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when I put my headers on, I sure could have used more room at the back, I'm wondering if he can rock the engine forward and tighten the back header up before it hits the firewall

I was also wondering how much KR you a were having with that stock engine?

deano55 wrote:when I put my headers on, I sure could have used more room at the back, I'm wondering if he can rock the engine forward and tighten the back header up before it hits the firewall

Would be easy to test this theory while doing the puck mount.

A ratchet strap will help with that.

I think I had about 5° KR stock. Being that it was leaking k didn't want to run it hard to get a baseline.

Got the a lot done today, headers fit amazingly better than expected so far. I've mocked them in place but haven't tightened down the flanges. Dropped the rest of the exhaust so I think it will drive to the muffler shop with open headers. Not sure if Intense tuned out the second O2 sensor, I told them I had headers but didn't discuss the cat. I think I may have the muffler shop make me a straight pipe insert that can be bolted in place of the cat. I have a bunch of pictures I'll post when I get to my laptop.

I installed the rear header from below, no way it was fitting up top. We did discuss rolling the engine forward but we didn't need to. I have the car on ramps made from 3 thicknesses of 2x6's for reference of how high it was to achieve this.

Pictures!!! and a slight hangover from the ugly sweater party...

Giving her a good hose down and quick degrease before starting.



Then my dad and I removed the hood to give us a little more light, made sure to mark it well first.



This car has wiring for days... Hopefully I can figure out how to weave the spider web again.





Then a bunch of stuff happened and it looked like this.





Parts pile is growing.



Taped her up.



Getting back there to get that manifold off was, I'll say, less than fun. Why the factory doesnt put in lube on the *dang* spark plug boots blows my mind.



Then somehow this just fell out. Ok we had to lube and pry on the bushings but it was pretty easy. Thinking my dad will follow me down to the muffler shop with this in his truck. Should be LOUD



Then these started going on. Tried to get the back one from the top but it fit so much easier coming from the bottom. I also left the original spark plugs in place to help keep the engine sealed as much as possible.





They are only loosely in place but I cant see them not going together at this point. I think it's looking good. And smogging it is going to be a nightmare haha. Does not look stock.

It is gonna be LOUD!!!! So be aware of that, hahahaha.

Looks like you've done some good work.

That engine bay looks really clean. Now would be a good time to upgrade to some aluminum valve covers from an F-body.

NO, no more upgrades. Haha. I'm fighting the rear knock sensor right now. Think I have to pull the goofy cover off before it will come out. Pain in the ass sideways motor.

And doesn't something not fit from the F body valve covers?

F-body valve covers are for an L36, and thus I don't think they have room to clear the injectors.

Not 100% sure on that though.

I think that may be the difference now that I think about it, but the gaskets are the same. On the L32 it's completely different.

Well, I got both of the knock sensors removed, covered in black dynamat, painted the threads with Teflon thread sealant and reinstalled. Even managed to get the PITA rear heat shield thing back on. The mat ended up a bit higher on the trans than I wanted but I figure it's better than nothing.



Then I installed the transmission dip tube and bent it over a bit to clear the headers a bit better.



Reinstalled the rear header, crossover and front header, tightened the rear first and worked my way forward. We lubed up the joints of the crossover to help it slide around during fitment. I used a dead blow hammer to tap on the front joint as I tightened up the front header, that really helped to seat the tubes completely. Then I attempted to tighten the band clamps I found at vatozone but they were too big so I set them aside and put the factory U clamps on for the time being.

I bolted up my temporary exhaust system next, all 6" of it, haha. Should be an interesting drive to the muffler shop.



Then my Dad started tinkering with the removal tool rented from intense, that is a nice piece. I want to keep it just because it's nice but I really have no use for it after this. He/we removed the old pulley and pressed on the new stainless hub.



Then I set out to replace the lower intake manifold gasket while he went to a dinner. Got that all cleaned up, broke the end seals because the pins didn't quite align right. Plastered a thick bead of silicone on it and figured its worked on small block chevy's for eons so why not 3800's. Torqued all the bolts from the middle out to 11 ft lbs, taped the intake back up and got the alternator mount and new aluminum elbows in place.



Bored dog waiting for his parents.



Then we started to lay the wire harness back into place before calling it a night. Back to work tomorrow, car will have to wait until after 5.






Also, I somehow lost one of the o-ring/ gasket things that go in the injector connectors. Anyone have a parts car that wants to donate/ sell me a piece of silicone?

Last night I was able to to get the engine oil dip tube installed, cut my palm bending the A/C compressor heat shield. Maybe I should've been wearing those Mechanix gloves that I had on the workbench. Oh well nothing major anyhow. Then we got the O2 sensor tightened up and plugged in, one strategically placed zip tie seems to be holding the wires well off of the headers. plugged in the rear spark plug wires and laid them out of the way. mounted up the bracket that the coils are mounted to and finally placed the supercharger back in its home.







Then I spent the next while routing wires here and there. Anyone know what the weird connectors are that bolt to the engine and transmission that seem to go to nowhere? Is it just a ground or something? I'll have to take a picture of one of them. There is one on the trans and one on the front of the head by the coils. It's getting closer, looking more and more like a modern engine with wires going every which way. Certainly not as clean as it is without the wires.







Still looking for that injector connector seal. Don't know where that thing went.

Tonight we got the alternator bolted up, the EGR valve, whatever the other servo thing is on the front side of the intake, more of the wire loom plugged in, installed the new pulley and got both belts on. Drained the oil and installed the new filter, letting it drain overnight.

Installed the new computer bracket and got the tuned Intense computer plugged in. Also got the CAI installed. That was a bit of a PITA until I pulled the headlight so that we could see what we were doing. I finally got it shoved into a position that didn't distort the fender, it seems pretty happy now.

Got the throttle cables hooked back up as well. Still need to do the front plug wires, the last portion of the loom that goes down to the A/C compressor, install the lower radiator hose, fill it with coolant & water wetter, add the oil, reconnect the driver side wheel sensor wire, reinstall the coolant reservoir, and I'm sure there are a few more things.

*dang* this looked new before you even started, haha!

Nice work, Hopefully there's no leftovers!

You're almost done! Gotta post videos of the whine.

I'm hoping to get it started tonight, I'll try and get a startup video. Does this forum play nice with Youtube?

Yeah, just paste the link. Also the lifters may make some noise when you first start it so don't be alarmed.

I doubt I'll be able to hear them over the open exhaust haha.

Also, still looking for that missing injector connector seal. Amazing how a bright blue piece of rubber can just disappear. Ok, the air hose may have had something to do with it.

It's ALIVE!!!!!!!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ih1Fn3AO_aE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VP3L__MlmL0

and it sounds like a tractor?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9yHl24QynOM