Nice work, Doug!

Here's a quick video of the engine running. Took the engine over to a friends shop, where I keep my engine test stand and we got it fired up. It has sit for several years after the dyno run so I wanted to make sure there were no surprises. Since I had to take it back out to rework the tunnel and since I haven't used my stand in quite a while I figured why not? My buddy get a lot of use out of it since he build race motors. lol.

Music to my ears!!!

It's back in the car as of last night. Now to put the tranny and driveshaft back in and on to wiring...

http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/c...ps65sikql0.mp4

Matt at MCB is setting me up with some Corbeau LG1 wides and a Hydratech Hydroboost solution because this motor has such little vacuum that it requires a mechanical vacuum pump.

No vacuum up top on the motor? No problem! Plus I get to rid the engine bay of another big ugly wart. Getting closer now....

Getting the sound deadening a heat protection figured out now...
http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/c...pspdmk190n.jpg
http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/c...pshlnglqv4.jpg

Need to do the doors and determine the best heat barrier to use on the firewall and floor.

Sounds awesome, Doug.

Got the brackets to put the front brakes on. Though I'm missing one caliper from the front kit.... I hate it when that happens. lol

http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/c...pspifpingg.jpg

After test mounting the new spindles, hubs, brackets, caliper and rotor it appears I need to shim it to get it centered perfectly.
I'm still waiting on the new LCA's to mount the coil over shocks on so I'll work on this in the meantime.

http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/c...psq5x51umh.jpg

Nice build Doug! my very first trans am was a 79 T-top Nocturne Blue Too
:goggles:

Congrats on the progress Doug. :thumbsup:

Sometimes it pays to take the car apart multiple times! American Powertrain didn't send throwout bearing shims with my kit, so I called them up back then and said.."what's up?" They were very accommodating and send a set immediately. The problem then became that the shims didn't fit. I looked at the instructions, scratched my head a bunch and then just realized there was no way they could fit the bearing I had so, I just set them aside and put the transmission in for the test fit. I thought to myself, this bearing has a spring on it so it must be self adjusting...but before I put it all back together for real, I need to check on this...

Now that I'm putting it all back together, I called American Powertrain to make sure I understood why this didn't fit per their detailed instructions. After a long discussion which ended up with me taking a picture of the bearing and emailing it during our conversation, AP realized someone packed a stock type T-56 hydraulic bearing in my kit instead of the Hydramax bearing. That was not going to work with this setup...

Stock type setup in this picture...
http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/c...psdxiusxgq.jpg
Hydramax in this picture.
http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/c...ps4qwemntx.jpg

As usual, they immediately sent the correct part out and it arrived last night. NOW, I can put the transmission back in the car.

Making some more progress. Got the brakes worked out up front after shimming the caliper bracket out .280. Those calipers are VERY close to the front wheels as you can see in the pic but they are centered on the rotor.
http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/c...psyujwuocq.jpg
http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/c...ps5jhynn5p.jpg
I'll have to take a measurement but I'll bet a credit card wouldn't fit between those spokes and the caliper!

Even after all that I still have a problem. The valve stem now hits the top of the rotor. It's never easy. lol
http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/c...psak9qk4mz.jpg

The exhaust is coming along nicely...
http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/c...psnvopefcq.jpg
http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/c...psg9gbhbjp.jpg
http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/c...pstk7ws1om.jpg

Going to have to shorten the long runs on the x-pipe assembly a total of 9 inches to put the x-pipe behind the cross-member. As you can see above it is going to be in the way otherwise. It would have fit perfectly with the headers had the x-pipe been located a little further back. So I'll need to put a couple of short extensions in right at the header collector (maybe some electric exhaust cutouts are in the future now.... lol)

I did the same thing with my Pypes kit. I shortened the long runs after the X in order to position the X. I took what I cut off and moved it to the front in order to connect it up the headers. I thought the kit fit very well especially considering I made my own mufflers and put the tail pipes in a custom orientation without having to purchase extra pieces.

Spoke with their customer support earlier today. They are shipping me the replacement parts now and I'm looking forward to checking this off the list!

Hate to hear about all the problems you're having with parts not working out or needing to be replaced. But on the other hand it's nice ce to know I'm not the only one.

I love those Wilwood hubs, it's a shame to cover them up.

And by the way, just ran a not the same issue with valve stem interference just this week....

All part of building a custom car. I've had pretty good experiences with most stuff. And the vendors are generally very helpful in getting the changes made to help get it done. Sometimes it's my own fault because I will change my mind after I see something on the car. Pypes was very helpful and once they saw how far back the crossmember is with a T-56 Magnum, they agreed I should cut the long runs and they are sending me two short pieces to fit up front. Great folks to work with. I was already considering putting in electric x-pipe cutouts and now by moving this back a foot they would fit perfectly I think. For now, I'll use the 1 foot extensions Pypes is sending.

What are you doing for your valve stems? Just the end is hitting so I'll get something shorter I hope that will work.

There's a couple options. One is a half-height stem which measures 3/4" from the outer wheel surface to the end.

Second is a button type valve which is a bump maybe 1/8" high which will definitely solve the problem but it's a pita to use. You have to unscrew the cap (button) and screw in a valve stem to adjust pressure. The screw in valve stems are small and are easy to misplace, but they do work.

Both are available at Jegs/Summit

Looks like I need to take some measurements tonight on the valve stem. It Just clips the top of the caliper at the front and in the bar across the middle and again at the back, so slowly roating the tire I can hear three distinct clicks as it hit.

Working with Wilwood now and may go to a different caliper up front if I can work it out financially with them.

