1965 Skylark LQ9 Retrofit / Swap - Build Thread
05-07-2011, 06:34 AM
#242
I can't be sure yet. I still have to install the bumper, grille, lights and hood. Also, I have quite a bit of stuff in the trunk right now. It would have been all done for sure this weekend, but I have to work today. So, it will be sometime between now and next weekend it should be mostly done.
05-08-2011, 09:35 PM
#244
I managed to sneak in a little work this weekend. So I knocked out these items:
- install the fuel pump relay
- wire up all the gauges
- wire the console and put it back together
I still have to:
- install the fan controller
- fabricate fan mount brackets
- finish installing the urethane body bushings
- finish assemble the front sheet metal, lights, grille and bumper
Then, I can take her down the street.
05-08-2011, 09:48 PM
#245
On The Tree
iTrader: (3)
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Alta Loma, CA
Posts: 166
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Well, I am a small business owner and the bosses are my clients. So, no faking being sick for me.
I managed to sneak in a little work this weekend. So I knocked out these items:
I still have to:
Then, I can take her down the street.
I managed to sneak in a little work this weekend. So I knocked out these items:
- install the fuel pump relay
- wire up all the gauges
- wire the console and put it back together
I still have to:
- install the fan controller
- fabricate fan mount brackets
- finish installing the urethane body bushings
- finish assemble the front sheet metal, lights, grille and bumper
Then, I can take her down the street.
Nice work..getting so close.
05-13-2011, 11:11 AM
#247
After a year of planning and nearly 2 months of wrenching evenings and weekends, the car will be pretty much done today. I have to swap out the UMI rear control arm braces for the Edelbrock units and do a little welding on the tailpipes and then I can drive her home. I am excited and a little nervous.
Last edited by speedtigger; 05-13-2011 at 11:18 AM.
05-13-2011, 10:23 PM
#250
I drove it home from the shop today. The experience was great on many levels with a few things that are problems. First I have to say that the car is awesome. I have never driven a car this fast that was this tight. Most cars that I have driven that were this fast were racecars full of squeaks and rattles. Not the case here.
The power is instant and everywhere. From a 35 MPH roll in 2nd gear the car will go sideways unless the utmost care is taken to bring the throttle in slow. As it accelerates, it pulls harder and harder til' it hits the MSD's factory 5500rpm preset rev limiter.
On the down side, there are two problems that have to be addressed. First and foremost, there is an extraordinary amount of valvetrain noise. The valvetrain is quiet at idle but as soon as the RPMs get above 1000, the valve trains becomes extremely noisy.
The 2nd problem is the car idles terrible. The car is responsive and runs excellent above an idle, but the idle itself is erratic and fussy. I am hoping some carb love will straiten this out. If not, I will be looking for vacuum leaks as a possible explanation/solution.
Overall, I have gotten a glimpse of what I have created and it is truly extraordinary. I look forward to resolving these problems so I can enjoy my new street stormer.
The power is instant and everywhere. From a 35 MPH roll in 2nd gear the car will go sideways unless the utmost care is taken to bring the throttle in slow. As it accelerates, it pulls harder and harder til' it hits the MSD's factory 5500rpm preset rev limiter.
On the down side, there are two problems that have to be addressed. First and foremost, there is an extraordinary amount of valvetrain noise. The valvetrain is quiet at idle but as soon as the RPMs get above 1000, the valve trains becomes extremely noisy.
The 2nd problem is the car idles terrible. The car is responsive and runs excellent above an idle, but the idle itself is erratic and fussy. I am hoping some carb love will straiten this out. If not, I will be looking for vacuum leaks as a possible explanation/solution.
Overall, I have gotten a glimpse of what I have created and it is truly extraordinary. I look forward to resolving these problems so I can enjoy my new street stormer.
05-14-2011, 06:35 AM
#251
Teching In
iTrader: (5)
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: NC
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Rocker Noise I drove it home from the shop today. The experience was great on many levels with a few things that are problems. First I have to say that the car is awesome. I have never driven a car this fast that was this tight. Most cars that I have driven that were this fast were racecars full of squeaks and rattles. Not the case here.
