- Joined
- May 26, 2001
- Messages
- 2,893
Update #3.
Since we last reported in, I've checked a few tasks off the list. We have tunes! I mean, you gotta have tunes in your time machine right?
Parts list: Pioneer DEH-X7800BHS CD HD radio receiver, Kicker 43DSC3504 3.5" dash speakers, Kicker 43CSC54 5 1/4" door speakers, Cerwin Vega XED693 6x9 3 way speakers rear with Metra 72-4500 wiring adapters and American International 4x10 to 6x9 adapters. I wanted a CD player, with an HD radio and the ability to stream music via Pandora and my phone. All of my research pointed me towards this Pioneer, which I've always been a fan of. And I am more than happy with this choice. Synching to my phone was easy, streaming Pandora and saved music, also easy and setup was very intuitive once you figure it out. With only 22 watts rms per channel, you wouldn't think it would be enough, but I'm here to tell you, this setup flat out rocks, once I got the settings just right. I am seriously impressed with this setup for what it is. So the tunes mission was accomplished. My custom front license plate came in from Forever Signs of Scottsdale and it looks fantastic! I relocated the Scanmaster to a Kirban steering column mount and then proceeded to clean the old velcro glue from the radio dash surround where it once lived. After wasting 30 minutes with Simple Green, I broke out the hard stuff. Goo Be Gone. Yep, Goo was gone in only 5 mins. Should have started with that first, ah well, lesson learned. I went over to my buddy Shawn's shop and we proceeded to angle grind / cut the turbo heatshield that I got from my buddy Don, paint it, then install it. That turned out perfect. I'm waiting on my plug wires to show up before snapping some more underhood shots though.
Ok, fast forward to this past Sat, I forced Legend to go with me to the tire store for Mission #2. Traction. Even though we had a freak snow event that dumped 6 inches of snow in fricking central MS the day before and it was barely 36*, he understood what was up. Originally I had thought about going with Hoosier QTP 27", but the more I thought about it, the more these dang Aluma Stars made me second guess myself. Because of the 4" back space on these 15x8's, my tire size needed to be perfect, especially if I wanted to keep the wheel wells un-rolled and trim rings un-touched. It already had BFG 255/60R-15 Radial T/A's, which spec'd out right at 27" tall and almost 9" wide. This told me that I needed to stay at the 9" wide width and could go up to 28" tall with my air bags. As luck would have it, my Jedi training told me I had better hold onto my old Moroso DS-2 28x4.5" front runner tires, that I used on my last Blue T. Something in the back of my mind kept telling me I would have a use for them someday. After cleaning them up and inspecting them, they were in perfect condition. This was my deciding factor on the tire choice. I said heck, if you're gonna be a bear, be a Grizzly! I hit up Jegs for some M/T ET Street R bias ply 28x11.5-15 tires. Specs? 28x9 on a 15x8 wheel.
After he finally warmed up and quit being grumpy, we set out to plot a course to the tire store on this brisk and icy morning. Having to avoid all the road blocks that local PD and SO had put up, because our President was visiting Jackson for a museum opening, and dodging all the melted/black ice on the bridges, we finally made it. After all of the guys took their pics and bombed me with a million questions, we got the task done in a little over an hour. I will admit, I was worried a bit when we lowered the car onto the new shoes. Fronts were a no brainer, BTDT on all 3 previous cars, but the back was what had me worried. The previous owner had one wheel spacer on the drivers side rear and nothing on the passengers side. The upper control arms were replaced with Jegs non adjustable uppers with poly bushings and the lowers had been boxed with new stock bushings. He replaced all of the lower body bushings as well, so I was hoping that the body and rear end would be as close to centered as possible. My fears vanished after checking things out and we were good to go. Needless to say, the guys at the shop wouldn't let me leave without a mandatory burnout, so I obliged. While purging the alky I didn't think he had it in him, but 25psi proved otherwise and he left a nice long patch. Turning out onto the hwy, I foot braked him up to about 3psi and let'er rip tator chip! No spin, no drama, just the front end rising up, hooked up and hauling ass!
Legend lived up to his reputation this day.
Mission #2, Traction, accomplished.
So, now I just need to swap out the plugs for some trusty Autolite #23's, get the new plug wires installed once they come in, install my RJC ADPP and a turbo oil drain gasket. (it's leaking, looks like it was installed dry) I'm hoping it's the gasket, and not a kinked / torn factory oil drain tube. BTDT as well. Sigh... Those and clean him up again.
Next small items will be corner lamps, do something to the factory power antenna as it's stuck up and DOA, then a few more odds and end small parts before deciding on the power parts / combo. I know where I want it to be and what it's going to take to get there, but I also know the consequences for that goal. I still plan on keeping this a fun car and not going crazy again. But man, this case of GoFastitis is rough! Ok, enough jibber jabber. Here's a few pics.
Thanks for reading chapter 3.
-Patrick-
Since we last reported in, I've checked a few tasks off the list. We have tunes! I mean, you gotta have tunes in your time machine right?
