ultra_runner

Yeah - but I got his Erebuni front bumper to match my Erebuni side skirts. Now I just need a rear and I'm complete. Scott C.

Sorry to keep you guys hanging. Just I have some things at work that are creating 16-18 hour days for the past couple months. I have been working it piece meal when I can. So as you know, I took that damn dashboard out again. I hate that damn dashboard. I almost gave up on that damn dashboard. The tabs broke again and the upper trim near the windshield is cracked and breaking (on that damn dashboard). I actually have a good dashboard from a '98 S70. Much better construction and material than my damn '97 850 dashboard. Unfortunately, it would need to be heavily modified to fit the good S70 dash in place of my damn 850 dash. There will be a time and place when I replace the entire damn dashboard. 'nuff said. Last night I wrestled that damn dashboard back in. As mentioned, there were a few things I modified in the wires and cables inside that damn dash. I also mounted my Alpine Ipod interface box in a perfect location. Second, I installed the ashtray gauge pod custom made by Owned. Quality product there and sets right under my other three gauges. I got the "A" gauge pod all sorted out. Hey - my oil pressure is already 44 pounds!!! Here is where we stand. Everything is 95% wired up. Interior is pretty much done (again). Sorry to bore you guys will lame stuff like this. I promise there will be some exciting pics coming shortly. Scott C.

Growing up my father used to bring me to the modified races in the North East. Geoff Bodine ran modifieds back then and was always winning, but always cheating too. Back then it was mostly added weights to help the corning and gears. It starts at level and goes all the way up. You gotta think too that the racing mentality is win at all costs and their always thinking up something new and pushing the limit (of the rules). Scott C.

Wednesday night and its 1 am. I just got finished with a few hours under my dash installing the clutch master cylinder. I've been procrastinating on this for weeks if not months so I have I've made a personal breakthrough here. Had to get under the dash unbolt the brake master... then wedge the clutch master into position, then bolt the clutch master from under the dash and finally rebolt the brake master. Simple huh? I don't wish this task on anyone. My hands are torn and my back is killing me! No pictures as it would have only been me with my head up under the dash. Next step, finalize the wiring, etc. in the dash area and then getting the dash installed again (once and for all). Scott C.

Oh snap!

Ok - last weekend I pulled the dash again. As I said, I wanted to re-do some of the wiring and run more power into the cabin so never have to think about getting through the firewall again. Now I can run a fuse block inside the cabin and power things. First I ran three strands of 10 gauge through the harness assy and into the cabin. Conveniently a bit of the fuse block was already broken down in the corner and allowed me perfect space to drop down into the cabin. I then mounted a distribution block in a good location. The large 4 gauge runs to the trunk to power a future amp. The finished product. Don't worry - there is a plastic cover that goes over that distribution block. Also notice that I have a new battery try to turn the battery sideways. I will go with an Optima Red Top. More to come tomorrow. Scott C.

I changed plans on the gauges locations, stereo, etc. So, I want to re-wire everything correctly. Plus I need to loosen the master brake cylinder to get the clutch master installed. Much easier without the dash, etc. So - I should have everything back in a couple of days or so. Scott C.

Received my RK Intercooler today complete with hoses, etc. Can't wait for the install. Waffle maker not included. Scott C.

Maybe Chuck can enlighten us a tad here. If the sleeves are easily crackable (..is that a word..), what has AtSpeed done to their GT car blocks to hold 600HP? I think there was a thread deep in the bowels of the board about forged steel sleeves... Any enlightenment? Scott C.

Just a couple of teaser pics guys (and girls). Look for more parts inbound over the next few weeks. We're going to get this project finished!!! Scott C.

My father-in-law gave me 4 cases of Japanese beer!!! Maybe he wants me locked up for DUI or something!!! Scott C.

Damn - and I thought that was a AAA battery!!!

A shout out and a Merry Christmas to all the VS-ers that reads this. If Christmas isn't your thing, Seasons Greetings anyways! Scott C.

Schizzel man - they're charging you for that Penguin Linux???? Scott C.

Major updates all. After much waiting and anticipation, the bottom end of the engine got built today. Doug K hosted and facilitated the event - I made coffee runs and defrosted the refridgerator Anyhoo... here is how the day went. Venti Egg-nog Latte, extra hot. Tediously cleaning out all the bolt threads My what a clean crank you have! Crank set into the block Bottom end put together: Torquing down the block to gap the piston rings. Installing piston and rod assembly We sacrificed a goat over the block to ward off any evil rod spirits Alas - a nice clean bottom end. Stay tuned! Scott C.

