Had a pretty good Friday - took the day off to burn some vacation before it's gone and zipped up to the tuning shop (which was about an hour away). Easy drive up and no one else on the dyno met the shop owner and he's a really cool guy. Very relaxed, happy, positive attitude guy - which was reassuring (nothing's worse than dealing with a shop owner with an attitude). Got on the dyno, strapped down, and the owner gave me about a 5minute tutorial on the mustang dyno - pretty straight forward on how things work, the data entry, and the calibration. I ended up taking about 8 pulls, first few with no boost control duty cycle (ran about 10psi) and then started added in duty cycle and pushed it to 12psi, I did spend about 10minutes doing some fine adjustment on my fuel map ... I have a weird rich spot around 5200rpms that was funky and I have some abnormal boost control oscillation around 12psi that I need to iron out. As seen in the video, my oil return line is going to be a problem - I did find a used APS turbo expanded oil pan that I'm going to re-route my return line to and I'll add a vented catch can too.

Overall it was a great session and I hope to be back up there soon. The car did 528hp/508tq on 12psi of boost. I pushed the car to 6500rpm each pull and it felt good but I was nervously-scared each time. The car didnt overheat and aside from the cooling fans I installed I had no other fans on the radiator (happy to know the temps will stay in check). The hood was pinned down bc the fan kept blowing it up(sorta embarrassing). No water methanol spray. I was pretty happy with these numbers (moreso the torque than the hp) and I look to push boost a little higher in the near future. I really just wanted to get my feet wet here and know there'd be more to come.

This shop doesnt have a fabricator and I mentioned I'd fabricate for him and we could trade fabrication time for dyno time ... and he was very receptive. He needed an o2 sensor bung welded on and I told him I'd knock it out before I left and he was happy. I guess the car is obnoxiously loud ... like deafening loud - my shop partner zipped up there with me and he said it was hard not to cover his ears.

Some bad news - It looks likes Pikes Peak Airstrip Attack is a no-go this year. I guess they are paving the runways at the Colorado Springs Airport. I'm chatting with one of the organizers and if he'll carry-over my 2019 voucher I think I'm gonna trailer the car to Independence Kansas and run the car at that event. It's about a 8hr drive and I'd probably try to get a bunch of buddies from Colorado to go, get a VRBO, and make a weekend out of it.

 

Been hacking up that APS expanded oil pan ... trying to install a AN -12 fitting on a mini-sump box and it's going like all hell ... welding the cast is going the opposite of good ... have come within a coot-hair of giving up multiple times ...

On better note ... adopted this 2.5year old 75lb female black lab from a local rescue here in Denver. Been looking on & off the last few years for a pup after the siberian passed in July 2017. She (the lab) had a pretty rough / neglected up-bringing from a puppy to 2years old, owner surrendered and brought to colorado. Has been in foster for 1/2year or so with a really good family on the west side of Denver. Aside from some minor anxiety she is an adorable amazing pup. She has made it through a colorado prisoner / pup training program - I hope to send the inmate who trained her photos and pictures of her through out the years. She know the basic commands and a handful of advanced commands as well. Hoping to socialize her more with friends / family / other dogs over the next few months/years. Her adoption name is Lola but Ive been encouraged to re-name her and I am researching track / car / fi style names ... but havent come up with anything yet ... thus far 'Cami' is the leader in the clubhouse (suggestions welcome).

There are three other labs on the property where I rent from (a ~6yo adult, a ~8yo adult, and a <1yo puppy - all females) and the puppy and Lola get along great! They play/run around/wrestle, the 6year old (who is more alpha/protective of the three) and Lola clash and a few snarls/flare-ups happened today. Lola is about 15lbs lighter than the 6year old, so I suspect the 6yo will likely remain alpha. The 8year old is submissive and Lola and her developed a mutual respect for each other. I'm happy to have the three labs around to welcome Lola to their pack.

 

Been all kinds of busy last few weeks - my 9-5 has been stressful ... finally breaking ground on a $700k construction project (which $700k is pretty small) that has been in the works for 3years ... a few design changes, a (pointless) utility study, a relocated water main, gas main, and associated services, dealing with some kind folks that are very concerned with prairie dogs within the project limits, and we've found just about every single underground utility that we were supposed to miss.

Got in touch with the airstrip attack guys and got my registration in for the April 17th and 18th in Independence Kansas ... I dont think I'm going to get the car tuned ... I think I'm gonna simply run my 12psi to 15psi tune and get some pails of OldmanZ Q16 no-knock juice and water methanol.

I picked up an old APS expanded oil pan and have been playing with it ... did some joan rivers reconstructive surgery to install a mini-sump-box and -12 fitting, removed all the heat-dissipation fins, and installed an alternate drain plug. Wasnt sure if I would be able to run this expanded oil pan with the Z1 spacer but it appears that I can run both and have the oil pan above the floor of the car. In doing so, I needed to further extend down the oil pump pick-up strainer ... I've already modified the pickup tube and replaced the OEM tube with 1/2" stainless steel and bolstered up the welds on the flange side and the strainer side ...

