A to Z

11-08-2026. I finally got the broken exhaust manifold bolt out, got the new studs installed and then got the turbo header from Forever Fabrication mocked up on there, and re-clocked the Turbo and have it mocked up on there as well. PICS.

11-07-2026. Today was devoted to just the valve cover. I cut off all the tabs and brackets not needed, then trimmed off some of the "stubs" for wire ties, etc. and drilled out the 2 back breather ports for weld in female threaded -10 ORB fittings. I already have the screw in fittings, so that will be great. I also went ahead and drilled out the back portion for the oil fill bracket. To do this drilling, I had to carefully remove the baffles, which are VERY thin aluminum. I then chopped off the factory oil fill port ont he front chain cover and ground it down flush, and then took a piece of aluminum I had and made a plug to fit. Everything will now welded up, sanded smooth, and then the cover will go for a complete polishing at J&S Polishing in Colorado Springs. I had planned on cutting the chain cover potion down, but after taking measurements, the clearance is needed, ....I needed what was there so it will stay at this height.....it is different, as with the 6 cylinder cover, I had to take out approximately 3/4 inch. Progress pics follow. Cheers!

11-06-2026. Today I picked up the intake and fuel rail and thermostat housing. I then dropped off the intake to get powdercoated in "polished aluminum" finish. The fuel rail, work was simply turning and refitting the pipe to work better when hooking up the fuel line. Thermostat housing was for clearance. PICS

11-05-2026. CHANGE OF PLANS. I am no longer going with the 4L60e automatic transmission. I got a 5 speed AR5 manual transmission for this build. 62K original mile unit inbound. Just couldn't get excited about the auto no matter how modified I was going to build it.

10-31-2026. 5 cylinder ATLAS update: I began the process of drilling out and removing an exhaust manifold bolt that was snapped off by the wrecking yard before I got it, so I got started on it but then took a break, as the drill bits I have aren't cutting it. I went ahead and finished painting up the power steering and tensioner bracket, and mounted it up, then made a small plate to cover an EGP port on the side of the head. Then I began the process I did on my 4200......use the power steering bracket to mount a plate with a hole in it to mount an idler pulley. Tuned out pretty good! A spare socket made the perfect spacer for belt alignment too! The alternator bracket I had made really needed a coat of silver so I got that done as well. The early part of the day was spent doing brake work on the ATLAS Z.....bleeding things out. PICS.

10-27-2026. After bringing home my 5 cylinder 3700 intake for a quick trial mockup, I got it back to my fabrication shop with the plenum ready to be finished up:

10-24-2026. I had to redo my alternator bracket again.....just move it down to make room for the intake. I brought home the tack welded piece from my fabricator to do so, then it goes back to be finished up. I also installed one of the idler pulleys, and got it lined up. It takes time when you are fitting and lining things up. In the pic below, you can see where I had to do a couple of notches to get things to line up. PICS:

10-23-2026. I ordered 2 idler pulleys from Amazon....they arrived, very nice, but the hole was too large. So, I took them to Ace Hardware, and got some Bronze bushings. I tapped them in, and then got bolts to bolt them up. Pretty cool.

10-17-2026 More ATLAS 5 banger work today. I went ahead and installed the new starter, and water pump. Cleaned up the bolts to make it look nice when assembled, water pump pulley on and then I got the crank pulley cleaned up and painted. I got the new alternator mounted on a handmade bracket using 1/4" aluminum plate.....doesn't look real good right now, as my Angle grinder died, so I will go back and clean up the bracket so it looks better but real progress on it today. The nuts used as spacers will be filed up and made to look better also. PICS:

10-11-2026 ATLAS Z UPDATE. CLUTCH AND BRAKE BLEEDING. So, I drug out my Motive Power Bleeder, and hooked it all up and filled it with DOT 5 fluid to "charge" the new brake system, which is all dry. I started with the clutch, which went VERY fast, and It's crazy how stiff the clutch pressure plate is! Then I went to the brakes. It's pretty involved when everything is new, and compeltely dry. So, after playing around for quite a while with it, I then settled on doing it all one step at a time......a bled the master cylinder out with it's drains, both cylinders, then started the process....using the 15 psi, I was able to get the rear brakes bled out, and the passenger front wheel.....but then found the driver's front wouldnt drain unless I pumped the brake pedal AND used the pressure, so something is wrong. I can push the pedal to the floor. not completely dead, pedaled but still...... After getting chat GPT to help me, I went through the line from the brake caliper back step by step and found that no fluid was coming out of the factory port. So, I will have to get a T fitting and go off the port for the passenger front wheel and then it will be like the rear brakes are, both off the rear brake port. VERY close, but challenging. Dot 5, I love the stuff.....it doesn't eat paint, doesn't hold water like dot 3 or 4 does, and for regular street driving will work fine. PICS:

10-10-2026. I finished cleaning the block and then painted it silver with engine enamel. Then I pulled the valvecover off, and did an initial cleaning on it. PICS:

Added an Atlas Z badge to the cover plate on the passenger foot plate. Funny....it looks crooked in the pic, and but straight in person. (shrug). You can tell the foot plate needs to be cleaned.

10-08-2026. I got the driver's side cleaned tonight. The oil pan and valve cover will be cleaned off the engine. One step closer to paint!

10-07-2026. I had a few moments today, So I took some measurements to get started on the DMZ intake DIY kit. Because of the intake, the original alternator location won't work, So I will make my own bracket and move it down to about the halfway mark. Plate steel or plate aluminum, M10X1.5 all thread screwed in to the threaded holes there, and start drilling holes and get it on there, and then slot holes as necessary to get belt alignment just right. PICS:

10-04-2026. I took some time today, and went ahead and removed the wiring harness, the intake manifold and some other parts bolted to the block. The stuff still attached, all the bolts are now broken loose and will be easy to deal with as we go. The parts I removed either got tossed, or put into a pile.....I then cleaned them up and took a couple quick pics. Engine looks a lot smaller once you get all the "junk" off! PICS