Slowsix's project 3pointh8

[SlowSix]

More parts incoming.

Noticed the passenger toe on my car was out - car was pulling right and I had to have the steering wheel crooked to go straight.

I melted my inner tie rod boot with my downpipe awhile ago. Decided to finally get around to fixing it since I figured that probably killed my inner tie rod.
Put on new moog inner tie rods and boots, and a Steeda bumpsteer kit for the outer tie rods.





Car needs an alignment which I have an appointment for on Wed. I drove the car to Firestone on Sunday to get an alignment after I was done but they couldn't squeeze me in that day. I was killing my tires on the way there (it was like 5 miles away). The driver's side was toe'd out slightly, and the passenger side was toe'd WAYYYY in. My wheels looked like this | \ and it was hellacious to try to keep straight on the road.

I ended up jacking the car back up when I got home and toe'd the passenger side out a ton so that the wheels at least mostly point the same direction so I don't ruin my tires just trying to get it to the alignment shop wed morning.

[SlowSix]

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[SlowSix]

Another update. More parts coming in.

Got the car aligned so that is all good.
I seem to potentially have a draw on the battery. It went completely dead after about a week. And I'm talking totally dead. Couldn't even unlock the car.

Anywho -
Picked up a cobra gas tank - basically came with everything I need. Tank, evap stuff, wiring harness, etc.

The fuel level sender was missing so I ordered that tonight.
I plan on running twin 340s - the car came with a "black306" modified fpdm - as well as a second fpdm. Not sure whether I want to try to run just the single one, or wire it to run both.
Tank came with what I was told are two Ford aviator pumps.

[SlowSix]

Nothing too exciting going on here. Still awaiting my new motor. Trying to decide if I want to spend some time wire tucking the engine bay.

Anyone that has done it, how much of a pain in the ass is it ?

[SlowSix]

Well, the stock 3.8 motor finally met it's end. Not in a blaze glory, but out of mistakes/ my own stupidity. Long story short, I had some of the car apart this past Sunday afternoon, one of which parts being the turbo oil drain line.
I put it all back together, did not replace the gasket that goes between the drain line flange and turbo. Seemingly a bad idea. That, or the AN fitting on the drain, was leaking pretty badly when I went to drive the car after having put everything back together.
Went a few miles down the road, noticed the car smoking, opened the hood, saw it leaking oil out of said area. Attempted to make it home, lost all the oil pressure in the car, locked the motor up.
Whoops. Live and learn I guess. Note to self, check for oil leaks next time.

So, here it rests. I actually had to have 4 people help me get the damn thing in the garage. We have a steep driveway.


My pile of new build parts. Something satisfying about having a bunch of parts for a new build. This consists of - new clutch, billet steel flywheel, new maf, new injectors, new fuel pumps, header wrap, turbo blanket, some gaskets, valve covers, tubular front bumper, and probably some other stuff I don't remember anymore.


New injectors showed up today. Fuel Injector Development 1000s. Hoping these fit okay, they are slightly taller than stock.


I also decided to suck it up and buy a nice turbo blanket. My cheap ebay one was falling apart when I pulled it off, starting to get fiberglass hairs everywhere.
This one is lavarock, no fiberglass.



Spoke with the engine builder on Monday, the new bullet should be roughly a month out. Getting a line hone this week then should be ready for assembly.
Details on the new motor -
99-04 block, mains drilled and tapped for 1/2" ARP studs, Wiseco 8.8:1 compression forged pistons, scat H beam forged rods, stock ford 4.2 crank cut 0.010 under, block is bored 0.020 over, torque plate honed, custom ground cam (I actually don't remember the specs. I want to say 218/218, 114 LSA, .550 lift, +2 timing advance), ported heads, ARP head studs, custom double roller timing chain setup, balance shaft delete, roller rockers, ford racing lifters. Basically went all out with it. Should be a 700+ HP capable motor.

I haven't started tearing the car down yet. I will probably start next weekend, going to be out of town (well, back in Pittsburgh actually) this weekend. Lot of work ahead, need to get all the turbo stuff off, front bumper off, hood off, swap gas tanks, drop the trans, pull the motor, clean the engine bay up, pick up the new motor, dress new motor, drop it in, re-install all the turbo goodies.

Hoping to get the car wrapped up by January or February. That should give me some time to get some break in miles here and there (it is warm randomly here in SC in the winter) to be able to get a final tune done in time for spring, and let it eat next summer.

[PaxtonShelby]

That is one sharp car. Love this project!

[sutyak]

Really sucks about the locked motor, but I guess it's a good time of the year to happen. Looking forward to the next phase of the build!

[SlowSix]

Really sucks about the locked motor, but I guess it's a good time of the year to happen. Looking forward to the next phase of the build!

