Getting closer........ [Archive]

Jim Nilsen

06-01-2009, 05:46 PM

Hi Martin, I feel a lot better these days and am clear of any cancer. I can taste things now fairly well and my energy level is getting more everyday and is about 80% of normal. I have slow days hear and there but don't we all ? LOL

Here is a bit of what is going on today. I have a blue high beam light that has to be added and an ECM warning light too. I keep thinking about putting the green turn lights above in each corner and putting the blue high beam light in the center on the bottom with the parking brake light to the left and the red ECM light to the right. OR leave the green turn lights where they are and put the blue high beam light in the center and the amber and red lights up in the corners ?

I can move them easily so if I don't like it where they are I can move them around. Decisions decisions. I even have thought about putting the amber light to the left and the red to the right of the other thee keeping them all on the bottom?

The bezel will be painted the same as the rest of the dash when it is all completely finished.

What do you think?

dropit69

06-01-2009, 05:56 PM

WOW Jim great to hear your health is alot better..thats awesome and the car looks outstanding !!!

Tony_SS

06-01-2009, 06:59 PM

Lookin good Jim!

WS6

06-02-2009, 04:43 PM

Definitely glad to hear you're doing well enough to work on the car Jim.

As for the LEDs. I think they look good the way they are. However, and I'm doing this right now myself, make sure you can see them when in the driving position and the steering wheel where you like it. SES light is most important. On my 79, my seating position and wheel position block to the top half of the speedo and tach. I'll be rectifying that since I have to use new gauges anyway. All my LED indicators will be relocated as well.

Jim Nilsen

06-25-2009, 01:49 PM

Another piece of the car emerges out of the scrap aluminum pile.

Power steering reseviour bracket just needs a mounting place and it's in.

Damn True

06-25-2009, 04:05 PM

Great to see some progress there Jim and man am I glad to hear you are feeling better!!!

Jim Nilsen

07-07-2009, 10:11 AM

It was a bit to make it easy to clean the filter and have it be easy to do but I won after a few more fittings and a few fits of why don't they ???? LOL.

To do this seemed to take too long to do but I didn't make any mistakes which means not doing it twice, so did I do it faster,lol.

I couldn't imagine paying someone to do this and be billed for the time it took even if it was half the time I spent. Total of all of the labor to do the complete stainless fuel lines from front to back including the lines in the trunk for the fuel cell and vent took at least 16 to 20 hours and that doesn't include some of the time spent figuring out where to run it.

here are some pics

Jim Nilsen

07-08-2009, 06:57 PM

Here is a pic from today.

I didn't have enough room for a breather on the valve cover to make it easy so I added the Allstar breather.

It's nice to know that I am supporting a sponsor too.

Some radiator hoses connecting it together and a coolant overflow tank and I think I have it all connected.

i'm getting more excited everyday about starting it up.

BMF Machine

07-08-2009, 07:31 PM

That is really taking shape. Love the detail and clean look. I am also very glad to see that your back on your feet and kicking ass!

WickeD car JiM, very WickeD!

I can't wait to see it all finished, I am sure your first cruze in it will be a great time and well deserved!

Jim Nilsen

07-10-2009, 02:51 PM

Worked on the radiator tubing today and found an interesting thing to help hold the connections together.

A plastic caulking tube was just the right size to fit the lower connections and made it a lot easier to mock up.

Here is the lower tube.

Motown 454

07-10-2009, 03:02 PM

You did a beautiful job on the fuel lines. nice fab work.

NOT A TA

07-10-2009, 03:37 PM

Thats looking really nice Jim! Good to see you're feeling well.

Jim Nilsen

07-20-2009, 07:20 AM

It's been over a week and here are a few more pics.

It seems that you just can't get things done th eday you think you can and other days you get done what you hadn't planned on. I find myself going from one detail to another until it is right or until I get the right parts to finish.

the rubber terminal covers came from www.genuinedealz.com (http://www.genuinedealz.com) and are inexpensive with free shipping, no excuses to not have them at 2 bucks apiece. They have a bunch of good things there cheap. check them out.

Details ,details ,details

Jim Nilsen

07-28-2009, 05:11 PM

Here is the tranny with the shifter moved forward. it sure makes the rods a lot shorter.

I had to r&r the hydraulic throwout bearing from Howe that leaked after 6 mo. of just sitting after it bled and only pushing it a few times. They replaced it at half price after the 5 yrs I had had it.

Hope the new one and it being the 3rd design that it will work flawlessly.

Also got the windsheild in today.

camaro2nv

07-28-2009, 05:47 PM

Got to be a good feeling getting that close.

Jim Nilsen

07-28-2009, 05:56 PM

Got to be a good feeling getting that close.

I am starting to get the butterflies in my stomach as it gets closer to firing it up.

I need about 3or 4 things to have all of the parts, a coolant overflow tank,emergncy brake cable,the rest of my gauges for the dash,dome light and a few misc items.

I have to bleed the brakes and the clutch,fill the power steering and coolant, check the rear lube and fill the tranny.

It will be a week for leaks if I have them.

I am sure I will think of something I am missing.

After 17 years I still am having a hard time believing it will be able to be driven,lol. Aren't they just garage ornaments!

Van B

07-28-2009, 06:51 PM

Looking good. There will be little things that pop up, but you seem to have been very methodical in your build, so you'll probably have fewer problems than the average guy.

1968CamaroSS_Sam

07-28-2009, 08:24 PM

It is looking great, keep it going. More pics too please. Glad your health is better.

awr68

07-28-2009, 08:29 PM

Coming along nicely, Jim!!

Jim Nilsen

08-01-2009, 10:39 AM

Thanks for all the compliments.

Here are some of the new overflow tank after modifying it. I think it was actually a fuel cell because it says ,minicell molded in it, but they sell it as an overflow tank. i odered one that was supposed to be a different shape but it didn't have the cap. when it came in it was completely different but it is actually better. it is a Jaz product.

Only a few more pieces and fluids and the temporary exhaust goes on and we fire it up.

The details are killing me on time but if it wasn't for the details it wouldn't be the car it is.

Jim Nilsen

08-11-2009, 12:54 PM

After pulling out the tranny I pulled the rear end out and detailed it along with putting my new 5 way adjustable shocks on. I have an e brake and brakes that work now. The tranny shifts better than ever and the clutch is working better than the 1st version did. Now if the brakes ,clutch and shifter work as good when we are up and running it will be a good day.

Next step is the exhaust ,time the distributor, finish up a few wires and put my Racepac intelligauges in with my speedo and we can try to start it up. So a couple of more days and I might get to hear it make some noise.

So close yet so far away !!!!

Ralph LoGrasso

08-11-2009, 02:23 PM

It's great to see you getting so close, Jim. I know that its been a looong road and build. Best of luck on finishing her up, I can't wait to see some pictures out on the road!

Jim Nilsen

08-19-2009, 07:56 AM

It was a beautiful day yesterday, so perfect that I painted my Covans gauge panel outside in the sun and it turned out great. The birds the bugs and the wind were on a break for about an hour and that was all it took.

Here it is painted black instead of the silver it came as. Scuffed it with a scotchbrite ,cleaned it and painted.

Steve Chryssos

08-19-2009, 08:17 AM

It's very exciting to see one of the original pro-touring.com projects waking from its deep slumber. I remember clicking on ever pic in the Cormaro site many years ago. It took forever to work my way thru the entire site.

Congratulations on the progress Jim. If possible, please try to capture the first fire-up and first drive on video so'z we can all share the moment.

dropit69

08-19-2009, 08:44 AM

looking good Jim..cant wait to hear it run !!...

70 Chevelle

08-19-2009, 03:57 PM

Just saw this. It's great to hear your back in the shop Jim. Progress looks great. It must feel great to be soo close.

bigshotsho93

08-21-2009, 11:03 AM

lookin good Jim. il be over tonight to check it out in person. cant wait for a ride in that awesome machine.

Billetmaster

08-21-2009, 03:43 PM

Nice.

Jim Nilsen

08-25-2009, 08:24 PM

I am looking at the car and am thinking that Prodigy would have it running by tommorow morning if only they would show up !

I have some more programming to do with the Racepak setup and will be able to finish it up on thurs. when my intelligauges get here.

I keep doing other little things that don't have anything to do with getting it started , but they have to get done.

The hood is getting painted tommorow and that will speed things up a bit for me.

I keep looking at the weekend to get it started ,maybe before?

The front fenders are going on this weekend if it runs or not so that it looks like a car and I can SEE progress.

Here is a pic of the dash and the wheel. Not sure about keeping the yellow? how about you? I can dye it black easily but it can only be YELLOW once.

Van B

08-26-2009, 04:44 PM

I would vote for black on the steering wheel.

John Wright

08-26-2009, 04:52 PM

I would vote for black on the steering wheel.+1 on a dark color for the wheel.....for me it's just too hard to resist touching the wheel for just a sec with a greasy hand to straighten up the wheel for some reason...LOL, and stuff like that never comes clean afterwards.

BMF Machine

08-26-2009, 07:31 PM

I vote yellow wheel~ It is already done!

Looking great Jim, I bet you are getting StokeD!

Ralph LoGrasso

08-26-2009, 07:46 PM

Here is a pic of the dash and the wheel. Not sure about keeping the yellow? how about you? I can dye it black easily but it can only be YELLOW once.

Jim,

Personally I would go with a black steering wheel. But I'm a sucker for all black interiors, so I may not be the best person to ask.

I hope to hear it running this weekend!

bigshotsho93

08-29-2009, 10:03 AM

The hood is getting painted tommorow and that will speed things up a bit for me.

i painted the hood for jim on wed. night. hope that moves him a day closer to finishing it up. just glad i could help out and have a very small part in this car getting done. id help out more but im pretty busy lately.

good luck, let me know if there is anything else i can do to help out. and for sure let me know when your gonna take it for the maiden voyage! il hold the video camera for ya.

Jim Nilsen

08-29-2009, 03:05 PM

It's going on 6pm and I just got done painting the rear spoiler and doing the double check of the distributor timing and I hope it is good enough to get me running.

Gotta put oil in the engine and the power steering and then the gas. I have to calibrate the sender at the same time.

I thought I would be starting it up today but it looks like tommorow.

It's my birthday so maybe things will go my way and it will start right up.

I still am waiting to get the info on the DCC controller surge protection.

So much fun and it is getting me nervous.

The hood that Mike did for me turned out great and saved me a day or 3.

I am going to try and find a better video camaera for the start up or it will be a camera with a small video clip.

1968CamaroSS_Sam

08-29-2009, 03:08 PM

Happy Birthday. Very nice project you have going.

Motown 454

08-29-2009, 04:57 PM

Happy Birthday Jim . Good luck with the startup.

Jim Nilsen

08-30-2009, 06:20 AM

Thanks for the birthday wishes.

I am going over all of the connections and programming this morning to make sure that windows vista hasn't decided to change things on me. I hate vista for thinking it is smarter than me to decide what changes need to be made or not or just plain delete it.

The plan is to try the ignition this afternoon. I have to go to radio shack and get some capacitors for the DCC controller and put them in. A bit of power steering fluid and oil and we can fill the gas tank and calibrate the sender. Then turn the key and pray for ignition.

There are a few 1st on this car for things that I hope work well if not I have backup parts to change things.

It has been a long road to get to this day and I was hoping to be driving on this day but bringing it to life on my birthday is probably the destiny that was meant to be.

May I live as long as the Cormaro and be able to adapt as well.

There will be a moment of silence and prayer and then the sound of a starter trying to bring the beast to life. I hope I can say

IT"S ALIVE IT"S ALIVE

Jim Nilsen

08-30-2009, 08:51 AM

So far so good, Radio Shack had the capacitors I needed to get started so it is on to the next step after I get them on.

I keep thinking that about 4pm I will be mentally ready to do it, whether the car is ready is another story to be told tommorow.

Ralph LoGrasso

08-30-2009, 02:00 PM

Happy Birthday, Jim! I hope you get it fired up today. :fingersx:

Jim Nilsen

08-30-2009, 06:38 PM

We gave it a couple of hours of trying and didn't get it start but we could get it to fire here and there.It has to be a timing problem but we couldn't see anything that wasn't to the instructions for installing the distributor that was wrong. Had a couple of programming errors that still didn't get things going after changing them.

The racepumps fuel pump isn't getting fuel to the rails and I think a call to them in the morning will lead me to the right solution. I believe I may have to prime it like an old pump and get some fluid to it to make the seal so it will pump.

Ran the battery down to the point that we borrowed the one from my pickup.

The learning curve on this efi is putting me in the ditch for the moment.

A call to Accel in the morning hopefully will help me figure it out.

If anyone wants to add any comments about what might be something to do I am open to anything.

It's been a long day and i am tired.

Jim Nilsen

08-31-2009, 09:54 AM

Well it has been an interesting morning.

I got on the phone to racepumps and got to talk to Howard about my problems with priming the pump and such and if they had a solution to my problem.

After describing my needs and setup he told me that I should use the electric setup and not the racepump. He was very honest about how people have treid to get it to work and at the worst possible time,like in traffic on a very hot day and it would just die.

The idea is a great one and for high horsepower he said it is the solution for most. But for a basic setup like I have it just doesn't work well. It took several years to get the research to confirm this and in that time it progressed to not being the setup that is best for me.

Howard understood where I was coming from and seemed to appreciate my desire to make it work but told me straight out that I should go to electric pump and he would refund my money for the Racepump. After all of the time that has passed he still is going to give me a full refund. I have to say that it isn't what I really wanted or what he wanted but it is great to know that there are still good people in the world and he is one of them.

So the rest of the story is that if you have big crazy horsepower a racepump will help you, if you have a mild setup it won't.

So if you really need it they can help and if you are looking for a solution to a fuel problem they will work with you towrd a solution.

So now I need to run a return line and the wiring for the electric fuel pump.

I tried to do something to make the car safer in case of tragedy and not have fuel spraying from an electric pump but now I have to comply with the old way move on and add saftey in the system to kill the pump if needed.

So take it for what it is worth and hopefully it will work in the end.

Payton King

08-31-2009, 10:23 AM

Jim Nilsen

08-31-2009, 03:30 PM

at least you got a good result....just not time wise.

I will assume that you are going to run an in tank pump. Even if you run an inline pump. Put it at the back of the car close to the tank. After the pump place a regulator. Run your return from your regulator back to the tank and dead head the system at the motor. That way you are not recirculating hot gas back to the tank. It will run fine that way. I have mine done that way along with about everyone else I know. I would assume you battery is in the back. Wire in a relay and run one hot wire from your ignition to the back and your are done. Do not, however run your ground from the pump directly to the battery. Been there and done that and just about caught my car on fire. That is another story for another time.

