Thanks mptighe, the anticipation is definitely eating me alive.

What is this "done" you speak of? I just keep adding to the list of things I have to do to it! If it ever gets "done", I don't think it'll be the same car!

Good news:

The low mount alternator bracket has finally been finished to Dave's liking and it's working great from what I understand.

While the first chip I had in the ECU wouldn't let it take any throttle without dying, the second chip I included lets it rev up. The first was my stab in the dark for what should work for the setup, it's based an already modified TGP .bin for a manual tranny. Obviously no dice, so Dave installed the second which is a bone stock TGP code other than disabled EGR. The car should theoretically run and drive with this, but the fueling will be rich down low and lean up top because it has a heads/intake/cam swap (original cam, but higher ratio rockers so more lift). It'll also try to stumble and stall when pulling to a stop because it's expecting a torque converter to be in the loop.
There was/is also a lifter tick according to Dave because the new lifters haven't fully primed yet. Hopefully that disappears quietly into the night.

Soon I can go plug in my nifty electronic toys and have peek into the car's brain so I can reprogram it. Good stuff.

[This message has been edited by ALLTRBO (edited 03-21-2011).]

Here are a few pics of where we stand on 3/31/11. I sent an email to Steven filling him in on the ups and downs.

After spending close to three months fabricating a low mount alternator bracket, I had to take over the design part of the build and beat some sense into myself. The circle is not going to fit where the rectangle goes. There just wasn't enough room to mount the alternator low. The custom exhaust logs were in the way up top....and I didn't want to mount the alternator too close to them because the heat would shorten the alternator's life span. Down below, the axle was our interference. If Steven lowered the car in the future and launched the car, the axle would have taken the alternator off the car. The timing cover left us few options to mount the bracket to as well. I just wasn't going to work without causing some kind of issue....belt rubbing, alternator interference, heat, etc.
So, we took it up top the stock location. I powdercoated and modified the stock bracket to work. I used a 2001 Alero alternator, a 2000 VW 1.9 timing belt roller and a custom idler pulley to route the belt under the throttle body which is now (has been for a while) on the belt side of the engine. We had to relocate the dogbone as well.
Here are a few pics and I'm sure Steven will fill in the details after he reads my email.
Dave





The exhaust flapper switch....

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