Plastic Fantastic 76 Corvette

[SuperBuickGuy]

removed the last vestiges of Optima 2023.... put the wing back where it belongs

time to start considering what the front is going to look like - I don't think I'm getting enough air for cooling and adding more hp isn't going to help on that front (yes 511 ci is in sight)
time to make the second baffle...

I'm going to fasten this differently - not sure how, yet, but it's important to get this all together

because I dug all this stuff out


Paul's C3 - its motor is about ready to come out and several bits from my C3 are going on his motor...
my plan is to get the hard parts on the motor - though I may get dead stopped because I'm not 100% sure I have an intake gasket

[SuperBuickGuy]

time to do this

pictures to give a reference for putting all this stuff in Paul's car



I hope this fixes the oil pressure problem - it certainly looks like it might be too much lift... but there's another problem and that's they were just too tight in the bores. The Comp lifters are much smoother

and I'm just going to pretend I didn't see the cam.... billet cam. It'll be fine. Or it won't. I'm not doing anything with it at the moment....

wow, even room under the hood

[SuperBuickGuy]

One bite at a time... cooling
as much as I don't like chrome, it fits

then fix the coolant bypass.... for whatever reason, the FiTech coolant hole is about 1" closer to the water pump

rant ON
I paid money for a throttle cable adapter for this manifold. It simply doesn't work.... hell, I'm not even sure the pieces bolt together.... I've been apologetic about FiTech but this is quite literally it. Never use them.*

the bracket needs to be 5/8" wider to clear the throttle body.... now I either have to make or buy something else...
in an effort to calm down....I dropped the cam sensor in place - not the right place, but the place where the cat won't knock it off the bench...


but that is progress.... but now I need another bracket, and the more I look at it, the more likely I'm going to re-engineer the cooling system. I'm tired of cooling problems...

*I'll relate the story - but my first issue with them was faulty injectors on my FJ40 landcruiser. They did right by me and sent new injectors (which, to date, solve the problem). But now let's roll forward, I have had nothing but problems with their 800+ system. To the point that on the Friday before Memorial Day weekend, I drove from Willow Springs to their office to pick up a new computer. Which, I wouldn't have needed to buy if their 'tech' had called me back when the phone disconnected at Willow Springs (took more then an hour to get through).... not 100% their fault, but the cost, time and missing my first Optima Challenge greatly annoyed me since I drove 1200 miles (a direction) to go play. Their response? "sorry"... Okay, don't trust their electronics, check, but they make the only intake that will fit under my hood (without the gyrations I had before).... the holley was a stop gap before what I'm doing now.... but those people can't even make a bracket without screwing it up. I'm done. RantOFF.

[camcojb]

Yours looks like a copy of the Holley bracket I was using before I swapped to drive by wire TB. Did you have it assembled like this? Mine had plenty of room around the TB. Wouldn't work if you had it swapped the opposite direction.

https://www.holley.com/products/fuel...saAuAwEALw_wcB

[SuperBuickGuy]

Originally Posted by camcojb

Yours looks like a copy of the Holley bracket I was using before I swapped to drive by wire TB. Did you have it assembled like this? Mine had plenty of room around the TB. Wouldn't work if you had it swapped the opposite direction.

https://www.holley.com/products/fuel...saAuAwEALw_wcB

that direction won't work with the FiTech intake. This is one of those questions I'm sure I'll be asking at SEMA

and I'm back
because the first step is always, take it further apart

time to pull the radiator (the hood wasn't a lot of fun by myself...)

there will be re-engineering - this bar causes cooling issues because it blocks the normal outlet port

red light, it works

and the crank trigger/wheel is in place

looks like alignment is my next trick

that said, it wasn't that great to begin with

[SuperBuickGuy]

time to refit the Corvette radiator. well, the C3 Corvette radiator, the last was from a Z06 and it wasn't enough....

ain't going to win any award for the engine compartment... eff em.

I've spent WAY too much time on this.... there isn't a great spot and this has issues with its closeness to the alternator... but if I have to shield it, oh well... see the comment about show portion of life

that said, I have a lot of respect for a clean engine bay builder... but not enough to spend another year or two on this

first is build brackets

then tack them to the top of the frame... need to finish weld and paint... but time to move on

and the regulator is installed

[SuperBuickGuy]

the $400 plug
FAST doesn't include the other half of this plug with their kit.... fyi.


reality is it's about $90 ($10 for plug, $70 for "should work" crimper, plus tax and transport).... but still, a little frustrating if you don't know

[SuperBuickGuy]

As we all know, I LOVE wiring. Read that again. That is a lie. So what do I buy at SEMA? more wiring



this isn't complaining, just explaining. I run by myself - no tire temp checkers, no pit crew, it's me. And at SEMA, I saw something that I think will be the utter cat's pjs for me. It gives me 120 degrees of temperature (real time). so with one sensor, I can monitor brake temp and tire temps. But wait, there's more. It also monitors tire pressure.



I really think it will be a game changer for me.

display screen it also blue-tooth connects to apple or android.



basically, it mounts above the wheel (on the inside, vertically) and gives me a reading across 120 degrees. Did I mention that it also tells me how far the suspension is traveling?

not cheap but invaluable for someone like me.



and yes, I thought a bit about sharing - why help competitors? well, here's the reason, I like the Australians who make this. I want them to win (small, son and dad business)....



so I'll wire a bit more. And mount it so that I can move it between cars... the tire pressure monitors screw onto the air fill.... which means I could use it on my 4x4 too

forgot, it also has a can-bus plug so it will work with your existing track gear.....

[SuperBuickGuy]

an update of the rest of the project
To get the larger radiator in, I need to remove this piece

it was useful for the original build, but I'm going to move where it lands and add to the area in front so I can install tow hooks

amazing how much there is on my list.... but getting there

a reminder to call FiTech tomorrow. Apparently, this one won't work (so I was told)... replacement is supposed to be free - so hopefully I can put done on the throttle

about the hardest part of this was soldering stuff together - most was pretty much plug and play but not this time... 4 into 1 wiring

fine wiring... done


I don't get it, it's like I do wiring and everything blows up. I have a short in the shop, working on the welder on the '40, doing the Corvette, and the Blazer is just one large wiring project itself.... then this went down

bit of solder and it was fixed but those high impedance air gaps will get your every time

[SuperBuickGuy]

oooo shiny baubles. I like shiny things

remove the old

seal some bolts

spray some sealant

and install

the disaster that was the space behind the manifold is starting to look better

not perfect, but closer

talking to FiTech and holley - they suggested just doing deadhead runs to the rails. I can't do it. too many air locks on diesels so with a couple 45 degree fittings and some tube

and the cross over is built

radiator still fits, bonus


the next step is more wiring work - I'm going to move the 2nd fuse block and relay block. Apparently, someone thought the red strip on the back of the motor was how I wired.... so I'll make it go away and add a box where they can be assured it was done right then and now. That said, I hate the individual fuse holders - they were there for convenience, time for them to go