Thirdgen89GTA

iTrader: (5)

So, today was the DAY! I had the entire engine wired up, sans accessories, I was going to put the battery in and turn that key! All I had to do was install the knock sensor, and driver side temp sensor. BUT!!!

Thats not to be.

While attempting to uncork the driver side pipe plug so I could screw the guage cts in, the plug stripped. I tried all sorts of things, but in the end, all I have is a round hole now.

Now, the whole reason I had to mess with those plugs was because I had forgotten to check those plugs before I bolted the heads onto the engine. Now that the plug is stripped I'm going to have to pull the head so I can have it drilled out straight.

But what I'm more likely to do is simply swap the heads to the other side. That way all of the plugs are in the right spots.

And I hate setting valve-lash in the car. So much easier with the engine on a stand. Grrr.

Grrr

So the engine is getting stripped down to a headless block. And I can't pick-up my headgaskets in any store, so I have to order a new set. The intake gaskets I should be able to re-use, but since I'm ordering new headgaskets, I'll just order new intake gaskets as well. ugh…….

3.8TransAM

That sucks man.

It's always something.

U can bring it here and we can trade I'll yank your engine and fix it up, you cut out and rebuild a chunk of my cowl :-)

Let me know when u will be over

Thirdgen89GTA

iTrader: (5)

, I had power issues all weekend at work, so I was chained to my apt in case I got called in.

So I didn't get to work on my car. I am SOOOOOOOOOOOOO close its not funny. None of the accessories are on the front so swapping the heads around will be maybe an hours worth of work. And another hour to reset the valve lash by myself (which I hate doing, I need a shaft system I can just torque down $$$$$$$).

xpndbl3

iTrader: (5)

Get a starter bump switch and valve lash is easy!

Thirdgen89GTA

iTrader: (5)

Well. That debacle is finished. I need to take the headers to a shop for o2 bungs. I marked where they need to go on the headers while they were mocked up.

The heads are all sorted out, and I chased all of the threads because even though they looked clean ther was a lot of junk in them. All the head and intake bolts are like butter now.

Got the new 670 steering gear in as well. So. Ow it's time to put the harness back and turn the engine over!!!!!

Hopefully next weekend I can do this. It would be epic to be able to drive it.

3.8TransAM

Sounding good Bill, glad to see someone making progress.

It would be epic if I got time to work on mine period, work calling you in gets old real quick.

Thirdgen89GTA

iTrader: (5)

I wonder how loud a 11:1 350 will be open header?



Once its running I need to get it to a shop to have the Y-pipe built, and then I can hook up the SLP 2otL. Depending on how loud it is I may consider adding a straight through resonator in the I-pipe to quiet it down a bit.

I won't say the frame rail mods to fit the 670 steering gear are pretty, but they work.

I'm almost more excited to drive the car with all the suspension, steering, and brake bits added than I am to see how the engine performs.

Thirdgen89GTA

iTrader: (5)

Had a friend weld in the O2 bungs for the headers.

Now though comes a choice. Spend the $350 or so to get the 2210 LTs ceramic coated now, or wait until next year.

Its all about the Benjamins.

3.8TransAM

Wrapping does work, as long as its stainless it won't cause any issues either.

Coated is best, but wallets only run so deep.

Thirdgen89GTA

iTrader: (5)

The light at the end of the Tunnel is VISIBLE!!!!

It fired up for the first time today!

Then when it hit like a 3000rpm idle I remembered that just about zero vacuum fittings were hooked up to the intake so it was leaking from everywhere.

The only thing I have, is I can't remember what circuit I was feeding the fuel pump with, I have all the same wires from the harness I had before, but none of them are the fuel pump. I have a white wire, which doesn't match any known schematic, and may just have been in the harness unused.

I know that the FP Relay output is A7 on the PCM, Dark grn/white stripe. However, that wire is nowhere to be found inside the car, yet clearly visible on the red PCM connector.

I fed the FP from a 12v ign switched source inside the cabin just to hear it fire up though.

It LIVES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

To Finish:
Install accessory brackets
PS Pump
Alternator
idler pulley
Re-mount PS reservoir & bleed
Bleed brakes
install Radiator, fans, fill & bleed.

I am buying a new waterpump, the old one worked fine, but why take a chance with a 19yr old water pump, even if it spent about 9 of those years not-running. Things could have dried out in the last 3 years its been sitting.

But the car Fires, and MAN its loud. 11:1 open header? Yep, its obnoxious.

3.8TransAM

Least yours is running, congrats

I'm still cutting on mine lol

Thirdgen89GTA

iTrader: (5)

Words not needed.

Thirdgen89GTA

iTrader: (5)

I keep moving forward!

All of the accessories except the Alternator are on the car. I sealed up every vacuum leak I could find, but as soon as I started it, it went to 3k, and shortly stalled out there-after.

I'm hooked up the radiator today, but I got some old looking plugs on the bottom that look like they'll just leak at the first sign of coolant. So I'll pick those up when I work on the car tomorrow.

If I can get coolant in it, I can start the car and let it run as long as i like trying to find the leaks. Had all the sensors plugged in.

New IAC is installed, but I don't think thats the problem.

Wish I had a smoke machine. Otherwise I get to be spraying carb cleaner around some stuff. Thankfully it evaporates quickly.

Its like that Blondie song. One way or another, I'm gonna get it.

3.8TransAM

Good to hear Bill.

If I ever get some time, mine will be full speed ahead again.

Thirdgen89GTA

iTrader: (5)

Worked on the car today, Tim came out, which helped alot.

