WAWUZAT Northstar build thread (lots of pix) (Page 7/16)
Will JUL 22, 08:48 PM
Paint/powder coat your front cover to match your cam covers...
WAWUZAT JUL 23, 05:26 PM

quote
Originally posted by Will:
Paint/powder coat your front cover to match your cam covers...


I like the tri-color look. Besides, the intake manifold will be black, too.
Nashco JUL 25, 05:17 AM

quote
Originally posted by Will:

Paint/powder coat your front cover to match your cam covers...



I think it looks sharp as is. Much more red and it'll start to look a little too ricerish...Krylonerific!

Keep up the good work Wawuzat, thanks for the pics, guidelines, and documentation.

Bryce
WAWUZAT JUL 28, 08:05 PM
On Thursday, I picked up my 4T80E transaxle after it had been overhauled. I told the shop I was planning on painting it, but I guess their signals got crossed, and they painted it for me. It's not the color I would've used, but I like it anyway ... looks "industrial." I've got vacation time I need to burn, so I took off Friday so I could "work" (?) on my project. Here it sits on the dolly with a GM-rebuilt torque converter sitting in it waiting for making a reacquaintance with the Northstar.


And here's the Northstar getting ready to leave the engine stand for the last time (I hope) ...


Together again ...


After tightening the bellhousing bolts, the first of two engine-to-tranny brackets is installed ...


And the second one is installed ... this one hasn't been cleaned up because I anticipate modifying it when it comes time to fabricate motor mounts.


The next step was to position the assembly high enough, and safely, in order to do a little work from beneath. These little sawhorses are rated at 750lbs each, and provide enough room for me to bolt the torque converter to the flexplate. I also installed the sheet metal shield and another engine-to-tranny bracket from underneath.

[This message has been edited by WAWUZAT (edited 08-19-2007).]

WAWUZAT JUL 28, 08:14 PM
Today, I installed some external items. Many new parts installed such as the water pump, water pump belt tensioner, water pump belt, thermostat, water temperature sensor, and all new gaskets and seals. Also installed new main belt idler and tensioner pulleys. The "main belt" is located at the front of the engine (passenger side), and the "water pump belt" is located on the driver-side end of the intake camshaft on the front-head.


Here's a shot showing a CHRFab header flange I'll use to make my exhaust manifolds. I could've made these flanges, but for the price CHRFab charges, it was worth buying them versus making them.
ryan.hess JUL 28, 09:15 PM
Tell me you are not using a 4t80e in the fiero with a stock converter.

How much were the flanges?

[This message has been edited by ryan.hess (edited 07-28-2007).]

WAWUZAT JUL 28, 09:31 PM

quote
Originally posted by ryan.hess:Tell me you are not using a 4t80e in the fiero with a stock converter.


Yeah. Why shouldn't I? I gave some thought to a higher stall TC, but decided against it. I'm not looking for any more performance than was available from the stock combination. Besides, the GM-rebuilt TC was only $100 plus $60 shipping via eBay.


quote
Originally posted by ryan.hess:How much were the flanges?


I think they were around $90 for the pair. NC laser-cut 3/8" thick steel. I could've made 'em, but by the time I layed out the holes and drilled them, the $90 looked like a bargain ... and I would've drilled both flanges at the same time.

EDIT: Sorry ... not NC laser-cut, but NC plasma-arc cut

[This message has been edited by WAWUZAT (edited 07-29-2007).]

ryan.hess JUL 28, 09:47 PM
I wish I had installed a higher stall converter when it was all apart.... The yank 3000 gives you practically the same feel as stock supposedly. Right now I've got a stock VIN y converter, and 255's in the rear, and there's no chance of tire slip on all but the iciest road.
Will JUL 29, 11:41 AM

quote
Originally posted by WAWUZAT:





4T80E's a big ***** , isn't it?
How are you planning on handling the front bank exhaust.
WAWUZAT JUL 29, 02:06 PM

quote
Originally posted by Will:How are you planning on handling the front bank exhaust.


I intend to run the exhaust similar to the 2.8L V6 engine. Both manifolds will exit to the driver-side ... front bank will have a 180* turn & the rear bank will crossover to the forward side ... then both will dump into a two-in/two-out catalytic converter ... the cat will be positioned close to where the V6 cat was ... then it gets interesting. Since I raised the engine cradle higher in the chassis a few years back, I have 2-1/2" ground clearance beneath it that the rest of the car doesn't have. I plan on fabricating some rectangular exhaust tubes (like you see on Cup cars) to get from the cat to the muffler, and the fun part will be making the transitions from round to square.