Hopefully not too far away, converter is back at the shop now and afew other bits to get sorted, tech inspector was around the other night and it's almost good to go.

 

Impressive setup!

 

Converter guy got back to me, he had he week off for a local car festival

Seems the original converter manufacturer just built a standard TH400 converter. So I need to order the TCI LS flexplate which is actually ~8mm thicker and then he still has to cut the converter open to add 5-6mm in length.

I was originally using the stock GM flexplate, so I am abit relieved to be told "you have to use the TCI one" as it is thicker, and carries the SFI rating. I just didn't want to have to spend the extra ~$400 if the stock one was going to be OK.

 

My SFI rates LS flex plate was about $75. I used a .20" thick washer between the converter and plate to get the spacing correct. Not saying the ebay flex plate is of the same quality, but it carries the SFI rating and isn't $400. Seems to do fine on my 800-900hp turbo car anyway. I will say the bolts that came with my flywheel were junk. I ordered a set ARP flex plate bolts.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/GM-CHEVY-LS1-LS6-VOTEC-SFI-STEEL-FLEXPLATE-168T-97-UP-/360651325299?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item53f87e7f73&vxp=mtr

 

That's a good option - problem is I am located in Australia, so we have limited choices. As in the only choice is the TCI, or order from the US and wait 3+ weeks on shipping I was also looking at the Hughes option too.

Thankfully I already have a set of ARP bolts for the flexplate.

 

New flexplate in late this afternoon, calling converter guy with measurements tomorrow.

Local race meeting on the 18th October so that's my new "aim for" date.

 

I'm in the process of finishing a very similar build (in Australia also) and we're puzzled on what to do with the sump, any chance you could post some pics of the sump in the car? Cheers

 

Sure thing mate here you go. Fill me in on the details of yours! Have you got a similar build thread etc anywhere?

Sump started off as a Moroso 20141 which has internal baffles and trap door's etc

http://www.jegs.com/i/Moroso/710/20141/10002/-1

Due to my chassis actually being setup for top alcohol, with a blown hemi the motor sits in an odd position to most altereds. I had a friend section the bottom of the sump, and at the same time add extra "wings" to make up for the reduced volume. Holds 6ltrs no worries now.

 

Thanks heaps, no don't have a build thread, it's a 383ls1, scat crank and rods, je pistons, comp ended up at 12.05:1, quick-fuel e85 850 carb, msd ls controller, all machine work and balancing by pavtek, just waiting on trans, Reid case on the slow boat from USA. Thanks heaps for this thread, I have enjoyed it! Where is your home track?

 

18th came and went, didn't make it as the car was not ready

Got the torque converter back and all installed. Fitment is spot on, but seems something is up with the box as it just wont pump oil. Checked a number of things, but the box builder has asked it to be sent back (at his cost) for inspection.

So now just abit more waiting

 

That's no fun.

Another 2 weeks?

Doug

 

Gearbox on it's way back home, builder did something wrong with the pump gasket and it was covering the intake...

Oh well just happy the problem was found.

 

Gearbox back in my hands, and bolted up. All working fine. Was great to see the wheels spin under their own power for the first time.

Booked in for a dyno tune on Friday.

Hoping to goto the local track for a little private test day Sunday, just to get my bearings inside the car etc. Then enter a local race meeting on the 29th.

 

What a massive few days, the work involved to get this done was just crazy.

1yr, 3mths since I took purchase of the chassis, and driving it up onto the trailer under it's own power I was just ear to ear smile, so much time, money, sweat and tears to see it all finally coming together, when I could have given up oh so many times.

One of the last pieces of the puzzle, like alot of other things on the car, had to be custom made. 10-32 UNF to M6 thread coupler. Isn't pretty at the moment, but it does the job. This is from the quick disconnect ball on the throttle cable -> throttle body.



Car loaded up on my trailer, first time it had been on the trailer and due to how low the car is had to unhitch the trailer from the car. I'll invest in some wheel chocks to stop the trailer from rolling forwards when this happens.



Strapped down on the dyno ready to run, we didn't really achieve any indicative power figures, the slicks are too wide for the dyno and were rubbing slightly on a tie down point, and they just continued to spin no matter how hard it was strapped down. The tuner claimed he had never had to strap anything down this tight before in his time doing this. 800nm torque was recorded, and about 350rwhp at 5600rpm. It will spin to 7000 and make the most power there. AFR's were spot on, which was really the exercise of the day, to make sure everything was healthy to run.

"Dyno Queen"



And then finally off to a friends import workshop for a wheel alignment, I joked with him it was the toughest car to make it's way into his shop, didn't go down so well. That's a GTR behind the car



Off to the local track this Sunday for a private test day, no timing system - more just getting a feel for the car, going through the burnout procedure, probably do a launch and then slowly come upto speed and deploy the parachute to get a feel for it.

 

very cool, good luck!

 

Will do abit more of a write up later on

 

AWESOME!!! Look forward to an update.

 

Testing went well, the aim was just to get a feel for the car, and how it responded etc.

Track was very marginal, as soon as I put my foot into it the car just wanted to step sideways.

Have afew issues to sort through:

Electrical breaker tripped out after 4 laps up/down the strip. I think it is only a 40amp breaker, have to do some more research on this when I get home today.
Harness is too small - so I either need to loose some weight or purchase a bigger one I can get it on, but the adjustments are not accessible enough for my liking.

However even with these issues, I was happy with the day, I got to drive the car for the first time, and it went back on the trailer at the end of the day.

 

Finally got around to putting the videos together from the test day.


Due to my work commitments, I don't actually make a local race "meeting" until July 2015. I make afew of the off-street test nights, so I may organize to head to one of them. Thankfully, I make most of the meetings from July onwards.

 

Congrats! Looks like fun!

Doug