Well, It's another month!
I've gotten some crazy Emails from people asking about Four
Banger. Some even asked if it was still running! I guess that got me
off my butt and forced me to update. LOL.
The volvo head is coming along SLOWLY. Like I said before, I'm
going to take my time on the conversion. It should be done by the end
of this year though.
The new Holset HX35 turbo is running great. I've turned the boost back
up to 22 psi and have gotten my fuel pressure under check. The entire
fuel system is still junk in my books though. I am bending the 1/2"
fuel line as I type this. I will be running an external fuel pump also.
On with the story.......
Road Trip!!!
I recently went on a 600 mile ROAD TRIP down to Ft. Lauderdale and
back! Four Banger performed perfectly. I drove 75 miles an hour for 4
hours straight at 3000 rpm and made it on less than a tank of gas. I am
pleased to report that she got 26.5 miles per gallon! Not bad for 3000
rpm huh? Not bad at all. I had no problems what-so ever durring my
trip.
She ran like a stock 4 cylinder. I even had the time to whoop up on an
unsuspecting newer style Firebird from about a 65 mph roll. hehe. That
dude was pissed.
I can't be happier. Well, maybe if Electromotive gave me a new Tec3
fuel injection system for free, then I'd be WAY happier. LOL
I can't believe that I built a better motor than Ford did. And
I used Junk Yard Parts!
Above is a shot of my new switch panel. It's made from aluminum and
it's polished with 2000 grit sand paper then buffed. It was about 25
degrees out this night. Awesome night for working on the car.
Here's a better pic of the panel....
My down pipe is completed and installed. Here are a couple of pictures
of my work of art. The ball and socket pieces came from Dr.Gas Exhaust.
And I used one 3 inch "J" bend from Summit Racing. Also note the O2
sensor bung on the very top welded in.
This pipe isn't as flat as the upper picture makes it look. Here you
can see the angle I had to put in to clear the firewall. This thing
took me a little while to create. I took some real pride in making this
pipe.
Here's a shot of my new 3 inch exhaust system. I used a passenger side
from a MAC kit with a Flow Path muffler. Let me tell ya, after
installing this exhaust and the new turbo, this motor hits the high
notes! Every shift is off of the factory 6250 rpm rev limiter! It has a
nice rumble too.
I did a sweet job on the exhaust. I bought a MIG welder from Lowes Home
Improvement and a bottle of argon. Here's a pic of how tight I got it
up under the car. If you look at the car from the side, you can hardly
see any of the 3" pipe. It took me a day of cutting pipe with a battery
powered reciprocating saw and half a bottle of argon. It came out
perfect.