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LH SL TORANA 173 TO EFI 5L TH700 BW 3.45 LSD

Started by _LH SLR 3300_ , Jun 27 2009 01:50 PM

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370 replies to this topic

#176 _LH SLR 3300_

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Posted 12 November 2009 - 03:54 PM

Well this is how the car looked earlier in the week.
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All four doors are repaired, in primer & edged out waiting to be bolted back on the car.
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spent four hours last night rubbing back the door apertures on the car & paint stripping the bolts that hold the hinges to the pillars. All 28 of them, plus a few spares. Knocked off work early as a thunder storm is predicted today & i wanted colour on the apertures before it rained. The joys of working in a carport Posted Image

Anyhow, looks like i got it done just in time. Paint is almost touch dry & the clouds are only just starting to roll over.
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Hoping by the end of the weekend, doors will be back on the car & with some luck, the engine/trans will be out of the VN & sitting in the Torana engine bay.

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#177 _LJ355_

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Posted 12 November 2009 - 06:13 PM

Looking awesome matt love the colour

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#178 _LH SLR 3300_

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Posted 14 November 2009 - 11:13 PM

Thanks Lee Posted Image

. Been a busy couple of days for me. Repaired, primed & edged out the front guards for the Torana, working until 11pm last night so only the bonnet & wiper panel need to be prepped & the whole car is primed, edged out waiting to be blocked & painted. Today was engine transplant day. This is the VN Calais donor car at 1pm today in my mate's workshop.
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At around 2pm engine & box are out of the Calais & i'm stripping the accessories off that won't be used in the Torana such as A/C compressor etc.
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4.30pm engine is back at my place. My mate is swapping the Commodore sump, pickup & engine mounts for the HQ/Torana ones.

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5pm engine is almost ready to go into the Torana.
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8pm engine is more or less in the car. It took four of us to do it, my mate & myself guiding the motor & box in & working the engine crane & my wife & my mate's girl friend holding the extractors in position. Two hours work including a couple of tweaks here & there. I won't be doing another EFI conversion into an LH in a hurry, they don't clear as well as the old carby 308s used to.
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10pm & extractors & bolted up, gearbox x-member is bolted up & engine mounts bolted up. Next week, wire up the EFI, get the tailshaft made up & every thing else needed to make it run. A big thanks to my mate Mick, wouldn't have happened without his help Posted Image

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#179 _LH SLR 3300_

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Posted 14 November 2009 - 11:19 PM

Just had to add these pics in. As much of a struggle to get this engine in the car, after looking at it like this it was worth it Posted Image

Can't wait to drive it!
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#180 _nial8r_

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Posted 18 November 2009 - 01:53 PM

looks perfect Matt good to see the donk sitting in the torana now Posted Image

hey if you get a chance can you snap a pic or 2 of you engine mounts and how there sitting before you chuck the radiator in please just so i can see that mine are sitting right Posted Image

are you taking thefuel rail covers off or leaving them on in the car ??

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#181 MRLXSS

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Name:Matt
Location:Upwey, Melbourne
Car:355 LX Hatchback, DeLorean DMC-12, LX SS Hatch, VY Cross8 Crewman
Joined: 09-November 05

Posted 18 November 2009 - 01:58 PM

That looks tops! And the stages of the pictures make it look sooooo easy! HAHA! But I reckon its safe to say it was far from easy? LOL

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#182 _doogs_

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Posted 18 November 2009 - 02:34 PM

Looks great mate. :spoton:

I am sure it will be well worth all the hard work.

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#183 orangeLJ

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Posted 19 November 2009 - 07:20 AM

I have the same engine crane as that! hahaha, prick of a thing has a mind of its own when you try and roll it around.

Keeping the red covers etc.?

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#184 _sic slr_

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Posted 25 November 2009 - 07:52 PM

hey mate car looks fantastic, forgive me if i missed it but what calipers are you running on front and rear?