Also do not get too big of a pump. My LS1 made 425 at the wheels and I was running an Aeromotove A1000....waaaay to big. I am running a Walboro 225 and it is plenty of pump. If you get one too large it will bypass a ton of fuel and you will have fuel starvation problems when you get to about 1/4 of a tank in corners.

Thanks for the info, I was going to call Accel and ask them if that is what works best.

I have the Bosch pump that came with the kit and the relays are already installed and the wire is just tucked up under the dash ready to go to the rear.

What regulator did you run and what pressure? and did you use 1/4in line for your return or the same as the feed?

From what I am understanding you are putting the regulator after the tee and on the return line side,Right?

I really appreciate the time and help, I am not going to let this kick my ass and win. With a little bit of help I can do this without having to resort to paying someone to come out and get me going. I really want to get it right and not spend anymore $$$ than it takes to do it right.

Thanks a million !!!

Steve Chryssos

09-01-2009, 07:11 AM

Confirmed on the RacePump. Howard is a great guy. But our RacePump cost us the win at RTTH4. Very hot conditions caused multiple vapor lock episodes. Lots of cars were suffering vapor lock and or heat soak. Since the RacePump is so difficult to prime, we ate the starter trying to get the car re-fired so many times. Pulled the RacePump and went electric.

Payton King

09-01-2009, 12:28 PM

Jim Nilsen

09-01-2009, 08:18 PM

Have a pick up tube to a intank filter, to the pump. Outside the tank. I have -10 AN to an Aeromotive filter, filter to Aeromotive EFI regulator. Comes in one side and out the other to -8an to the motor. The return port on the regulator is -6 AN back to the tank. Fuel pressure on an LS1 is set at 60 psi. That is shown in the picture below.

When I went to the Walbro 225, it was -6 out of the pump that I used a -6 to -10 coupler to go into the the filter. Only change I made.

Does this make sense? I am running mine in this configuration, so is Steve Rupp, Jody (Mali2ude), Scott Gulbranson (lat-G) the list goes on. Jody is probably the biggest test as he is running a twin turbo LS2.
W

Makes sense to me. What micron size filters do you have? 35 in the tank before the pump and 10 before the regulator?

I just ordered the same regulator today and am making my bracket to hold the fuel pump. They claim the pump I have is good for 800hp so I should be good there.

So far the change over is going smoothly but time consuming to say the least. I am so glad that I did the engineering to be able to do this just in case.:idea:

Thanks for the pic, that looks really nice and tidy and keeps all of the filters out of the engine bay which I like. The most likely to leak place is always the filter and they are usually in the worst place and can start fires.

Don't you wish the Walker exhaust clamps had a left and a right so the bolts be going the same direction, it's the liitle details of semetry that I always strive for but can never acheive when they just don't let ya.

Thanks , this is helping a lot.

ProTouring442

09-02-2009, 02:50 AM

I tried to do something to make the car safer in case of tragedy and not have fuel spraying from an electric pump but now I have to comply with the old way move on and add saftey in the system to kill the pump if needed.

Get one of those inertia switches like Ford uses. You can get them from several vendors, or pull one from a salvage yard. They are easy to hook up, and in case of a serious impact, will shut the fuel pump off.

Shiny Side Up!
Bill

Payton King

09-02-2009, 05:48 AM

Jim Nilsen

09-02-2009, 06:19 AM

it is a 10 micro filter. What pump are you running? Don't get one too big. It is an in-tank or in-line pump? If it is in-line make sure you mount it on rubber to cut down on the noise and vibration.

On a seperate note, are you coming to RTTH's?

I have the inline out of tank pump that came with my kit. It shouldn't be too big. it is a Bosch pump and when I researched it ,it came up as a very good choice and should work for anything I plan to do.

The mount I am making will be isolated around the pump and at the base.

I am trying like heck to get the car going to make it to RTTH. I will be incomplete on the interior a bit if I do but I have to get past this to do it. I will come to see everyone even if I might not be able to participate in the track events.

With you guys helping me it sure is speeding it up.

Thanks

Payton King

09-02-2009, 07:50 AM

It is all about having fun anyway. If you car does not make the trip and you do. Hunt me down and I will let you make a run with my car at the autocross...you are not allowed to turn a better time though. LOL

David Sloan

09-02-2009, 11:59 AM

Jim Nilsen

09-02-2009, 05:53 PM

And it is a blast to drive!!

That is an invitation I will take Payton up on for sure if it goes that way. I hope to be there with a yellow Cormaro on,I will leave the bells at home,lol

I had soooooo much fun at the Motorstate event and am ready for more.

I am trying to win the battle of the EFI and never thought it would be this hard until I found out that the instructions were leaving out the important stuff it takes to do it complete without an EMIC.
Even trying to find an EMIC where you live is a feat in itself that makes you wonder how many of these units are out there.

Thanks again Payton your setup is awesome!

Jim Nilsen

09-03-2009, 05:14 PM

The change over to the electric pump is going good and I am so glad that I have the right configuration to hopefully have no problems in my future with it.

With so many others running this configuration already it has made it easier to know that I also have the right parts in the right places. Having all of the filters in the same area is a plus along with not having it by the engine anymore.

Here is a pic of the new setup and a couple others.

It is really nice how the Racepac guages match to the Stewart Warner speedo. Just a little bit of a difference in the pointer but it is very close.

The exhaust needs another braket to hold the pipes in the exact place in the rear but it can wait for now.

Thanks for the help everyone.

Ron S

09-03-2009, 05:58 PM

Jim Nilsen

09-03-2009, 06:12 PM

Just bring it Jim,my junk is usually held together with duct tape and zip ties at these events,thats part of the fun.Our cars will never be totally done,but I'm going to enjoy pounding on mine every chance I get, as I peck at all the little things. Ron

I have to get it running and put the front clip on and I will be ready to go. i have put the front clip on a Camaro before in one day so I am hoping 2 this time with the extra bit of wiring I have to do and just a few pieces to hold the headlights in place.

As long as I can go on a 100 mile trip without major problems I will pack the tool box with everything I need and my aluminum jack and hit the road For RTTH. With cell phones and tow trucks to rely on it is a bunch better than the old days. One thing I know for sure, I will not leave it unattended on the side of the road to go to the last or next place for help. I will call and have someone come to me!!!! I don't need to lose it to some thieves.

After trying to start it last weekend and finding the fuel problem I hope that the rest of the stuff can be done by pushing buttons on my laptop. With Mike Holleman available to help I believe I will get it a lot easier than relying on Accel to be there.

I am working like never before to get it done and doing just as you say, bring it like it is !!!!!! Heck with no interior it will be a lot lighter ,right?

Jim Nilsen

09-05-2009, 12:04 AM

It's been a long day and 2 more lines left to go and a bulkhead fitting. I have to siphon the tank to put the bulkhead in for the return line , I wish I had put one in the tank just in case when I put the others in.

I may have to put a flex line in if the pump makes too much noise but I installed the plate with some wiper motor grommets to help with the vibration situation and the pump is also isolated with rubber so we will hear if it needs the flex lines the first time the pump runs.

Here are the pics of the day's progress with the fuel system.

Motown 454

09-05-2009, 03:34 AM

It looks good, nice installation. I hope this last part goes easy for you.

Jim Nilsen

09-05-2009, 10:05 PM

it's been another long day at the fuel system and I got the lines all in and the pump up and running. Out of 30 some connections there were leaks at 5 of them so far and the damndest think is that 4 of them were on the non pressure side,lol. They were the -8 fittings at the filter and the pump. That stainless really needs to be cranked down hard,I had to get out my set of long wrenches to get the leverage I needed to get hem tight enough. I was almost considering the little copper seal tight washers they make to cure it.

I am going to bed and tommorow will be a short day on the car with a family picnic in the afternoon and going to see Smashmouth late tommorrow night.

I'll post some pics tommorow of the whole configuration front to back.

Bill Howell

09-06-2009, 06:21 AM

GO Jim GO !!

Mike Holleman

09-06-2009, 06:29 AM

Jim Nilsen

09-06-2009, 07:23 AM

Jim, Be sure to use neverseize on those SS fittings to prevent gaulding. Go get em.
Mike

Crap ,I knew I was fogetting something. Hopefully since the flared unions are aluminum to stianless they will be ok,fingers crossed.

I will be giving you a call soon Mike to talk about the programming of the DFI unit to make sure I got it right if it doesn't start up right away. I have gone over the online instructions and think I know what I have missed but who knows with ACCEL instructions,lol (lot of luck in this case).

What is a good time to call?

It will be good to talk to you again and say hi to your son for me.

Jim Nilsen

09-06-2009, 08:14 AM

Good morning all. Got to the garage this morning and still found 2 very slight drips forming but nothing on the floor. Still might need those little crush washers but not today.

Anyone wanting to save any of the pics I have had posted should get them soon because I am going to clean out the attachments and start over with new ones. I need more space and if that is possible it would be nice.

Here are the pics of the whole new config. I still have the impact switch to install but I don't have it yet. It will go where the filter mount holes are where the wires are going now. So far all of the holes I put in the car for the last system will be used for he new setup. I hate holes that are plugged because of mistakes.

The pump didn't seem to be any noisier than others I have heard and hopefully I won't need to put in any flex lines but I will if I have to.

I am going over the ECU programming this morning to configure it and if all goes well I might turn the key to see. I may just wait till tommorow when I will have the time to stick with it all day and have all of my questions ready and thought out.

If anyone sees something not right let me know? Other than the pump not being in the tank it is setup like the systems that work I hope.

Here are the pics

Jim Nilsen

09-07-2009, 12:59 PM

My fuel leaks are fixed. I had a problem with the 1/2in. tubing at the welded seam. There was a very slight ridge that was almost invisible to the eye at the seam that was causing the leaks. This only happened on the ends fron one particular piece of tubing I bought a short length of. Filing and sanding it solved the problem without the little crush washers.

I uploaded the newer version of the Gen 7 software and am having trouble finding the plug n play program that will load for me. It tells me that my com port isn't connected yet my green button is on and the screen shows my throttle working and the temps and all of the other info that should be working as working yet it won't load up the new program to the ecm.

Iam going to try from the begiining again and see what happens? The new intructions are more complete but they still seem to fall short of something or i am just not seeing it.

At least I have the fuel lines working. I am not sure if I am getting fuel fully in the rails yet? I have fuel at the regulator that is at the fuel rail Accel supplied with the kit but no fuel to the sensor at the opposite end of the fuel rail. With the bypass at the rear ant the line dead heading into the rail i am assuming that the air will need to bleed out thru the injectors. I tried cracking open the system to help it with no success the first time so maybe it will take another?

If this system ever runs without the help of an EMIC I will be amazed. If you or someone you know has experience with these systems in the Rockford area and want to make some $$$$$ you can come by this week and help if you like. Just reply here and we can arrange a time.

Back to the instructions again.

Payton King

09-08-2009, 05:28 AM

Jim Nilsen

09-08-2009, 07:15 AM

on the regulator. It has a port. I also put an electic gauge at the end of the dead headed fuel rail. Only one pound of difference between the 2 on my car.

Not sure why yours is not getting fuel to the front. Have you adjusted on the regulator? It may be bypassing all the fuel back to the tank.

I am really impressed at the quality of work. If I was in a thrash to get my car somewhere. You would see zip ties and duct tape. Heck, I would probably have the pump and filters in my trunk in a milk crate with a bunge cord.

I have my Racepac sensor at he end of my fuel rail but no guage at the regulator. I had the adjustment turned in 4 turns to get me started but it probably isn't enough to get higher pressure like i need but i always start out low with regulators to make sure there are no leaks. I cranked it up a bit more this morning to get it higher. i am assuming that the air has to get out and when i loosened the fitting right before the nonadjustable fuel rail regulator that comes from accel with the kit and had fuel. I used my mighty vac to pull a vuccum on the regultor to see if it would get fuel farther to the rail but still need to check for fuel this morning. I hope I don't have to remove that regulator and adapt to the rail. I will need another fitting and a homemade plug to do that. I figure that as long as I get the pressure to that regulator it will act like it is supposed to.

I know I am on the right track with all of your help and am still not sure about the calibration of the racepak sensor and am going to call them this morning. I am having other sensor issues that also need to be addressed but they are just programming issues and they have a great tech service so I am not worried there.

Thanks for the compliment on the installation. I keep trying to do stuff once and not have to go back but without things working it sometimes cost a bit more money to redo but I know how to reuse parts very well from my training over the years.

My Accel dfi program for the ecm was from 2002 and the updated version is having problems with the com port when I try to upload the new program for some reason. It coonects to the ecm and shows functions but won't load. I hope Accel returns my email or callls me today.

I can just about hear the car run but it is so far away still to me.

When this is all over and it runs I am going to try to learn enough to be able to do this all on my own. It's like goping back to school.

Thanks again and hope to see you guys soon !!

Payton King

09-08-2009, 10:06 AM

Jim Nilsen

09-08-2009, 01:49 PM

At max flow I cannot imagine the the PSI is much over 60...and it should be fine the way you have it plumbed so no need to move it to the front.

Only other thing I can think of is the flow direction correct for the filters. Surely the pump is not sucking the filter sock (assuming you are running one) up in the tank and blocking flow.

How much fuel do you have in the tank?

I have the regulator cranked in almost all of the way and i have fuel right up to the accel regulator they supplied on the fuel rail. i don't see a need to remove it as it is not adjustable and is only there to regulate from idle at higher vacuum. the accel regulator should not be a restriction but ther is no fuel on the other side of it at all.
Ican remove the regulator that accel supplied only if I make a piece to do it and put a tee in the fuel rail end.

I have talked to accel and have my programming problems solved I do believe but it may take some time to get back to them to get a question answered about the regulator they supplied.

This is like baby steps and I relly want to move faster, I will probably start putting the front end on the car by thursday if i don't get somewhere on the engine starting soon.

I got a hold of a tuner and he can come out next week if I need him but for $500 I would rather spend that money at the RTTH5 and have it tuned there if possible.

You have the right questions and are keeping me on the right track, so we will have to see what the regulator is doing even if I have to take it off and physically check it out of the car.

On a good note today I got to apply for my license plates and I was able to get CORMARO no problem. The bad thing about them is that they won't be here for a month or so. I am going to make up a copy of them for the front since the temp plate is only for the back of coarse I can also have the chance to be able to run without a front plate like most people want to for at least awhile.