Found some issues, others still elude us.

The first issue, my brand new Accel AFPR was **** out of the box. The rails wouldn't hold pressure after the pump turned off, it would drop right to zero. We re-installed the stock regulator. I had planned on bumping up the fuel pressure to about 48psi, to make them provide a little more fuel.

So we re-installed the factory AFPR and it hold steady @ 45psi when priming, and will hold that pressure without bleed down, I then put in 34.5#/hr for the adjusted rate and reflashed. Red-tops are rated at 31#/hr @ 39.15psi according to their datasheet. Hovers about 43psi when running.

Then, we tried again, same deal as before.

The engine will start, hit about 2700-3000rpm, then die shortly thereafter. IAC seems to hover between 118-127. In order for the engine to idle about 900rpm, I have to give it about 7% throttle, otherwise it dies. At about 3% it holds 500rpm, but its not happy there.

If I unplug the MAF sensor, it will stay running, but is stuck at 3000rpm, and will not come down. IAC counts drop to about 80.

Part of me still thinks vacuum leak somewhere. Need to try with a stock throttle body and not the ported one. Maybe its got a leak somewhere. Thoughts?

I have a bunch of datalogs, will post them. Will need Datamaster_EE to read them I believe.

Thirdgen89GTA

iTrader: (5)

The log files have ALOT of empty space in them. We would start, stop it, talk………retry after making a change of a sort. Start4 shows it the most. Beginning of the log, you can see the engine speed hit about 2700 and just stay there. No MAF.

Tried later with the MAF plugged in and I had to hold idle with my foot.

I'm hoping the Knock retard is because its open header right now. Its really damned loud.

http://home.comcast.net/~thirdgen89g...ogs/start4.uni
http://home.comcast.net/~thirdgen89g...ogs/start3.uni
http://home.comcast.net/~thirdgen89g...ogs/start2.uni
http://home.comcast.net/~thirdgen89g...ogs/start1.uni

Thirdgen89GTA

iTrader: (5)

So, been having an idle issue on the car, finally bought a Vacuum gauge to test vacuum and had Tim up there with me so I could check things while one of us kept the car going.

1" of vacuum @ 900rpm w/2% throttle to keep it going, and 20" @ 2500rpm or so if I unplug the MAF and let it run high.

No external vacuum leaks, so either the intake is not sealing, or one of the heads is junk.

Really approaching the part car out point.

Thirdgen89GTA

iTrader: (5)

Will post the video tonight. But hell yeah. Problem solved!

Running right.

Everything but the exhaust is hooked up. So I have to drag it to a shop for a Y-pipe.

It's getting false knock at idle I'm pretty sure. Need to pick through the logs and look at the details. But it starts and idles no problem now.

Thirdgen89GTA

iTrader: (5)

Oh hello baby!

Thirdgen89GTA

iTrader: (5)

One small step for me, one giant mash the gas for thirdgen kind!

It has moved under its own power. It does not hesitate, stall, or stumble. Though it does have some cam surge.

What it does do, and quite easily is overpower the rear tires with a stab of the throttle.

It does however, tend to BLAST the ears. Its loud, loud in a very uncomfortable way.

I can't drive it any more though, too much noise, afraid of pissing off my dads neighboors though they've all been very understanding while I let it idle open header.

Also, once it goes closed loop its lean, lean, lean. The O2 sensors being 1" from open air is probably where the lean readings are coming from, but because of that, I don't want to drive it for fear of it going pig rich and hurting something.

Still to do:
Make fuel pump hot-wire kit off PCM D6.
Replace the alternator charging cable, it decided to mate with a hot header. Thankfully, no damage, though there was sparkage.
Re-assemble interior


I do have one thing to say though.

The Lee 670 steering gear ROCKS. Steering is relatively easy, but its very precise, and I can feel the tugs in the road.

But, I may take it off and send it out. It appears I have too much travel turning the wheel to the right, but the stops when turning left are correct. So the internal stops might need to be adjusted.

Its currently sitting like a 4x4 though, probably a good 4" of fender gap. Can tell its higher than the front. Guess thats what happens when you take almost 55lbs off the nose.

No videos, I'm currently too terrified to do much with the car. First run jitters and all that. Its not "complete". And with the exhaust so loud I can't tell if things start to make noise.

novadk13

awesome to hear it going again, not much longer till the white stuff starts falling

Thirdgen89GTA

iTrader: (5)

I think I'm still more amazed by just how "new" the car drives in terms of steering. At idle its light, effortless, but there is zero play.

It even has the 35lb spool valve and its really easy to move around I expected a heavier wheel.

I wish I had an exhaust on it so I could really drive it around before that evil White Stuff falls.

3.8TransAM

At least yours made it to running status Bill lol

So what were the issues with the vacuum problems you were having? Something dumb or more serious?

Burning my last week of vacation and chewing thru my to do list so I can get to Denny's and bring me home some firewall(yes I know it sucks lol) and other odds and ends.

The I have to track down a real compressor, hoping to land a 2 stg 80 gallon vertical off of craigslist if the gods wish me luck. Then its plasma cutter(sitting since I bought it) and any other air tool I want time.

If I get the metal work done, the rest of it should go pretty easily, its all here already

Just remember the most important part of the build is the first time you can

Thirdgen89GTA

iTrader: (5)

It was something hidden and stupid. I had dismissed it as a problem based on a test, and never revisited it.

3.8TransAM

lol Just spill it, I worked on cars daily for 10+years I can pretty much promise I did or saw something more stupid