freaky

looks like fun

sailtexas186548

iTrader: (2)

turned it up to 7psi today, wg spring is 6.5psi so im hitting 6.5 instead of 7. need to swap springs to the 15psi

the tune is way fat still, especially at cruise - 11/1 or so. I had it leaned out to 12.5 or 13 but it seems to have turned rich again on its own - probably have a compensation table set wrong somewhere. timing is still 31* at 101kPa, 28* at 140kPa, only saw knock once, it pulled 3* for a second but other than that its doing ok at 11.3/1 WOT

Also found a place to align this thing- no one wanted to touch it because its so low but a local place will be doing it friday

Finally I put new hood and hatch struts on - nice to have them fixed makes the car feel much more "finished"

Ed1LE

iTrader: (39)

Looks great. I still think the painted t-tops are such a cool touch!

BBSDesigns

I agree, check your check valves. I did had a problem similar to yours(blown gaskets and oil mess everywhere), it ended up being too much blow by due to the block's age. The vacuum/check valve system was not enough to pull excess gases from inside the block, so I ended up using a catch can, problem was solved at least until the block was rebuild.

Since the vacuum lines pull gases from inside the block only at vacuum, while under boost and having too much blow by, gases are going to go thru somewhere and the oil pan gasket is one of the weakest points.

By the way very nice setup, thumbs up!!! Dont let problems like that discourage you. Sometimes, when doing a new build like yours, it feels like the whole car turns against you. Look at it as in breaking-in a new stallion, once you've mastered it's all yours to enjoy.
It's the nature of the BEAST

sailtexas186548

iTrader: (2)

thanks I did a cut and buff (well started!) on the car, the t-tops look really good now that they are smoothed out. I'll get some pictures up soonish

again

I have since replaced the oil pan gasket, timing cover gasket, intake gaskets, sealed up the oil fill plug and valve cover bolts, and added dual 5/8" ID breather lines and catch can to each valve cover - my oil leak issue seems to be gone, and all i get is a thin milky combustion smelling fluid in the catch can, along with a tiny amount of oil (over 120 HARD miles). I think my intake gaskets were the main issue, and the breathers on the valve covers were not cutting it. I can still see the cross hatching in all cylinders and only saw a tiny bit of wear in one hole, so I'm hoping my rings are still good

Its getting close I'm just tweaking the tune now I did a "fun run" with houston performance driving yesterday and was able to keep pace or at least stay in contact durring some highway roll-on's with some c5/c6 vettes. I was spinning due to suspension issues, and have the tune turned way down so thats not too bad

whitedevilTA

iTrader: (8)

Vids or it didn't happen!

quadgoat

iTrader: (1)

Glad to see things are looking good Alex! I just started mine for the first time yesterday morning. Tune is way out of whack, but it was great to hear it run (with an open downpipe) and listen to the turbo make some gorgeous noises

Hope you get the tune ironed out and can start really enjoying your car!!

-Paul

sailtexas186548

iTrader: (2)

i was too busy with the tune to film, but there were tons of cameras everywhere hopefully im in there somewhere. and there will be more opportunities to film

sailtexas186548

iTrader: (2)

since the turbo set up is pretty much done except the tune (which will never be done) I have started working on other things.

First thing I did was tackle the orange peel on the car. I have knocked out a large amount of the car (hood, entire passenger side, and both t-tops) with 600 grit to remove the heavy stuff, then 2000 grit, followed by 3M heavy rubbing compound on a wool pad (porter cable random orb machine). I am just doing the 2000 and wool pad after the 600 to keep it presentable when I drive it. It shines up pretty good with the 600/2000/wool but is a bit hazy. Once I am happy with the remaining peel I'm going to 1200/1500/2000 then wool-heavy/foam-heavy/foam-polish/wax.

drivers side sanded down, t-tops and windshield surround already buffed out:




sail panel:





spoiler:


covered in sanding/buffing gunk but done for now:



HPD fun run start, white GTR just ahead of me:



HPD fun run Galveston island:



Paint looks pretty good for my first DIY job and only half buffed out and no wax



bad lighting in this pic, but it shows the stance well. I want to switch to an 18" in the front to match the rear, lower the rear to match the front wheel well gap and level the car out:

sailtexas186548

iTrader: (2)

and the gunk from my catch can afte r120 miles of beating the snot out of it:

sailtexas186548

iTrader: (2)

well I fixed the MAP (replaced, it was bad) and the car has been running great, and consistently. Boost is up to 6.5lbs and this thing moves out! The timing is very retarded also so there is more left in it at this boost level. Until I'm ready to put in a new motor I'm leaving the boost at 6.5lbs, and sorting out the rest of the car. Time for some time slips

FSTFBDY

iTrader: (33)

I want this car more then my vert for some reason.

Looks great.

quadgoat

iTrader: (1)

Glad to hear it Alex! I'm strapping mine to the dyno to play tomorrow. We'll see how it goes. I've been playing with about 9 psi on the street, but it'll be nice to do some tuning on the dyno and see what I can get out of her, plus sort out some disability quirks without having to keep an eye on the road lol!