I am getting closer everyday and it is anybody's guess as to what day that is? Anybody want to start a pool to bet on what day? LOL

Thanks for the help and we will get there ,I know we will.

bigshotsho93

09-08-2009, 05:29 PM

front plate whats that? unless of coarse your a loves park police officer then it fell off and is sitting in my back seat on the floor. lmao!

minendrews68

09-08-2009, 06:41 PM

Jim Nilsen

09-08-2009, 07:28 PM

Jim, your engine compartment tooks sweet! I hate to admit it but I have one of those dumb questions....The canister that the vent hose coming out of the right side valve cover and goes to, (has the vent filter on top) what is this? I know, I know you guys don't have to tell me...
Carl

The cannister is an oil breather/collector that I used because there really wasn't room for one on the valve cover.I also hope that it keeps some of the oil off of my injectors that would be going in the manilfold if it was on the valve cover. I will get enough oil in the manifold from thru PCV.

A lot of the pieces I use are function over form and it is just luck that they look good too.Packaging is a thing with an engine back 6in. that gives you no room in some places and alot of room in others.

I have also ran into the problem that some of my parts that were ordered di not arrive as the parts that were advertised and some of them like the overflow tank actually worked out better. It as if some of the parts had a destiny of there own and were beyond my control to to get what I wanted.

I am glad you like the way it looks because it was planned a bit differently in my vision of it all. Sometimes going with the flow was just easier too.

Jim Nilsen

09-09-2009, 05:25 AM

Looking toward an interesting day today. I am pulling the black regulator out and checking it for any problems after I just unhook one of the cross flow lines and plumb it to a bucket to see if a free flow will get the fuel past it. I am really suspecting something is wrong with that black regulator. You can see it in the emergency room pics I posted.

I am doing all of this by myself and it is taking my patience to the limit sometimes trying to be at 2 ends of the car at the same time. I am calling a friend to see if they can come over today and help with the visual part or the turn the key part.

I am going to win this battle and know every little problem in the troubleshooting list that isn't already in there.

The moment it starts I will have the biggest moment of excitement and relief all at the same time.

Jim Nilsen

09-09-2009, 06:45 PM

The black regulator that came with the kit is history. I am taking it out since 2 regulators are not needed and I am going to run the vacuum hose to the rear regulator and it will have to do it job the best it can. It should get a good enough signal to work well enough.

The engine compartment is losing a few parts and they have gone to the rear so hey it has to be good for front to rear weight distribution ,right?

One more piece to make for the milling machine and I sure hope that that is the last thing that needs to be done to the fuel system. I thought I had it all done more than once so I am not going to be convinced until it runs.

Called about insurance today to up my policy. As long as things keep progressing so I can button up and hit the road by next friday I'll be a happy guy.

Now back to it.

Van B

09-09-2009, 07:55 PM

Jim Nilsen

09-09-2009, 08:33 PM

Looks like an Aeromotive regulator. Are you sure you need to run a vacuum line to it? I was under the impression that was only necessary for boosted applications.

In the instructions it says to set the regulator to the factory specs for your system and then attach the vacuum line. I have the 13109 model which isn't adjustable at the vacuum port as a boosted model is but they look alike. i could probably get by without the vacuum line but from what I have read it will make the idle a lot better and easier to manage the fuel map with a lower pressure brought on by the vacuum .

Now you are making me wonder but I am sure that one way or the other the system will work. It just will take a bit more programming at idle to be smooth.

If anyone has had experience with the 13109 that is different than what I am thinking please speak up. I am having enough problems with the old stuff and don't need any more problems with the new setup.

The learning curve on this is like a trip around the moon.

Payton King

09-10-2009, 05:15 AM

Jim Nilsen

09-10-2009, 08:38 AM

and not sure how the FI system you have works, but I agree that you do not need 2 regulators. I also do not believe that you need to run a vaccum reference either. That is a long way back to the reg and not sure you could get it to work being that far away. My LS based system works on a constant pressure and I would think you could tune yours to do the same.

I'm pullin' for you Dude!

It's good to know that you are not running a vacuum line and I too think I can just tune it to work without it.. That is what we buy efi for to begin with and then the engineers still put the crutch back into these systems that used to plague them just in case.

With problems like a blocked fuel regulator how do you go faster than step by by step to know what is the problem. Next in line is the igniton harness that may have been wrong from the factory. I say this because when I got my system it was discussed with the tech at Accel and he had noted that some were made with the wires in the opposite side of the connectors. I left mine alone just incase it was actually tested on an actual test bench and even though the wires don't look right they are in the place that works?

Next week will be interesting if I don't get somewhere the rest of the week and weekend and I get the EMIC here to go over my system. I know I am getting a big spark but it might not be in any specific program for all I can tell right now.

Thanks again for the support !!!

Jim Nilsen

09-10-2009, 12:06 PM

I just got done working on my Racepak problems with Donny at racepak and I am so impressed with everything I can't say enough good things about how they operate.

I have all of my gauges working and my fuel to the engine now I just have to go thru the distributor timing and ecu configurations one more time to make sure it is all good and then see if it starts or move on to the next step of getting this car running.

If Accel could do the same logging on to my computer that racepak can do it would make their job a breeze and take any errors a person could make tight out of the equation.

No leaks in the new fuel lines and I have 84 psi fuel pressure and am going to start adjusting it down to 60 for starters and then set it when it is running unless someone thinks I should leave it high until it starts?

I am getting more excited than ever now!!!

Young Gun

09-10-2009, 12:46 PM

congrats Jim! just saw all this progress and it looks awesome! keep it up!

Motown 454

09-10-2009, 01:45 PM

Glad you figure out some of your problems. I wish I knew anything that could help you. But I'm rooting for you This is the first post I look for when I sign on . Good luck. Wayne

Jim Nilsen

09-10-2009, 02:45 PM

Here a couple pics of the dash display working.

I think I have all the vitals monitored that are important for start up and once they are good I can change them to what's really important like acceleration, cornering and stopping.

It is going to be nice to not have to guess by the seat of my pants.

There is so much this thing can do I will be learning for a long time before I ever get to use it all.

Payton King

09-11-2009, 07:59 AM

fuel pressure. 84 psi is way too high. If the regulator that came with the kit limited it to 45 psi then I would dial it down to that number.

Dash looks very cool

Motown 454

09-11-2009, 09:41 AM

X2 on the dash

Jim Nilsen

09-11-2009, 04:08 PM

fuel pressure. 84 psi is way too high. If the regulator that came with the kit limited it to 45 psi then I would dial it down to that number.

Dash looks very cool

I couldn't wait to take a pic of the dash working before I set the regulator. 84psi is what the fuel pump puts out at full open. I turned it down to around 47psi before I ever tried to start it figuring that it would only lose a few pounds when running.

I know that I am getting fuel for sure now.

The system held itself at 37 psi after 12hrs of sitting overnite which seemed pretty good ?

Jim Nilsen

09-11-2009, 04:46 PM

I've had 2 friends over to help that are both knowledgable about engines and the normal routine and when we went over the distributor install we found that I was only going to the edge of the red light going off the first time and not going to the second red light going of like the instructions said.

However, we looked at the instructions given to me by RSX302 and he stopped at the first red light and didn't go to the next redlight and off.

I have tried it both ways.

There is heat coming from a few cylinders but not all and some are black #1 and some just have fuel on them. I know it is not firing every time it comes around because the timing light is not firing. We have had it fire at the #1 at 12 degrees btdc which would be good for crank timing but it isn't consistent.

I still don't think the ecm is loaded with the correct program? I have tried to do the plug n play but the laptop says there is a communication problem when trying to do it that way. When I was on the phone to Accel we just loaded the pogram from the ecm and went to f7 and filled out he parameters on the system screen and he said I should be good to go. For some reason it has been the concensus with everyone who has helped me is that it is not the right program for the timing.

I know I am doing something wrong ,but what?

We double and triple checked to make sure that we have enough voltage at the ecm when the ignition is turned to turn the car over and we have 11.5 volts so that is probably not the problem. The ecm will shutoff at 8.5 volts according to the manual.

So I am going to put the car together the rest of the way this weekend and I have a tuner/installer coming next week to get me going unless I can figure out what I am doing wrong or what is not working in the system. He is bringing a backup distributor harness just in case the one from the factory is one of the bad ones that they had problems with back in 2005 when I got my unit. He is also bringing his laptop since it seems to be a communication problem with Vista. The parameters of the program don't include Vista but you would think it would work but hat is Vista and it does have problems I have heard for other stuff and it sure has problems with other things ,that's certain.

So enough is enough for now on the engine and it is time to assemble the rst of the car to drive and hopefully when the tuner gets here we will get it running and be able to go for a drive pending my insurance agent getting back to me soon enough.

I hope it all falls together at the same time and I can make it to RTTH.

It is possible I know it is.

So if you have any ideas I am all ears.

Thanks.

bigshotsho93

09-11-2009, 05:41 PM

hey jim who are you using for insurance?

Jim Nilsen

09-11-2009, 06:05 PM

hey jim who are you using for insurance?

Continental Western ins. for starters and then when I get to the point of track days and autocrosses I will find another to do the honors. But for now I just have to have coverage for driving it on the street.

Motown 454

09-11-2009, 06:35 PM

Could the coil be bad?

Jim Nilsen

09-11-2009, 07:41 PM

Could the coil be bad?

There is plenty of spark it just isn't getting enough of them at the right time. A couple of plugs are black others slightly fired and a couple are just wet with fuel.

I truly believe it is a Vista/usb driver communication problem. The program from Accel does not include Vista as a choice yet. It should work but it is running me around in a circle and won't let me plug n play a program into the ecu from what I can tell and the upload from ecu program really doen't seem to work either.

I have help on the way tommorow with an older laptop with a 9 pin input and some other usb connections and drivers. I am hoping that it will be the solution to the problem.

Thanks for racking your brain for me. This is getting so close and yet so far away. It has to be something simple now and not anything mechanical I hope.

Thanks again.

Jim Nilsen

09-12-2009, 06:07 PM

It's been a long day and I still don't know what is the problem.

I had some really good help from Matt(Bow tie 67) and we went over just about everything we could and still can't find what is wrong yet. We have checked wiring , timing the distributor, even tried his laptop to communicate with the ecu and things seems right everywhere and we are getting big spark but 4 cylinders are getting hot and 4 are cold and seem to have no fuel. It seems to be a program problem but what?

We went over the harness to the dual sync distributor and it did not seem to be right so we switch a couple pins and it seemed to do better. The ignition box has the red light flashing like it should indicating that it isn't the problem.

The schematic for the harnes doesn't even have the same color wires as the harness but we followed the connections and redid it so it matched the schematic. It did seem to do better but no starting.

I have an EMIC from Accel coming sometime next week to help and he is bringing a harness that he knows works from a running setup.

I still wonder about a communication problem between the ecu and the laptops because of the com port errors that always come up. My laptop after a couple of tries will go to the screen and say it is communicating and his would do the same.

We tried batch fire instead of sequential and still no luck.

I wish I had the video that Accel has to do the install but I don't. It was my mistake to not demand that they send me one when I was on the phone earlier in the week and it would have been nice if they would have offered to send me one but alas that didn't happen.

If there ever were instructions that don't make sense Accel can make them.

So far at least everything still seems to be working and no burned up parts or non working ones just parts the seem to not be setup or timed right.

At least I am getting to be more familiar with the tools and the order to do routine maintenance the fastest.

Tommorow will be a day that has progress in a different sorts. I am going to go over all of mechanicals and make sure they are tight and working and then put the sheetmetal on.

If things fall into place I can still make it to RTTH with the car, if not I am riding shotgun with Matt and will see you all there.

This is the last time I should see the fenders on the wall and be able to get a pic of the engine from the angle you see them in the pics even if things don't go right with starting.

If cars have souls maybe this one wants to start up and head out of the garage with no delays. If it all comes together right I could have it start up and then open the door and go for a drive and tune Tuesday or Wednesday.

This is as much suspence as I can handle and will be almost as relieved to get it going as I have ever been next to hearing my cancer was gone.

Let us PRAY !!!!!!!!

Ron S

09-13-2009, 03:22 AM

Bow Tie 67

09-13-2009, 03:45 AM

Jim,

I sent you a long PM, but think I decifered the damn instructions. Rons idea on checking the injectors is a good one, basically the same thing I was suggesting with a noid light. First off I would try what I suggested in the PM. If it works well post it up on this thread.

Matt

Jim Nilsen

09-13-2009, 06:59 AM

I've done several harnesses with GM pcm's,I did one and had the same exact issue(one bank had no injector feed). It was a wiring issue,you need to check it with a volt meter.If there is no voltage at the injector(is it missing ground or hot)trace it back,is there any output from the pcm,if not it has to be the pcm or a sensor not telling it to fire(crank trigger,cam sensor in the dist.)

I'm not familiar with Accels system,if you had the time I'd try to talk you into putting LS1 electronics on there.I ran my Hemi off them and worked great,I think a SBC would be easier to set up,and way more reliable. Ron

Thanks Ron, I will have to try the voltage check. I do know that from one time to another I have had fuel at every cylinder but it has been as random as the spark to each cylinder.

The sad thing about all of this is that when I have talked to Accel and was asked if I had the video to do the install and I said no they didn't offer to send one and I unfotunately wasn't thinking past my problem and didn't demand it.

This whole thing is getting very disappointing from the Accel side of things.

Thanks

thedugan

09-13-2009, 07:44 AM

Are you using the Accel Dual Sync? Can you send over the instructions that Ron sent you

EvilCamaro

09-13-2009, 08:12 AM

love the dash

Jim Nilsen

09-13-2009, 09:57 AM

Are you using the Accel Dual Sync? Can you send over the instructions that Ron sent you

Yes it is a dual sync. The instructions that I have from accel are online at thruster dfi.com and then there are the ones from RSX302 that can be found in the fuel injection section. I will bump them to the top for you to find easier.

Thanks

Jim Nilsen

09-13-2009, 10:13 AM

I've tried a few more times today and still no results.

I'm moving on to putting the car together and the EMIC missed his chance to do his job while the fenders were off. I can't fathom how someone can not need $500 as soon as they can make it these days? For that kind of money I would lose sleep and drive 100 miles ASAP. I am hoping he can make it on monday.

Ron S

09-13-2009, 03:05 PM

Jim Nilsen

09-13-2009, 05:20 PM

Jim,most (not all) Systems feed the injectors hot all the time and pulse the ground out of the pcm.If it is irratic,it really sounds like a lifted ground some were.That can be one of the hardest things to find.Check with a voltmeter if the injectors have power when the key is on,that way you know if it is pcm negative feed or pcm pos. feed.At least then,you know if your chasing a ground or a pos.,and you don't waist alot of time looking in the wrong direction.Ron

Thanks for the tip, it will make it a lot easier to find knowing that.

