[Kopfjaeger]

Swapped out the 160 thermostat for a 180. Since I don’t think she is going to have an issue cooling. I guess we’ll see in the summer. Dropped the fluid in the LGD700 to fix an annoying drip at the drain plug. That Monolec stuff has some viscosity when it’s cold! Replaced the leaky fuel filter. Ran the engine for about 30 minutes, no leaks. Running pretty rich. Can’t wait to get the exhaust on, she is obnoxiously loud.

Speaking of which, some exhaust part came in today. Went with Borla Pro XS mufflers. The shop is building the front half, 3” with H pipe, and I’m getting mandrel bent tail pipes, 2.5”. Stainless from the headers back. V bands at the collectors and behind the mufflers.

Joe

 

[Kopfjaeger]

And now all the parts are here, except for the stainless turn downs. The exit will be behind the rear wheel, so these need to be cut. They look phenomenal!

Joe

 

[Kopfjaeger]

One step forward, two steps back…. Installed my drive UMI shaft loop. Drilled 4 - 3/8nholes in my brand new floor and brace. It won’t allow me to use my 4” drive shaft! I was hoping to be able to use a 3.5” diameter drive shaft but even then, clearance will be tight. It’s either shim the loop to gain more clearance or sell the loop and weld up the 4 holes in my floor.

🤬🤬
Joe

 

[LevonH]

Or add 2 small pieces to the bottom of the loop???

 

[Humberd]

^^^^^ Yes , cut the bottom of the loop off and add new material, maybe 1” or 1 1/2 “ each side ?

 

[weidhopper]

I would just space the loop off the floor with some steel or aluminum plate to get what you need.

 

[Kopfjaeger]

And now we have brakes! Put in longer rear caliper hoses and bled the system. A buddy had a vacuum bleeder, it worked very well! Minimal mess.

My converted ammeter was not reading volts. Seems I had a ground where I should not have. Works like a charm now.

A buddy, and forum member, made me a bitchin set of aluminum shims for my UMI drive shaft loop. Thanks SFD! Now my loop is installed and my drive shaft is happy.

Ordering a new driveshaft tomorrow, this 4” is a monster and it’s .75 of an inch too short. I’m thinking 3.5” and aluminum. She is 59+ inches long so I could shave weight and pick up more drive shaft RPM’s to raise my critical speed.

Exhaust and alignment in 9 days! I can’t wait!!

Joe

 

[Humberd]

Nice job on the shims 👍

 

[Kopfjaeger]

Huge day! almost. 7 years to the day that this original SS 396 “roller” arrived, she is now moving under her own power! Honestly, some days it felt this day would never come, but here we are! It may have only been 5 feet but she did it, and she stops too!

I measured for her new drive shaft, 56.75 inches. That’s pretty damn long….. My drive line angles are actually pretty good. Trans is 2.7* down, pinion is 2.1* (yoke pointing up). Accounting for movement under acceleration, I think I’m good.

Both e-fans are operating. I think I’ll be putting the 160* Stant Super Stat Back in. A 45* day and she was holding at 192*. A 90* day and I’d be in trouble.

Joe

 

[MFortie]

Congrats Joe! Momentous day indeed!

 

[Kopfjaeger]

Got a few more things done today. My exhaust guy blew me off a week and a half ago. Said he was too busy, so I’m in a holding pattern with that. Ordered my drive shaft. I went with Mark Williams. I did a ton of research but still had questions. I called Denny’s but the voicemail said that due to staffing issues, there was no one to talk to. I emailed Mark Williams and all my questions were answered. He suggested Chromoly over aluminum, for a few reasons. He figured critical speed, asked me my Hp, max RPM, and how I’d be using it. He recommended a 3.5” driveshaft. Since I already had the slip yoke, a forged Sonnax, he explained how to measure. She’s 56.75 long and has 1350 U-joints. Way lighter than the 4” that was .75 too short. Fits better in my drive shaft loop too! I was able to step down to the 3/8 shims.
Oh, swapped out the tail shaft seal as well. Thanks Jody!
I have a slight rear brake line leak, at the brass splitter above the differential. Could be the brass block, since I made new lines out of NiCop. Still screwing with that.

Joe