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#185 _LH SLR 3300_

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Posted 25 November 2009 - 09:26 PM

Thanks for all the comments Posted Image

MRLXSS, yeah the conversion was far from straight forward, but should be worth the few problems i encountered along the way once it's running. Chris, you're right about my engine crane, it does have a mind of it's own but it has more than paid for itself over the years & i couldn't do without it. Most of it's problems were the result of loaning it to people i shouldn't have. Now it doesn't get loaned out anymore unless i go with it Posted Image

Red rocker & engine covers? Well they looked good to me when i first painted them, but i'm not so sure now. I scratched them while fitting the engine cause i couldn't be bothered pulling them off, so they'll more than likely be repainted a different colour eventually. sic slr, front calipers are VT Commodore on modified AU Falcon discs & the rear calipers & discs are standard VB-VS Commodore.

Cheers Matt

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#186 gtrboyy

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Posted 26 November 2009 - 04:16 AM

I got the same engine crane too.

Skid pictures aren't loading lol.

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#187 _Chamois hatch_

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Posted 28 November 2009 - 03:29 PM

great build. nice to see another efi build.

what are your going to run for the air intake? i moved my battery to the drivers side, and am currently running a v6 airbox, but its far too restrictive. i have already cut holes in it to increase airflow but its still not enough. im trying to avoid running a pod filter. scratching my head as to how to improve the airflow. what radiator you running?

keep up the good work!

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#188 _evil UC hatch_

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Posted 28 November 2009 - 04:18 PM

this is coming along nicely, loving it :rockon:

I think a mixture of silver and body colour would look sweet on the rocker covers and engine covers

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#189 _LH SLR 3300_

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Posted 29 November 2009 - 08:19 AM

Fuel pumps, surge tank & fuel lines all fitted, wiring 80% done looks like another long day working on the car. Hope to fire it up tonight though i can't run it long, open headers. Post pics tonight if it all goes to plan Posted Image

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Chamois hatch, air intake will be a K&N pod filter for now. I have a couple of bits of intercooler pipe & some silicon joiners i'll play around with to mount it. I wanted to relocate the battery to the boot but decided to keep it in the engine bay for now. I know this filter set up isn't 100% legal but my main aim is to get the car running & improve on it later. I've had alot of problems using the expensive well known brand radiators before, so for this car i'm using a three row core vertical flow radiator a mate of a mate made up. He's apparently very good at what he does so will see how it goes once the car runs.
EvilUC, silver with body colour detailing on the engine covers is a great suggestion, to be honest that's what i had in mind too, i have a spare set of covers i'll paint up one night after work when the boss lets me use his paint oven again.

Cheers Matt

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#190 tsn007

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Posted 29 November 2009 - 11:40 AM

very nice work, a real tribute to you !

I may have missed it earlier ,but what is the colour called

While you have the camera out,if possible i would like to see your fuel pump and surge tank setup

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#191 _Chamois hatch_

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Posted 29 November 2009 - 02:12 PM

fair enough, im going to toy around with fitting a VN-VS radiator in, and try to run a commodore cold air intake. the radiator is a fair bit narrower than my H/D HQ 3 core one so the bigger airbox might fit a well. only question is will a single 16'' thermo keep it cool?

good luck with the fire up. hope it all goes to plan.

cheers
john

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#192 _LH SLR 3300_

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Posted 29 November 2009 - 05:39 PM

Well the engine won't be started tonight, went to three different auto stores & could not get an ignition coil. This is how it looks as of today.
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For the most part everything is hooked up. Still haven't sourced a proper top radiator hose & of course the ignition coil but all wiring is done including the electronics on the transmission. Here are some pics of my self modified VN V8 engine harness.
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I've tried to conceal the harness in the engine bay as much as possible & all relays, trigger module, MAP sensor, ignition coil etc are under the dash. This is where the harness passes through the firewall.
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Also fitted the fuel pumps, surge tank & fuel lines.
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I'm not to concerned about appearence here as i'll be building a boot install including some stereo amps etc so the fuel system will be hidden from view. Also installed the B&M shifter & cable, tomorrow i'll get a tailshaft made up for it, hopefully by next weekend the car will be at the muffler shop getting the exhaust system fitted. Oh yeah, tsn007, the colour the car is being painted is called Orchid & it is a 1973-1974 Holden colour.

cheers Matt

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#193 gtrboyy

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Posted 30 November 2009 - 06:06 AM

I reckon painting the covers in the orchid colour with silver or maybe black stripes would suit the black engine bay.A vt or possibly ve top airbox with a modified bottom box would be better volume wise.

chamois hatch:I used a vs series 3 radiator & au fans in the lc,looks neat & works very well.A vn-vs radiator would be more durable,Mondeo fans would be alot easier to fit & more compact.A single 16 inch fan wasn't enough airflow for the lc sitting in traffic on warmer days.

