Mikelly

Most of you won't know him, because he lurked here mostly. MOST of you will know his work through CobraMatt's Zcar build thread and a mention or three in my own build thread. John Brown died yesterday evening after a bad karting accident. John had a passion for racing and was a pretty hot shoe and talent at the wheel, helping his team to second place in their first ever AER race last fall. He lived life and loved all things motorsport related. John was a young man formally educated in engineering who gave up the cube farm to follow his passion in the motorsports industry. John worked at MTI Racing, Balanced Performance, Atlanta Motorsports Park, and most recently at Vengeance Racing. But most of all, John was Matt's sidekick. Most times Matt was at the track racing, John was crewing for him. I met John thru Matt, and we struck up a friendship over the internet/chat/phone. John even spent a night here while he and his fiance Regina were heading home from a weeklong trip up north to see her family. He gave me a hand with the startup of the first LS motor transplant. John's smile was wonderful, his attitude towards everything he did was positive, and his craftsmanship and work ethic gave me hope in this current generation of young people. He was also wise in the way of car setup, troubleshooting and fabrication the likes I have never seen. Most of all he was a young man most of us would have been proud fo call son. Godspeed John "Cory" Brown. You will be missed. Mike Kelly

Update: The wiring harness for the LS package FAST sent me had issues... The IAC wiring had a couple wires that had shrinkwrap that never saw heat, apparently... And two of the wires touched and here we are with an issue with the ECU. We shipped it back late last week and are awaiting a call from FAST. What's left for now is the exhaust needs completed, and then I have a list of other things I wanted Jamie to consider (cleaning up the air box and building the separation wall for the fuel cell) and possibly a little more aero work... This stuff is never "done" is it? We've posted a bunch of video on my Mike's Hobby Shop FB page... Matt Shue has posted some as well, as has Jamie on the RiverCitySpeed page. Mike

If I had it to do over again, and dealing with some of the headaches I dealt with, I'd go one of two routes if I did this over... I would either stick with the TKO600 I had, which is reasonably light, reasonably durable, and parts sourcing is solid. Couple of gearing options help with decision making there too... Or... I would buy the TR6060 or magnum. I now have one in my 2012 Grand Sport and that transmission feels like I'm shifting the gearbox in my Porsches... It is just so solid, so mechanical, and so magical to row. I hope my custom T56 shifts as well, but I fear it won't... Ugh...

Has anyone used the OEM manifolds? On my LS3 in my 2012 Grand Sport they flow well and are certainly supporting 435HP without issue. Could you make more power? Sure... But given the royal pain it is to fit LTs, I'm not sure I would fight it on a street car build. Mike

Paid the deposit (and then some) on the tune with MattShueTuning. I expect the car will make very solid safe and reliable power. Jamie is cleaning up a few other items, but I should have more news in the next few weeks about some special things coming up... This car is finally coming together and is going to have a major "coming out" announcement soon!!

Couple words of wisdom here... CAREFUL when installing the bellhousing Dowels on your block. Make sure you hone the surfaces of both, and take care not to use excessive force installing the pins... Mine were tapped on with a deadblow plastic mallet and we created a fracture than ran from the drivers rear oil galley plug all the way up to the dowel hole on the block. The material on the back of the LS blocks is very thin and the casting is very porous. so take care back there... Jamie Taylor resolved the issue for me by tig welding the area. Mike

Took the car to Jamie Taylor to address a few issues for me. I had a problem with an oil galley plug and fracture (Yup, you read that) that Jamie welded up, and then I had a list of other smaller items I wanted him to resolve for me... Jamie Is the man... https://www.instagram.com/p/BANj7lCGOBC/ Car is running very well and I am really digging the progress. Jamie will resolve the exhaust system, and maybe address a few other items on the list.

Yesterday I managed to resolve the cam sensor issue (I think) and the clutch hydraulics (New Tilton Master Cylinder) and I realigned the front after installing the T3 Strut brace... While I was at it, I went ahead and checked the rears toe... all is good... I need to pull the new water pump and resolve a coolant leak on the passenger side port, Notch the louvers in the hood to clear the strut bar and put the airbox and front bumper back on it... Then it's into the car trailer and down to Richmond for a bit...Which is great because I have some work to do on this:

So here's the "short" list... I'm getting a cam sensor error due to a bare pair of wires we found in a plug harness adapter (basically requires you to swap two of the wires and they just cut and soldered them) so I need to buy a new cam sensor and resolve the plug issue. I need to put an alignment on the car big time and go over all the suspension fasteners juuuust to be safe. Car needs a full exhaust fabricated so I'm sending it to Jamie Taylor in Richmond Va. Car needs dyno tuning Car needs a new traction control sensor. I'm taking the old one to Jamie, to see if we can mod it or just order a new one. That's about it for the moment.

Closer to "complete"...

Will be shipping the car down to Jamie Taylor in Richmond Va to wrap a few things up on it...

She runs... trim.B98403FF-FE46-4CF3-9F19-798C08C691D4.MOV

List is ever smaller...What's left to do? Lines/Hoses: Check Waterpump/Radiator/Overflow lines Tune: Load Software Verify Power Up on ECU/Dash Set up TDC/Timing calibration W/FAST ECU and mark 50 degrees BTDC for reference. Wiring: Test all connections Fluids: Add Coolant

What's left to do? Lines/Hoses: Check Waterpump/Radiator/Overflow lines Tune: Load Software Verify Power Up on ECU/Dash Set up TDC/Timing calibration W/FAST ECU and mark 50 degrees BTDC for reference. Wiring: Test all connections Check/Tighten Bolts: Tighten Motor Mounts Fluids: Pump oul old Gas and replace/Prime Add Coolant

OIl in the drysump, battery in the box and connected.... Getting REALLY close to firing this thing up...

I took care of a host of issues on the list this evening, to include: Installing the springs in the -16 return line Extending the coolant temp sensor wiring Tightening/Checking all Steam fittings Tightening/Checking ALL oil lines Tightening the brake booster clamp Charge Battery Connect FPR VACUUM LINE Made a lot of progress in less than 1.5 hours!!

Keith, I hope you get it squared away man... We are in Williamsburg Va for a weekend break and the walking around has cooked my back. We walked about 10 miles yesterday and I really over-did it. I expect to have the Datsun running this coming week... Should be a great kick off to the 2016 season...

So I'm within a very short period of work/prep of starting the car. This list looks something like this: Lines/Hoses: Tighten Brake Booster Vacuum line Connect FPR Port Vacuum Check Waterpump/Radiator/Overflow lines Install Springs in the Main Oil Return Check/tighten all Drysump Fittings Install Main oil Return Tighten/Check Steam Fittings Install fluid line for Trans Cooler Tune: Load Software Change MAP Sensor Config Verify Power Up on ECU/Dash Set up TDC/Timing calibration W/FAST ECU and mark 50 degrees BTDC for reference. Wiring: Charge Battery Extend Coolant Temp Sensor wiring 12 inches Test all connections Check/Tighten Bolts: Tighten Driveshaft Tighten Motor Mounts Tighten Trans Mounts Resolve right rear oil pan bolt issue (not threading into pan) Fluids: Fill Trans Fill Oil/Prime Pump oul old Gas and replace/Prime Add Coolant

So I managed a little time out in the shop today before the back and the wife protested...

Yea, so that went well... Not somuch... I have done a LOT of stuff connecting the electrical connections, the hydraulic lines to the clutch, brake booster, fuel lines, water lines... And then my back starts bothering me again... I am on pretty strict orders not to be doing "car" stuff like bending over a car or standing on concrete. So This project is taking a detour. Ugh... Atleast until the new year... 3 weeks physical therapy started last Friday... So there you have it.

Got a bunch done on the Zcar this afternoon after work. Some of the connections made, motor mounts tightened up, headers bolted up, coil pack brackets bolted up... Tons of small stuff...

Its amazing what good drugs and a healthy son can do for a project!! Motor, trans and driveshaft are in...

Some may have been wondering why I havent posted much on progress lately... I pulled my back out on the 17th of November, ignored it, then caught the flu this past Sunday night, nausea and diahrrea hit me hard and by the time I went to the urgent care facility I was a bit to dehydrated... I passed out in the room they assigned me... They ended up giving me 2 QUARTS of fluids and some muscle relaxers for my back. Today I went to an orthopedic specialist and will start physical therapy next week... So this process is going to take a bit longer to get the motor installed...

While I wait for the pilot bearing (and a severely strained back to heal) I figured I'd go ahead and do the compcams trunion mod. that was about as simple as it gets. An hour later, new trunions installed in the stock rockers. They cost me $105 Shipped on ebay.

I went ahead and ordered them for the -16 return line. I think it's the only one that could possibly risk collapse. Thanks for the input Cary. Mike