"My bird IS the word" (mybirdistheword)
01/29/2018 at 15:12 • Filed to: Engine Talk
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"My bird IS the word" (mybirdistheword)
01/29/2018 at 15:12 • Filed to: Engine Talk | 2
| 6 |
I didn’t make enough money to get taxed this year. So an ~$800 tax return is in the pipeline!
This is the only really nice picture of it together I have
Which means that the final eventuality has finally presented itself- I have saved enough money to get my engine rebuilt. This is going to involve some back-and-forth no doubt, but what it means is that the new goal is to at least be able to take the car around the block a few times this year. I still have an incredible amount of work to do, replacing fuel and brake lines, wiring a new choke, subframe connectors, and not to mention putting the whole thing back together. however, this spring is different. I have money saved, I have ~ 3 free days every week, and more importantly I won’t have anything really to hold me back from finishing.
While some discussion will take place about hopping up the engine, I have come to the realization that the accompanying stuff- recurving the distributor, tuning the carb, new torque converter, new plugs ect. almost certainly puts me over budget and destroys the timeline for an engine that should just be an LS anyway.
My thought is, if I start this process in february when I get my check, by the time they finish it I will have hopefully had enough nice weather to do the preliminary fuel line work ( and fixing my shifter) to get this thing installed. I also want to do the subframe connectors while the engine is out to make it easier. once it is back in, with the headers on, I should be at least able to get it down the road, giving me motivation to finish the rest of the stuff needed for inspection.
This way, the engine is done right, painted, and realistically shouldn’t need touched for several years or possibly decades, leaving me free to worry about other things and cars. I will also be able to move it into storage should I move when I graduate.
crowmolly
> My bird IS the word
01/29/2018 at 16:10 |
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I also want to do the subframe connectors while the engine is out to make it easier.
Doing bolt ons or weld ins?
Dunno if you’re even going to really need a choke if it’s going to be a warm weather driver. Congrats on the forward momentum!
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My bird IS the word
> crowmolly
01/29/2018 at 16:30 |
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Bolt ons. The Pro touring F body ones are able to do both, so I may bolt them on now and have them welded in later when I get the bodywork done.
The story with the choke is pretty funny. I thought they were either manual or electric, the trans am has a “hot air” choke that I never heard of. No manual, so I figured it must be electric. Bought the parts. Went to install them and made a tim allen noise. Found out the hot air is a PITA to replace anyway, so electric we go! I just don’t want to have to explain to take off the air cleaner every time I want to drive it.
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crowmolly
> My bird IS the word
01/29/2018 at 16:32 |
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Cool. Just know that if you weld ‘em up you should use solid body mounts.
JMO, but fuck the choke if you aren’t driving in really cold weather. I haven’t run one on a carbed engine in years. Might need to pedal it a bit on startup but not worth the hassle if you *really* don’t need it.
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My bird IS the word
> crowmolly
01/29/2018 at 16:38 |
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I gotta get the solid mounts anyway, the bolt in ones will oval and snap the bolts. Ive been messing around with the choke, the circuit is decently simple, it’s just a pain with the whole power while the engine is on thing. thats good to know though, I never really tried to mess with it before. I will have to bump that to the bottom of the list.
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crowmolly
> My bird IS the word
01/29/2018 at 16:41 |
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Wasn’t sure if you were going to throw the SFC’s on with the old hardware or not. Fair warning- and you may know this- but the subframe bolts, while large, are NO FUCKING TORIOUS for breaking the cage nuts free (inside the floor). Make sure you give whatever you can a good PB soak, and I’d go for an impact gun over a long ratchet. I swear breaking frame bolts free on an AFX car is butthole clenching.
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My bird IS the word
> crowmolly
01/29/2018 at 16:51 |
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Yeah, I soaked them last year a few times in prep. Have to order some more kroil for this summer. If I break the ones under the body I have to cut holes in the floor. Nothing would surprise me at this point, I haven’t had luck with any other bolt on this entire car.