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#194 _nial8r_

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Posted 30 November 2009 - 07:23 AM

looking good there Matt Posted Image

if you where stuck for a coil you should have gave me a holl'a and i could have shot up there as i still have the one out the SS the i ripped apart. i bet your itching to fire it over but more so get in it and take it for a drive, keep up the good work mate your so close now to the finished product Posted Image

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#195 _Herne_

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Posted 30 November 2009 - 09:38 AM

I reckon painting the covers in the orchid colour with silver or maybe black stripes would suit the black engine bay.
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I agree mate, its something I would be trying, reckon they could awesome in 'orchid' to match the body colour.
As for the black or silver on the rocker cover hilites, h'mmmmmmm would need to see both painted up and then make a choice.

That orchid body colour is a great choice. I like it.

Cheers
Herne

Edited by Herne, 30 November 2009 - 09:39 AM.

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#196 _BlownOutlaw_

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Posted 30 November 2009 - 12:22 PM

Hi Matt
Excellent stuff.. making me feel like starting on mine.. hmmm

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#197 _LH SLR 3300_

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Posted 09 December 2009 - 06:26 PM

It's been a busy couple of weeks, but the Torana lives! After hours of wiring, getting a tailshaft made only to find they stuffed up & made it too short & plenty of hassles getting brake parts along with a few other hiccups to be expected when building a car from scratch, i hooked in on sunday with a good mate's help & by 8pm all panels were on the car & lined up & the engine was running at last. Those with a sharp eye will notice the blue rusty bonnet. I'm still having trouble locating a good bonnet for under $350 so this one will have to do. The other one i repaired earler in my thread came back from the sodablaster looking like swiss cheese around the front skin above where the catch bolts on. $200 wasted Posted Image

Here's some progress shots from the day.
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I've already copped some sh*t about the wheels on the car but they are a loaner off my mate until i can find some wheels that suit the car better that are in my budget. I still think they look better than the ratty steel Commie rims that the car usualy sits on. Here's the tailshaft that took two goes to get right.
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The dash all back together & the B&M Quicksilver shifter. Just waiting for the new heater core to be put in & a CD player.
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The engine waiting to be fired up for the first time in the Torana. Took a fair bit of fiddling around to get the dizzy cap & leads on.
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The moment of truth! Hope my backyard wiring is up to scratch.
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All good. took a while to get fuel pressure up, turned out the sender was blocked. Sorted that out & she fired up. Sounded sweet through open headers, though i don't think the neighbours thought so. Still i gave them fair warning it was about to start. Today, finish bolting up the new brake lines i picked up & the elusive proportion valve that i needed to replace the one i broke. Friday, it's off to the muffler shop to get the exhaust fitted. A big thanks to my mate Mick for all the help getting the doors back on & starting the engine & a big thanks to Lee (nial8r) for the proportion valve, your a legend mate. Cheers Matt

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#198 _LJ355_

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Posted 09 December 2009 - 08:29 PM

Hey matt thats great not much more to do hey !

Is it just me or does that diff look a little wide for those rims ?

Actually ive just decided walky rims would look great on it :spoton:

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#199 _BCR42Y_

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Posted 09 December 2009 - 08:38 PM

Excellent progress Matt, it's coming along nicely!

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#200 _nial8r_

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Posted 09 December 2009 - 09:02 PM

looks perfect Matt you sure do get things done mate thats for sure hat goes off to ya, um and yeah when i looked at the new pics earlyer this arvo i did notice that the diff looks to be a bit wide like LJ355 pointed out ??? the last pic is a classic, looks like your trying to boost the car mate with the surgical gloves on Posted Image

but i guess the reason for that is ( maybe ) that you really cant afford to have any grease or shit stuck on ya hands while your at work doing reapirs huh?? also really like the black dash might have to donate my dash and try and pic up a black one instead of painting mine when the wallet says so Posted Image

hey and how does the heater box mod you done fit in ?? all good is it ??? but all in all the whole lot loks really nice cant wait to see it with the colour on thats for sure keep up the good work Posted Image