Parts list: Pioneer DEH-X7800BHS CD HD radio receiver, Kicker 43DSC3504 3.5" dash speakers, Kicker 43CSC54 5 1/4" door speakers, Cerwin Vega XED693 6x9 3 way speakers rear with Metra 72-4500 wiring adapters and American International 4x10 to 6x9 adapters. I wanted a CD player, with an HD radio and the ability to stream music via Pandora and my phone. All of my research pointed me towards this Pioneer, which I've always been a fan of. And I am more than happy with this choice. Synching to my phone was easy, streaming Pandora and saved music, also easy and setup was very intuitive once you figure it out. With only 22 watts rms per channel, you wouldn't think it would be enough, but I'm here to tell you, this setup flat out rocks, once I got the settings just right. I am seriously impressed with this setup for what it is. So the tunes mission was accomplished. My custom front license plate came in from Forever Signs of Scottsdale and it looks fantastic! I relocated the Scanmaster to a Kirban steering column mount and then proceeded to clean the old velcro glue from the radio dash surround where it once lived. After wasting 30 minutes with Simple Green, I broke out the hard stuff. Goo Be Gone. Yep, Goo was gone in only 5 mins. Should have started with that first, ah well, lesson learned. I went over to my buddy Shawn's shop and we proceeded to angle grind / cut the turbo heatshield that I got from my buddy Don, paint it, then install it. That turned out perfect. I'm waiting on my plug wires to show up before snapping some more underhood shots though.
Ok, fast forward to this past Sat, I forced Legend to go with me to the tire store for Mission #2. Traction. Even though we had a freak snow event that dumped 6 inches of snow in fricking central MS the day before and it was barely 36*, he understood what was up. Originally I had thought about going with Hoosier QTP 27", but the more I thought about it, the more these dang Aluma Stars made me second guess myself. Because of the 4" back space on these 15x8's, my tire size needed to be perfect, especially if I wanted to keep the wheel wells un-rolled and trim rings un-touched. It already had BFG 255/60R-15 Radial T/A's, which spec'd out right at 27" tall and almost 9" wide. This told me that I needed to stay at the 9" wide width and could go up to 28" tall with my air bags. As luck would have it, my Jedi training told me I had better hold onto my old Moroso DS-2 28x4.5" front runner tires, that I used on my last Blue T. Something in the back of my mind kept telling me I would have a use for them someday. After cleaning them up and inspecting them, they were in perfect condition. This was my deciding factor on the tire choice. I said heck, if you're gonna be a bear, be a Grizzly! I hit up Jegs for some M/T ET Street R bias ply 28x11.5-15 tires. Specs? 28x9 on a 15x8 wheel.
After he finally warmed up and quit being grumpy, we set out to plot a course to the tire store on this brisk and icy morning. Having to avoid all the road blocks that local PD and SO had put up, because our President was visiting Jackson for a museum opening, and dodging all the melted/black ice on the bridges, we finally made it. After all of the guys took their pics and bombed me with a million questions, we got the task done in a little over an hour. I will admit, I was worried a bit when we lowered the car onto the new shoes. Fronts were a no brainer, BTDT on all 3 previous cars, but the back was what had me worried. The previous owner had one wheel spacer on the drivers side rear and nothing on the passengers side. The upper control arms were replaced with Jegs non adjustable uppers with poly bushings and the lowers had been boxed with new stock bushings. He replaced all of the lower body bushings as well, so I was hoping that the body and rear end would be as close to centered as possible. My fears vanished after checking things out and we were good to go. Needless to say, the guys at the shop wouldn't let me leave without a mandatory burnout, so I obliged. While purging the alky I didn't think he had it in him, but 25psi proved otherwise and he left a nice long patch. Turning out onto the hwy, I foot braked him up to about 3psi and let'er rip tator chip! No spin, no drama, just the front end rising up, hooked up and hauling ass!
Legend lived up to his reputation this day.
Mission #2, Traction, accomplished.
So, now I just need to swap out the plugs for some trusty Autolite #23's, get the new plug wires installed once they come in, install my RJC ADPP and a turbo oil drain gasket. (it's leaking, looks like it was installed dry) I'm hoping it's the gasket, and not a kinked / torn factory oil drain tube. BTDT as well. Sigh... Those and clean him up again.
Next small items will be corner lamps, do something to the factory power antenna as it's stuck up and DOA, then a few more odds and end small parts before deciding on the power parts / combo. I know where I want it to be and what it's going to take to get there, but I also know the consequences for that goal. I still plan on keeping this a fun car and not going crazy again. But man, this case of GoFastitis is rough! Ok, enough jibber jabber. Here's a few pics.
Thanks for reading chapter 3.
-Patrick-
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Getting that squared away, I hit the wheels with some wheel polish and adjusted tire pressures. 40 up front and 24#'s in the back. Now it was time to set the boost and check the default tune and see where we're at. Initially, we were worried if the converter would spool this turbo. Deep down I had a feeling it wouldn't be a problem, because of how fast it spooled the previous TE-44 turbo. Sure enough, on the way over to the shop I was correct. Just barely giving it gas and it spooled without even trying. Excellent! So the moment of truth had arrived. Now it was time to see where the boost was at. I rolled over to the test spot, hit the test button on the alky controller to prime the system and brought him to a stop. Gave the Scanmaster and gauges a quick once over and foot braked to about 1psi and let it rip.
Alas, after watching the antics for a couple of hours with no bites, it was time to head home for the night. I mean, it was 3am and all. 