Update - So, the imfamous Doug K just stopped by my house to pick up most of my engine parts (bolts, piping, oil pan, etc.). He also grabbed my Turbo which by way looks great all put together! So - Head should be complete next week. Doug is going to start the bottom end and should be ready for the head at that time. He say he may have the engine complete by Dec 1st. I will cart the M66 up to his place and we will assemble the clutch/trans/engine all together, wrestle it into the back of the wifes SUV and get it back to the shop. If I make it that far, its all about taking some of that PTO time and getting the thing into the car and all hooked up again. May be on the road by Christmas? Scott C.

Ok ok already.... Bottom end is finished. Crank is just getting a bit more polished up. Top end will be ready end-of-next-week~ish. Anyone recognize that bench??? Time to get busy! Scott C.

I drove two hours to the machine shop to check the progress on the head work. Things are moving... albiet slowly, but moving. On this project, it is Quality over Quantity. It's kind of hard getting good pictures of head ports with a crappy little camera but here it goes: So I guess you can figure out what angle this is from... at least it if from the intake side. Notice how the port has contoured all the way into the valve guides. We're opening that puppy up! Here is a closer view of one the contours. Now - the above two pictures are on the ports that have been ported and contoured. On cylinder 5 we have continued to port all the way around the backside of the valve stems. This will be more compressed air onto the back side of the valve when under boost. It looks a bit rough as it is still work in progress, but once smoothed out and polished... it will look pristine. This is a shot up the mock cylinder on the air flow machine of cylinder 5. Not all to sexy, but this is the view your piston gets all day... just a bit darker. Well, I have some other goodies to post but that will be for tomorrow. Calling it a day. Scott C.

This thread not be dead!!! The Project is still alive. I just needed to devote some time to other priorities that popped up, etc. However, I think it's time to start bringing thing together and get this sucka running. So, an update. I've got all the guages installed and wired up into the dash. I fixed a jeweled headlight assy after breaking it trying to figure out a projector project that went sour. Anyway, got those back in. But for the meaty stuff. I got some of my polished parts back today. WOW is all I can say. Here are some teaser pics. Headed to the machine shop tomorrow AM (2 hours away... one way) to check the status. Schedule said everything was to be finished today and going to inspect the work. May still be waiting for the custom grind cams to come back from So. Cal. If everything is ready to go, then I just need to figure how to get it out of hawk (...hope he takes food stamps). Then Doug K. is going to start bolting it together and that is when the fun really begins. Hope to pick up the new Civinco unit from Doug tomorrow and get that at least wired in while the dash is still "open". Anyway, hope to get this thread back alive and get this thing runnin'! Scott C.

Just an update for today. I got the S60R shifter cable assy installed and routed up to the trans. I had to modify the mounting on the floor panel and went through about 20 of them flimsy Dremel cutting wheels. CJ is going to help me make some custom length connectors back on the shifter assy... then this part is done! Bing will soon be filling that empty spot below the gauge panel I've also been figuring out the wiring, cables, etc. and getting the front of the car back on. Here are the pics from today. It's starting to look like a real car again!!! Psychologically I had to put the front end back on the car and put the drivers seat in. This get's me thinking that I'm almost at the end!!! Later! Scott C.

Just an update for today. I got the S60R shifter cable assy installed and routed up to the trans. I had to modify the mounting on the floor panel and went through about 20 of them flimsy Dremel cutting wheels. CJ is going to help me make some custom length connectors back on the shifter assy... then this part is done! Bing will soon be filling that empty spot below the gauge panel I've also been figuring out the wiring, cables, etc. and getting the front of the car back on. Here are the pics from today. It's starting to look like a real car again!!! Psychologically I had to put the front end back on the car and put the drivers seat in. This get's me thinking that I'm almost at the end!!! Later! Scott C.

Got some work done today but I messed up with the camera. Forgot to put the memory card in so the pics are in internal memory and I need to download on my wife's PC. Will post later. Ok - today I embarked on the wire harness conversion as written up by Hank_Scorpio. Pretty straight forward but I still get the jitters cutting into a perfectly good wire harness assy. A couple of items. That harness is an oil and dirt trap right behind the fan. So I had to clean out the whole assy as I hate even knowing there is dirt and crud in there. Check all your connectors and wires carefully. I found some that were darn near close to breaking so I pulled them apart, re-soldered the connectors and put new loom on everything. I replaced the red 4gauge wires that go to the alternator and starter. Rather replace them now than later. Did I mention dirt??? What the heck is this all about??? I hope these are the wires I was truly supposed to cut Here is a fuzzy - unsexy pic of the results. I got the harness all reinstalled to the engine bay. I also installed Slater's upport torque mount and the AutoMeter temp gauges in the single-DIN panel. There is a great firewall pass-thru on the passenger side and the time sensors cleared with no problems. Ciao - Scott C.

