December 2015

Delays

I've been a bit distracted the last few weeks.  My daughter got t-boned at a 4-way stop a couple of weeks back.  I've got to complete repairs on her car. It needs a new fender and some suspension parts. Fortunately, she didn't suffer any permanent damage herself. We'll beat the door straight with a hammer and get her a good junkyard shell in the spring.  I have to do all the work in the driveway since my car is not moving anytime soon.  It's been raining like hell here for the last couple of weeks.  Keeping my fingers crossed for some dry weather on my days off.  I have been working on some miscellaneous stuff. Fuel lines, engine harness, gauge pod.

Fuel System Prep

I'm keeping the supply side stock up to the engine bay and transitioning to -AN braid. I'll be running a 99 fuel rail, braid back to a Fuel Labs regulator and returning on the stock hard line.  This will only work with the VTCS deleted, which I already did.  The 99 rail also requires some grinding on the intake manifold for clearance. I'm sending my injectors out to Witch Hunter for cleaning and patterning in a couple of weeks. Here are some shots of the fuel work so far.

Clearance for -AN line and VTCS capped

This shows why the clearance grinding is needed. -AN hose fitting.

Clearance grinding for the 99 rail on front bolt boss

5/16 compression to -AN 6 hose in the supply

Gauge and Switch Pod

I made this with aluminum sheet and ABS. It will house oil pressure, water temp, volts, and my switch panel.  It's going into the center DINN rail which I plan to have integrated into my cage.  I'm adding idiot lights up by the steering column for the gauge warning functions.

More Wiring Prep

The NB engine harness needs to pass through the firewall at a different location.  I reused the original harness pass-through grommet from the driver side since all wiring from that side is deleted.  A 2.75" hole saw cut allows for a perfect fit.

The ECU and the wide band controller will live in a watertight NEMA enclosure.  It's supported on vibration dampening feet and held in place with rivnuts.  It's still raining which has slowed progress.  I have a couple of things to paint and I don't want to spray in the garage. The rain is beyond belief.  I've got water seeping into my basement for the first time in the 15 years I've lived in the house.

A Few Reflections

I was looking back at my first entries in July and I noticed that I said I was planning on keeping the car streetable for a few months.  That was a real WTF was I thinking moment.  Trying to do the job in bits would have turned this project into a years long endeavor.  If you're thinking of doing this kind of stripped down build, you've just got to go for it.

I was also thinking about budget.  I knew it going in that projects like this need a cushion for the small stuff you don't think of and tools, but I somehow failed to account for it.  It's not breaking me, but it's irritating. Every car forum ever says to add 25 to 30% to your budget for things that aren't anticipated.  Stuff like bolts, gaskets, and electrical supplies can add up fast.  I should have bought stock in brake cleaner before I started this project.
I updated my budget and I'm in for about $1000 for miscellaneous unplanned parts and $800 for tools.  The tools include some nice stuff I've been wanting for a while anyway including a 20 ton shop press.