rear plastic in a 4th gen. I also think I took out that back plastic panel and didnt put it back in when the speaker box was back there.

CharcoalBird

iTrader: (4)

...I think I will just build a couple stealth boxes.

Jupiter

iTrader: (1)

Some observations...
My fuel lines where just like yours next to the header. TOO close for comfort.
I cut the hard line where it comes to the passanger side frame rail and
attached a braided line, THROUGH the frame and exit the frame in front of the
k member. I did have to drill a couple of small holes for both lines and put a
couple of grommets. It is VERY important NOT to delete the vapor return line
as this will cause vapor lock.

Looking forward to seeing more progress this summer.

P.S. Our cars "1982" didn't come with a heater valve wich caused my heater
core to blow up under hard acceleration. Once i had the fuel lines out of the
way i was able to use a 1989 GTA heater hose return tube on that frame rail
and attach a heater valve to it 'out of the way rather then on the motor'. And
of course i had to update the A/C control panel to one with the heater valve
vacuum line '1983 and newer f-body'.

bradley23150

iTrader: (10)

That's definitely a good idea for running the fuel lines with these headers, one of my lines is actually touching the header, just barely. I was just going to try and bend the fuel lines up and over the frame rail closer to the firewall.

Running a HCV was an idea that I had, and I was actually going to try and find one of those metal tubes that runs across the frame-rail to do it with because of how much of a cleaner install it would be.

Thanks for the tips!

89JunkerRS

I love the T/A, really diggin' those wheels, the tires and wheels look like the perfect size for the car, i might copy you and get some for my camaro

maks10

brad, work on the t/a is amazing!!! man wish i knew more thirdgeners in my area at the time i was down their........too bad the camaro vert had to go but worked out nice with this one

CharcoalBird

iTrader: (4)

X2, birds look better anyway.

1tinindian

Any updates on getting the new motor running?

I used to know the guy that owned this car while he was a member of FirebirdNation.

Seems to me that he hit something with the front end and broke one of the factory wheels.

Leon

LivinLarge

This project and car look awesome Bradley! Any updates?