As I'm pulling ALL the wiring, I'm wondering how much I actually need to have this thing running and doing its thing.
In other news, I pulled the oil pan and the engine looks tip top - still has the hatch marks in the cylinders, no sludge buildup and no signs of magical pixie glitter.
Changes incoming for the hillclimb car
New cooling system will be conventionally located.
The LeMon has joined the shop for its 3.8 liter transplant
Meanwhile, the hillclimb car gets prepped for a new rad and a tubular front bumper/splitter support.
A tight fit indeed. Some cutting will need to be done to get it properly situated, but I shouldn't have any issues with heat that's for sure! This is a Rouch Racing cup car radiator - with race experience no less.
Never to return. Needs a good power wash. The black is Ziebart treatment.
Is THAT what that E36 M3 is? My '80 had that all over the place.
yeah it's nasty. Hoping the power wash takes it off.
It fits! Actually we got it to fit 3 inches further back than this photo with a little finagling.
What flavor of blue/red coolant fittings do you like to use? Any tips and tricks?
I've had the best luck with Earls. I tried some no name ones and had a lousy time.
I actually did an AN tips video back in the day
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hdl9fpkx-xQ&t=1s
Good video - thanks for that. Those Earl's fittings look like the classic ones with the "cutter" as described by Carroll Smith. Definitely looks easy to work with.
My car had some fittings that look like Russell Performance. They're fairly wrecked, so I'll probably not reuse them.
Fittings add up fast, but peace of mind is worth a little expense.
LeMons bay is now fresh and clean and ready to show where the oil leak is coming from.
In reply to DaveEstey :
That is one advantage to white. It's either that or paint it black so you can't see the leaks.
The Hillclimb car got some attention tonight. The roll bent up the front brackets a bit, and I want to add support for a splitter and easier tow points, so out comes the sawzall, bender and welder.
Got my bends right on the first shot. Better buy a lottery ticket.
And then I decided that there was no reason to try to maintain the stock sheet metal bumper mounts at all. Out came the sawzall. I also made room for the radiator to angle way forward, which gives me ample room.
Grabbed a couple hours in the shop today and burned in the radiator mount.
Ended up laying it over at 34.7 degrees. She'll need some ducting, but that was planned already. Bumper frame going in tomorrow.
Radiator mount and top bumper mount done-done.
Front bumper/support/splitter mount started.
More welding today, and then some figuring about plumbing. More fittings ordered to make this work.
DaveEstey said:
MAKE THE NOISE!
That looks almost exactly like my Matco angle gauge!
It doesn't make the noise.
In reply to Knurled. :
This one is also silent. Not nearly as gratifying as having a beep, but still nice to see Zeroes.
I had some spare control arms that I wanted to freshen up and swap onto the car as a unit. Never done these bushings before. Don't want to do them again.
With the radiator mounted in the front now I can use the rear hatch as a viewing port rather than air ducting, which is nice.
My coolant system fittings should be delivered today so I can knock that project out tomorrow.