Chevelle updates

[VintageMusclecar]

Nope, the 489 project has been on the shelf since right after the dyno testing was completed, that's when my fathers health went downhill. As the `Burb is my DD I wasn't comfortable pulling it out of service long enough to do the engine swap out of concern for potential tuning/computer issues.

W/O going into too much detail, the guy I bought all my TBI stuff from for the 489 install (oversized TBI, adjustable fuel pressure regulator, in-tank HV pump and custom burned PROM) suddenly developed a very <span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="text-decoration: underline">bad</span></span> reputation <span style="font-style: italic">right after</span> I'd bought everything from him (Shades of my experience with Desert Valley [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/rolleyes.gif[/img]).

As such, I've held off on the swap until such time as I would be able to spare the truck for a few weeks if necessary for de-bugging. I do have another TBI chip guy in mind should this one not run right, so at least there's that option.

*Stuff* like this is precisely why I love good old-fashioned carburetors and conventional distributors. Unfortunately, converting the truck from TBI to carbureted is a fairly involved job, so practicality is forcing me to at least attempt to make the TBI system work.

We shall see.

[VintageMusclecar]

Installation of an MSD #8739 2 step box:

The reason for the 2 step install was simple: the car is extremely quiet which makes hearing the engine RPM on the starting line basically impossible, esp. when the car in the other lane is running open headers. As such, consistently controlling launch rpm is damned near impossible. In an attempt to be able to launch the car consistently--and at a somewhat low rpm in an effort to reduce parts breakage, I decided to install and MSD #8739 2 step box to go along with my 6AL box.

The car was already equipped with a basic MSD 6AL unit which was mounted on the inner fender next to the battery both for convenience's sake and to help keep it somewhat less visible.



With the battery removed to make some room to work, the 2 step box was mounted next to the 6AL and the main power feed wire was ran straight to the battery junction post on the core support. Under normal operation, the 2 step uses the 2nd &quot;module&quot; which is the high rpm limit. When the 2 step is activated, it bypasses module 2 and energizes module 1, which is the low side. I chose to wire the 2 step by running power direct to the box and using a switch on the shifter handle to complete the ground circuit to activate the 2 step.



With everything back in place, the ground wire to the 2 step was routed through the engine bay above the passenger side inner fender, along the firewall and down the passenger side floorboard.





To activate the 2 step for the time being, I chose the classic Hurst t-handle which has a momentary contact switch built in. The wiring was ran down along the shifter handle and through the shifter grommet and under the car. One side of the wiring was grounded to the transmission crossmember and the other was attached to the ground wire to the 2 step box.



Note: I may change the wiring depending on how well it works as-is: MSD does show an alternate wiring schematic which uses a common 5 pole relay along with a clutch pedal mounted activation switch for the 2 step. The momentary contact button on the shifter handle activates the system while the clutch switch is energized, but the shifter button does not need to be held down as it does now. Once the system is activated and the clutch switch is tripped it de-activates the 2 step and reverts back to the high side chip.

Video of the 2 step-click the pic:



Hoping to get back to the track very soon.

Will the 3rd time be a charm? [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/rolleyes.gif[/img]

[VintageMusclecar]

Gonn'a try this again.

https://www.facebook.com/events/346419402361882/







Gates open @ 10:00, track opens at 11:00.

[scuncio]

Good luck!!

[earntaz]

Give er' hell Eric and good luck!! TAZ [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/burnout.gif[/img]

[mockingbird812]

Woohoo!!!

[VintageMusclecar]

Welp...2 steps forward, one step back. Again.

I've been waiting to mention that I've apparently found a little more power in the car recently. I was hoping today's trip to the track would substantiate that suspicion.

It did....sort'a...in a way.

The car's driving through the clutch again pretty badly--which means it definitely picked up power, but (as seems to be the norm for this damned thing) I can't fully quantify it on the timeslips...HOWEVER I CAN say this much...how many 4000+ lb cars do you know of that can pick up <span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="text-decoration: underline">TWENTY SIX</span></span> MPH on the back half with a slipping clutch??? (1st pass--picked up 23+ on the back half on the 2nd run--with the clutch still slipping like hell)

Check out the slips below (left lane # 105 on both runs):




Both passes were with stone cold tires--was paranoid about breaking the 12 bolt again so I didn't want the car to dead-hook. As it turns out, the clutch slipped badly enough that the car did dead-hook, but the 60' times were dismal. (For comparisons sake, the first time to the track last year it ran a 1.76' 60' time on a very soft launch and ran a 7.74 @ 90.2 mph)

I launched the car both times at 2500 rpm and it never even lifted the front end either time. I launched, rolled out a few feet and matted it, caught the shift light and grabbed the gears and the car rode the clutch until the top of 3rd when all of a sudden it grabbed and the front end hiked up. Both times when I grabbed 4th the front end came down but just at the top of the gear the clutch grabbed and the front end hiked up again.

I'll get pics &amp; video uploaded later, but there's really not much to see--just one rather embarrassing 13 second pass and a 12.25 pass.

So, it's smoked another clutch. At least it didn't $hit parts out on the track. [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/rolleyes.gif[/img]

Time for clutch #3...or a 400 Turbo (I'm rrrrrreeeeeeaaaaaaaaaalllllllllllllyyyyyyy getting tired of dicking with this damned manual trans setup).

More later.

[bbbenny]

Eric, Just my two cents, on your issue. Ninty percent of the cars that run a the strip . Are automatics. Eazyer on the drivetrain and more consistent times. I spend alot a time alot at alot of tracks and I see what guys are using. I run a turbo 400 with a automatic valve body. With a higher shift point, then stock. All I do is put the car in third gear, and put the pedal to the floor. Look what all the new COPO camaros come with from the factory? BBBenny

[earntaz]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: bbbenny</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Eric, Just my two cents, on your issue. Ninty percent of the cars that run a the strip . Are automatics. Eazyer on the drivetrain and more consistent times. I spend alot a time alot at alot of tracks and I see what guys are using. I run a turbo 400 with a automatic valve body. With a higher shift point, then stock. All I do is put the car in third gear, and put the pedal to the floor. Look what all the new COPO camaros come with from the factory? BBBenny</div></div>

Absolutely agree -- I've run turbo 350 and 400s ... and as indicated, much easier on the drivetrain. Or you could run a beefed glide -- two speeds ... fast and faster. TAZ

[VintageMusclecar]

Now that I've had a chance to sleep on this, I've decided I'm going to go ahead and put another clutch in it. If it takes another $hit, the car's getting an automatic for the time being until I put a &quot;mild&quot; engine in it just to drive...or I'm going to sell the car and build something that doesn't weigh two friggin' tons plus.