Learning things the hard way.

[bullet18]

Unfortunately my friend who can weld really well had something come up so we couldn't get as much done during my weekend home as i intended. i still got the steering wheel adapter on and i actually got the turn signals to work. i blew the fusible link and 4 30 amp fuses trying to figure out where a short was in the wiring system. It turns out that i found an incorrect diagram when i was making the wiring adapter for the gm style plugs on my aftermarket column. The diagram said a battery terminal was a ground terminal so i ended up with a battery lead connected directly to ground. i would have bought a factory column but this was cheaper and i really need the tilt column since i'm tall. thanks for all the help you guys have given me with the wiring recently, ill hopefully be driving it with lights and a windshield when i'm home for Easter next week.

 

[bullet18]

It just occurred to me that i never uploaded a picture of the fender tag. Here it is.

 

[bullet18]

Some updates on my plans for the drivetrain: im gonna try and get the first 440 i bought to run this summer so i can sell it. I think the valves are sticking. I can probably get 850-900 for it around here and i can put that towards my really expensive top end. I might go to a 400 stroker at somepoint because they're stronger and they have a shorter stroke for the displacement. Im planning on getting the indy ez heads that are cnc'd out to max wedge size. Hughes sells a kit with most of what id need for 2400. I then need a max wedge intake which i hope i can find at a swap meet. Im gonna get an 850 double pumper so i can actually tune it with some degree of precision. I think Im gonna go with comp cams 21-225 240/246 .507/.510 hydraulic flat tappet, though i might go a little bigger since im upgrading the heads. Im obviously gonna get a better converter and rear gears first but if i can get the top end done this summer it should be powerful enough to scare me for quite a while.

 

[martinbrown790]

Really you are very lucky not to wreck, I have seen a lot of bad towing results, being a towing truck driver at rite way towing, I have seen too many wreckages of vehicles. so I think you are lucky.

 

[bullet18]

I got a lot done over easter break. The passenger side A-pillar patched, the rear footwells in and the passenger seat in. I also got the hood ready to install. The exhaust is welded up, its not too loud when its outside now. All of the lights work now. I got a digital oil pressure gauge and a tach. The engine has 58-63 psi of oil pressure at idle which is currently around 1500 rpm. The alternator charges. Everything seems to be running good. We couldn't quite get the windshield in because the patches took too long but its not too far off. It still wont move forward in drive but thats a discussion for a different post.

 

[bullet18]

We finally got the windshield in. Theres a lot of urethane i need to clean up but we did a better job than the last people. I made a new shifter braket that bolts in and is a lot sturdier than the old one, plus im gonna mount fan switches, cupholders and phone slots on it. I got 2 10" craftsman bandsaws in a craigslist deal so if anyone in west michigan wants one, 40$ and its yours. I saw one online for $150 but this one isn't perfect and im not delusional enough to try and sell it for the price of a new harbor freight saw. I made a 4' sheet metal brake to help with the box for the shifter and the fan shroud im gonna make. Fingers crossed im on track to take it to the nats as long as i can figure the transmission out and get it titled.

 

[bullet18]

So my plans have changed in light of the metal in my oil... im now gonna get my 500" low deck stroker bottom end built this summer instead of putting heads on it. Im getting a block cleaned, crack checked, and machined. Im getting a 440 source kit, main stud girdle, and an external oil pickup because i hate dealing with the stock one that i cant get off without bending threads.
Itll probably only make 430hp with these heads but it wont blow up my trans. Ill put the heads on next summer and build a 4 speed over the next year.

 

[quapman]

"Only 430 hp" LOL, that's plenty for this old fart.

 

[bullet18]

"Only 430 hp" LOL, that's plenty for this old fart.

Yeah its probably better that i go from my stock 270hp altima to a 430hp challenger instead of a 570hp challenger like i was gonna have with the ez-1s anyway. Obviously im just guessing based dyno tests on similar engines.

 

[DetMatt1]

I love that you have Hi mom written on the side!

 

[bullet18]

I love that you have Hi mom written on the side!

That was actually the previous owner. The best part is they used the glare to hide it in the ebay pictures.

 

[bullet18]

I got a pretty decent haul from the nats this year, i got a b holley street dominator manifold, shift linkage and a slapstick shifer and a center console. The best deals i got though were $5 for a pair of fiberglass fenders and $57 for a rear seat in driver condition.

 

[bullet18]

I got the 512 short block back today. I hauled it all the way back from fenwick in the back of my altima. I might paint it and throw on the pan and timing cover next weekend. Im gonna get new valve springs since i got a new cam. Any recommendations for .510 lift? I already have a neutral balance wholeshot torque converter so im set there. Also im looking for carb recommendations for my setup. Itll eventually be going on a max wedge single plane hooked up to the indy ez-1s on the 512.

 

[aussiemark]

Get that plastic off ASAP it will start rusting put it on and engine stand or on a bench and spray WD40 or a similar rust preventative spray on it and cover it with old towels or something like that. Every time I left parts wrapped in plastic they went rusty very quick.

 

[bullet18]

Im in the process off throwing all the parts together now. I have the oil pan on and the new oil pump. Im currently lapping the valves and installing the valve springs on my desk in my dorm room, which fun.

 

[bullet18]

My shock crossmember cracked at somepoint. Probably on one of the 2 drives i took it on. Glad i double checked before driving it again.

 

[DetMatt1]

Someone may have had air shocks installed at some point, big no no.

 

[bullet18]

Someone may have had air shocks installed at some point, big no no.

Yeah i took air shocks off it to put in my drag shocks.

 

[challenger6pak]

Someone may have had air shocks installed at some point, big no no.

I wonder how many didn't have air shocks in the 80's. Probably very few.

 

[bullet18]

Over winter break i managed to get the 512 assembled and in the car. I got 1.7 ratio billet rockers and new pushods so the valvetrain is completely done now. I still need to hook up the oil pickup so i can prime it but after that it shouldn't take long to get it started.