The power is instant and everywhere. From a 35 MPH roll in 2nd gear the car will go sideways unless the utmost care is taken to bring the throttle in slow. As it accelerates, it pulls harder and harder til' it hits the MSD's factory 5500rpm preset rev limiter.
On the down side, there are two problems that have to be addressed. First and foremost, there is an extraordinary amount of valvetrain noise. The valvetrain is quiet at idle but as soon as the RPMs get above 1000, the valve trains becomes extremely noisy.
The 2nd problem is the car idles terrible. The car is responsive and runs excellent above an idle, but the idle itself is erratic and fussy. I am hoping some carb love will straiten this out. If not, I will be looking for vacuum leaks as a possible explanation/solution.
Overall, I have gotten a glimpse of what I have created and it is truly extraordinary. I look forward to resolving these problems so I can enjoy my new street stormer.
The power is instant and everywhere. From a 35 MPH roll in 2nd gear the car will go sideways unless the utmost care is taken to bring the throttle in slow. As it accelerates, it pulls harder and harder til' it hits the MSD's factory 5500rpm preset rev limiter.
On the down side, there are two problems that have to be addressed. First and foremost, there is an extraordinary amount of valvetrain noise. The valvetrain is quiet at idle but as soon as the RPMs get above 1000, the valve trains becomes extremely noisy.
The 2nd problem is the car idles terrible. The car is responsive and runs excellent above an idle, but the idle itself is erratic and fussy. I am hoping some carb love will straiten this out. If not, I will be looking for vacuum leaks as a possible explanation/solution.
Overall, I have gotten a glimpse of what I have created and it is truly extraordinary. I look forward to resolving these problems so I can enjoy my new street stormer.
05-14-2011, 10:11 AM
#255
TECH Regular
iTrader: (5)
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Sparta, Mo. in southwest Missouri
Posts: 452
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
2 Posts
Well, you're finally down to the fun part. RIPPIN' IT!! I finally wound up with an almost identical set up as yours. LS2, unported #243 ZO6 heads, same cam, RPM intake, 200-4R, 3000 stall, 4.10 gears, 28" tires. My driving impressions are the same as yours. Don't know if it helps, but I run 7.4 Comp pushrods and valvetrain is very quiet. My heads are NOT milled and I run the newer Fel-Pro .053 head gaskets. As far as the suspected vacuum leak....I hate to even admit this, because I'm probably the only guy on the planet to have missed this. When I first fired the engine, it idled kind of like you described. I messed with it a day or two....kept suspecting a vacuum leak. Standing there, looking at it...scratching my head...noticed the small threaded hole where some install the MSD box...surely that's a blind threaded hole. Took a piece of welding rod...stuck it in clear to the bottom of the runner. Put 10:32 screw in...PROBLEM SOLVED. In my defence I have an aluminum plate under the carb where my pressure regulator is mounted. Made it harder to notice. 
Have fun, Ron
Have fun, Ron
05-14-2011, 01:00 PM
#256
kept suspecting a vacuum leak. Standing there, looking at it...scratching my head...noticed the small threaded hole where some install the MSD box...surely that's a blind threaded hole. Took a piece of welding rod...stuck it in clear to the bottom of the runner. Put 10:32 screw in...PROBLEM SOLVED.
As for valve train clatter, the search for a solution continues. I have tried all different sized pushrods including 7.4 and the noise level remains the same. It is quiet at an idle but anything like a cruising speed and she just taps away like an old solid cam adjusted loose. I find it quite annoying when I am trying to cruise.
On a happy note, this **** flies! Now I am going to plug that laptop into the MSD, set the timing curves and bump the rev limiter up to 6500.
05-14-2011, 06:12 PM
#260
On The Tree
iTrader: (3)
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Alta Loma, CA
Posts: 166
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I'm going to ask something simple...so dont be offended please.
You torqued the rocker bolts right? No just adjusted like the early smallblocks. Trying to run thru possibilities to the noise.
You torqued the rocker bolts right? No just adjusted like the early smallblocks. Trying to run thru possibilities to the noise.