Mikelly

With the progress I am making I think I will have the car ready to dyno within two weeks... Got the cooiing system buttoned up tonight and got a great startup file for the car. Will get the exhaust buttoned up by the weekend and hopefully have the clutch system bled and working.

She is coming together nicely... And the T56 was delivered yesterday as well. I need to start sourcing rebuild parts for it and getting the gear ratios sorted... Winter project will be the 8.8 rear Ford IRS. Should be able to get sorted and get to a track near me by September...

From this morning!

She runs! http://youtu.be/LLLJMChxjPg trim.0EBD2F9E-6EF8-4FCA-ADFE-043F287B9B28.MOV

Pics are out on my facebook page but I made a lot of progress this weekend. The pump is mounted and all but one fitting are installed on the lines and the lines are mounted up. I had to remove the water pump and plug the heater core ports to remove the fittings and allow the drysump to plumb properly. I think this car will start within the next week. Getting really close gang!!

Oil pump is back in house and mounted up. I need to remake a bunch of lines and get everything ready to prime and fire... Hope to have exciting news and video by the weekend! Mike

Glad to see you're back at it. Keep us posted...

As luck would have it, there is no "LS1 base file" in the FAST catalog. You take a file for a cubic inch configuration closest to yours (in my case a 400 NA Chevy base file) and you convert it to the parameters you need. So Sunday morning I sat down and sorted out all the parameters, made sure the devices are configured properly, and was able to make everything sync up and talk to each other between the XFI (main ECU) the XIM *(ignition/coilpack controller) and the Touch Screen Dash/Data logger. Fun Fun Fun!!! Now i just need to get the pump back and all fluids primed and test for leaks! Mike

Got some progress made on the interior getting all the dash and electrical wrapped up. I also made a simple bracket to mount the XIM. All that is left is to put power to the units, upload the OEM LS1 file to the XFI and check out all the electronics. Still awaiting the drysump pump back from NRE!

Got the new LOKAR throttle cable installed properly and that was a total PITA due to a phillips head screw being damanged previously and requiring vice grips and a lot of patience to remove. Thankfully it is complete and fully operating the throttle body. The dash is in place and all wires connected. I need to test out all of the electrical this week. Hopefully I'll get the pump back by the weekend!

Still waiting on the oil pump to come back from AC Nutter... Might go ahead and start doing the dash/electrical check-out today... Mike

Trying to find a copy of it now...

While I'm off doing anything but working on the Zcar, enjoy these clips from my recent instructor weekend in my bone stock suspension/tire Focus ST. Managed to pace some respectable hardware in a little front drive hatchback... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5wrxxFtaDW0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ouwPewooxA Mike

Shipped the drysump pump off today. Hope to have it back within a week or so...Until then I am on vacation.. Screw cars...LOL!!! Mike

Not very productive the last two days. In moving the motor to its proper location I ended up with an oil line/steering shaft interference that I simply can not manage. I also had a grinding wheel break apart and take a chunk out of my face and another piece hit the other side, causing some blunt trauma... Not good. I am going to have to send the pump back, move some mount locations and slide the motor mount so I can get the pump sitting on the passenger side, and then I am going to have to recreate some oil lines... Pretty dejected right now...

Getting there...

Getting there... List of to do before firing it up for a run in on the motor... Attach throttle cable (before installing dash!!) Charge battery Test out the dash wiring Test the XIM connections and settings Load the LS1 Tune Remove the drysump and grind down a section on the block causing interference in tighting drysump belt Attach oil lines to pan/Pump/filter base Add oil to system and prime/check for leaks Add Water Fire And Gas/Fire and Gas/Fire and Gas!!!

Everything is a compromise. So I lowered the motor in the chassis about an inch. Wonderful... NOW the oil lines are interfering with the steering shaft... UGH. Lesson to ANYONE thinking about a drysump... DON'T put it on the DRIVERS SIDE of a chevy SBC OR LSx. Anyway, I'm making decent progress. I have the spacers for the MTI tensioner on and I have the alternator mount spacers on the way. I also got the throttle cable in, as well as a block off plug for the 02 sensor port that I won't be using (FAST only uses 1). Need to take the serpentine belt back for one an inch longer and I need to mount the dash and get her ready to fire up. Maybe this weekend? We'll see...

Got a fair amount done today and I think the mods made a huge difference in how the car is going to perform. I took the steering shaft off, knocked the bolt/bolt boss off with a grinder. I cleaned everything up on both pieces, knocked all the rust and debris away and then set the length and welded the two together. After a test fit, I cofirmed the steering shaft is proper. I then primed and painted it, then reinstalled it. This mod gained me over 3/4 inch of clearance to lower the motor further into the chassis. This will help with my driveline angle. I also got ahold of Wayne At KWIK Performance and got spacers on the way for the alternator mount. Between those spacers and the one for the MTI manual tensioner, I should have the accessory drive resolved. Car might be running by the weekend. Mike

So according to the guys who sold me the drysump the setup is for a Camaro and not a Corvette. So I need a Camaro Alternator mount and MTI is sending me spacers for the tensioner. I should be back on track to start this car up soon.

I am at a standstill... The accessory drive components are not lining up. I have contacted AC Nutter (dry sump vendor) for help... Really frustrated that I am THIS CLOSE to starting this car and something like the alingment of three pulleys is stopping me... Ugh...

The last big hurtle is over and I will now be able to finish up the small bits before I fire this pig up... Altnernator left upper mount from KWIK did the job. Really close to the strut tower, but it works and clears the hood. Mike

I plan to be at UTCC as a spectator, unless I pick up a client to coach... We should plan for dinner on Either Thursday night or Friday.

Matt, Any updates on your build?? Mine is dragging because I am living life and doing other things lately...

Should have another alternator mount showing up tomorrow to aid in my quest to place this stupid alternator where it will fit without hitting the hood or other parts of the chassis... Ugh... Shoulda sent the drysump pump back for a passenger side mount unit. More to follow...