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| JohnWPB 1986 GT Fastback worklog (Page 63/71) |
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JohnWPB
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MAY 15, 03:17 PM
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| quote | Originally posted by Alex4mula:
I think you missed my reply on previous page.
Oh, and there's no space there for a CAT.
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Yes, I did somehow miss your post on the last page entirely. Some good info there, and it sounds really good!
I was not getting any input here on adding a CAT to the setup, so I created a new thread in tech. I figure a LOT more people will be looking there than on page 16 of my build thread 
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JohnWPB
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MAY 21, 12:33 AM
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A bit more work, and a step closer to getting the engine in the car. Got the fuel injectors / rail all assembled, valve covers tightened, vacuum lines run, wiring harness 80% in place, just need to finish a few more routing issues, then tidy it all up. The belt I purchased for the lower alternator, is a tad bit too long, and the stock Super Charger belt is WAY to long.... not sure what happened there....
Here is where it sat this evening, other than the headers on bolted on as well:
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Napoleon_Tanerite
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MAY 21, 08:42 AM
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I replied to your picture in my build thread, but post it here too.
1. You should consider ditching the extension for the oil filler cap. It serves no practical purpose and was deleted in the recall on these engines.
2. Your valve covers are mounted on backwards. The factory configuration you have them in puts the oil filler against the Fiero firewall and will make changing the oil a major pain in the ass. You should swap them around.
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JohnWPB
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MAY 21, 09:33 AM
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I already ditched the oil extension filler neck, it is not in any of the more recent photos.
I decided to keep the "solid blue" valve cover towards the rear of the car. The front valve cover is just about the first thing you see when you open the deck-lid, and wanted to keep it clean and as uncluttered as possible. Yes, it is a little bit of a reach getting to the oil cap near the firewall, but something that is very easily done. When oil is required, I have an abundance of funnels that will aid in adding oil with no problem at all.
I had a few people suggest that it should be moved around, and one person tell me I would not be able to do it this way period. That I had to have the oil cap on the "front" valve cover or I would never be able to change the oil.
Here are a few examples showing that it most certainly be done this way, without issue 
(Re-posted from the bottom of the previous page of this thread):
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Napoleon_Tanerite
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MAY 21, 10:05 AM
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That's fine, so long as it's something you decided to do. I was hoping to prevent an "aaahhhh damnit" moment later down the road when things aren't so easy to reverse.
Our cars look alike, and now our threads are starting to look alike...
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JohnWPB
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MAY 22, 11:36 PM
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What a Day!
Where to begin......
Today, I started by hopping into the engine compartment, and scrubbing and sanding. A few hours later, a coat of black base coat, and 15 minutes later a couple coats of clear. The engine bay is no where as good as it was when new, but it is good enough for me:
After the engine bay, i moved on to getting the engine cradle cleaned up and painted. After closer inspection, the cradle had quite a bit of rust in the typical "under the battery" location.
Talking with the mechanic, he happened to mention that he knew how to weld It was off to Home Depot, to find something made out of steel.... what exactly, who knew! After going in circles in the store, over by the lumber department there was an end-cap with all sorts of metal brackets. I picked up a few, and then it was off to The part store, to get the correct belt size for the engine...they say the third time is the charm! Then off to Harbor Freight to pick up a cheap welder, It came to someting like $85 out the door.
Back at the house, the brackets from Home Depot turned out to be the same exact thickness as the original cradle, down to the fraction of a millimeter. Clamped one in place and began trimming it:
The welded it up a bit. I even got to take a try at welding. Not too bad for my first time I don't think!
After some hammering, grinding and cleaning it up a little bit, here are the results:
We are, by NO means going to win any welding awards! But I am quite happy with it. I will get it primed good inside and out tomorrow, and slap a few coats of paint on it.
Meanwhile, we also fabricated up a pretty cool mount for the coil packs. It is attached to FieroRog dog bone adapter, and angled over the top of the rear facing valve cover. Personally, I like the look of the coil packs, and when I do the blue custom plug wires, and rout them neatly, I think it will look very nice. I didn't get a picture of this today it seems, so will post some pictures tomorrow.
If that were not enough for the day, the rest of the wiring harness was all butted up, and routed. New sensors and such installed. I also caped off the extra water line hose in the water pump.
Still not enough? Ok, it was then time to get the engine off of the engine stand, and onto the transmission where it belongs!
seriously.... still not enough for one day? Ok then... Managed to get the headers and cross over pipe all bolted up, and new O2 sensor installed.
Still not enough, too bad, go read someone else s build thread! ! !
I am starting to see a light at the end of the tunnel here... it's kinda dim, but I can start to just make it out
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PatrickTRoof
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MAY 23, 09:20 PM
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Looking good, John! Keep up the good work!
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Pete Matos
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MAY 23, 09:57 PM
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That motor is sure looking nice man. Looks like it won't be long and you will be doing some test driving Good luck with it.
Pete
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"May the grins begin when you turn the key and hear the engine roar over your shoulder" ......Gall57 (slightly modified LOL)
Pete Matos
A&N Precision Machine
CNC Machining and prototyping
Port St.Lucie, Florida
A&N Precision Machine on Facebook!
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JohnWPB
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MAY 24, 11:16 PM
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Ok, here are the photos of the coil bracket I fabricated. It is basic for sure, but serves it's function well, and was very simple to make!
I started roaming the isles of Home Depot looking for something steel.... I finally came across this "tie plate":
I bought two of them, and put them together, as a single one was a bit too thin and flimsy. I gave it a 90 degree bend, and marked and drilled a few holes in the plates to mount the coil pack mounting bracket onto it. 2 more holes were drilled to mount it to the Fierorog dog bone mount:
Bottom View:
Top View:
Here it is mounted into the 2 bolts on the FieroRog dog bone mount:
Lastly, here it is with the coil packs set on the bracket. I moved it all around so the coil wires will come up from the bottom, the way one of the packs is sitting in the photo:
I will be taking it back off, and painting it all up, of course When I get the plug wires made, I will post some pictures with everything in place.
On a final note for the day, the cradle is all primed, painted and cleared. The section of plate that we welded in looks great!:
If I would have had all the parts, I think the engine could have been in the car already honestly. I am waiting on the factory rubber engine and transmission mounts, new tire rod ends, tie rods, and struts. I usually think of everything ahead of time, but I totally forgot to get all of that stuff. Thank God for Amazon prime and free 2 day shipping. Everything should be here by Friday, including the A/C lines from Chuck in Orlando.
If everything falls into place, the engine should be in the car this weekend. Maybe not derivable without tweaking and what all needs to be done, but with all 4 wheels on the ground at least..... hopefully![This message has been edited by JohnWPB (edited 05-24-2016).]
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Alex4mula
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MAY 25, 11:12 AM
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| quote | Originally posted by JohnWPB:
Ok, here are the photos of the coil bracket I fabricated. It is basic for sure, but serves it's function well, and was very simple to make!
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Please do not take this the wrong way. But you will have all the trouble to fill the oil in the firewall so that the oil cap is not on the front and all is clean and now you put the coils right there? Why not in the same place but on the rear head (closer to firewall)? Or near battery? Did you relocate the battery? Just saying.[This message has been edited by Alex4mula (edited 05-25-2016).]
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