I am going thru and doing a complete check of all of the systems and I will be getting to the EFI by tommorow morning so that it is all fresh in my mind when the EMIC arrives and it will give me a chance to think things out a bit more with all of the things that have been tried.

I talked to Mike Holleman for about 1/2 an hour and went thru what has been done and it comes down to several things we have already done but can still be a problem if the voltage to the ecu is not enough from his experience.

When the problem is solved it will be interesting to know what it was.

Thanks again and I hope to see you with my car at RTTH.

Jim Nilsen

09-13-2009, 05:42 PM

Just did a system check on the DCC controller with the heat gun and it works like a dream. The water pump starts nice and smooth and ramps up just like advertised and the fan does the same. I have the biggest capacitors I could fit in and they seem to do a good job.

Bled the brakes one more time just to be sure and the pedal is just a bit better than it was. After a week of sitting I got a few small bubbles to come out and that's it.

Checked all of the lines for leakes and don't see any in the fuel,brakes ,or cooling system. Power steering seems good but won't really know for sure until the pump starts up with the engine.

It looks like the time for the fenders to come down off of the wall and find their real home.

I have a few places that still need some Damplifier on them.

I have to make the wiring harness for the fuel pump and some wiring for the headlights ,horns and the turn signals once the front clip is on and hope that the EFI wiring is really ok and that my problems are elsewhere like programming.

I'll be ordering parts first thing in the morning to finish the list of small items I need like seatbelts and mirrors.

I am going to have to rely on my own alignment for the suspension to get it out the door and down to RTTH if I don't get running by tuesday. Wednesday will be a thrash if things go good.

I don't want to miss anything so if you guys see something questionable in the pics I am going to post don't be shy to tell me.

I keep telling myself others have made it with less time and more to do. Things won't be all done for the interior but then again it will drive just fine with wire ties and duct tape as some of you have proven to me,lol.

I think I can..................

Jim Nilsen

09-14-2009, 08:01 AM

Well it's been a morning that has led me to another option to try with the wiring after talking to Dave at Accel so I will be trying that soon.

I also found another number to someone close to me in Byron IL. that has to call me back when he gets the message I left.
The guy who says he can help that I have been trying line up a time doesn't think he can get here until thursday which is tool late for the RTTH trip.

I am praying that the next time thru will get me going.

Dave at Accel also informed me that if I have an older dual sync distributor that I only have to go past the first red light and then lock down instead of thesecond one.

So if I go back and set the distributor like I had been and hook up the wires the way he says which between the two ways I have been doing things but not at the same time maybe things will be alright.

I am going to go thru it in my mind about 3 times and then give it a try after doing the injector test that Ron has instructed me how to do.

I would really be the happiest guy to get it started without having to pay $500 to get it started.

So close yet so far away.

I haven't set up the camera yet at startup time and maybe it's time to get the tripod out and go for it. It would be so cool to have start up for the first time and have a video clip of it.

The suspense is getting to me as to when it will fire up.

Payton King

09-14-2009, 11:09 AM

Just have my fingers crossed for you....waiting for an update.

Jim Nilsen

09-14-2009, 12:28 PM

OK , I just got back from lunch with my godmother and I am starting the sequence of events that I hope leads me to get this running.

I just got done talking to Nastalgia Lane and they are going to come out later to appraise the car. The insurance company is going to call me back in a few to tell me what it will cost for insurance and what the policy will be .

I have 4.7mv at each injector on the positive side. Is this good Ron?

I am going to check the harness one more time to be sure of the connections just one more time.

Then do the drill of setting everything the way I was instructed this morning.

I'll check back in a bit to see if the 4.7mv is correct.

I have my fingers crossed too!

Jim Nilsen

09-14-2009, 12:39 PM

Just got thru to the guy close to me that works on these units and he told me I should have 12 volts at the injectors so there is something not right I am checking the wiring to see if I can find the problem.

If things go good for this guy he said he might be able to make it out tonight to help and he has a pro-key he can hook up to it.

Things just might come together as good as I could hope for today.

Jim Nilsen

09-14-2009, 12:47 PM

Just found the reason I didn't have 12v at the injectors and I now have 12.57 volts at each one. I also just checked and the fuel pump is getting triggered when each cylinder is supposed to fire.

So there is one thing down several more to go.

I'll keep updating as I go.

Motown 454

09-14-2009, 12:47 PM

Good luck Jim . It definatly not for lack of trying. I'm with Payton my Fingers crossed for you.

Jim Nilsen

09-14-2009, 03:55 PM

I have finally gotten a code #72 about my cam and crank .

it reads :MIL set, ecm forces cam position if ecm is restarted before error is cleared , cam sequence is random.

At least I finally got a code.

The harness was definately assembled wrong and it is right now. The fact that it was wrong may have made it so i never got the right error code before? When I got thru to Dave at Accel and he gave me the wiring connection placement and I verified it with what I thought was wrong and Matt verified with the schematic and Matt changed it, the harness is now correct definately for certain.

The problem I am having now is clearing the code. When I push the F8 button on the screen it sends me to a screen that does nothing. I am not sure what to do at this point.

I am going to go out and see if I can figure it out and reset the system somehow.

I think once I clear the code and redo the sequence of timing the distributor and configure the system again I might have it ready to start.

If I would have had enough confidence in my observation of the harness being bad from the factory and just changed it instead of believing that it was bench tested and should work I would have been days ahead. Now I know I am a better electrician than I thought and know that Matt is very good at his job too.

I hope it doesn't take a hammer to clear the code, LOL

Jim Nilsen

09-14-2009, 04:02 PM

I had to call the appraiser and ask where he was and he ended up having a medical problem and won't be out until tommorow morning.

Anyone want to take a guess at what he will say the Cormaro is worth?

If it helps you guess, I have $30,000 in parts and materials in it and 17 years worth of random work totaling who knows how many hrs. of engineering and real labor.

Jim Nilsen

09-15-2009, 06:06 AM

Tried last night to clear the code and it is not cooperating.

This the damndest computer program ever. Between it and Vista I have to believe there should be some programmers out of work in this economy.

I'm not giving up but I am close.

Any ideas?

Motown 454

09-15-2009, 01:24 PM

Is there any way you can use a remote access program so Accell can see your sreen maybe they can figure it out from there.

Mike Holleman

09-15-2009, 02:45 PM

Is there any way you can use a remote access program so Accell can see your sreen maybe they can figure it out from there.

You are lucky when you manage to get Accel on the phone. Usually 1 in 8 attempts. I can't imagine what a computor hookup would require. They need some serious work on their tech instructions as well as a better phone system and hire a few more techs. They don't even offer voice mail. When you call and don't get thru you get a recording that tells you that you can get help at the web site, email 'em or keep dialing til you get lucky. I got way more help from other sources than from Accel. Frank at Prodigy is pretty good with the Gen 7 system.

Ron S

09-15-2009, 05:26 PM

Jim Nilsen

09-15-2009, 06:44 PM

Sorry I didn't see your post Jim, I've been thrashing on my junk. This is the precise reason I recommend factory GM pcm's,(thousands of people know them). Most of the time they will run,once you've corrected the problem, even with the failure code stored. I hate to say I just don't know enough about Accel to give you any valuable info. Ron

I can remember in 2006 I almost got an LS motor for 3k complete and was going to sell the Accel DFI unit and the engine together or separate to off set the cost. Andrew even told me I wasn't crazy for for thinking that way. But I decided I was a lot closer this way and that the accel unit would be a good unit to get the job done.If I had known I was going to have to go thru this I would have taken the 5k plunge to do it.

I have pretty much stopped on the EFI problem and started to concentrate on the final things to really finish off the car. There isn't any way I could get things together in 2 days now and have a good day of testing it for roadworthiness unless Frank and the Prodigy crew showed up. Then it would still be close with the insurance company and the appraiser.

But things are still good because I am riding shotgun with Matt and will be seeing you all at RTTH. I am bringing my laptop and camera and a couple of disc for Steve Rupp so he has pics of the Cormaro for the in progress pages.

I think I have a guy lined up that sounded more capable and eager to get to my place and he is 20 minutes from where I live and will be a good place to do a drive to and get a little help with tuning when I might need it.

Lots of little things in the interior need to get done and waiting to put the front clip on will be a lot easier to get the engine running too.

I want to make sure everything is good before I get on the road for a trip like that and with the horror stories I have heard about these EFI units it might be a better thing.

I am looking forward to seeing everyone friday.

Thanks everyone for the help and cheering me on ,it really helped me keep motivated to keep trying.

Motown 454

09-15-2009, 08:26 PM

You'll get it.

John Wright

09-16-2009, 03:52 AM

You'll get it.
Yup...keep after it buddy! Wish I could help, but this is way out of my league. I'm still trying to learn to work with the old factory ECM on my car.

On the positive side: Just think of the help and advice you can offer to someone else struggling with the Accel stuff once you get all of this behind you.

Payton King

09-16-2009, 05:45 AM

My offer for you to drive a few laps around the autocross is still open.

Jim Nilsen

09-16-2009, 08:02 AM

My offer for you to drive a few laps around the autocross is still open.

I will be there and ready. I won't be able to thank you enough for the opportunity. I am really excited to just be there and see everyone.

Anyone who loves cars and can make any of the events put on here will enjoy themselves and learn so much even if the car you have isn't done.

This is the greatest bunch of car people anywhere.

See you Friday.

Jim Nilsen

09-16-2009, 08:03 AM

Yup...keep after it buddy! Wish I could help, but this is way out of my league. I'm still trying to learn to work with the old factory ECM on my car.

On the positive side: Just think of the help and advice you can offer to someone else struggling with the Accel stuff once you get all of this behind you.

You are so right about that !!!!!! Keeping things postitive is what is keeping me alive these days.

Jim Nilsen

09-16-2009, 08:09 AM

The appraiser just left awhile ago and he was in total awe. He did a little research before he came about our cars and the market and has to go back and do more so he can get it right.

He gave me a low figure as to the value and it about floored me. He said it could even go higher but he will keep it realistic.

Anyone still willing to put out a guess?

I am getting so excited about all of this , it is making my imagination become a reality I never thought would be like it is 17 years ago when I started this car.

John Wright

09-16-2009, 09:26 AM

Are you working with the adjuster to come up with an agreed upon value? I probably need to revisit this with my insurance agent when I get closer to getting it on the road.

Jim Nilsen

09-16-2009, 02:18 PM

Are you working with the adjuster to come up with an agreed upon value? I probably need to revisit this with my insurance agent when I get closer to getting it on the road.

That is the next step from what was told to me an hour ago. I don't have the written appraisal back to me, I will have it tonight if they still aren't overwhelmed with it. They have never appraised a PT car before and they want to make sure they do enough research to get it right. It will be an appraisal that will reflect both the market value and the replacement cost to build it the way it is built if something happens. The two are very different prices. The cost to have it built the way it is he figured a minimum of................

$100,000.00

I asked him twice if he was serious and he said if he was to build a car like that for someone it would go over 150k.

He is more than confident that the insurance company would go no lower than 80k and thinks they will know what they are looking at and know it is higher.

Then it was also pointed out to him that I can insure it for less and lower my premium if I choose to so he has to get me prices for agreed value policy cost.

So far each side is understnding what is needed to come up with something we can all agree on. so if I am doing right I don't know but I am open to what has to be done to get to drive it for now and enjoy it.

It will be intersesting to see the cost of 100k worth of insurance.

It was also conveyed that I need more coverage on the cost of total replacement if it is stolen compared to damaged. I can fix damage but trying to replace it would take me another lifetime if you talked to my doctors last year. I really think he understood what I was getting at.

I have to go get ready to head for the hills and I am very excited.

May the horsepower be with us all !!!!!

Motown 454

09-16-2009, 02:41 PM

Very nice Jim now go enjoy yourself. And have some fun for me.

nvr2fst

09-16-2009, 02:44 PM

Jim Nilsen

09-16-2009, 04:31 PM

Jim out of curiousity what agency are you trying to go through. From your statements (agents havent dealt with a PT car) it seems that it may be a company like Allstate, Statefarm, etc.) Or is it a company like Grundy, Haggerty, etc. Which IMO dont have issues with agreed replacement or repairs.
Dave

Continental Western Ins. out of Minnesota. I have had them for years for my comprehensive policy while working on it. It had been insured for 25k with paint clause for the first 3k and they pay the rest. It also had a backup parts and uninstalled parts clause in case something got stolen but not the car. There have been a few people in my area who have made claims with no problems.
The policy I had is $161.00 a year. which was pretty good. If you multiply it by 4 and add the collision and liability it would be about $700 to $900 i am thinking for 100k worth. I will probably go with about 60k worth and call it good for the insurance.

As far as resale value it is anybody's guess as to what I would be able to get for it? I know that if the right person likes it as much the guys who appraised it did , it should get me some offers I might not be able to refuse.

We will find out what they think of the 75k to150k appraisal I just recieved. The agent is all excited about it and at least is showing a genuine interest in my car after all of these years of paying and never seeing him.

This is making life a bit more interesting for sure.

I still look at it sometimes and say :Did I do that? :

It has been a long road and I can see the next turn coming up and it actually has a speed limit sign on it instead of saying Gasoline Alley.

K5Cruiser

09-16-2009, 04:45 PM

Congrats on the progress you've made thus far! It sounds like everything is going pretty well with your insurance company. I wish I could stop by and help you out with the Accel issues, but alas I'm in SoCal. Good luck and can't wait to see some pics of your car on the road!

Van B

09-16-2009, 05:54 PM

Continental Western Ins. out of Minnesota. I have had them for years for my comprehensive policy while working on it. It had been insured for 25k with paint clause for the first 3k and they pay the rest. It also had a backup parts and uninstalled parts clause in case something got stolen but not the car. There have been a few people in my area who have made claims with no problems.
The policy I had is $161.00 a year. which was pretty good. If you multiply it by 4 and add the collision and liability it would be about $700 to $900 i am thinking for 100k worth. I will probably go with about 60k worth and call it good for the insurance.

As far as resale value it is anybody's guess as to what I would be able to get for it? I know that if the right person likes it as much the guys who appraised it did , it should get me some offers I might not be able to refuse.

We will find out what they think of the 75k to150k appraisal I just recieved. The agent is all excited about it and at least is showing a genuine interest in my car after all of these years of paying and never seeing him.