I got the creative itch to fabricate my own fuel pump hanger assembly ... pretty simple and straight forward but it'll be very similar to the CJM or the Autosport Engineering variant ... I will hang two 525lph fuel pumps and in reality only use one ... and if one craps out on me the 2nd pump will be right there to take over - I'll need to switch over the AN -8 fuel hose fitting, exchange the cap, and the electrical connection. I'll need to figure out the siphon from the driver's side of the tank and I am omitting the fuel temp sensor and the fuel level sensor(which I've been having issues with). Bought about 40ft of tefzel submersible (in fuel) 12ga and 14ga wire and a fuel rated electrical bulkhead fitting/wire pass through.

picked up a setrab 19row oil cooler for $40 off ebay(God Bless America) ... getting it clean and it needs M16xAN8 fittings (on order) and it'll get installed in the trunk with the radiator. I'll run hoses from my (relocated) oil filter to the cooler and back.

Also picked up a Volvo S40 power steering pump (hattip to Rinzlark) and I'll see about getting that installed...

Lastly, purchased about $150 worth of M6 and M8 aluminum nuts and bolts ... I already know I'm batsheet crazy but I'll be replacing non-structural steel hardware with aluminum ... I'm gonna do my best to track the 'weight savings' and I dont anticipate but a few lbs when its all said and done.

 

Been in the garage the past few evenings pecking away at a turbo kit for a 370z and taking care of some small tasks in anticipation of the Kansas Airstrip Attack next month.

One big item has been getting an oil cooler on the car and with the 19row cooler in-hand I figure I should make some steps on it. I dont really have room to mount it on the front of the car and as best I can I'm trying to get things in the trunk. Had a few other options but decided on mounting it right on top of the radiator. I would have to dismount the radiator and remove the bracket but it wasnt anything horribly horribly difficult. Figured I do it over a few days but ended up only needing tonight to knock it out.

I figured put it inline with the large fan - made some brackets, welded them to the frame and everything bolted up just fine. Decided to only run three brackets (as pictured) and I can always add the forth if needed. Had the energy and with daylight savings I was not tired and decided to get it back in the car.

M16xAN-8 fittings are coming in this next week (weather permitting - we just got hit with three feet of snow), I need to order hose, fabricate the hose, the AN 8 fittings, the M16 fittings and install. I will be splicing this into the oil filter relocation kit that is currently on the car. The filter has been relocated to the side of the transmission and I may take this opportunity to put the oil filter in the trunk as well. I may swap out the filter assembly and find a filter assembly that will accommodate a larger one-time use filter or find an inline reusable filter.

 

Looking good....

What Brand & Model TIG to you have?

 

Where are you planning to put the power steering pump? Just curious

 

I picked up a new Everlast 200DV ... it was $1300 or $1400 new with a 5year warranty and took me up to 200amps, runs off 120v (up to like 100amps) and 220v, and came with everything I needed to get up and going besides a tank, filler, and electrodes...I probably spent $1500 to $1800 to get fully up and going when it was all said and done.

It boiled down to buying a used Miller diversion (around $1600) or this new everlast and I am pretty happy with the everlast - its been good to me!

not 100% sure where I'm gonna put it ... it may not get installed for a little while ... just been busy with other stuff on the car and the kansas 1/2mile event is sneaking up on me...so I've been working on prep'ing for that.

 

That is the Very One I've decided on EVERLAST 200DV, Thanks James......

 

The best thing I did was learn precise pedal control ... if you can control the heat than that's half the battle!

Let me know how it works out for you!

 

Looking good! coming along nicely

 

Been pecking away at the small to-do list for the car ... one of which has been get a front bumper on the car ... I found a guy selling a PPW bumper and struck a deal with him and picked it up. I really only have the two bolts under the fender so I decided to fabricate a brace that will hold the 6 plastic snap-in clips right above the radiator. Wasnt terribly difficult but I did drill one hole wrong (just welded it closed and redrilled it.

Also, I dont have great faith in the two mounting holes under the fender - so I fabricated a reinforcment plate for the bumper ... not 100% sure how I'm gonna attach it to the bumper (epoxy? rivits? etc) but I'll figure it out.

Had some rear bumper sag that was bothering me so I removed the rear bumper, drilled two new holes in the bumper, matching holes in the chassis of the car and threaded a 10mm bolt through to snug it up. I also drilled 8 small holes in the bumper and the metal reinforcing plate below the bumper and rivet'd that plate to the bumper (it's unexposed so no one will see it).

Also have a set of fake/faux pas headlights that I've been working on ... finally got them painted (will likely need wet sanded) and ready to install.

(more to come - gotta run)

 

Kansas is one week away and I have made some great progress getting the car up and going...

My fire suppression bottle was accidently activated back in Oct 2018 and I told myself I'd get a new tank for the next event ... I bought it locally and it took a week to get in it has a revised design using a 10mm hose which branches off to 8mm. I didnt want to revise my cabin & engine bay 4mm nozzles so I kept that plumbing and installed a 10mm aluminum tube utilizing a AN -6 female nut and sleeve and bought a AN -6 to AN -4 reducer fitting and it should work fine. I'm not impressed with the hose kit that was included with the kit and I think the 4mm aluminum is higher quality and a better product.

