BanditDave

iTrader: (11)

Hi Guys...been a long while since I've been on this site. Between work, school (went back to school a year ago to pursue my PhD) and family (second child on the way) there isn't too much time for cars these days. Over the last few years this car has gone back and forth from all out drag car to street car to the for sale block! Finally, I figured out what I really want to do...I've never really done any road course events but have a great track close to me. Now while I don't have the pockets that some of these pro-touring folks have, I do have patience and time to find exactly what I am looking for. I want to ultimately find my way to the Optima Ultimate Street Car Invitational with this pig. Even if I don't make it there at least I will have had the chance to get this car back on the road and even better the track! And as a metaphor for my life right now, just like my PhD that could conceivably take me 10 years to get, this car has been down for almost ten years since drag duty and seeing daylight! Since most guys name their builds, I call mine "Determination"...

This intro post is just here to wet the whistle while I get my build pics together, so with that in mind....



Trying to make Millville, NJ race in May but that is really close to when my son is supposed to be born. Stay tuned and watch the hilarity unfold!

slocaddy

Haha! Oil and water do mix! I love it, let's see the cutty

static low 92

iTrader: (2)

Make it HAPPEN!

Project GatTagO

iTrader: (7)

What discipline are you getting your Ph.D. in?

Andrew

BanditDave

iTrader: (11)

Currently have a BS in mechanical engineering, PhD will be in Material Science and Engineering with a focus on Nanomaterials and advanced materials in energy storage, thermal management and additive manufacturing.

Thanks for the interest!

BanditDave

iTrader: (11)

All right! FINALLY have an update for you guys! I bought a bunch of new parts for her last night, but wanted to give a little better overview of what I already have.

Here's some shots of the Hooker Headers - 1 7/8" stainless primaries:














I also purchased the full Holley engine and trans mounting system with polyurethane mounts (converter is a RevMax 2800-3000 stall):





























Also have the right Holley Oil Pan and race baffle to go with it (will be selling the twin turbo pan I have on the motor currently):














Also picked up an Aeromotive 15 gal A1500 fuel cell with fuel level sensor and internal baffling:









Like I mentioned earlier a picked up a ton of extra things like a boost-referenced Aeromotive regulator, Holley 95mm Cable throttle body, throttle body adapter from Holley, gaskets, as well as PSI Conversion harness and a ton more!!! I will highlight what I did to the motor in another post because there is so much to show and talk about, but here are some pics from today...the first time this car has been out of the garage in EIGHT years!!!!!



















A ridiculous amount more to come!!! Thanks!

Dave

onebadbowtie86

iTrader: (13)

So are you keeping the car now?

I'd love to see this build finished!

I'm going to be ordering a set of those headers since you proved they work with 1" setbacks. What size slicks/wheels did you have on the car at the track?

BanditDave

iTrader: (11)

Yea, I'm holding onto it and finishing it. Took a look at the Firebird Saturday and I just don't have a full restoration in me right now. Plus this is one of those cars that I just can't bring myself to let go. It was my uncles, then brothers, now mine and will hopefully be one of my sons' cars someday. Plus it's different! I ordered all the parts I needed to get this pig fired up this weekend...minus the intercooler for the supercharger. I need to pull the motor again to change the pan and while I am at it I will adjust a few things and change the isolator in the supercharger. Eventually this car is getting Rushforth Wheels, Baer Brakes and suspension. Those three things with tires will set me back another ~$10K...these pro-touring cars are expensiiiiive!!! Haha.

The rear had 28x9 Hoosiers and I loved them things! Served me well for many years! If they didn't sit for so darn long I would still be running them but I am afraid of dry rot at this point.

Once I got the car outside this weekend took many memories flooded back! She's hanging around for a while longer!

Thanks!
Dave

jimmyg

Glad to see your finally making some progress . I just bought a whipple for mine. I've been looking at heat exchangers . Silicone intakes.com has some decent ones for short money.

upflying

Tesla battery factory just east of Reno wants to hire you with that education.

BanditDave

iTrader: (11)

I'll check them out to get me going. Have the short list of what I need...probably pull the trigger this weekend!

BanditDave

iTrader: (11)

Very cool work they are doing...the place where I work was the reason I went back for the PhD... Really fell in love with the material science perspective of engineering in general and totally fascinated with nanomaterials. Realized there was a massive skills gap at my site and it is honestly starting to pay off. I get to do some pretty awesome stuff and that is good enough for me right now. Eventually the pay will catch up but to do what you love is much more important to me than hating going to work everyday.

I create a lot of the work I do, source the funding and figure out the technical requirements because most folks have no clue what they want. I also notice I have a lot mo patience in the areas that count than a lot of folks. A lot of my peers seem to think that they deserve a million dollars a year for sitting on their *** or kissing someone else's. Maybe I was born in the wrong era or a bit old school in that I believe in paying your dues, getting your hands dirty and mentoring others...I don't want to be handed something.