Ihad a similar problem with valve stem in Rushforths hitting calipers on 14" Baers. Luckily I checked before having tires mounted. I used the 3/4" metal valve stems. Think I got them from Speedway.

I'll give them a shot when I get it close. Going to work on installing your braces this weekend. Still haven't been able to get Dave on the phone to get the lower control arms ETA. I was trying to do all of that at the same time I replaced them but who knows when that will be....

Those wheels... Yes! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

I'm out of town for the week but I got the exhaust in, with the exception of one small pipe that was missing. It really turned out nice. Took a few of the motor as well just for fun...
http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/c...psnj8t0pxz.jpg
http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/c...psbv7t9sfg.jpg
http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/c...psyshmlavw.jpg
http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/c...psumfzrats.jpg
http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/c...pseckwodeu.jpg

We are big fans of those wheels. How big is the dish on the 12s?

It looks nice!

18x12s on the back and 18x9.5 on the front.

Great job Doug! Going to be an awesome bird!

Thanks for the compliments. Here are a few pics of the latest updates. Just getting to the back brakes. 4P Wilwoods on the rear to compliment the 6P Wilwoods on the front. Now if only the hydroboost would show up. Ordered that on July 8th. I have the master and proportioning valve in hand but I can't plumb the car until Hydratech sends their piece. I guess I'll just move on to the fuel lines while I wait.

Installed the passenger side caliper bracket and caliper in only 2 tries. First to get the measurements to center the caliper on the rotor and the 2nd to tryout my math. .042 to the caliper on both sides after the install. Sometimes its better to be lucky than good. :-)



http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/c...psqhzqfo87.jpg
http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/c...psvitrddff.jpg

My first attempt at safety wiring rotors.
http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/c...pskydzyu8h.jpg

http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/c...psmipfvts8.jpg


http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/c...pssol1ktx5.jpg

http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/c...pskn3qdmn3.jpg

Nice work, Doug!

The Hydratech "show finish" kit finally arrived so now I can get to finishing the brakes.
http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/c...psb056as6w.jpg
http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/c...psdkjf0kdp.jpg
http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/c...pspv4cd0um.jpg
http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/c...psxusnvbvl.jpg

Anyone have contact info for LAB 4?

79 ta
 

To find lab 14 go to page 3 of the builds
he is performance 14 etc. he is also Not a Ta
you can send him a private email and he will
give you his phone number. Good guy and some
great products

Bob. Dreamin Ta's

Email is [email protected] or PM me here. Online store I've been working on the past couple weeks is almost finished and I hope to get it finished today. Since the shop & everything else here is packed and locked for hurricane arrival I have time to spend on computer until we loose services if the storms bad.

I'm in Southeast FL in the center of the cone of doom right where landfall is expected. So if I don't reply I may have lost services. Even if I get the store finished today I won't put it up on the web till after the storm because I don't want people to try to contact me or order on the store website and not get answered or shipments sent. Lost services for 3-4 days when hit dead center by Wilma (cat 3) in '05 and Matthew's supposed to be cat 4 when it hits here.

Below is a pic of the 75-81 F body lower control arm mount reinforcement kit Doug is using. Welding is the normal method of securing the pieces. As mentioned he used a very high quality automotive structural adhesive to install some of the pieces while welding others. The adhesive he used is better than the "panel bond" many are familiar with for a project like this. We talked before he used it and I don't see any problem using it the way he did in his application which I confirmed with a heavy collision repair technician prior to Doug's use. Thanks for being the adhesive "guinea pig" Doug!

http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/f...pstxlfor44.jpg

79 Ta
 

John
Take care in the storm.. hope all goes well

Bob in earthquake country

I had to pack up and evacuate due to Hurricane Matthew. John's in South Florida and I'm in Charleston, SC. Actually, I'm in Greenville, SC for now. Lol Looks like we're both going to get hit by this damn storm.

x2 hope you, John, and everyone else that's in the path of this storm take care.

Storm was about 85 miles out when it went by here so a rainy windy day yesterday/night but nothing even tropical storm force really. Folks north of here not going to be so lucky by the looks of the radar images.

79 Ta
 

John,
good to hear you are ok.. I had a pantera buddy that also
did not have much

Hopefully Doug does well

Bob

Thanks! Your Pantera buddy by any chance in Pompano and also had a 2nd gen TA?

Good luck with everything Doug!

79 Ta
 

Sorry
Somewhere in west palm I believe
Just moved there last year. No Ta's
But a bunch of other cool cars

Bob

Made a little more progress, including getting the wiring ready to install. I ended up going with a Ron Francis harness that is being delivered today. I am going to mount it so that it drops down for service using a bracket they sell for that purpose.

I'll post more on that soon. In the meantime here are a few more photos to show progress...

Two things I'm trying to work out now... First is finding some billet hinges to work with the G-Braces installed here. if anyone has already done this, please let me know so I can get a set that will fit!
http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/c...pssewpi6h1.jpg

This shows how close the factory hinges and G-Braces come. It's not the best pic for that purpose but the only one I could find.
http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/c...ps9mbztqw0.jpg

Should have a serpentine system that fill fit this motor soon. None of the aftermarket systems are set up to run with this type of timing cover and water pump but Luhn Performance is making a setup to do just that.

The Ron Francis harness came in. Nice stuff from what I can see. Looks like some wiring this weekend!



http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/c...psqkhqtcde.jpg

looking good glad you made it through the storm and i am glad it is over being a city of charleston worker it was alot of clean up and over time for me.

I can imagine. I'm in the city of Charleston so I know there was a lot to do. We just got our storm debris picked up this week but everyone was patient and understanding because there was so much of it.