Merry Christmas!!

-Paul

sailtexas186548

iTrader: (2)

the tune continues to improve, added some timing back in and it really woke the car up, seeing 1 to 1.9 degrees knock retard only directly after a shift, wheel spin, or when snapping the throttle closed.

slave cylinder took a crap on me today POP! every couple years when it gets real cold out my slave goes bad... oh well

trying to get my go pro set up, having trouble finding it

1bad91Z

iTrader: (1)

Now time for dyno and paint headlight buckets black!

sailtexas186548

iTrader: (2)

^ yes, yes, and suspension/tires!

freaky

love the stance ...

Jupiter

iTrader: (1)

Sucks about the slave!!! Hope you find the camera before B2P 'Blast To The Past' on the 12th so we can maybe get some video.

tjtaylor

How has your Sanderson headers held up so far? I know you had problems with customer service but how is the quality? I'm thinking about getting there's cc1 or cc2 headers and it looks like they fit well?

sailtexas186548

iTrader: (2)

quality is great, thick flanges and tubing, welds have good penetration. I don't like the collector flange they use but it works OK.

tjtaylor

sweet thanks for the input, ill most likely be getting a set of them then! maybe have them weld a v band connector on there instead of there 3 bolt?

sailtexas186548

iTrader: (2)

thats what quadgoat did, worked out OK for him. I plan on cutting my 3 bolts off and welding an extension onto the collectors (and a bend) so the new v-bands are not so close to the A/C stuff

tjtaylor

How well does your ac lines run with your piping there? I've never seen any photos with those lines hooked up?

sailtexas186548

iTrader: (2)

custom soft lines, stock does not fit. the hard lines all fit fine though

sailtexas186548

iTrader: (2)

Been working on a wire tuck all day, engine bay looks WAY better. I'll have pics tomorrow when the sun is out.

houston-streets.com came by the houston-f-body monthly meet yesterday, they took a pretty sweet pic of my car:

Jupiter

iTrader: (1)

Damn SEX-Y!!!
That is the best pic of your ride that i have seen.

sailtexas186548

iTrader: (2)

pics of the wire tuck. still need to reroute a couple vacuum lines, and make some covers for the stuff I cant remove/hide. The firewall is gonna be covered in wires I just have too many systems in the car to hide it without totally modifying the harness. I managed to screw up some fan wiring somehow, so the fans dont come on but I'll figure it out cant be a big deal I only messed with a few wires.

Ed1LE

iTrader: (39)

Looks fantastic! So where did you relocate the relays in back drivers corner (where alarm siren is)?

Jupiter

iTrader: (1)

You can't hide everything and so far WOW. The motor no longer looks surrounded by a web of 'stuff'. Cleaning the fenders off really makes your motor stand out. Well done Alex!

one92rs

iTrader: (5)

looking really good sail.

sailtexas186548

iTrader: (2)

thanks guys

the relays are in the stock position, the siren isjust mounted to the front of the relay bracket

Lmancha96

Looking really good Alex

sailtexas186548

iTrader: (2)

Fans are fixed, had a weather-pac melt internally that provides 12V+ to the fan relays.

Went for a spirited drive, man this thing needs some suspension work, felt like I was ice skating :haha:

sailtexas186548

iTrader: (2)

in Mexico last night, 6lbs

this was a 3500 3rd gear launch, spooled it up and did a little hit, got out of it about 1 second in just playing with brake boosting


We went 2 and 2 in this vid, 60 roll (gay), in front there was a 430whp 5th gen camaro left lane, front right lane was a 2012 or 2013 SRT8 charger with at least exhaust no idea what else. Camera car is a carb'd 350/T5 third gen, I'm obviously in the rear right lane, 3rd gear no brake boost. The lead cars took the hit and we chased. I had to pedel to stay out of the back of the SRT8. Closed the gap by about 1/2 by 125-130 then we shut down

Orr89RocZ

iTrader: (20)

Niiiice

whitedevilTA

iTrader: (8)

I want to see some dyno numbers!! Looks like it's moving damn good!

sailtexas186548

iTrader: (2)

yeah it's a blast, only on 6psi too cant wait to really put some boost to it

Based on this:

(current numbers) = (old dyno numbers)*(1+6psi/14.7psi)

I get right at 425whp/500wtq, so I'm probably a little below that considering losses from the exhaust restriction. Planning on a dyno day in march

Jupiter

iTrader: (1)

Looks like you had fun last night. Looking strong with so little boost, NIIIICE.

whitedevilTA

iTrader: (8)

Sounds about right to me. I made 400 rwhp on 5 PSI with conservative timing, so I'd say your in the low 400's range. I actually have no idea where I am now. Backed the timing off quite a bit since my piston accident lol. Based on what timing was adding on the dyno (about 5 rwhp per degree), and what I took out, I think I'm at roughly 500 rwhp at 11 PSI. I plan on adding methanol this spring and adding boost though. We'll see what happens. It gets addicting man, lol.

SiCkRs

iTrader: (6)

NICE vids! love your setup especially keeping A/C

fasteddi

iTrader: (2)

Damm impressive man. Love it.

