Northstar rebuild: Will style (Page 68/119)
Will JUL 22, 12:55 PM
Even though I didn't get any air out, bleeding (more accurately flushing) the clutch worked like a charm.
Will JUL 23, 10:50 AM
Have the cats and rough temporary tailpipes installed. It's a LOT quieter.

Just need to reinstall the rear fascia and marker lights to get it inspected. I'm going to plant rivnuts in the fascia support in lieu of the crappy plastic push fasteners that GM used.
Erik JUL 25, 01:39 AM

quote
Originally posted by Will:

Have the cats and rough temporary tailpipes installed. It's a LOT quieter.

Just need to reinstall the rear fascia and marker lights to get it inspected. I'm going to plant rivnuts in the fascia support in lieu of the crappy plastic push fasteners that GM used.



How does it sound with that x? BTW the exhaust is a work of art.
Will JUL 25, 09:08 AM

quote
Originally posted by 1988holleyformula:

Most of this thread is WAY over my head in terms of technicality, but that exhaust setup looks great.

Can't wait to see it installed in the engine bay!



Thanks!
Err... You can't really *see* it in the engine bay... The Northstar is like that. I do have some shots from under the car, but nothing with the system fully assembled. I was working late Sunday at my parents' place and had to get back to NoVA for work Monday morning.
I'm a bit hesitant to post pics of the tailpipes. As I said, they are pretty rough.


quote
Originally posted by IXSLR8:

Nice, nice, nice!



Thanks!


quote
Originally posted by Erik:

How does it sound with that x? BTW the exhaust is a work of art.



Thanks!
It sounds good, but drones below 2000 RPM. I'm reserving final judgement until I get the custom mufflers built/installed, as that will change the resonant lengths of the tailpipes.
I haven't hammered on it much yet to get a good assessment of sound quality... I was still mostly in the shakedown phase for the limited distance I drove it Sunday.
Will JUL 25, 09:22 AM
Pics:

Coil pack build:


Manifold end cap and support tabs, EGR fitting:


Partial under-car shot


Partial under-car shot


Clearance to oil pan


Clearance to oil pan

[This message has been edited by Will (edited 07-25-2012).]

Bloozberry JUL 25, 09:38 AM
Excellent set of photos... and finally a good view of the crossover area Is the bottom of your oil pan higher, lower, or level with the cradle bottom? WIth the larger diameter piping, is the portion that passes under the oil pan lower than the bottom of the oil pan?
Will JUL 25, 10:29 AM
Oil pan is co-elevation with the bottom of the cradle. The pipe does hang below the bottom of the pan... that's why it offsets back up to mate to the X-pipe.

[This message has been edited by Will (edited 07-25-2012).]

FieroWannaBe JUL 25, 10:49 AM
That looks superbly executed. Have you made much consideration to the heat of the stainless crossover to the aluminum oil pan. I'd be slightly concered about cooking the oil once the car is parked and shutdown, since the pipe will retain heat for some time, and the pan will easily transfer heat to your oil. personally, I would use a piece of adhesive heat shield on the pan near the pipe.
Will JUL 25, 11:13 AM

quote
Originally posted by FieroWannaBe:

That looks superbly executed. Have you made much consideration to the heat of the stainless crossover to the aluminum oil pan. I'd be slightly concered about cooking the oil once the car is parked and shutdown, since the pipe will retain heat for some time, and the pan will easily transfer heat to your oil. personally, I would use a piece of adhesive heat shield on the pan near the pipe.



Thanks!

Actually, it's the other way around. The pipe will cool off far faster than the pan and oil. The pipe is comparatively thin and light relative to the pan and oil. Despite being at a high temperature during operation, it cools quickly. You can try this yourself on your own car... After a drive, your pipe will be cool to the touch well before your oil pan and the oil within.

The car will get an oil/water heat exchanger.

While I also intend to produce heat shields for use in specific locations, I'm far more concerned about the CV joint boot and grease taking on excess heat during operation. I'll be switching to an intermediate shaft axle to move the CV joint out of the high heat area.

[This message has been edited by Will (edited 07-25-2012).]

ALLTRBO JUL 25, 11:30 AM
Will, what the hell are you doing?! You can't fit all those pipes in there! Especially without hacking up the trunk! Double especially without it looking like crap!
You better obey the laws of physics and pull all of that artwork out of there right now before someone thinks that it's actually possible!