2021 Project Log - Better Late Than Never

Duke5A

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So yeah, had a few setbacks this year and most of them were self inflicted. Was really questioning whether or not I should be allow anywhere near a ratchet and socket set. Nevertheless, progress has been made finally and the car is once again driving. Some things that I have gotten accomplished:

- Solid valley plate and new Trick Flow intake manifold
- LED headlight conversion
- Holley Sniper ignition, coil and distributor upgrade to enable timing control
- Remote mounted the oil filter behind the bumper

I still want to sway bars this year and bump up to a 1.25" front and 1" rear. Don't know if I'm going to attempt it before the end of the season though.

The oil filter relocation is a must with a big block in these cars. What a massive, messy pain in the ass it is to change the oil with it hanging off of the oil pump. Power steering and battery tray get in the way. Not anymore.... Still need to plumb it though. I just changed the oil a little while back and figured I would plumb it next time I change the oil. The plate the filter adapter is attached to use is bolted to the car using the bumper bolts.

The solid valley tray is a piece from AR Engineering. Got quite a few of AR's parts on my car.

Intake is a single plane Trick Flow. Single planes don't seem to lose any low end torque over a dual plane when used on stroker motors, or at least nothing the butt dyno can feel.

The coil took the place of an MSD Blaster II canister type. Needed to make up a plate to mount that to and use the original holes in the fender to mount the plate to.

The Holley ignition box is the same width, but shorter than the MSD 6AL it replaced. Not wanting anymore holes in the car I mounted it to a piece of flat stock aluminum and in turn mounted that using the existing holes in the fender.

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Duke5A

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The headlights are a bit weird. It's a conversion on a conversion. I'm using 4x6" to H4 housings and H4 to LED bulbs. The housing aren't that bad for what I payed on eBay and the bulbs I got off of Super Bright LED. The difference in night time driving over those old halogen bulbs is crazy.

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BudW

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I've written about this before. The oil filter is in a tight spot. I hadn't thought about it in front of the core support - but that will work.

I'm still going to place mine at this location: 383, A sense of direction post # 22 (oil pump adapter) and 30 (filter location).
It is a bit more hidden but still accessible when under car to drain the oil. Still have plenty of room to run the hoses.

For the automatic, making a similar bracket for a remote transmission filter - but on passenger side (under fender).

Note: I appreciate the pictures!
Can you make a couple of updated underhood pictures once back together and running? Also of your headlight conversion after it is complete? I didn't think there was room for all of that behind the bulb.
BudW
 

Oldiron440

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I ayreen a two plane intake is not needed with 500 lbs of torque off idle, the single plane works better with EFI also...
 

Duke5A

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Note: I appreciate the pictures!
Can you make a couple of updated underhood pictures once back together and running? Also of your headlight conversion after it is complete? I didn't think there was room for all of that behind the bulb.
BudW

It's running, so far, so good. Doesn't seem to be leaking as much either.

There is actually plenty of room for those LED headlights. The heatsink is barely visible from the back of the bucket. Still have figured how to mount the inverter though.

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Duke5A

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Nice work I reloacated my battery and removed the tray no the oil filter is easy to get

This is kind of on my list. I want to try one of those small, lightweight lithium batteries. It's only about 1/3 the size. I mainly see these used in race applications though and don't know how they would hold up in a daily driver style car.
 

BudW

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I will be moving the battery on my Fifth Ave but that is not an option for my station wagon.

There is nothing wrong with moving the battery to the trunk (with the exception of wagons) for a number of reasons - BUT, for a daily driver, I DO NOT recommend Lithium battery. Too high a chance of blowing up/catching on fire. When a Lithium battery is on fire, it will produce its own oxidizer so there is no way to put out the fire. You just have to wait for the fire to consume everything then clean up the mess afterwards.
Now, if you had a method like Star Trek where you can eject the warp core (or Lithium battery, in this case) upon evidence of swelling, heat or any other potential "pending explosion" scenarios, then great - got for it.
Dropping a tool (or phone) battery is enough for a battery to blow up, so I can just see it now, hit a pot hole - then hearing tons of (possible) swear words as someone is having an very expensive wiener roast, in the shape of a car.

Also, the fumes from a leaking Lithium battery is very harmful to people, as well as fumes from one burning.
BudW
 

jasperjacko

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It's running, so far, so good. Doesn't seem to be leaking as much either.

There is actually plenty of room for those LED headlights. The heatsink is barely visible from the back of the bucket. Still have figured how to mount the inverter though.

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Have you run your car at the strip yet? Very curious how your combo performs
 

M_Body_Coupe

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Ah-huh...I'm with jasperjacko...what will this thing do Mark???

Hell, I still need to figure out a way to keep up with that beast of yours...;)
 

Bill Park

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This is kind of on my list. I want to try one of those small, lightweight lithium batteries. It's only about 1/3 the size. I mainly see these used in race applications though and don't know how they would hold up in a daily driver style car.
I would never run a Lithium battery. The oldlead acid work great and are safe.
 

Duke5A

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Have you run your car at the strip yet? Very curious how your combo performs

I had a single bad outing with it a couple years ago. Bad 60ft and I ran it right after I fuel injected it. Injection runs great, but I don't have baffles in the tank. At about 100ft the motor started bogging and I nurse it down the track and ran a flat 13.0. Having a new fuel tank made for the car with the pump inside it has been on the list for a while now.
 

Duke5A

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Ah-huh...I'm with jasperjacko...what will this thing do Mark???

Hell, I still need to figure out a way to keep up with that beast of yours...;)

Dude, you're probably 700lbs lighter and are building a W2 headed 408. Don't sell yourself short. lol.
 

Duke5A

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Nighttime cockpit shot to show off the LED headlights. These are the low beams. Dash lights are still incandescent for now.

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Duke5A

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Got a birthday present from Dad! Won't be installing this year though. Out of time now.
 
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