I’m glad you have so much prior LS swap experience under your belt from which to judge the design and fitment of the Hooker Blackheart system parts against kwhizz. You noticed some of the design details I invested considerable effort and time on to provide them to the user, which is great. Once I set my design goals for a specific application, there’s not many issues that come up that are a match for my determination to overcome them...I’m a stubborn SOB.

 

Got the transmission cooling lines routed and installed, also the O2 sensors installed and wired.... and another improvement we wanted to do was install a cable shifter from the column to the trans..... when originally built I put a Lokar rod assy in..... but the problem there was that when accelerating sometimes with the engine movement it would downshift the trans..... I bought the Lokar cable column kit....... but it's needs modifications to actually work with the 4L70 trans..... the cable mount bracket on the trans hits the bump out on the trans pan but you just need to cut about 2" of the bracket away ..... no problem...... The column mount as designed just won't work.... so I fabricated a a little pivot mount bracket to suit and welded it in position on the frame.....Simple but a PIA to remove the inner fender panel to have access to get at it for welding...... All done now and it works perfectly.....

 

Moving along...... Got the new A/C lines installed.... Then I had the "PLEASURE" of installing the Holley stainless exhaust system..... Took about 45 minutes, what a work of art..... So Impressed with everything purchased from Holley...... Again, Really nice to get what you pay for where everything actually fits and works as Designed....

 

I absolutely LOVE when parts actually fit as they should!
Always a promise, but rarely a reality!

 

I’m really glad to see it all come together for you Ken...and quickly.

 

Got the Modules mounted and out of the way...... The mountain of wires are slowly disappearing......

 

Hey Ken,

What is the billet block in the heater hose lines?

Andrew

 

The stock GM setup has the coolant flow continually running thru the heater core with the return line providing flow over the backside of the thermostat so it knows what the temp of the engine is..... with the Vintage air A/C in the car and the heater is off it shuts off the flow and the coolant isn't allowed to flow back across the heat sensing side of the thermostat ....... The block is a by-pass that allows that function to continue as per factory design........it still works without the block installed but it is thru convection rather than coolant flow as factory

 

Is this block available somewhere or did you make it?

Andrew

 

LS Swap Heater Bypass Block - 3/4" and 5/8" Ports – LOJ Conversions (lojkits.com)

 

Thanks!

 

I always order them with 5/8" ports and use a reducer hose coming out of the 3/4" fitting on the engine.....the Vintage Air valve has only 5/8" ports so it makes it neater and easier.......

Ken

 

Amazing progress in just a few weeks !
I'll be watching closely as I hope to get started on my
67 this spring.

Ken

 

Great build.....nice and clean.

One Thousand 's!!

KW

 

Been a while since a update...... Got everything hooked up and wired in the engine compartment....... Next we have to pull the Dash out of the car for the Dakota Digital Gage conversion and adding the modules.....Still waiting for the Hydra-Boost system to arrive for completion........ The wiring in the Engine compartment has mostly been cleaned up enough to be presentable without cutting up the GM harness.......Here are some new pictures......

 

The part I have been putting off is now here...... Time to get this mess cleaned up.... The good thing is with the Dakota Digital stuff going in 75% of the wires you see will be non functional........

 

Update....... Pretty much finished except for the Hydra-Boost system which hopefully will be here next week......... Got the wiring under the dash under control.... LOL.... The steering column cable shifter is adjusted and works perfectly..... Gas Pedal installed and hooked up....Under hood wiring all cleaned up.....One of the big surprises is the new Dakota digital features now available is the programming of the fan controller module using a Blue Tooth app.......So easy and simple..... one of the past concerns with these modules is having access to them for changing the settings....... Not required anymore.... Bury it in the dash with no concerns for access...... Great Job Dakota !!!!!!Got the dash installed and the new gauges .....Too Simple.....the Neutral Safety switch is now controlled by the Dakota gear position indicator....... Hit the key and everything works as it should..... Didn't want to start the engine yet as the power steering pump is not hooked up yet and don't want to ruin it......

 

Super slick!

Andrew

 

Wait until you get a set of the new HDX gauges, they also have a Bluetooth ap. More buttons and ***** than this old man knows how to push, but I was finally able to figure it out.....lol.......pretty slick..

T,

 

Done..... Just waiting for the Hydra-Boost now !!!!