Homer23

I would say to just do more wire tucking because covering the engine with covers would make it look a little boring (maybe even a little silly), like a factory engine bay.

sailtexas186548

iTrader: (2)

So Tx2k13 dyno day was today and the guy running it talked me into bringing my car out even though it wouldn't be a "big power" car out there. So being greedy I put the big boy springs (12psi minimum) in the wastegate this morning, brake boosted and hit 11.8 PSI. Added a bunch of fuel, pulled a bunch of timing, and it pulled real nice in 3rd. Brake boosted again and the boost SHOT up to 21+ PSI and a rod exited the oil pan stage left.... I tried to let out but it happened SO fast, this little tc series turbo spools like crazy!

Pushed it home (2 miles) and started looking into what happened... My boost control solenoid died, blocking all boost pressure to the WG. I put +12v to the solenoid off the car, nothing happened. Whacked it with a hammer, and it works again for a bit then gets stuck shut again until I whack it with a hammer again.

Honestly I got a good laugh out of today, never even got mad just had one of those "dammit...." moments LOL. I knew I was pushing it, and I think I would have been ok on 12psi if the solenoid had not failed. Time to go bigger and better now

I'll get some carnage pics up tomorrow

FSTFBDY

iTrader: (33)

dang , that sucks.. Im sure it Was a fun ride while it lasted.
As you said time to build it bigger and better now to handle that tc76.

Every time I open this thread to see your update I say to myself Damm, I need to get my setup done. 383 with a tc78 in a vert will be a handful of fun.

fasteddi

iTrader: (2)

Damm man. Im sorry to hear it.IIRC you are running the same boost silenoid and code as me...Id hate to see mine over boost like that. Ive ran up to 20 psi once on accident but it was a boost spike on 17psi command. If I shot to 20+ psi now with my new turbo id be in the same boat as you.

quadgoat

iTrader: (1)

Sorry to hear this Alex! I guess you get to build your "better" engine a little sooner than expected? At least you were only 2 miles from home and it didn't happen on the dyno in front of a big crowd! Lol

-Paul

whitedevilTA

iTrader: (8)

5.3 time! I just picked up HP tuners pro, and will be cranking my boost up to 15 PSI on pump gas soon and seeing what she's got. If I keep the timing conservative, it should hold up fine and I'm expecting just over 600 rwhp. These 5.3's hold up amazing with the right tune!

Hope you get your's fixed in whatever way you decide asap. Always nice having the few turbo 3rd gens around!

sailtexas186548

iTrader: (2)

yeah I'm already planning the next motor LOL. Depending on what is actually broken will dictate my decision.

If I can clean the block up, slap some pistons and rods in I'll do that and "finish" my original build plan, 650 whp or so. If it took out a head also, or the block/crank I have some serious thinking to do.

As much as I'd love to do an LSx I don't want to mess with converting everything over (efi, a/c, cruise, fuel lines, mounts, headers, turbo, transmission, etc.) when I can make the same power with an aftermarket SBC. The next car I build will have a gen iv or gen v power but it's too much $$$ right now.

If the block/crank is toast I'll get a good block, a rotating assembly for ~ 1500HP, some decent heads, turbo cam, injectors, stuff an 88/91/twins in with a new hotside and let it eat.

I now have a TIG so I've been looking for a reason to redo my setup, guess I have one now

quadgoat

iTrader: (1)

A friend of mine beat the SNOT out of a turbo'd junkyard 5.3 in his '02 WS6 all last summer. Made 580 HP at the rear tires on a Mustang dyno at 12 PSI and by the middle of summer he was trapping 109 MPH in the 1/8 mile at somewhere near/over 20 PSI (calculations show somewhere around or over 700 RWHP!). That thing loved the boost! It finally had problems when he grabbed 2nd gear instead of 4th at somewhere around 100 MPH. Rod bolts didn't like the excessive RPM and lengthened themselves, lowering oil pressure to a max of 20 PSI LOL. VERY impressive engines!

Most of the local guys here are into the LS motors and all think I should put an LS in my car instead of keeping the Gen I SBC. I agree with you though Alex, if I need to do another engine for this car it'll be another Gen I with an aftermarket block. I have WAY too much invested in the current setup to ditch it all. If I build another car, or if the LT1 in the wife's '95 Z28 gives up the ghost I'll do an LS build

Keep us posted on what you find on teardown Alex!!

-Paul

sailtexas186548

iTrader: (2)

All I could see from the outside:


I sure as hell wasn't gonna pull the pan the right way, and it had a hole in it so sawzall


#7 piston and rod (not surprising with the HSR...) from the pan. Hyper pistons really do shatter like glass!


some more piston hanging out up top:


Somehow there is ZERO visible damage to the bore, no obvious piston-valve contact, and just a few dings on the combustion chamber. The big end of the rod also spins nicely without and snags or rough spots on the crank so I am hopeful that I can just clean up the block, slap some rods/pistons in and get it back on the road. There is some damage to the block near the oil pan sealing area but it seems like it'll be ok. The magna-flux and sonic check will tell the real story though...

All wrapped up for now: