Luna: The cause of, and solution to, all of my problems

[FricFrac]

What is the part number on the Eastwood flaring tool?

[OldAndyAndTheSea]

Item #25304

http://www.eastwood.com/professional-brake-tubing-flaring-tool.html

 

 

The ebay store has the tool for around 200 shipped. That's where I got mine. Wicked savings right now, compared to through Eastwood's website

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Eastwood-Pro-Double-Single-Brake-Line-Tubing-Flaring-Tool-Kit-/231469438926?hash=item35e4a757ce&item=231469438926&pt=Motors_Automotive_Tools&vxp=mtr

 

 

 

Kurk, if my stupid lines hold fluid (fingers crossed) I'll be able to toss my engine back in, and then....WIRING HARNESS! Hooray! Very soon. .

[FricFrac]

I'm looking forward to see how it all works out especially the EDIS section

[OldAndyAndTheSea]

I'm looking forward to see how it all works out especially the EDIS section

 

You're telling me. I'm SO ready for progress.

 

Some engine upgrades/prep for installation.

 

 

I've spent whatever free time I've had the last few nights prepping the engine for installation.

 

Powdercoated a bunch of miscellaneous parts.

 

 

Thermostat housing

 

 

 

 

Distributor block off plate

 

 

 

 

Coils are mounted. Everything seems to fit well together..

 

 

 

 

 

 

12 pound flywheel....Finally got to install that.

 

 

And the ACT clutch components.

 

 

 

 

 

And I am currently in the process of finishing up my valve cover....FOR THE LAST TIME. The LAST TIME I say... You hear me, valve cover? This is the LAST time you're getting painted, you fickle....Last chance, don't mess it up.

 

High temp primer - ready to be sanded

 

 

 

Just sprayed - once it cures, I'll, once again, painstakingly remove the paint from the letters.

 

 

 

 

This time, since I am tired of installing transmissions alone, I'm going to mate the engine to the transmission and install both components at the same time.

 

Hopefully it will beat bench pressing the transmission in place, and all the rigamarole that goes with that.

 

I have the hoist ready to go.

 

I'm about to head out now and do some mating

Edited March 1, 2015 by OldAndyAndTheSea

[OldAndyAndTheSea]

Small update...a couple beers later..



Pre




Post









Hopefully I'll never have to do this again. I forgot how much it sucks.

 Next step: Engine IN the car.

Oh boy!

Edited March 2, 2015 by OldAndyAndTheSea

[Leon]

Wow, that looks great! Nice job.

[OldAndyAndTheSea]

^^ Thankya kind Sir!

 

 

 I was in Buffalo this past week, helping my brother recover from surgery. Otherwise this would have happened days ago...















Also it's official. We are the snowiest region in America..... Woot....woot?  

http://www.syracuse.com/weather/index.ssf/2015/03/snowiest_place_in_america_tug_hill_lake_ontario_upstate_new_york.html#incart_river

I guess we have to be the best at something 




This week should be interesting.

Stay tuned..

Edited March 10, 2015 by OldAndyAndTheSea

[FricFrac]

Haha I just realized you're in Syracuse. My buddy has a shop in Rome

 

https://www.teamcrc.com/crc/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=2

[ryant67]

Beautiful work, it's really taking shape! Reckon we all in the Kingston/Syracuse/Rochester corridor should try and get to Dinosaur BBQ with the Z's this summer - would be great to see your car up close!

[OldAndyAndTheSea]

Haha I just realized you're in Syracuse. My buddy has a shop in Rome

 

https://www.teamcrc.com/crc/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=2

 

Whoa! That's awesome!

 

Harness install is coming up soon. Prepare yourself for, most likely, a barrage of questions, my friend. Haha

 

Beautiful work, it's really taking shape! Reckon we all in the Kingston/Syracuse/Rochester corridor should try and get to Dinosaur BBQ with the Z's this summer - would be great to see your car up close!

 

Thanks for the ultra kind words. I'd LOVE a meet. I've always planned on taking the car all over....I've just never had it drivable for long enough. Haha. I have a feeling that actually might change this year.

 

Fingers crossed...big time.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Today, after work, I began to address fuel.

 

 

Have I mentioned how much I love my new flaring tool? My phone sure hates to focus on flares though.

 

 

 

I redesigned the majority of the system - A few things have changed since the last version, which necessitated new routing. I also introduced -AN fittings to the equation.

 

Cleans things up quite nicely. I'm pleased.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The devil really is in the details.

 

 

I modified a 5/16" adel clamp to mount to the fuel pressure regulator in order support the length of line. I felt pretty clever... This is the type of stuff that really gets me going. Haha

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The new return is now behind the engine, instead of wrapping around the timing cover, and down the passenger side frame rail as it was previously.

 

That freed up valuable real estate on the passenger's side; I plan to use this space for mounting my oil cooler thermostat and my EDIS module..... So this was pretty important.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You can vaguely see the system's routing here. Feeds from behind the engine, through the fuel filter, leading to the injectors, then the FPR. Excess fuel is returned to the tank out the bottom the of regulator.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I forgot that I robbed my fuel pressure gauge for the 280zx.....But, I am planning to relocate that to the cockpit, as a gauge in the engine compartment really doesn't make much sense.

 

Other than that and a couple miscellaneous clamps.... fuel is done. Sweet!

Edited March 11, 2015 by OldAndyAndTheSea

[OldAndyAndTheSea]

Tonight I tackled my oil cooler thermostat.



Here are the mounting points. I'll use two of the four provisions.




First little tab.





As they say, you can either be a good welder or a good grinder.......Tonight..I was definitely (barely) the later. :laugh:

First tab in place.




Second tab







Test fit.





Initial touch up, with a brush. I'll follow up and blend it later.







Perspective.







I think that means tomorrow I start mocking the new wiring harness. I can't wait!

More to come, as it happens.

Thanks for reading.

Edited March 13, 2015 by OldAndyAndTheSea

[FricFrac]

So close....

[seattlejester]

Oooh you are cruising, keep up the momentum!

[OldAndyAndTheSea]

Started with the harness today. Kurk (FricFrac) really goes above and beyond on these things, I cannot say enough good things about his craftsmanship, and his customer service - what a great guy to deal with, on all fronts. Thanks for everything.

That said, I'm taking my sweet time.

Super messy, currently. That'll change. I just want to know things work, first.











Slowly but surely. More tomorrow, as I have reached my breaking point for the night.

Lots to do yet...

[FricFrac]

Woohoo! Looks great. Super pumped to see this build

[LanceVance]

Love how clean you've managed to keep the wiring.

 

I'm curious where you sourced the injector pigtails with the rubber boots. I've seen a few, but they are much longer than those you've got there (Though trimming them is hardly an issue).

[FricFrac]

Yeah that wiring is amazing... tell me more about it

 

The injectors are quick disconnect EV1 on Mil Spec Teflon silver plated wire with nylon braiding and heat shrink with a meltable inner jacket.

[OldAndyAndTheSea]

Love how clean you've managed to keep the wiring.

 

I'm curious where you sourced the injector pigtails with the rubber boots. I've seen a few, but they are much longer than those you've got there (Though trimming them is hardly an issue).

Thanks but the credit entirely lies with Kurk.

 

Yeah that wiring is amazing... tell me more about it

 

The injectors are quick disconnect EV1 on Mil Spec Teflon silver plated wire with nylon braiding and heat shrink with a meltable inner jacket.

 

:lol:

 

From THE MAN himself.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Progress...At a snail's pace.

 

A roller coaster ride of emotions this weekend.

 

I believe, I have the wiring sorted (thanks again, Kurk! You're a life saver!) ..I have yet to confirm definitively, but I made some steps forward, regardless.

 

After some fiddling this afternoon, I finally got to hear my fuel pump run again.

 

I also got to hear fuel spraying ALL OVER the exhaust manifold. HAHA!

 

A couple of offenders..

 

 

One bad injector O-ring

 

 

And one bad -6AN fitting (the capped end). Apparently I don't know my own strength and totally marred the 37 degree flare, causing it to leak as well.

 

 

 

I saw this as an opportunity to, once again, change my fuel system a little bit.

 

 

 

I reversed the fuel pressure regulator, as the latest version didn't work for a couple different reasons.

 

1. It screwed up the routing of the fuel injector harness, with the way the fuel line was routed.

 

2. Any provision for a fuel pressure gauge, or a sender for an electric gauge was on the underside, and was basically unusable in any way.