This is making life a bit more interesting for sure.

I still look at it sometimes and say :Did I do that? :

It has been a long road and I can see the next turn coming up and it actually has a speed limit sign on it instead of saying Gasoline Alley.

I think Grundy is charging me $460 a year for $65,000 agreed value policy. Just for comparison.

Jim Nilsen

09-16-2009, 06:26 PM

I think Grundy is charging me $460 a year for $65,000 agreed value policy. Just for comparison.

Thanks for the heads up. I might have to go with them if Continental has a problem with track days and autocrossing. The agent seemed like it would be no problem but he has never insured a PT car before and he is learning what he needs to know as he goes along. So far it has been one for myself too.

They do know you track day and autocross with it right? How many miles do you get to drive?

Then the next big question? How long did the process take them?

Thanks again.

nvr2fst

09-16-2009, 07:54 PM

Jim
your previous policy was pretty decent. And for the intentions you have for your car your new policy doesnt seem all that bad. I may have to contact them in the future if it works out right for you. The options are limited for what we want to cover and considering only a handfull of companies will do speciality policies there competition is scarce and charge accordingly.

Jeff
I to was with Grundy prior to teardown for years. I was paying 385.00 for a 50 grand agreed value. Non installed products were and still are insured with my bus. policy under an unbrellar coverage of parts stored at our const. warehouse.
On my sons car I pay 153.00 for an unassembled product through Farmers ins. My bro just became my agent.

Motown 454

09-16-2009, 08:18 PM

I don't think Grundy covers timed event in my policy.

Jim Nilsen

09-19-2009, 02:17 AM

I don't think Grundy covers timed event in my policy.

I don't think I will get coverage for when I am on the track or the autocross while competing but we will see what they say. If they cover me right up to the parking lot for everything and stop there I will be happy.

I have talked to a guy that thought he saw a competiton policy available but hat would be more than I could probably afford.

This is going to be an intersting learning experience for my agent for sure.

Van B

09-19-2009, 06:40 AM

I don't think I will get coverage for when I am on the track or the autocross while competing but we will see what they say. If they cover me right up to the parking lot for everything and stop there I will be happy.

I have talked to a guy that thought he saw a competiton policy available but hat would be more than I could probably afford.

This is going to be an intersting learning experience for my agent for sure.

Knowing that most insurance companies will not cover you while you are on the track has always made me think twice before running track events with the car. Ethically, if I ever had an on track incident I would not try to claim it. Someone once said not to track anything you could not afford to walk away from. While I could afford a total loss, it is not my ideal situation.

This is why I have a lot more fun racing the Spec Miata. $12,000 is much easier to swallow than $60,000+.

Jim Nilsen

09-24-2009, 01:55 PM

I am now rested up from the RTTH event and have lined up a tuner to come on the 5th of oct. He is bringing with him a harness and distributor to make sure that they are not the problem. He thinks that the distributor might have gotten damaged from having the polarity wrong on the dual sync wiring harness. It will be an interesting day when he gets here.

I have a new Braille battery to make sure I have enough voltage, these batteries charge up to 13.8 at full charge which is a full volt over the other battery.

Haven't heard from the insurance man with prices yet but the rush isn't on until the 1st of oct. Then I will be all over it and who ever gets to me with the right numbers wins. I might have to get Frank to get me a quote from Heacock ?

I really wanted to get the car running before I put the front clip on. It shouldn't be too bad to just change out the distributor and the harness section with the front end on, but if there are other problems it will be more of a pain. I hope I have covered everything that could get in the way.

Now back to it!!!!

Motown 454

09-24-2009, 04:50 PM

Keep at it Jim you'll get it.

Jim Nilsen

09-25-2009, 07:54 AM

I started out today tracing down wires on the harness. checking for voltage where it is supposed to be and checking for continuity from pin to pin to see if the wires are in the correct places.

While looking at the relay plug I noticed that the pink and black are reversed. I don't think it matters since it just powers the magnet for the solenoid but it is still bugging me.

Is it wrong or am I looking at it backwards?

Heres the pics

Bow Tie 67

09-25-2009, 08:36 AM

I started out today tracing down wires on the harness. checking for voltage where it is supposed to be and checking for continuity from pin to pin to see if the wires are in the correct places.

I have found I have no power or continuity to the pink wire for the igniton to the #30 pin on the ignition harness. I do get continuity to the MIL, the o2 sensor gets hot but no continuity to the ignition. when looking at the plug to the relay I look at the angle to the corner so you don't wire it wrong and then follow the wires and colors to the schematic and find that the black and pink wires look to be in the wrong place. Am I reading it wrong/inverted?

Here is a pic of the schematic which can also be found at Accel site and a physical pic of the plug and where the wires are. They are not correct according to the way I see it in the drawing.

I get no power to the pink wire A at the plub that is supposed to go to the red/white stripe wire to the 6a ignition box. It is supposed to go to the wire after you get done with the distributor setup. It also says ,"DO NOT ATTACH ANOTHER SWITCHED 12 VOLT SUPPLY TO THE BOX"
The red/white stripe wire from the 6a is labeled to go to a switched 12v source. The pink wire is supposed to attach to it. The distributor doesn't even light up unless I hook the pink wire to a 12v source. It appears that it should have its own power coming from the relay.

This could be why I am not getting anything to fire thru the ecu and am just firing the distributor at random from the 12v switch source I have to attach it to to get it to light up.

Look at it and tell me if I am seeing it backwards.

Heres the pics

Mother @#$#$!%$% I just lost all I typed. Here it is again

Call Accel and ask if the CD ignition box should have its own seperate ignition source ( red / white wire ) or if it should tie in on the print at the ignition plug pin " A " for the DFI system.

Either way you will have to connect Pin " A " in parallel with contact #30 on the #1 relay to get the 12v you need for the distributor. ( once its in parallel you will have continuity between IGN pin A, HEGO pin D, MIL pin A, and Relay #1 pin 30 ( red / white wire according to the print )

Jim Nilsen

09-25-2009, 11:41 AM

That is the magic question. when I look at the dual sync harness schematic there is a 12" pink wire coming back from the cam plug to the main plug and a 54" pink wire coming out of pin A and going to the CD ignition. both of those pink wires are not there and never were.

Like you ask, where does the CD igniton hook up to? Does it just go to a switched ignition source anywhere or does it have to hook up to the pink wire from the cam plug which would just be a loop that goes back to where I would connect the 6A red/white stripe wire to.

The blue EST wire goes directly out of the ecu to the 6A ignition box. The blue wire that goes to the plug is terminated at the feed to the harness so a return wire is not needed as shown in the cam/crank harness.

So I have no pink or blue wires to return from the plug at the harness and if they did it would seem redundant or useless.

I'm confused as to why the blue EST wire goes to the plug and terminates instead of coming back, but it is connected directly from the ecu to the 6A box and maybe doesn't need to?

When the harness doesn't match up to the schematic and you have a problem with the cam and crank code coming up it makes me wonder what is wrong or missing?

I am going to search for the other end of the blue wire from the ignition harness plug back from where it is terminated to see where it takes me?

I want to stop and do other things but this is compelling me to not stop until I get it traced down.

Mother @#$#$!%$% I just lost all I typed. Here it is again

Call Accel and ask if the CD ignition box should have its own seperate ignition source ( red / white wire ) or if it should tie in on the print at the ignition plug pin " A " for the DFI system.

Either way you will have to connect Pin " A " in parallel with contact #30 on the #1 relay to get the 12v you need for the distributor. ( once its in parallel you will have continuity between IGN pin A, HEGO pin D, MIL pin A, and Relay #1 pin 30 ( red / white wire according to the print )

Jim Nilsen

09-25-2009, 01:54 PM

Just traced the blue wire and it is just as I left it with it taped off after cutting it and going directly from the ecu to the EST blue wire to the 6A box as the instructions say and I also remember calling and verifying it.

All of the wires are where they are supposed to be with the exception of where does the red/white line wire connect? The instructions say run to a switched ignition source. That is where I had it wired to start with.

I also found that I do have power to the #30 to pin A , that bugger is hard to get to by yourself and the end that was clipped wasn't connecting well for the test.

The cam/crank +- wires that were switched may have hurt the distributor ? and the reason it wouldn't start and still won't.

Now that I have all of the wires that are pertinent to the ignition sorted out and labeled good for future reference for others I hope it will make the visual check for the other harness and distributor.

If I knew how to check the disributor I would pull it out and check it myself. I can check diodes and capacitors but the chip itself ? The led's light up and the injectors get a firing signal, the coil seems to want to work.

last time it was checked the light in the 6A box was trying to fire the coil, but without the right cam timing the spark is random.

Maybe something will come to mind that hasn't?

Now on to the center dash and install some gauges.

bigshotsho93

09-25-2009, 06:26 PM

man i wish i knew more about electronics i would be there trying to help you out. but all i can do is wish you luck hope you find the problem soon

Jim Nilsen

09-25-2009, 07:23 PM

man i wish i knew more about electronics i would be there trying to help you out. but all i can do is wish you luck hope you find the problem soon

You can still come by and I'll find something for you to do , color sanding is so much fun,lol. I do have a rear sway bar that needs to be modified and and installed if you are up to it ?

You can just stop by and have a beer and check things out. The car changes daily even if it doesn't show at first glance.

Looking forward to seeing you soon.

Jim Nilsen

09-26-2009, 01:03 PM

Step one of the center gauge piece. 4hrs. down another 4 or so to go.

Now I have to figure out where to put the gauges?

To the copy machine I go to make some mockups to move around.

A bit of Bad Penny with a perforated twist.

Jim Nilsen

09-26-2009, 01:35 PM

I have a couple of switches to add to the mix along with some lights if I want. Switches for sure are for the water pump and fan overrides and who knows what else. I might add more gauges later. Brake pressure and vacuum/boost would make for 3 more. don't really need them but I have room for plenty more.

Here's a few pics of different configurations.

Which one do you like?

protour73

09-26-2009, 02:14 PM

Ralph LoGrasso

09-26-2009, 03:20 PM

Jim Nilsen

09-26-2009, 04:24 PM

Holy Crap Jim........I just went through all of the pages of this thread. What an awesome build!!! and you are right up in Rockford.... practically in my backyard.
I'd love to see the car in person after you finish it.

BTW, who was the appraiser you had come out. I need to do that myself.

Scott

Hi Scott, you can come up and see the car anytime.

The appraisal was done by Nastalgia Lane in Machesney Park just a few miles away from me. They do a lot of original restorations and some modified musclecars mostly, so they know the cost of just buiding a musclecar and a PT car was something they understood the amount of time and labor involved with the cost of the parts.

www.nostalgialane.com (http://www.nostalgialane.com)

The appraisal was $125 to come to my house and $100 if I could have driven there.

Jim Nilsen

09-27-2009, 10:07 AM

I had to go get a 2.5 in. hole saw this morning. It actually made a hole 2.508-2.513 hole. now if I would have gotten the 2 5/8 in. it would have made a 2.750 hole,lol.

6 hrs. into it so far and now onto the perforated face and some push buttons just in case I need them for the pump and fan. I can actually put in warning lights that would be activated by the Racepak gauges if needed for times when you can't look but need the annoying light.

I have room for 2 more gauges if I want down in each corner.

Jim Nilsen

09-27-2009, 06:07 PM

2 more hrs and a bit more to go.

I still can't decide where to put the switches and I have to touch up the surface and paint it black to match the rest of the dash.

I hope tommorow is good enough weather to paint ?

I included a pic of how I drilled out the holes in the perforated aluminum. The little vise clamp always saves the day to hold things down.

Jim Nilsen

10-03-2009, 09:10 AM

I have been working onthe interior all week and waiting for monday when the tuner might actually show up? I hope so.

The weather didn't cooperate so I had to set up inside to paint the gauge pod. The rear package tray pieces are in and need just a bit of trimming to fit the edge trim on and a few more screws.

Here are a couple of pics of the weeks progress.

The door panels are next.

Motown 454

10-03-2009, 02:58 PM

Looks Good Jim. I hope he shows up Monday and gets it figured out for you.

Jim Nilsen

10-05-2009, 06:04 AM

I keep getting prepared for when the tuner gets here and I am getting anxious to hear the car run.

A call to the insurance man is in order today since I haven't heard back from him ? I want to drive the car this year and if he doesn't come through I am sure someone will. I am still not sure what to insure it for but 60k seems like a good place to start?

If it all comes together I might have a driving car by the weekend I keep hoping.

:idea:

bigshotsho93

10-05-2009, 09:17 AM

I would be bouncing off the walls if i had to wait for someone else to come and help with my car. Im surprised your not calling the Tuner guy every half hour to see where hes at. (I probably would be) LOL.

As far as insurance goes i would be tempted to insure it for the full value of the appraisal. That way if GOD FORBID something would to happen, cause we all know **** happens, the full value of the car would be returned to you. But that might be a bit costly for a premium. Just my $.02.
anyways i hope he shows up today.

Jim Nilsen

10-05-2009, 09:09 PM

It's alive !!!!!!!!

Took a bit of work but it runs.

The distributor was still good and the changes made to the harness with Matt were the right configuration needed and after we got the distributor timed to the second light going out and not the first it started up with 10 degrees of forced timing.

The tuner tried to get a better tune on it so it would idle smooth but there is a few other things that need to be sorted out that could help. It got late and he had to go. He is going to make me up a file that might run better. He says it would help if I was to get the cam specs.He believes the cam is much bigger than I thought it was.

I tried to upload a video but it wouldn't go.

I'll try another later, I'm tired and need a beer !!!!

Jim Nilsen

10-05-2009, 10:40 PM

Just going over the things that worked good so far and came up with a bit more faith in some of the new parts that made the transition from the Racepump fuel pump to electric and the DCC controller situation and then there is the Howe throwout bearing....

The fuel system dialed in with a 1/2 turn back and stays at 42.5 and doesn't vary a 1/2lb one way or the other and stayed right where the regulator was turned to.

The DCC controllers turned the water pump on at 195 degrees going on 200 degrees and then it went right down to 177 degrees and stayed there until we got fumed out with the richness of fuel. The fan would have probably come on if the engine had run another 10 minutes.

AHHHHHHHHH the smell of a new car coming to life !!!!!!

The clutch seems to work flawlessly. The feel is a lot better than the first design and it stops right in a good spot and has little pressure to hold it down. The wheels would stay still until the clutch was released and the shifting seemed smooth.

