476 replies to this topic

[Struggler]

Being a sucker for punishment I couldn't refuse the UC sedan Patrick posted in the For Sale section recently. After checking it out and negotiating a deal I dragged it home on Monday.

Tuesday I got up and got stuck into it. A couple of hours with the grinder and a few more with the high pressure hose got it looking halfway OK. I plan to stick my SBC in it for a bit of fun and made a few engine bay mods to suit. All the seams on the firewall were trimmed back to make for some more clearance, the chassis rail lips were lopped off but not cut back so far as to need welding. I also removed the drip lip above the dizzy are and tapped the plenum back in that area to give as much room as I could. I would much rather cut too much away and have too much room rather than not remove enough and have to do it again. I also got rid of the entire standard fuel system and heater box.

Today I tried to get the engine in. I found some second hand extractors to suit (I think they are Hurricanes) and as I am a struggler opted to try to fit it with my HQ sump as I couldn't afford a LX one. The first try wasn't too successful so out it came for some remedial beating. I tapped the sump slightly with a length of 2" steam pipe and a hammer in the area of the rack. I also beat the cross member down a few mil in the area behind the rack. This allowed the engine to sit in place. The wheezy 1 5/8" pipes have had their 2" collector cut off and I will replace it with some 2 1/2" pipe. As the pipes are the only change from my HQ I will redyno it to see how much these things cost in the way of HP.

Sorry no pics, dynamic pages in the [IMG] tags are not allowed

[Evan]

your a legend struggler!

Good to see some pics.

Hoping to go faster with a lighter torry compared to the kingswood?

Evan.

Edited by Evan, 25 March 2009 - 04:56 PM.

[TempesT]

This is going to be fun.

So are you going to be able to keep this on the road reg or will it be a pure strip car? Going to stick with the colour or tart it up abit?

New projects are always fun.

james.

[Heath]

I was waiting until you got a Torana! Now I'm happy I wanna know the same thing as TempesT

I had a problem with that dynamic image tag shit the other day as well, and I couldn't figure out what the problem was, but I tried 10 minutes later and it worked. Anyway, just post a link to your photobucket page if you can't get the links to work

[Redslur]

Well done Struggler. Looking forward to seeing more! I have just commenced my new project too.

[Struggler]

Still can't get the pics to link up, you will have to travel......

http://modifiedcarfo...mp;d=1237959970

Sump mods.

http://modifiedcarfo...mp;d=1237960023

Empty engine bay.

http://modifiedcarfo...mp;d=1237960065

Loaded engine bay.

Evan, I'm not sure it will go faster with those weeny pipes and I can't afford a diff at the moment so we'll see how it goes.

James, I just got sick of tripping over all the parts, the UC came along and I thought I'll just stuff it all in while I have 2 weeks off work. It had 4cyl rego but it has lapsed. I'm more in it for the fun but haven't cut or thrown away too much in case I change my mind.

SLR Goat, I sold the hatch during the muscle car boom and made some money. I palmed those pipes off to a friend in need and regretted it ever since.

ChevLX, the Corty was sold off as a roller afer I put a fair bit of work into it, the rest of the family jacked up as it had no back seat !!!

Patrick, yes, I was llooking for it and found it, its now in the cap, in the tank, in the yard !!

Gerry, let me know how it all goes.

[Struggler]

Last Friday I got busy under the car with the sledge hammer. Made some room for the Powerglide and also tapped the floor up on both sides a few inches for exhaust clearance. Unfortunately the Starfire g/box x/member sat the box through the floor so I had to make a new one. I also discovered the 4 cyl tailshaft was too long.

Today I made some new 2 1/2" collectors for the exhaust and threaded them out of the engine bay and down to the gearbox crossmember. Exhaust has been routed so that I can remove the box without touching the pipes. After a quick check and marking some more areas for panel beating I pulled the engine and box out again, fully welded the pipes and beat/cut some other intrusions then refit everything. It all clears and looks like it will work.

Tomorrow I should start bolting stuff up and looking at the wiring.

[Struggler]

OK, time for a quick update.....

I got it started this afternoon. No exhaust from the collectors back, no radiator fan and no tailshaft but it does start and run.

Here are a couple of pics, the first is of the engine bay as it was 5 minutes after I shut it down. Sharp eyes will pick the lack of radiator hoses. I ran it without coolant just to make sure it started and ran and had oil pressure. Once I get a thermo fan and mount it on the radiator I'll fit it and the hoses and fill it up with coolant. No real need yet, I still need to find a tailshaft long enough (Craig, the one I got off you was about 40mm too short, it fit but I wasn't happy with how far into the box it went. I am using it as a yardstick to find another the right length.)

The next pic is the fuel cell in the boot. I mounted the cell flush with the floor and cut out an area for the sump to sit in. I then folded up some plate to cover the fuel outlets so all the plumbing is outside the boot area. I thought this may interest a few.

I know the pics aren't too detailed so feel free to ask any questions.






Later this week I hope to find some time to get a fan and tailshaft and work out what I'm doing with the exhaust. Then I will weld the diff up and let it rip !!!

[Struggler]

....So is this gonna be a race car or thrash car???....

Mmmmm, same thing isn't it ??

[Struggler]

I mean is this one gonna hit the pad???

Yes, definately.

[Struggler]

Hey stuggler lookn good mate

Always wondered why some carbs are mounted sideways

is there any pereformance gains ?

I wondered how long it would be until someone picked that up !!!

There is no real performance gain. I mounted the carb sideways when I switched to Methanol for a couple of reasons.....
It suited the reg setup better this way and as the meth carb runs 9psi fuel pressure at WOT it is inclined to flood easily, particularly when swinging donuts. Mounting it sideways helps this problem. Also it allows me to use the 4cyl accel. cable!!
To run a petrol carb sideways does require different floats to work properly.

As for a transporter, don't know yet. I might end up having to push it !!! Hoping to borrow a mates trailer until I get another one for myself.

[Struggler]

Thanks for the kind comments UNVSM8, SLRGoat and noslx. Its no show winner but I'm hoping it's going to be some fun !!!!!