A simple issue to pass along for others to not make the same mistake as I did.......I used Fuel line for the transmission cooling lines to the radiator.......after blowing holes in the lines (3 times) and after the last time the car had to be brought home on a Flatbed.....I didn't know really what the Heck was going on.......I called RPM transmissions and after explaining what was going on......he explained that you can't use fuel line for this purpose......It seems the trans fluid attacks and weakens the Rubber used for fuel lines......the trans he built for me has about 300 PSI line pressure when put in reverse and that's why I was having these problems.......It was blowing thru the hose at it weakest point.........So....I already replaced the front section of lines (from the starter forward) with hard lines........and I was going to finish the rest but it seems me and tube benders don't get along.......so after going thru a bunch of hard lines I went and bought some correct trans rubber hose and installed them and everything is now fine........Now maybe I can make it to the alignment shop without the trans line blowing out......LOL.......

On to the last Issue that I had to deal with was setting the pinion angle.....The Ridetech set-up is great .....But.....because of the little extra angle of my engine trans combo when I tried to adjust it using the upper adjustable arms........It just rolled the rear end back into the Coil Overs..........So.....as the lower arms are fixed length and non adjustable.......I talked to the Tech guys at Ridetech (Great Guy's) and what I did was bought threaded Bungs and Rod Ends........So.....we cut off the ends of the lower arms and welded in the new bungs with the adjustable Rod Ends........So.....I figured out the angles and how much shorter the lower arm needed to be and adjusted them and put everything back together.......Bingo........hit it the first time......and when I ordered those parts I also ordered the rear sway bar assy.......so I got everything installed and finished.......Now we just need some dry Salt free roads to get the alignment completed......Get the exhaust system installed.........Get the car to Donnie at Frame-up.......Then off to Stefano at Nickey for the Tune.........


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Ken

I know you haven't had much seat time, but what are your initial impressions on ride and handling?

I appreciate all the lessons learned too.

Too soon to tell.........Front end is still not aligned and I have no idea yet where the shock valves are set......

Chevelle truned out great.

Ken, your car turned out amazing!:thumbsup:
The problem you had with your lower arms is what is making me lean towards using Chassisworks g-Link control arms, they are adjustable.

Now, see how easy that was! lol.

Some times i think we dont run a race when building these things, we run a "hurdle" race....obstacle after abstacle....

Ken, your car is looking awesome. The stance is kicka$$. I experienced the same issue with the Ridetech rear 4 link on my 69 Camaro. We used the same fix as you on the lower bars and it made a huge difference. The greatest issue was going in and out of a driveway or over a bump while turning. The tires would rub the front edge of the rear fender. We attempted multiple pinion angle fixes and after tearing two trim pieces off the rear fenders and messing up the paint, we finally figured it out with the help of the Ridetech guys. In my experience, Kyle Nichter and the tech team were very responsive and helpful throughout resolving the issue. Some of the BEST customer service in the industry.

With my wheel/tire combo........I had the same issue but on the upper rear of the wheel opening..........by shortening the rear arms I was able to get the pinion angle dialed in and the tires now have plenty of clearance where they previously rubbed.........Perfect Fix!!!!

A couple of things........I made it to the alignment shop today.....LOL.....I actually didn't blow up any transmission lines.......I guess when you use the right product for the application .......It works......LOL.....anyhow....The front end is now aligned and set up........I also sent out my stock am radio and had it converted to am/fm stereo /satellite Sirius ready.......got everything in and hooked up with Radio Margaritaville ..............great cruising station...........I also ordered an exhaust kit with all mandrel bends and Dynomax #17749 mufflers.....2 1/2" system.........should be here in a couple of days......Good weekend project......The other thing I'm not too crazy about is the brake system.........It was recommended to go with a 7/8" bore master non power system..........well......I'm not very impressed with the stopping power and may be switching to a Power system in the near future.........anyhow......here are some pic's....Time to call Stefano at Nickey and get the old Beater over there and wake it up......LOL


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The box of exhaust components showed up today.......Got started today......In the pictures you will see some band clamps.....those are for fitting only........everything will be welded ..........Gonna be a busy weekend and hopefully off to Stefano and Nickey next week......


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Hey Ken, beautiful car. Since I can't find where anybody asked...(maybe I missed it!) what are your specs for your wheels and tires? Thanks, Shawn

I know these tires are a little on the "Fat Sidewall" side compared to what everyone else is running......but this car will never see a cone.....just a garage built Power Tour car......hence the wider tires......the fronts are 17 x 7 ......225 -55........the rears are 18 x 8 ......255-55.........I believe 4 1/2 back spacing ........