I just feel stupid more than anything lol. But honestly not a big deal since car season is about over and my new motor is almost done. Excited to let this thing eat when it is done.
I might actually have a shot at the fastest 1/4 mile stick 3.8 based car which would be cool. Believe the record is somewhere mid 10s

[ZachCaswell]

it cant be as stupid of me thinking i blew up an engine and it wasw out of gas!! aaaahahaha! that was 2 motors ago looks good! daves busy at the shop, his free advice keeps him busy with getting more business. lol you going to upgraqde to a different turbo?

[SlowSix]

it cant be as stupid of me thinking i blew up an engine and it wasw out of gas!! aaaahahaha! that was 2 motors ago looks good! daves busy at the shop, his free advice keeps him busy with getting more business. lol you going to upgraqde to a different turbo?

Naw, same turbo. I don't plan on going bigger unless it doesn't make the power I want. But Dave told me that turbo and the cam I have should make power to like 7000+ rpm.
Which is great considering I had the rev limiter on the stock motor at 6000 rpm

[SlowSix]

Tear down has begun. This is probably only 5-6 hours worth of work so far, I haven't had much time to work on it. Motor is getting closer to coming out. Need to take the accessories off, and get the trans out.

This was after the first day. Turbo hotside came off minus the headers ( I'm hoping to pull the motor with them on still, they're a pain to get on and off)


My turbski. I sent it to boost lab to make sure it was okay since I started the motor of oil. It seems fine but it might need oil seals now idk. Still awaiting to hear from them.


More teardown happened tonight






And got my donathen racing tube front bumper painted and mocked up. Leaves so much more room for air to the intercooler.

[Fast Gypsy]

My son is the regional manager for LaBatt products. Thanks for your support. Spread the word.

[SlowSix]

My son is the regional manager for LaBatt products. Thanks for your support. Spread the word.

Tell him that you can't find labatt down south. Makes me sad. Lol

[SlowSix]

Coming along.

Close to getting my new fuel set up in the car. Still need to drop the old tank. DW 300c twin 340s


Got my turbo back from Boost Lab. Looks nearly brand new. They told me it had metal all in the thrust bearing.


Pile o- turbo kit


And got the transmission out on Friday.


Went to harbor freight today to pick up an engine hoist, told me they didn't have any. ****.

[PaxtonShelby]

You're welcome to borrow my engine crane. I'm in Moon - it does not fold up so you'd need a truck. Let me know bud!

[SlowSix]

You're welcome to borrow my engine crane. I'm in Moon - it does not fold up so you'd need a truck. Let me know bud!

I actually live in South Carolina now so I don't think that will work.

I ordered one from harbor freight's website. They will ship an entire shop crane, in a box, that weighs 160 lbs, to your door, for $21.
I feel bad for our UPS guy.

[PaxtonShelby]

Haha ok - then change your dang info! Says Greensburg! Any HF stores in your area? Have one 5 miles from me - They usually have cranes in stock.

I bought mine online way before they had stores in my area. They shipped the wrong ram cylinder TWICE before I got the right one. I hope your luck is better!

[Martin0660]

I cant see clearly in your picture, but it looks like it's showing that white corrugated hose out of the fuel pump ... I would look at that close in a boosted application.

[SlowSix]

Haha ok - then change your dang info! Says Greensburg! Any HF stores in your area? Have one 5 miles from me - They usually have cranes in stock.

I bought mine online way before they had stores in my area. They shipped the wrong ram cylinder TWICE before I got the right one. I hope your luck is better!

There is one near here, I went to pick one up yesterday. They told me they were out of stock, truck comes on Friday. I won't be around this weekend so I just ordered one.

I cant see clearly in your picture, but it looks like it's showing that white corrugated hose out of the fuel pump ... I would look at that close in a boosted application.

It is. It came from DW that way. It has some sort of glue to keep the hose on the pump outlet. The other end of it, that connects to the Y block on the hat, actually is rubber submersible hose.
Why do you say that ? See them break or what ?
I actually had some issues when I had a division X 340 in my current tank setup, it kept blowing the line off the pump. But this was a rubber line with hose clamps. Actually switched to a dw340 single pump with the corrugated hose and it worked much better.

[SlowSix]

Couple more parts showed up.
Discovered my upper control arm bushings were destroyed. Time for some new ones.
Got a set of J&M double adjustables from LMR on Cyber Monday. I'm curious as to how these work. Maximum Motorsports actually recommends using stock arms with rubber bushings in the uppers to prevent suspension bind and snap oversteer with handling.
I didn't want to do that as I'd imagine I'd end up ruining the uppers or just not being able to hook.
These uppers I have an interesting design. The bushing is 3 piece. The center is a hard "polyball". And the outer parts are a semi soft (elastomer I think). Supposed to allow suspension articulation without compromising straight line performance. Interested to see what I think of them on the car.
At the very least, the arms themselves are SUPER beefy. Very thick metal and good welds.




I also picked up a small fire extinguisher. Not sure where I will mount it yet. I'm open to suggestions. If I had a roll bar is just do that but I don't at the moment. Not sure if I want to put a cage in the car or not since it mostly sees street time.
I don't really want to drill into the floor to mount it if I don't have to.