I'm also my wife's worst nightmare in that I think I can solve anything....believe it or not some ladies don't like that...haha

Best,
Dave

Pop N Wood

iTrader: (1)

How is it "your" PhD if you haven't earned it yet?

Sorry, possessive pronouns on degrees that people are working on is something that bothers the hell out of me for no apparent reason.

Too much fireball I guess.

Nice car BTW

BanditDave

iTrader: (11)

Because it would seem somewhat odd if I spent all this time and effort on someone else's doctorate?

BanditDave

iTrader: (11)

Christmas.......in March!!! Got a nice delivery today of parts and drug them inside before the boss saw them. Battles must be chosen wisely!



Starting with the box from PSI Conversion, I received the following:

Harness
PCM mount for the 411 style PCM
"Tune up" kit that has MSD wires, plugs, O2 sensors, etc...
Transmission kick down switch














Chain tensioner:



Also got a new adapter plate for the monster 95mm throttle body and the throttle body as well...95mm!







Aeromotive boost referenced regulator



Yates EFI Allstar radiator



Should start getting things on the car and motor within the next few weeks!!!

elliottw

Sorry to go off topic, what are the wheels on your car? I like them a lot

BanditDave

iTrader: (11)

Not off topic at all! I liked them a lot as well and they are REALLY affordable. They are Ridler 675 wheels in 17" and can be found all over Evil Bay. ~$120/wheel makes them really affordable for driving around but would probably not use them for road racing/autoX.

Dave

BanditDave

iTrader: (11)

More and more parts!!!!

Fan shroud and dual Spals:


LS1 MLS gaskets...reasoning for these is because I currently have LS9s on it but I did not like the huge difference in bore sizes between the 5.3 and LS9 so this is a nice compromise!



Vacuum block off plugs for supercharger:



Aeromotive fuel filter:



Gaskets for between adapter plate and head...thought I got the blower gaskets but will be grabbing them tonight.



Should get some real work done this weekend...work sucked today and I have an exam in class Monday so taking the day off from work to do last minute studying. Just need a break this weekend if even for a little bit.

Lots more to come!!!

BanditDave

iTrader: (11)

And yet another round of parts!!! I can't walk in my garage right now...these basically finish off the big and expensive parts so I should be able to get this pig running within the next few months provided that the timing works out well between work and the birth of baby 2!!!

So for the brakes I am going to stick with the stock ones for this season because I cannot afford the Baer's for a while. As for the suspension, I am just going with the UMI Stage 1 to clean up the suspension and stiffen a bit to make it drivable. It will be a show queen for this season...just don't have the funds to finish everything this go around but I WANT to drive this damn thing!!!



For the intercooler, I am going with an Afco ZL1 unit that is beefed up for performance duty. If I need to I will slap fans on it but I think this will be sufficient for now. I am recirculating water with a GT500 intercooler pump.





Have a Derale Trans cooler that I will be mounting under the trunk on an angle to get plenty of coolant to '80e:



Finally, the 3" Hooker xpipe G body exhaust...REALLY looking forward to hearing this. I hope it is not insanely loud. I will most likely get a pair of Borla mufflers if I do not like the sound, but from what I've heard I am pretty happy.



Most of this stuff should be showing up in the next week with the suspension in about 2-3 weeks. I will be pulling the motor to start converting over to the full Holley/Hooker mounts and change over to the 302-2 pain with road race baffle. I am also an idiot and realized that I put the heads on without one of the head dowels in place so I have a few extras as well as a new set of MLS LS1 gaskets. I know a TON of people use the LS9s and they are ridiculously expensive, but since I have to pull the heads and that will most likely screw up the head gaskets, the smaller, more appropriate bore, of the LS1 MLS gaskets gives me more piece of mind. I'll be taking a ton of pics of the process so stay tuned. Also, if anyone has a complete G body heater only set-up I would be interested in purchasing or trading for a very complete (minus compressor) AC system.

Thanks!
Dave

BanditDave

iTrader: (11)

Still making progress...especially with the engine. As my last post pointed out I had a LOT of parts in stock...haha. Finally started installing them once I pulled the motor.

Before I get too far in I am proud to announce my second son was born on the 12th of May...great reason not to get work done!

So as I mentioned I had a lot in stock to get down to business.



All of that will make its way here:



I got started with a tear down if the front end and oil pan. I installed the trick flow chain dampener...very straightforward.





Spent a bit of time on the oil pan situation. I removed the. CTSV pan with the double turbo drain (will be for sale soon) and installed the 302-2 pan with the road race baffle. You need to get the proper windage tray per Holleys direction which is the standard 98-02 fbody shorter tray but I am pretty sure you could just trim any tray back one counter weight. See pics below - first few show too long windage tray...





Proper windage tray is this number:



Here's the road race baffle:



Finally I replaced the head gaskets with ls1 MLS gaskets and did a nice reprint to freshen things up.





Ready to reinstall the correct valve covers (wrinkle black) and work on the blower tonight (replace the isolator). More pics to come!!!