 

 

 

 

Here is the before, in case you were too lazy to look at the last post. You can see the issues I mentioned. Not quite up to par.

 

 

 

 

I swapped O-rings, and solved that problem. And I changed the fuel pressure regulator to this current setup. Once again, MUCH cleaner.

 

 

 

 

 

Here is the after. Now with a usable fuel pressure gauge, and much cleaner fuel line and injector harness routing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have ordered a few more -6an couplers, and a couple more caps....Just in case . But unfortunately, that means I have to wait for them to arrive; A common theme with this build.

 

If I can find any locally in the meantime, I will certainly swap them out and work more...... But, I am doubtful of that prospect.

 

 

 

I'll be honest, I'm looking forward to some mindless sanding once again. Wiring makes my brain hurt.....While I wait, I'll be making some door panels for the car.

 

I welcome the task.

Edited March 17, 2015 by OldAndyAndTheSea

[OldAndyAndTheSea]

Third time is the charm.


After three attempts, I have finally managed to stop all of the leaks.

In order to make all of the various fittings cooperate, I had to install this female-female -6an swivel fitting.

It's an $11 fitting, and I spent 35 dollars to overnight it from Summit.....But, what can I say? I was PISSED when I put things back together for the second time, and still had leaks...And new ones at that!  No way this issue was going to last into the new week. Of course, I had to remake and redesign some things, yet again.. What else is new?




 Pretty close tolerances with the throttle linkage. Luckily, I managed to have just enough room.




I set fuel pressure, although it doesn't want to pass a leakdown test... I'll investigate that tomorrow.





Got to see my wideband working again. Had to trick the ignition circuit into thinking it still had a single coil.



(prepare for the highest quality picture I have EVER taken.)






And in the midst of all of this work, went up in the Piper with my buddy Ryan to assess the ice situation on the lake........Not looking good......Literally zero open water as far as the eye could see.

Damn...I really want to go sailing...

Obligatory pictures.









That's all the work I'm doing today. I know not to press my luck. A couple small victories are enough for now. More tomorrow.

[OldAndyAndTheSea]

I don't know what's worse.....The fact that winter is still here, with a vengeance...Or Megasquirt troubleshooting (once again...).

Long story short: I still don't have a RPM signal - Everything else is working, once again, except the most important parameter. That is outrageously frustrating...Especially considering all of the revisions I have made to the system.

So, while I ponder on that issue....I made a few purchases, and have made even more changes that once again clean things up in the meantime.


After pricing custom plug wires, and thinking about the easiest, and cleanest way to route them....I finally decided to ditch the block mounted Chrysler coil pack all together and opted for a coil on plug setup.

I'm, at this point in time, still going to run wasted spark, so very minimal wiring will have to be changed.... The entire setup, using Ford V8 coils, and the custom bracket actually turned out to be CHEAPER than the previously mentioned custom wires. Not to mention  the challenge of routing them in a logical, aesthetically pleasing manner. So this was a no brainer.


Here's the Chrysler coil pack that is being replaced.




Here's one of the Ford coils. A new set of these was only $50, and I get eight of them. So I have two spares as well.




1 Fast Z's EDIS coil bracket. Luckily I found one - a beautiful piece. Saves me a lot of headache.












Bracket - installed








Coils - mounted





So much simpler!





Perspective





So, in the midst of my agonizing frustration, I decided I need a confidence boost....So, I ordered T3's big (front) brake kit. That is expected within a week or so.

It was either that, or ditching Megasquirt and going straight to Haltech, which I now feel I should have done from the beginning.....But, I've decided to not let emotions get the best of me, and give it one more attempt. I need to step back for a moment, catch my breath, and reassess the situation....

Ugh...easier said than done.

 

Teaching yourself sucks sometimes.
 

 

Installing the brakes should boost morale a bit. I cannot let the car stagnate; I need some forward progress.



Winter really needs to end as well.... It was 10 degrees this morning. I shaved and got my hair cut too soon.....My face hurts....


Two steps forward......one step back, as always.

 

Stupid car......er....more like stupid owner.




Oh yeah....Almost forgot....A little carbon door panel (plug) progress as well. Lots to do on those yet.