Ok - took half a day off from work... ate some Indian food... took a nap and then worked on the car. So, I got all the M66 slave cylinder assy, piping, etc. ordered today. Also picked up a new accel cable assy to replace the one I broke . Gave a ring to the machine shop and greased the skids ($$$) to get them moving on my parts. I must have called 8 numbers trying to get someone who can get me a custom Sachs setup. Anyone out there have any connections, PM me please! I tied up some items in the engine bay and figured where I was going to run all the gauge wires through the firewall, etc. I've decided to put the front of the car back on for now. I wanted to keep it off while we got the engine, trans, IC mounted, etc. but I figure I can work around most of it if I am careful. I got all my ATP parts figured out... almost. Word to the wise to anyone who gets a new turbo exhaust housing. Always check inside. I found some left over burrs from when the drilled and tapped the housing. That sucker would fall off and go right down the throat. I wish ATP would check things like this more carefully. This is what the GT35R looks like with the .82 A/R housing and ATP's Ultimate Internal Wastegate setup. Notice how much wider the entire unit is compared to stock... thus I will need a custom 3" downpipe to be fabbed. Here it is looking into that ATP UIWG assy. I wish I still had that 16T laying around to do a side by side comparison Got lots of work to do over a three day weekend. Stay tuned. Scott C.

OK - a day under the car and a few skinned knuckles. What a way to spend a Saturday. Well, let's get at it... got the QBM lower torque mount, front IPD sway and QBM end links installed today. First - out with the old: Now - let's do some comparisons here. First, take a look at the IPD Sway compared to the stock sway. A noticable difference! Note the thickness. And YES the urethane matches my paint job Now let's do a compare of the endlinks. This is probably going to kill me when I try to sell these VMS links later but.... for the betterment of the VS community. Below we have.... the stock endlink the VMS endlink and the QBM endlink No slander here but... SLATER for the WIN! While I had the front of the car jacked up (...plus me after a large coffee, a Krispy Kreme donut and 4 Red Bulls ), I pulled the control arms do that I could get the axles set into the M66. Seems to fit like a Latex Glove!!! Here is a pic of the front sway and endlinks installed: I also hacked out the old exhaust which will soon be up for sale to some new proud owner (teaser). Stock downpipe into a 2.5" pipe and into a Magnaflow CAT. Here is a pick of the whole exhaust including Stainless Magnaflow muffler. People have commented on the nice exhaust note from this setup. The buyer would just need a muffler shop to do two welds and you are GOLDEN Here are the components for the new exhaust. Starting from the right hand side: - the beginnings of a custom 3" downpipe - Magnaflow Stainless high-flow CAT - Magnaflow Stainless Resonator - HKS Stainless 120mm muffler All sections with have V-band flanges so that I can drop out components occasionally. And finally... I was going to keep this under my hat for the Davis meet. But since it is not running yet - I figured I would post what is soon to come!!! I figure it will take about a week for every COP in the south bay to remember that plate! EDIT: Now I have to make this project work, because I can't go back and change the plate to "Project 5" Tomorrow is another day. Scott C.

Yes - I am still alive and kicking! UPDATE: Still having issues getting my engine parts through the machine shop which is holding some things up. I may have to grease skids to get things... uh... "re-prioritized". Well, here are a couple pics of the GT35R that I will be using. I have some choice words for ATP for their lack of organization that has created some delays and then made me waste 90 minutes in my car yesteday. 'nuf said on that... but by Monday I will have a bunch of stuff ready for pickup from ATP including their Ultimate Internal Waste Gate. I will change that ex. housing to an .82 5-bolt to support the UIWG. Yes - that is a large KK Coffee sitting next to it!!! Here we have the just arrived in (as in yesterday) Brand New IPD front and rear sways along with Slater's QBM endlinks. Damn - Slater don't mess around with this stuff. Looks like they below on a Sherman Tank . I also picked up lower and upper mounts from QBM. I hope to get all of this installed today. If I can get the suspension stuff done today... I have 5 brand new AutoMeter guages that I will start installing. Will require punching another hole through the FW to get all the cables, etc. though. Next thread! Scott C.