The Racepak gauges made keeping an eye on everything easy. The tach was reading off and needs to be calibrated but the fuel pressure and other gauges all were working great and even the power steering temp was showing 97 degrees at the one time I checked. The steering didn't make any noises and seemed to be working well.

So it was a good day and more tommorow.

Yeeeee HAAAAAAAAAAAAA

:cheers:

Martin71RS

10-06-2009, 07:12 AM

Congrats Jim, that's a major milestone reached!!

avewhtboy

10-06-2009, 07:44 AM

Great job, persisitance paid off. Now we need video

Payton King

10-06-2009, 08:19 AM

it running. You are better person than me. I would have made a late night victory lap around the neighborhood.

John Wright

10-06-2009, 08:35 AM

It's alive !!!!!!!!Alright!..WTG Jim...as previously stated...we need vids!...LOL

Bow Tie 67

10-06-2009, 08:41 AM

Excellent news, so it sounds like we were oh so close. Where in the H*ll does it say in the instructions when the second light goes off.

When do you think it will make its way out of the garage?

Motown 454

10-06-2009, 09:18 AM

Congratulations Jim! I'm glad to hear you got it going.

bigshotsho93

10-06-2009, 09:27 AM

Congrats!

Jim Nilsen

10-06-2009, 09:35 AM

Excellent news, so it sounds like we were oh so close. Where in the H*ll does it say in the instructions when the second light goes off.

When do you think it will make its way out of the garage?

We were so very close and you don't turn the key back on until you have the wire for the 6A box hooked up, you have to leave it disconnected from the power when setting the crank. Then turn off the key and hook it all back up and turn the engine backwards 25 degrees and line up the rotor with the distributor cap and try and start. The second light /the red light comes on goes out and then comes back on a second time and then off.

What happened was that we did the right sequence of trying with the wires on the harness crossed and when we had the harness right we didn't go thru the same sequence with the 6A box disconnected from the switched power source. Another round or 2 of trying the directions differently we would have had it.

I am going to get the tune a bit better since it doesn't want to idle well right now but the tuner brought up an interesting reason for it which requires more work than I would like. He thinks I have a much bigger cam than I was thinking the rules allowed for the motor and wants me to degree the cam for the lift and duration and he can make me a better tune and install it.

So far everything else seems to work well. Even the MSD one wire alternator came to life like it was supposed to and was putting out 14.3 volts

The front end has to go on and then the insurance man has to let me know the score ? I am looking at 4 or 5 days to get it ready to roll out the door mechanically to go around the block for a few victory laps.

I would be betting 10 days from now with all of the other stuff I have to do around the house for winterizing.

The wheels were turning last night under the power of the engine so it was probably the easiest distance it will ever go.

It's ready to go from Pro-Jackstand to Pro-Touring

The video is coming....

Jim Nilsen

10-06-2009, 09:42 AM

it running. You are better person than me. I would have made a late night victory lap around the neighborhood.

The car was on jackstands and I left it up on them so I would not be so tempted to go out for a drive with no headlights and front end,lol
I just think of driving your Camaro and I get all smiles enough to hold me back. Driving Deadcat was so much fun it was almost enreal. That much power at the extension of my right foot is AWESOME.

Thanks again for the drive and hope to see everyone soon for more fun.

Jim Nilsen

10-06-2009, 09:50 AM

Congrats Jim, that's a major milestone reached!!

The relief that it finally runs brings it to a whole new level. The car has not been licenced since 1976 and it had no engine or trans when I got it.

I never would have guessed Oct.5 2009 as the day it would finally start :idea:

Now the fun really begins from what I have experienced.

:cheers:

Jim Nilsen

10-06-2009, 08:20 PM

Made a bit more progress today. I finally got to take my foot off of the gas pedal and it idled around 850 to 950 rpm and is getting smoother as it runs. I got it up to temp and saw the whole cycle of the DCC controller with the pump and the fan and it really keeps up with it so far and when it kicks into high it really cools things down fast.

Made some progress on the interior again and have an appointment with the insurance man on Thursday.

The list is getting smaller of things that have to get done to go out the door.

Goodnight

Jim Nilsen

10-13-2009, 03:32 PM

It's been an interesting week trying to figure out the engine. I never degreed the damn thing when I got it and figured it was to the max on the rules for a sportsman class stock car which is not that radical. To find out the truth the lift is .540 intake .560 exhaust and the duration is forever. These guys that built the engine were cheating to the max. the lifters were even done to cheat. What was supposed to be a hydraulic cam was being run like a solid cam and who knows if it really is a hydraulic cam at this point.

Lesson learned : Never trust stock car engines and the ones who build them.

So I have been trying to decide what to do? I am told it will be really hard to make a good program to make it run with any manners on the street but it can be done. I don't want to change the cam since it could run into springs and other cost that I don't want to go in to.

I keep telling myself to just get it running the way it is and change the engine this winter if needed.I have another engine that can go in to it once it is freshened up.

I have been given so much advice as to what to do about this and most of it conflicts with my budget and the other just is run what you brung. Unfortunately I followed the run what you brung route because of money. At this point I am kind of liking that it is a radical cam that will make more power even if it gives up some bottom end. More power and the fact that I have the gearing to deal with it.

I just got the engine up and running again and have figured out how to get it to idle at around 1000 rpm and it sounds pretty good.

One thing I learned from Ron Schwarz blowing up the engine in the Mustang is that it can happen to anyone even if they have it all going for them and you start to push it. Seeing the other engines go at the motorstate also makes me realize that it can happen at anytime. So I keep telling myself to run this $500 cheap stockcar engine until it blows up if that is what it chooses to do. I have faith that I don't abuse my cars to that point and the damn engine will get me down the road until I get the next one in line to go in.

I also have other things that have to be addressed and I can't do them if it isn't driving down the road.

It starts , it idles and it revs. I think I will put it together the rest of the way and find a good tuner who really knows what to do or just pick at the program and see if I can make it better. I am learning as I go and the curve is wearing my patience but I am trying to not let it kick my ass.

Here is a pick of the cheater lifters. Unless you have a better explanation of what they really are? I am open to any and all things about this situation.

Jim Nilsen

10-13-2009, 03:38 PM

Here are a couple of pics of the interior and how it is coming along.
I keep thinking I like the bowtie that can peak thru. It is kind of stealth like and will be easy to do, it is just mocked up and I just can't decide?

Jim Nilsen

10-13-2009, 08:32 PM

It was a good night and I actually put a program in the ecu that seemed to work better for now, I think I could drive around on it with little or no problems. Engine seems to want to make some power.

My friend came by tonight and helped with the front fenders and it all went well with no scratches and everything seems to line up just like it did and maybe even a bit better than the mock up before paint. Seams line up good and the trim on the cowl vent needs a bit of adjustment but other than that they look as good as anybody can get them to line up.

If everything goes well I actually might be able to drive the beast this weekend.

I'm goin with the run what you brung attitude and will change things later that might need to be changed.

John Wright

10-14-2009, 03:10 AM

Stock car cheaters...never heard of them....LOL

The local dirt track guys have all sorts of tricks up their sleeves so be careful.

Looks like you are getting really close...hang in there.

Motown 454

10-14-2009, 09:18 AM

Thats good to hear . Hope it works out for you.

dropit69

10-14-2009, 09:25 AM

looking good Jim congrats..nothing better looking than a yellow car..!!!

bigshotsho93

10-15-2009, 03:59 PM

looks like the weather is finally gonna give us a break this weekend. not gonna be really warm but mid 50s and sunny. great time to take it out for a spin! good luck with the rest of the reassembly i hope it goes as smooth as the fenders did.

dslhtrdr

10-15-2009, 04:24 PM

Congrats Jim! It's been quite a project for you and I'm glad to see that you've stuck with it the whole way. I'm happy for ya and hang in there. Sounds like it's very, very close! Wish I could say the same...

Jim Nilsen

10-16-2009, 11:18 AM

Things are going a bit slow with putting the front clip on. So many little details and pieces to make fit just right that have never been on the car before. If it works out I will have it together tommorrow or sunday enough to drive it.

I have insurance now so I can drive it when I am ready.

Now I just have to keep telling myself that I am going to take it all apart up front to make it perfect and will have all winter to do it instead of having to do it before I drive it.

Here's a pic of it at the moment.

Rick Dorion

10-16-2009, 12:41 PM

What a great accomplishment, Jim. It's amazing how the hours get sucked away in all the details.

Motown 454

10-16-2009, 02:35 PM

that looks good. Nice job.

Jim Nilsen

10-17-2009, 09:11 AM

Got quite a bit done yesterday after fighting with a headlight bucket and the alignment of it. damn thing had to be bent into submission and after it was done it looked right like it was supposed to.

I hope I can get it closer today. The hood is going to be the fun part since the latches are are a pain to get just right and I might have to redo one of the mounts for the post that latches.

If I make it to the gas station and around the block a couple of times tommorow it will be a milestone moment. Hell just getting it off of the jackstands and out of the garage for some better pics would be out of the comfort zone it has been in for years !

Monday I have to talk to Racepak and see what kind of bulb they use for the gauges so I can update the Stewart W arner speedo with the same bright white light. I am assuming it is an LED in the Racepak gauges and the speedo is just a filament type bulb. If any of you have already messed with the speedo lighting and know any hints it would really help. But I am not going to let it stop me from driving for now.

Jim Nilsen

10-17-2009, 02:03 PM

The last time I saw this hood up like this was a long time ago when the car was mostly edp black/

I still keep looking at tommorow as the day it pulls out of the garage.

The grill is going to take a bit and I still have to put the hood latches and the bumper on after that.

I am getting a bit nervous about it all not being all the way done but if I waited it would be snowing outside the day I probably would get it done and ready.:nopity:

:cheers:

bigshotsho93

10-17-2009, 04:17 PM

hey jim, the car is really lookin good!

i think for the light in your speedo you can get a colored cap that goes over the bulb and changes its color. thats all i had to do when i made my pillar gauges match my dash gauges. just put a little rubber type cover on the bulb. not sure what your working with exactly but may be an option for you.

Jim Nilsen

10-17-2009, 06:27 PM

Just got done putting the grille together and then looked at the old one that came off of an original 67 and even though the upper and lower pieces are NOS from the 70's stock pile they are not right.

Can any of you tell what is not right?

It doesn't look bad but it sure looks different.

I can change it this winter if I don't like it but it is not right.

mikey

10-17-2009, 08:36 PM

Damn I thought that I was going to have some competion for the longest build time.:razz: Oh well it's time to get busy on mine I hope you get todrive real soon.

Jim Nilsen

10-17-2009, 09:15 PM

Damn I thought that I was going to have some competion for the longest build time.:razz: Oh well it's time to get busy on mine I hope you get todrive real soon.

I bought the car in 1991 and started in 92 after buying a bunch of parts and the rest took forever.

If you make to 18 yrs and not ever running you will have beaten me by a few months for the longest build ,lol.

I still have a bunch of details to go but getting the chance to drive it before some of them are done is probably a smart thing from what I have seen and been thru.

The list is getting smaller that has the priorities to be done before it goes out the door.

We will see if I make it tommorow or not ?

protour73

10-18-2009, 03:35 AM

Looking good Jim.........get that beast out on the road before the snow flies!!!! I am ready to put mine up on jackstands for the winter........the "Winter Project" list is ready and waiting for me.

Hopefully I can out to Rockford in the spring to see your car!!! :naughty:

Jim Nilsen

10-18-2009, 04:30 PM

mikey

10-18-2009, 09:13 PM

I bought the car in 1991 and started in 92 after buying a bunch of parts and the rest took forever.

If you make to 18 yrs and not ever running you will have beaten me by a few months for the longest build ,lol.

I bought mine in oct.88 have yet to actually do much more than spend a boatload of money parts. I did some disassembly and after it sat outside for seven years it finally made it back inside.:1st:

Bow Tie 67

10-19-2009, 05:04 AM

I didn't make it today, I have been fighting with my hood latches and even though I am winning the war the battles are taking time that I was hoping would go easier. The hood lines up almost perfect but the latch need a spring to pop them up to release and damned if I can find my springs. I am doing more than I thought I would do as usual to get it more ready. I figured I had better be able to get my hood open in a hurry in case something happens unexpectedly, you just never know? You can't hardly tell it is a fiberglass hood, Mike did a good job putting the last coat of paint on it too.

Things left to do before I pull it out are the bumper,grille,exhaust hanger in back if I feel like it, put the cowl piece back on, springs to pop the hood open, seat belts, put wheels on up front, check brakes one last time, lower it to the ground , clean up the mess out of my way ,move my work table and start it up and pull out. it doesn't seem like much but it all adds up. I hope to get more done tonight with some of the small stuff but I am tired and hungry and need a break.

So maybe tommorow but I know Tuesday will be the day for sure and it is supposed to be a sunny day and warmer.

Details details details.

Ok, Jim nice progress * insert poke smilie here * now for some constructive prodding:

Screw the hood, lights, ect. All you need is plates Check, running motor Check, gauges Check, and brakes Check. Take her out on some laps around the block then do a check for leaks ect... if all looks good step two is bigger laps around a bigger block.

I went through this two years ago and was so anxious and second guessing what I may have missed it was stressfull. I ended up putting just over 100 miles on it prior to ripping it apart that winter. She went out without any windows except the windshield, talk about cold. Brrrrrrrr. But it was all worth it. :)

Jim Nilsen

10-19-2009, 05:46 AM

Ok, Jim nice progress * insert poke smilie here * now for some constructive prodding:

Screw the hood, lights, ect. All you need is plates Check, running motor Check, gauges Check, and brakes Check. Take her out on some laps around the block then do a check for leaks ect... if all looks good step two is bigger laps around a bigger block.

I went through this two years ago and was so anxious and second guessing what I may have missed it was stressfull. I ended up putting just over 100 miles on it prior to ripping it apart that winter. She went out without any windows except the windshield, talk about cold. Brrrrrrrr. But it was all worth it. :)

It's a nice day today by the way it looks and by 12 noon I think I am going to be taking it off of the jackstands. So if you want to skate out of work and come to my place we can terrorize my neighbor with the 69 Camaro and the other neighbor with the 64 Nova. If you showed up It would only take an hour or two to be out the door !!!!

Bow Tie 67

10-19-2009, 05:51 AM

It's a nice day today by the way it looks and by 12 noon I think I am going to be taking it off of the jackstands. So if you want to skate out of work and come to my place we can terrorize my neighbor with the 69 Camaro and the other neighbor with the 64 Nova. If you showed up It would only take an hour or two to be out the door !!!!

Ah, wish I could but today is a 16 hour shift. Blahhh

bigshotsho93

10-19-2009, 09:50 AM

You can't hardly tell it is a fiberglass hood, Mike did a good job putting the last coat of paint on it too.

thanks.:cheers: im glad your not disappointed with my work.

Jim Nilsen

10-19-2009, 02:02 PM

Just got back from a ride around the block and to the gas station !!!!

It handles awesome and the engine is going to be a blast once it is really tuned.

Bow Tie 67

10-19-2009, 02:15 PM

Congrats Jim, now some burnouts.

thedugan

10-19-2009, 03:14 PM

congrats.

Steve Chryssos

10-19-2009, 03:49 PM

Woo Hoo!

Van B

10-19-2009, 06:08 PM

It is aliiiive!!!

Motown 454

10-19-2009, 06:49 PM

Congratulation's Jim you worked hard for it. Glad to hear it went well. Any videos of it runing?

Jim Nilsen

10-19-2009, 06:53 PM

It's ALIVE and READY to DRIVE

I made a few more laps around the block after dark and adjusted the headlights before putting the trim on. It steers really well and stays flat, the fast ratio is just perfect for autocross. The gearing feels real good and I think it can make use of 6000 rpm real well once we get a tune that will get us there safley.

I never thought Oct.19 2009 would be the day it made it out on its own power. bunch of little things to finish and probably a few that will pop up.

Gotta put the passenger seat in so I can take someone for a ride if they come by. Anybody is welcome to stop on in ,just pm me and let me know.

I have a video of me driving it away from the garage, leaving down the street and coming back. it sounds wicked with the cam that is in it.

A guy at the gas station driving a Jeep asked me if I wanted to trade even up lol, He really liked it.

So tommorow is another nice day and who knows where I will go ?

Thanks everyone who has helped get this beast on the road, it has been a long long journey and the end of building is hopefully a begining of driving it like it was built to drive.

Heres a few pics of the day, My friend Charlie is airing up the wheels right before it pulls out. The others are a real big change and facing a new direction. It can come down a bit in front but it is fairly level. It rides smoother than I thought it would.

May The Horsepower Be With You !!!!

:cheers:

John Wright

10-20-2009, 03:24 AM

Great news Jim!

Payton King

10-20-2009, 04:59 AM

Hard to believe the day has finally come.

Should be a nice week to drive

Shoot us a few more shots on the road

Congrats!

Jim Nilsen

10-20-2009, 09:04 AM

Been driving around this morning checking it out some more. I have a noise in the back I can't figure out, it is a rattle where nothing can rattle. I figure it is coming from somewhere else and echoing from the spot it is sounding like it is coming from.

The alignment I put on it to get me down the road a bit is really pretty good, it goes straight and has good response. The power steering is working great, it has a good feel to it for feedback.

Talked to the tuner today and he is going to have a tune for me by the weekend that will hopefully get me up to 6000rpm and run on the bottom too. I am running in batch fire right now to keep it from going lean at anytime.

So many things to sort out that I don't know where to start.

It sounds like a racecar,handles like a racecar and looks like a stock Camaro with Corvette wheels to the unsuspecting.

Now I have to put the passenger seat in so someone can help me find that rattle.

SamHatco

10-20-2009, 09:13 AM

Great car Jim! I know how you feel going around the block for the first time. Kinda scary and exciting both at the same time. I was thinking, ok what's going to fall off. Super job.

Sam

bigshotsho93

10-20-2009, 02:56 PM

Sweet! congrats, glad to hear everything is working and you are finally able to enjoy all your hard work.

Jim Nilsen

10-21-2009, 07:40 AM

It is going to be nice out today it looks like and I hope to play with the programming a bit. I may need new plugs already. The engine sounds like it is loading up with fuel and it sure can't do them any good.

Any help with programming right now is appreciated as I need to learn a lot more.

I will try to get videos up as soon as I can.

Jim Nilsen

10-21-2009, 11:19 AM

Never Never Never buy a stock car engine without tearing it apart piece by piece even if it only cost $500 and has $3,500 worth of parts and labor.

Just pulled the valve cover after a horrible sounding miss started and when the daylight hit it there was a broken rocker stud and a rocker laying there.

This is a learning experience for me as I have never worked with an engine this radical and the parts being so close to the edge. It's as if the guy who built it was doing everything he could to get the most out of the wrong parts?

Got a new stud in and am taking a break to let the engine cool a bit to set the lifters again. I am going to change the oil too. It started back up no problem and got me back into the garage.

I am sourcing out some new rocker studs since they are only holding with 5 threads. what were they thinking?

I am so glad I have another engine !

Other than all of this everyone who sees the car loves it.

Tucks69

10-21-2009, 02:00 PM

Glad to see you got your Camaro on the road. Hope to see 3 yellow 69's at RTTH6.

Jim Nilsen

10-21-2009, 04:34 PM

It started out as a bad day with the rocker stub broken but the old heads I have donate one and by 4 pm I was back on the road. I was going to relash the valves to .030 from .020 to see if it would be better and it really was, with a better idle and the engine noise was a lot better. With the race cam I may go .035 since you can go all the way to .050 with a race engine and this is a race engine for sure.

The car really hooks up good in the corners, I don't have a rear bar and the rear just followed the front perfect and doesn't seem to sway at all. I have to get the alignment done and who knows I could have a bit more camber in the rear than normal.

Found one of the noise in the back for sure and the other I have a good clue as to what it is. Neither are anything major but they make noise. Clarence needs to show up on one and the other needs to be tightened is all.

It was a spectacular day with the weather and Indian summer showed up with fall color. I went for a cruise and stopped at a park for a few shots.

Here are the pics of the day !!

dropit69

10-21-2009, 05:21 PM

WOW Jim awesome backdrop..i love the colors in that 4th pic...sure was a nice day today !!

Ron S

10-21-2009, 06:27 PM

Very cool

Motown 454

10-21-2009, 07:53 PM

Very nice pictures I agree with Dropit69
awesome back drop.

Martin71RS

10-22-2009, 09:57 AM

nice Jim! I like the way how stock it looks (apart from the wheels nothing that gives away what is underneith!)

Jim Nilsen

10-22-2009, 10:29 AM

nice Jim! I like the way how stock it looks (apart from the wheels nothing that gives away what is underneith!)

Thanks, that is what I was trying to do and it seems I pulled it off. The neighbor who came by yesterday asked me if it had a vette rear end because he swore he saw it when I went by. He has been into cars for years and knows his stuff and he noticed but was still unsure,lol. Once you get close up the details start to show depending how much you know and then your eyes and mind get a reality check that takes you into a whole other world. Even the engine is somewhat deceiving when you see it.

I am going to have fun answering questions forever. The deception is more than just a way of hiding it all and I wonder if the hardcore stock purist will get deceived for a few moments? So far noone has said I ruined a perfectly good car,lol.

I keep hoping it will stop raining before it starts snowing. I have about 35 miles on it now and want to get the whole racepac setup programmed along with the EFI before the end of the season. With all of the things popping up with the engine and having to pay attention to all of the other details I haven't had a chance to get it all done yet.

This car has so much tech inside that I will never use yet the simplest things are right there and have room for expanding as long as the mind can follow.

I have to make use of the rainy days to finish it up in the engine bay and the interior.

The fun has really just begun. Building is not the fun it used to be. The gatification is still there when it gets done but with the fact that it runs the way it is and I want to drive it makes the last details not seem so desireable at the now moment. I want to see 6000 rpm on the tach and feel it in my seat.

Talk to you later.

Jim Nilsen

10-23-2009, 10:33 AM

Seeing the cars get weighed at RTTH5 and hearing the numbers that the cars weighed before they were scaled left me really wondering what the Cormaro would weigh ?

It seemed that the extra weight that adds up at the end of the build surprised everyone who weighed their car during the build process. 500 lb. seemed to be the magic sneek up number from the expectations. That being the norm and thinking I would come in at 2850 lb or so and hoping for less like everyone does I am not too disappointed at what the scales I have read. They probably aren't the most accurate but they give a good guide line and clue as to where the weight is.

Here are the numbers....

LF 820
total 1652
RF 832

LR 724
total 1484
RR 760

total overall weight 3136

This is almost exactly what an 85 Vette weighs. The car sits 1" higher right now than a normal Corvette at the suspension. I will drive it for awhile and see if it settles any more, it has gone down half of an inch so far. I don't really think it will go down much more but we will see.

If I had an LS engine instead of the all iron block and heads engine I have it would be closer to 50-50 front to rear. I have 1/2 of a tank of gas right now. I also have carpet , inner fenders which will be aluminum and not weigh much and the rear bar bewteen the roll cage,rear sway bar and the shoulder harness for the belts. At least close to 100 lb. more I would guess.

So all in all it is not a heavyweight but it is no lightweight either. The best thing going for me weight wise is that I only weigh 140 lb. and holding .

I am having trouble remembering the calculation for F/R % so if someone wants to do the math, go for it.

I am trying to decide what alignment specs to use? I have found the specs at Vette Brakes website and they are still kind of vague when it comes to F/R specs and what is the best variance for camber. I keep thinking I am close enough to 50-50 so equal amounts of camber front and rear would seem appropriate but maybe I need more up front? The rest of the specs are pretty straight forward for each class of driving.

I can hardly wait for the damn sun to come back out, I am not worried about the cold, the heat that radiates from the engine and exhaust really warms it up inside when it is idling and maybe it will still keep it up when driving in the cooler weather ? The car is air tight from what it seems and when I wash it for the first time we will see if we have leaks anywhere.

:cheers:

John Wright

10-23-2009, 11:08 AM

1484/3136 = 47.3%
1652/3136 = 52.7%

Somebody check behind me math...been a long day

Jim Nilsen

10-23-2009, 05:07 PM

1484/3136 = 47.3%
1652/3136 = 52.7%

Somebody check behind me math...been a long day

That's what I was thinking it was when I did the math and converted it but it sure didn't look right and plus I was hoping for more 50-50 and was a bit disappointed at the time. Now I feel ok with it and by the time I get the extra items in the car , especially the rear sway bar and the rollcage bar, it could come out to more 50-50 afteral it onlt takes 125 lb. more to make it that way and when I get in the car it will even help out the driver side being light in the rear.

Waiting for sunshine or at least dry roads to go play in the streets a bit more but I have plenty more to do before the car is done so it looks totaly complete.

Jim Nilsen

10-24-2009, 02:40 PM

The sun came out today and it gave me a chance to sort some more things out and try to get some programming done on the racepak and other little things.

The car is sucking gas to about 5 mpg right now but it sounds real healthy and isn't going to burn up a valve anytime soon.

I didn't get a tune from the tuner yet so hopefully next week we boost the mpg up to at least 10mpg.

Back to more fun and then I am going to change out the rocker studs and put the .035 lash in and see if it helps or hurts.

YEEEEEHAAAAAA

Jim Nilsen

10-26-2009, 08:36 AM

I am not sure how to post it yet and it may take awhile for it to show up at youtube, I just loaded it up and it is under the title

The CORMARO

If someone can link it up for it would be great. Thanks

John Wright

10-26-2009, 08:52 AM

Jim is that the exact title...I copied and pasted what you typed but didn't get any hits of vids with your car

Jim Nilsen

10-26-2009, 11:31 AM

Jim is that the exact title...I copied and pasted what you typed but didn't get any hits of vids with your car

Yes it is the right title, but when I changed it to what it is they had an info block that said it could take up to 6 hrs before it would be available. So we will have to keep trying till it comes up. should be no later then 5 or 6 pm I would think? I have looked at it 4 times from my login site there.

Thanks for the help.

Jim Nilsen

10-26-2009, 04:32 PM

I don't know why the first video didn't work but I posted another and the title is,

The CORMARO2

I am going to try and post it up here, hope it shows up.

John Wright

10-26-2009, 04:46 PM

sZHUxQklsnI

Jim Nilsen

10-26-2009, 04:48 PM

The 2nd one worked so I will try the 1st again.

Don't know why it won't come up?

Jim Nilsen

10-26-2009, 04:51 PM

sZHUxQklsnI

Thanks John, I'll try a couple more. There is a 3 and 4 video with the same name now that should come up.

The first one might just be on the edge of making it but it says it was successful loading?

John Wright

10-26-2009, 04:53 PM

Sweet!...it sounds good.

Motown 454

10-26-2009, 06:21 PM

I just tried and got number 3 . But 4 is not up yet. Sounds good Jim.

Jim Nilsen

10-27-2009, 01:58 PM

Went for a drive and gave a couple of rides to some friends and had some fun. The concensus from the riders is that it is smoother than and quieter inside than they thought it would be. It was cooler out today and the inside was nice and warm and we opened the vents to cool down, the need for a heater is so far no problem without one.

Found a parking lot and got the brakes warmed up and got them to lock up with reasonable pressure. The pedal feel was good and the pads definately work better when heated up.

Got rid of the noises that were bothering me with the shocks and only one left to go. I think it is the temporary hanger for the exhaust letting the pipes rattle once in awhile.

The cornering is awesome and it stays real flat. Hopefully the front end alignment when I get it done will make everything better and not worse. I have quite a bit of camber in the rear and it stays put and tracks well.

I got more programming done on the racepak today thanks to Donny at Racepak. Having them be able to log on to my cumputer is so awesome.

Still waiting for the tuner to get me a program that is better.

All in all it is getting better everytime I go out.

Tommorow will be another nice day they say and I hope to get more done and maybe some tuning myself to see if I can make it better on my own.

Motown 454

10-27-2009, 03:09 PM

Glad its working out for you . You worked hard and deserve some fun time. Ride on!

nvr2fst

10-27-2009, 04:43 PM

Jim,
Good to see most of the little things are being addressed and your cruising around. Love the bold yellow with the vette wheels.
Get as much seat time as you can winter right around the corner!

Jim Nilsen

10-28-2009, 04:02 PM

Good and bad today so I will start with the bad news....

When I was programming my racepak yesterday the lap top slipped and fell onto the usb cable and bent the port and now it doesn't work. I have 2 other usb ports and my racepak and everrything else works thru them but the Accel DFI. Talke to Dave at accel and he doesn't know what to do and since my version is 3.1 and all of the fixes that would seemingly work won't because of the older version. To update the ecu it will cost $245 and probably $300 by the time it's done. Maybe someone with a bit more computer skills can get the ports to work? I need to upload a program on monday that is coming from the tuner and may need to borrow a laptop if I can't get mine to communicate.

THE GOOD NEWS......

Racepak is awesome, Donny hooked up and got me the newest version in less than 1/2 an hour and it took me from 2.0 to 12.0 and the latest and greatest of everything. I only have to program my accel g's and my fuel level now and I will be complete on my gauges to be fully functional. Next tank of gas and a bit of tilting on the gauge cluster and it will be good to go.

That being done, my speedo reads good on both the gps and the Stewart Warner speedo. The SW speedo is pretty accurate to the gps but seems to go from being just a percent or 2 above or below at times.I will use the gps most of the time except at the track when I will be using the space for other info.

NOW FOR THE BEST NEWS.......

Found a parking lot and did some circles to check lateral G's and left hand turns got to .95 G's and it was still gripping but was starting to make the tires yell for help and the right hand was 1.03 G's and just a bit of tire squeal and still holding.

With a better alignment it may do better possibly? I have the extra camber now that is more of a race setting for sure, so we will have a baseline now to judge by.

The car handles great and with a good tune is going to be a lot of fun. I know that it will do at least 1 G in the corners no problem and I only have 255-50's on it now.

The brakes keep getting better and when I get the accel and deccel G settings in the racepak I will be able to know the stopping force.

All in all not a bad day.

YEHAAAAAAA 1 G is AWESOME.

It felt as good as the ride in Bad Penny with Dave driving!!!!!

:cheers:

John Wright

10-29-2009, 03:06 AM

Sorry to hear about the slip....but it's good to hear about the grip!....LOL

Jim Nilsen

11-01-2009, 08:03 AM

This last week has been one for just figuring out what to do with the communication from my laptop to the ECU. I am really not too happy with the alternatives and the disappointment with ACCEL continues. Upon a lot of reflection I wonder how many other kits were as messed up as mine out of the box? I have had my moments where I just want to throw out the damn ACCEL and get something different but the cost of that is way too much compared to reflashing the ECU with the new program and hope that it cures the communication problem with the laptop at the same time?

Plans for this week are to get an alignment done and hopefully get connected to the ECU and get a good tune so I can really rev it up.

I am going to make up a string setup to do alignments and will post pics as I go. Matt is coming by with his alignment tools for camber and caster. If all goes well I will be able to do my own alignments in the future.

Back to the little stuff and maybe the big stuff will not seem so bad?

Jim Nilsen

11-02-2009, 03:47 PM

Here is the setup I made from $25 worth of parts from menards and a 1.5 in. piece of aluminum round stock 8in. long and some drilling & tapping.

Matt gave me the idea from a link online on do your own alignment. They wanted a bit more than I care to pay so 4 hrs worth of work and here it is.

With a bit more refining of the mounts they will be able to bolt and unbolt from the bumper easily.

Hopefully the tuner ,the weather and everything else will come together on wednesday for the car to be able to reve up and drive.

Here are the pics of the basic setup for the alignment.

Jim Nilsen

11-04-2009, 02:57 PM

Matt came over today and I got my first lesson on doing an alignment. I forgot to take a few pics of the setup but it work really well for the money invested and it will be something that can go on and off with ease with a coulpe of finishing touches.

The front end would only allow about 7/8 degree camber and close to 1.75 degrees caster. It would have taken a lot of work to get it to have more of both on one side so we opted to just get them matched for now.

We took it out for a spin and it was not running so good today with the fixed timing. The plugs could have been fouled a bit but we got to test the alignment a bit and we were turning .97 g in the right hand corners and cold leafy pavement. The car still tracks nice from what it seems with less camber. There was a lot of camber in all of the settings before and with less it seemed to slide a bit more up front but it could have been the pavement more than anything.

After Matt left I went to a friends and told him about my laptop/ecu problem and he let me use one of his old laptops and it will communicate with the ecu and that really makes me happy. Now I can load my program from the tuner as soon as he gets it done, he has been swamped with other things so he said by the weekend he should have a tune for me.

I have a few things to do and check before we get the tune and it is keeping me down to slow speeds and no torque so the trans is getting broke in the way it is supposed to at the least and other things could use the breakin time too.

Now that I can commumicate with the ecu I feel a whole lot better about it all. It was really distressing to not be able to try anything to get the tune better.

So that's it for now and maybe tommorow will get me a lot further.

Jim Nilsen

11-04-2009, 06:12 PM

I just got done changing the plugs and resetting the lash to .035 and it likes the extra lash a whole lot more, the next step is to go to .040 and see if that is even better. I can go all the way to .050 with the cam I have but I don't think it will need much more than the .040.

Going for a ride with a friend in about an hour to see if it can do better than the 1.03 g's it did with the extra camber. I am thinking it will be about the same but the pavement is a bit cooler so we will see?

The car is going to be awesome when it can lite it up to 6000 rpm.

:cheers:

John Wright

11-05-2009, 04:58 AM

Jim...try to warm the tires but don't over heat them...the grip with street tires starts falling off pretty quick once they get too hot....and it takes some time to get them to recover. just my $0.02

Glad to hear that the old laptop will talk with the ecm. I was hoping that your tuner would run his program through his laptop in real time and then once he worked it out as best as he can get it...then burn a new program for your ecm.

protour73

11-05-2009, 07:04 AM

I love the detail of your updates Jim. I will make point of a trip up to Rockford in the spring, I'd love to check out all of your well detailed work on the car!!!:1st:

Jim Nilsen

11-05-2009, 03:41 PM

I love the detail of your updates Jim. I will make point of a trip up to Rockford in the spring, I'd love to check out all of your well detailed work on the car!!!:1st:

I will look forward to the visit. It's always fun to get together with PT members and share experiences and our cars.

The best thing is if you bring another YELLOW Camaro into the neighborhood we can out number the others 2 to 1 ,lol.

Jim Nilsen

11-07-2009, 08:15 AM

I just talked to the tuner this morning and he said he is going to send me the tune later today, YEHAAAAAAAA.

I just hope I don't have any issues with the size of the file and it getting thru. i have had enough issues with pics and videos going thru and I don't think the file size of a program is any bigger than a picture but if it has other problems I won't get it. I am not really familiar with putting files on a disc from an email so that will be a learning experience.

I also hope the laptop I am borrowing will get it in the ecu with no communication errors. If all goes well I am looking forward to the first time I can put the pedal to the metal and feel what full throttle is like.

Wish me luck I need all of it I can get.

Jim Nilsen

11-09-2009, 05:47 AM

The weekend didn't bring me all it was supposed to as far as getting the tune in my email but I made progress on a noise that I thought I had fixed and then it would return and leave. I found it to be the shock moving on the bushing and allowing the metal part of the shock to rattle against the shock mount. Now that I have the thing spaced on both sides so it can't move the noise and other noise i thought I had have completely gone away. the telegraghing of the noise showed up in the strangest and scariest of places.

With the noises gone and the warm weather and sunshine giving me more opportunity to drive it, the car is working really well and I started to get on it a bit with confidence. The car is geared just like I engineered it to be and I will be able to use 2nd at the autocross where others were using 1st and hitting the rev limiter. I can get off the line with a lot of control over the tire spin and will be able to go to 36 mph at 6000 rpm and when I go to 2nd it is right in the sweet spot of the torque curve. The gears go in 30 mph increments all the way to 185 mph at 6000 rpm in 6th with a 26 in. tall tire. With a taller tire and not much of a taller tire the speed would go to 200mph just like I had designed it to. I totally love the incremental stepping of the gears and the ability to choose which way to shift according to the next corner or straight away.

I feel I can now move on to some of the things that need to get finished but was not wanting to have to go backwards to fix things.

I will try to get a video from inside the car while going thru the gears. When the car can go to 6 grand it will be just what I was looking for and the late model stock car engine is really liking the gears too.

John Wright

11-09-2009, 05:58 AM

a shock mount huh?

Good job locating that noise and eliminating it.

Can't wait for the update where you post about the new tune!

Jim Nilsen

11-11-2009, 09:14 AM

It's sunny outside and cool but I went for a drive and finally have no noises except a pesky pillar to dash pad squeak once in awhile that can be fixed easily. Everything finally sounds really good and quiet,lol, the engine is doing better and getting more mpg. Last time I checked it I was up to 10 mpg.

The tuner has been having trouble getting the accel program to put a program to a disc like it should. I too have been try to move files around to practice for when I get the program and get problems. I am thinking of driving 70 miles to go get the tune in person which seems to be a better possiblity to get it right and learn some too about the programming while I watch as much as I can.

So if it works out I am going for a drive and if it is any indication from my drive last night at sunset, it will be a very good ride there and a better ride coming back.

I need to go for a ride tonight for about 20 miles to check out any other problems and then I will feel good about going 140 miles round trip.

It's getting better every day !!!

Jim Nilsen

11-15-2009, 12:05 PM

I have found that the feeling you get when you get your car out and have fun before it is done is like going on a date with a hot woman knowing you are going to get lucky and you are still only out to dinner waiting for your table and have a show and desert to follow before you get to all of the real fun and excitement you were really looking forward to.

Still working on a few things to get it done in other places, it's time to move on to the sheetmetal under hood fenderwell stuff and some carpet for the interior.

There are only a few more days left to drive before it gets way too cold and I will drive it then as long as we haven't put salt on the roads yet to see if something new rattles.

Fall is being good so far and I hope the warm weather holds up.

Jim Nilsen

11-28-2009, 05:46 AM

The weather today is going to be nice enough to get the car out. I have done a few things and hope to find out if they make noise or not. I wish I had more good weather coming up but it doesn't look like it will last much longer, amazingly it has lasted this long !!!

I am getting a good idea of what I have to get done this winter and hope in the spring things will work out. I keep telling myself to not get a different cam and stick in it and get the tune for the one I have, but a new cam would get me a tune that was right on. Especially if I got the cam and the tune from Lingenfelter, I almost put one in 3 years ago and now it seems like a bargain.

I will try to get a video of the drive today.

NOT A TA

11-28-2009, 11:44 AM

Good to see you're still getting out for fall drives! Enjoy them!!

Jim Nilsen

12-01-2009, 04:38 PM

I decided to bite the bullet and my car is at Schwartz Performance getting the tune done. Things are going well and I can tell that I have a tuner that really knows what is going on and can do the job.

The dual sync distributor is causing problems that can be worked out but none the less it is not ideal. Going to a crank trigger and a modified MSD distribitor for cam timing is the way to go I am told but that is more money and I just don't want to keep throwing money at something that will get replaced with an LS motor eventually.

The car was really starting to respond to the tune so far and it won't bring tears to your eyes anymore unless you say the word ACCEL DUAL SYNC...... but I can live with it for now and if this car makes the power it feels like it can make it will be more car than is needed to do the events vs my driving skills. When I get my skills caught up to what the car can do I will be ready for a new engine and a whole bunch of other things like bigger brakes and such.

So tommorow morning I will be at Jeff's shop driving around in the big circle in a car with no heater and a tuner wishing it had,lol. I don't think Don knows the no heat/cold part yet. I am taking my coveralls to keep warm. As long as it just doesn't snow I will be all right with it.

Jeff tells me I have the best tuner in the world tuning my car and it really does look like it. So far I don't know who else has the ability and confidence that I feel from Don and it is refreshing after the ordeal I have gone thru to get to this point.

By this time tommorow I should have the biggest smile on my face that will last till spring when it will get even bigger when the first event comes.

YEHAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!

John Wright

12-01-2009, 06:03 PM

Oh man Jim, I am so glad for you...get that baby tuned up brother. Hope to hear/see vids with the new snappy throttle response and listen to the revs all the way to the moon.

Motown 454

12-02-2009, 05:33 PM

Any news Jim???

Jim Nilsen

12-03-2009, 01:34 PM

I have news but none of it really good.

The car is still plagued with ACCEL and Don couldn't tune bad parts to be good. I am not blaming anyone but myself and ACCEL for wasting my time and money but it has been very trying ordeal with hopes of time ,brains and money being able to get the car running. All of the brains and money in the world can't fix broke when you don't know what is broke and it is sad that it takes a lot of money and brains to find the problem part.

I am told that a seperate crank trigger and cam trigger that are more acurate will fix the problem that will plague me forever if I try to stay with the dual sync distributor. $750 is what it will take in parts to solve the problem with the ecu I have. Advice from the best and from experience to leave well/bad enough alone and make it work or it gets worse.

I called the head of Accel today and he says he will make it right, and all I have to do is send the ecu and the distributor back to them so they can check them out to see what is wrong. I am putting my faith,what little I have left into giving them a chance to give me something that works if I send it to them.

Looking back I should have sent the distributor and ecu back a long time ago when it didn't want to take the set up correctly. But I blamed my inexperience with the setup instead of going with the knowledge I know for sure when things weren't going right because I was told I might have other problems. I even got a new battery to be sure to have the extra volt for less drop. So far everything I had done would have been right and it should run great but it doesn't.

I did get to drive the car this year and even though I didn't get to the events I wanted to with the Cormaro ,I had a blast with my DD Vibe and a great drive with Matt Altamore in his 69 to the RTTH.

I think it might be time to throw in the towel for the driving season and call it winter. If things turn around fast enough and the weather holds out who knows what will ever happen. I do know this ! I am not wanting to spend another dime until I get answers from Accel and try to see if it can really work out of the box like it should.

Somebody please show me that the dual sync distributor setup works again because I know a few of you gave me instructions based on your experience of actual working parts and that it really is possible reality.

I need a lot of help in the ,hope I don't have to spend anymore money , department.

I have had enough for this year and maybe for Christmas I will get a new Dual Sync Distributor with a brand new Thruster DFI ecu at no cost. I actually could have bought a new system from anyone to control my engine for less than I have spent to find out what I have.

That is about as nicely as I can put it for now, hopefully things are looking up for 2010.

Jim Nilsen

12-03-2009, 03:20 PM

Are we having fun yet?

On the good side of the bad ,I have gone over 500 miles in at least 50 different trips and never once got stranded and only came close once but was close enough to home to make it back.

The car feels solid and is handling beyond the expectiations I had. The ride is more comfortable than expected and the friends that have ridden in it think it is a smooth ride until they went around a corner,lol. One friend described it as an amusement park ride.

I have always had time to think about what could have been different to make the outcome easier and less expensive and there are only a couple of things I would have been able to do easier and less expensive but it would have taken the complete functionality of what it was built for down a level or 2.

Getting the car out before all of the real modifications that will alter the looks have been put on has been a lot of fun that I didn't expect. Most everyone likes the Vette wheels and don't realize the rest until you tell them. The police just see me as a classic driving around with nice wheels and a healthy exhaust note. It is like an open canvas with the outside and the suspension, both are starting out stock configuration and will transform through the time it takes to do them.
So far the vision of what I want it to be is GETTING CLOSER........