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Couple updates.. regarding the "upgrade" to the 2.25"-thick-core Griffin rad, the single 2700cfm 16" fan simply didn't have the pulling power to pull air thru the 3" intercooler in front of it, then also thru the rad and have enough velocity thru the rad fins to cool the coolant (not cooling below 230*F on even on highway-speed pulls). Also, with where my hotside pipe from the passenger side exhaust manifold looped forward and down in front of the waterpump, there wasn't enough room to locate a 2nd fan, as the fan motor would interfere with the hotside pipe.
I had to resort back to the previous thinner rad and run dual 1750cfm fans.. which seems to keep the engine running consistently cool at ~185-190*F after boosty pulls to quick stops on the street. Idling it was holding about 175*F.
To get maximum clearance of passenger side fan to the hotside pipe, I reverse mounted the fan from the inside of the shroud, and clearance cut out the plastic ring between the mounting tabs, to allow airflow between the mounting tabs. The pictures will make it make more sense..
Also picked up my new turbo on Dec 24.. merry xmas to me!! I also got a 800hp Mcleod twin plate RST clutch, a bigger 46mm Precision wastegate, and a turbo blanket. The turbo magically dropped right into the piping I had fabricated around the TC76, so no T4 flange or downpipe vband flange mods were needed. Since the outer diameter of the turbine housing is bigger and closer to the hood, I got the turbo blanket. Finally, the all-important turbo stats are: PTE 7675 CAE CHRA 0.96 A/R.. oi what a mouthful. Translation: billed compressor wheel, ceramic bb center section, and a ceramic coated turbine housing. This thing is gonna be silly.
Install is complete. Ended up being a direct bolt-in on the turbine side which was super awesome, but I did have to make a 3" u-pipe connecting the 3" compressor housing to the intercooler (ignore the temporary gross-looking blue silicone couplers!) where the previous Turbonectics TC76 had a 2.5" compressor outlet, 2.5" u-pipe, and step-up coupler to 3" intercooler inlet.
Started it up and with the BB turbo (with factory Precision oil restricor) the engine was giving 55psi cold oil pressure, 45psi warm, and almost 90psi when revving the engine.. hooray!
"I'm going to see how well the current wastegate manages low boost at higher rpm's before I start dismantling hotside piping just to modify wastegate tubing/flanges".. is what I should say.
But realistically.. when am I ever going to be in said "high rpm low boost" scenario?!? That would just be silly.
Well the car has full insurance and plates on it for the first time since.. 2006! I daily drove it for about a full week after putting plates on it.
It passed all the required tests:
- drivethru test
- grocery-getting test
- "four spare tires in the trunk" test
- idling and other car guys think "just got a tree-fitty in it" test
- 3rd and 4th gear "highway passing power" test
- "cops drive by it without a second glance or suspicion" test
But then.. the Aeromotive 340 fuel pump fails and leaves me stranded. Need to pull the tank and see if it's the in-tank pump ground or power wiring that's failed, or the pump itself that failed. Either way I have two Walbro 255's on the way so this doesn't happen again. At least the tow truck driver was a cool old timer with a ton of musclecar stories, and was respectful/careful with the car and good with the truck boom..
Bummer dude! At least it was somting relatively minor! Any fear of lean damage to the engine? Glad you had a good/respectful Tow. I had a grease monkey hook my Nova once and he ripped off the driver's mirror while reaching in the window to hurk on the steering wheel! Insult to injury
Good luck getting everything fixed and back on the road soon!
Yea at least I have the extra room on fuel pump bracket for the 2nd pump so no extra fab work is needed, just unbolt current and re-bolt in new ones.
I haven't put the Mcleod yet, waiting on Tremec F-body Magnum to be released then I'm going to pull the whole engine/trans install clutch at that time, as well as fix the porous old weld on the front of the oil pan that is slowly wicking oil and driving me nuts.
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