Picked up 10gallons of C16 (as recommended by OMZ) ... will probably run low boost on Saturday and push the car a little harder on Sunday ...

I can die a happy man as I FINALLY picked up a set of OEM Track wheels - not sure why I have such a boner for them but finally got a set. Funny, I'm likely going to be a f'd out track model z and I'll have another set to add to the stable. I picked up a set of Hankook Ventus 245x30x18 for the front wheels ... was happy to see they weighed in at 40.8lbs. So new front rubber is taken care of.

I also got the oil cooler fully installed and plumbed in ... Needed about 30 feet of steel braided hose and I had all the fittings and it was just a matter of getting things run under the car.

Also picked up some spare / replacement parts ... picked up a few O2 sensors, Mac Boost Control Solenoid, A GM temps sensor, A few sets of spark plugs. A buddy has an extra starter and alternator that I'm going to take too.

Been working on revamping the heim joints on the front splitter for the new intercooler setup. The front splitter is installed and I will likely have to remove it to load/unload the car onto the trailer.

Finalized the front bumper / splitter and will need to put a front face (air dam) on the splitter.

Got my fake headlights painted and cleared

Re-mounted my bumper with supports and an additional bolt to hold it snug to the body.

Did a cars & coffee this morning and the car ran well ... I did experience a dead battery (despite the car being on the trickle charger the last few weeks) and I think the radiator/fans are cooking the battery and evaporating the water out of the battery. I did refill the battery with distilled water and we'll see if it bounces back.

The car also overheated and without outside air and only an open driver's side window the fans can't pull enough heat off the radiator to keep the car temps below 225degrees. So naca ducts will be installed and I need a way to evacuate hot air from the trunk ... was thinking the reversed naca duct strategy installed down by the turn signals in the bumper.

 

I had a feeling you would eventually need ducts of some sort of ducts to help move the air through the radiator. Go with rally style roof scoops and some holes beside the rear licenses plate. I THINK if you exhaust the air their it should help clean up the air behind the car and I believe that is a natural low pressure zone helping pull air out of the trunk area.

 

So I think I killed the starter ... battery is at 12.7volts and I tried the jumper box and a new battery.

Gonna pick up a new starter tomorrow and get it swapped in...

Nacas will be next and, yea, Conway - Gonna use the OEM vents in the trunk area to pull air out from. Might try to cut a tear-drop out of 3" IC charge pipe and splice it into the rear bumper (it'll make sense when I show some pics).

 

Looking forward to it. At least you don't have longtubes and have to lift the engine to put in a new starter. stupid stupid stupid engine bay!

 

Had hockey last night but got home at 9pm and was super-motivated to get the starter taken care of. I actually had a starter on the shelf that was functional and during my drive to the ice rink I was thinking 'why dont you disassemble and clean and install’? So I did just that...watched a few youtube videos and when I got home I disassembled the broken one and it was straight forward. I took about an hour to clean the alternate starter and reassembled and I had plenty of energy and motivation so I installed the re-vamped starter on the car and everything worked well. I did end up breaching a coolant hose off the turbo (not 100% sure why it is leaking) but I have a small coolant puddle right at the turbo. So I'll be re-making these lines. I think I'm about done with steel braided lines. I think (over time) I'm going to find the highest quality rubber hose (can only assume a gates reinforced hose) and move everything over to rubber hose ... way easier to work on.

The plan is to leave early Thursday morning and be in Kansas Thursday late afternoon. I'll have Friday to do any minor prep on the car and get a good nights sleep for Saturday Morning. If schedules get pushed I can leave Friday morning if I have to. But so far things are looking good.

really happy I revised my front setup - I can get to the turbo in about 10minutes... got the coolant hoses off the car, cut, and rebuilt. Everything is reassembled but gotta put the front clip back on.








Gonna get the NACA ducts cut-in tonight too ... printed out my template and should be just a matter of making some cuts, smooth edges/corners, drilling holes, and riveting in the ducts. I placed them originally and revised them (to push them further outboard) hence the revision in location.
















Epoxied these supports to the back of the front bumper. Happy (enough) on how they came out and should further support the bolts that check into the fenders.

 

its always the late night random motivation I find to be the most productive lol

 

are you going to try to direct the air to the radiator or just the "radiator compartment"?

 

What material to you use for your rear window? How thick? Lexan?
Is is waterproof?

Looking Good!

 

If I have a good beer buzz, my youtube playlist, and an ounce of motivation I can work through the wee-hours. I think I've worked until 4am once. The **** thing is, that I love to sleep and I then sleep until 2pm and ruin the next day.

Yea, got some 3" hose and its pointed at the oil cooler and the radiator. Im hopeful but I think this will be ultimately insufficient and I will need a way to bring more air in and get more air out.



Thank you OMZ - 1/8" lexan riveted in - nope, not waterproof. Basically I wrapped the cf hatch and then riveted in. I didnt reinstall the weather seal nor did I install a sealant under the lexan - I'm not too worried about it - it's air-tight and I dont drive the car in weather so it's not a huge thing.