Thanks, I like the fatter sidewall as well! Shawn

I finished the exhaust system and got another Education on Welding.......I finally got the wire feed and voltage dialed in on the last weld........Typical..........But.....In building the other LS powered cars I always seemed to have issues with the "Rappy" sound out the exhaust pipes and ended up changing mufflers a couple times to get away from it..........I think the length of the tail pipes have something to do with it........But.......On this car I bought Dynomax #17749 super turbo mufflers and brought the tail pipes out behind the rear tires........so ....when I started it I didn't know what to expect.........I wanted the quietist performance Muffler I could find...........so.....When I started it........I was very pleasantly surprised at how you could hear the exhaust.....but yet how quiet it was........Perfect!!!........Going down to Stefano at Nickey next week to get the rough edges blended together in the ECM............When I started the build I had the complete ZL1 harness assy........But......because I decided not to use the 6L90E trans we couldn't use the ZL1 harness ........John at Speartech supplied a ECM set up to work with the engine and the 4L70E trans......but....It needed to dialed in to blend everything together......so......Stefano and Cory are going to put the final piece of the puzzle in place.............Then it's going to Frame-Up to get the A/C system charged......83 days till Power Tour.......


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Exhaust looks good and tucked up nice to the floor.

I have gotten a couple of requests to hear the "Beater" run with the exhaust system.....so....here is a short video......as you can see until the engine gets tuned it's running Pig Rich!!!..........Driving down the road you can barely hear the exhaust unlike the Flowmaster that I had on the other cars......These are much better and thanks to Samhatco for the Muffler recommendation.....Click on the Picture for Video


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Ken, the car looks and sounds great. I was also doing exhaust today on our 67. One thing worth mentioning is your tailpipe exits. I did my 64 chevelle like yours and experienced a lot of fumes blowing into the car at low speeds. I ended up extending them back a foot and it was solved. Seems like if you don't get the spent gases away from the car they whip around and into the cabin.

If there is a problem that will be the first thing to adjust........Thanks

Ken

What size pipe did you use - 2-1/2"?

Great job on getting the exhaust tucked up and away.

Yep!!.........2 1/2"...........

The car is on it's way to Nickey Chicago where Stefano and Cory are going to give it some good old Muscle car tuning......They are very busy there so it might be a week before I can post a video of the car on the chassis Dyno.........Gonna get interesting from this point on!!!.........


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Ken

There not that far from me and this sounds like a great reason to go visit there shop

Where are you located at??

:morepower:drive:

I am about 30 minutes away. The guys at Wagner shipped my motor to them so I could save on shipping

Waiting it's turn on the Chassis Dyno at Nickey Chicago......


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This should be interesting!

Stefano and Cory at Nickey have been very busy and since I'm not really in any hurry to get the car back,.....they didn't get to it until late in the week.........Cory had to install another Bung in the exhaust system for one of the sensors that is needed for the Dyno Computer.......it would have normally gone in one of the rear O-2 sensors Bungs........Then it finally got on the Chassis Dyno but since it was late on Friday.......Cory didn't get a chance to really dial it in yet.........should be a video early next week...........


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Man, that car is beautiful.

I love a good dyno day!


Car is just awesome Ken!

Absolutely Stunning car! waiting to hear some HP & TQ numbers.

Brings back fond memories as my first ride in a Muscle car was a 1967 SS 396 4spd Chevelle way back in 1969.

Great build. The car turned out very nice. Who did you have rebuild your stock radio?

Here you go............

http://www.vintageautoradio.com/

What kinda of numbers are shooting for?

Jimbo........The engine is as stock as they come.......I'll be just as surprised as everyone else.......Gonna be a new experience being able to keep up (somewhat) with Charley on the Power Tour......LOL

Cory had a nagging issue to deal with in this pieced together system.....When he would start to get into some boost, the Computer would pull Timing out of the engine and kill the Power......Took a while to figure out that it was the Torque Management system that was killing the power........It took a while to figure out how to get in the proper area of the ECM and turn that particular table off..........Got a call from him just before he was leaving for the day and he finally got to make a pull without losing Timing.........Tomorrow seems to be the day everything gets blended together to work as a balanced system.............


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I wonder how many others are having that issue and don't know it. :poke:

Didn't hear anything from Cory today.........But the first quick pull yesterday with the Timing stabilized.........The car made 480 rear wheel horsepower.........So.....I can't wait to see what it will do with everything dialed in..........These engines just amaze me.......this thing idles like Grandma's car........Hope to have a video tomorrow.....

Now you are catching on....

God that's a pretty car. Nicely done. :thumbsup: