Getting closer........

[John Wright]

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

Alright!..WTG Jim...as previously stated...we need vids!...LOL

[Bow Tie 67]

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]

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

[bigshotsho93]

Congrats!

[Jim Nilsen]

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]

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]

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

Now the fun really begins from what I have experienced.

[Jim Nilsen]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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

[dropit69]

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

[bigshotsho93]

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]

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]

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]

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

[Motown 454]

that looks good. Nice job.

[Jim Nilsen]

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.