8/7/07

LOTS of nothing. Waiting on yet more refinements from Vortech on the brick size and configuration. I can do NOTHING until I can get that component in the loop. I need to modify the AC dryer tubing, which will require removing that component and having it modified. Perhaps Roy and I can squeeze that in on Thursday coming along with mucho other stuff, whilst we wait for a revised brick layout from Todd. Interminable waiting. Make no mistake, the support from Todd and Vortech is extremely appreciated, but it is SO slow in coming. This can be no fun at all for Todd, either.

If I can get Gary or some other company in gear I'll get the fuel cell made. And there is that pesky heater core to handle, if only prophelactically. Daunting, nonetheless.

There is a LOT of fun being lost in the interminable time frames of these projects. I need more money, more focus, more help, more PUSH to get these wonderful cars DONE.

8/21/07

The mock-up brick arrived from Vortech yesterday. This consists of two necks and a piece of foam. It took very little time to arrange it as needed. Roy rotated the blower, we taped it all together, and trial fit the hood. GOOD. We then moved on to the radiator mounting, which as you recall we lowered about 3”, bring the lower valance within about 4” of the ground. TOO low. So we played with the mounting options, and raised the radiator lower support by 2.5”. I cut the core support at the left and right in a notched out fashion to permit the radiator side tanks to move forward about ½”. This puts the top rib on the tank about ¾” below the core support top rib, and allows for an easy restraint to be bolted there to hold the radiator.

I then cut the top of the core support in a half moon shape to allow access to the radiator cap. We then trial fit the condenser, and found we had not included the rubber mounting pads under it. That done, the condenser JUST clears the headlight frame ribs. I COULD trim those at bit if needed, but it looks good as-is.

We then noticed if we turned the trans cooler core vertical, putting the hoses out the bottom, we could gain more room for the intercooler mini-radiator on the left side. So now it is a matter of making brackets to hold the top of the radiator, the condenser, and the two coolers.

I will have to have the AC lines remade as previously noted. Jorge suggested that a thinner and more modern condenser might be available. I'll check into it, but the stock unit works fine. Unless a newer unit offers better performance, I'll just get a new stock condenser.

The brick interface to the injector hat will need some fabrication, probably to alter the neck of one or the other to fit the mating side. I'm going to email Todd some pix and get his opinion.

I continue to be dismayed and amazed at how INCREDIBLY tough this Vortech/427 install is. A Ford in a Ford!!!. Yikes!!!

9/11/07

Roy got the front end off the bird today including removing the fender well inner liners, to make room for installing the trans cooler and “brick” radiator. We also eliminated some wiring runs to clean up the areas on both sides at the front of the engine compartment.

I confirmed with Todd and Rob at Vortech that we can run the water pump horizontally for the intercooler. We MAY do that. There is also need for a puke tank, and I'm not sure the cylindrical one I used prior will fit or even have enough volume to be effective.

We are certainly cramming a lot of stuff into that compartment.

Todd also reaffirmed that I need to fabricate the adapter from the brick to the hat, but that he can have that adapter installed on the brick once we make it.

This project is taking SSSSOOOOOOOO long.

Roy has been wonderful, and we are closing in on it.

9/21/07

Roy and I did some work on the trans cooler and brick cooler mountings (mostly Roy). We're waiting for a final word from Vortech regarding a different size on the brick cooler.

Meanwhile, we clearanced the core support for the cooler reservoir, and relocated the power distribution box slightly to the rear to make room for the reservoir. I need Gary to weld me an aluminum bracket for the bottom.

9/28/07

The final word from Rob Anderson at Vortech is: no smaller coolers.

So Roy mounted the bottom side of the “brick” cooler using a clever bracket system.

Roy had asked on the phone if the K&N filter was too big. I told him it was the one we measured and ordered. It DOES look HUGE. I'll need to open the fender well a little more, and look carefully behind the bumper system. I have some 4” sleeve material and should it all fit, I can fab up the mounting plate and sleeve fairly easily using steel materials. What I CANNOT do is weld up the aluminum chingadaris needed to adapt the brick to the hat. Both pieces are aluminum, and I'm useless on that right now. I can cut the pieces up, make a mock up from paper, and like that.

11/11/07

About two weeks ago I took the Procharger injector hat and the Vortech brick mockup piece to Jamie at Fabtech. He said it was a two-hour job to adapt them using a 3.5” piece of round stick, but off at 16 degrees per my template. He promised it for a few days later, and it is now two weeks later.

This is the HORROR of the hobby-interminable waiting for people to get around to the work.

I did manage to get Rich Manchen, former local welder and race car builder, to come look at the fuel tank for the Condor. He will be available in two weeks.

11/22/07

FabTech was busy with the Mosler supercar for the LA Auto Show, but did finally manage to get to my piece after about 10 days. Turns out it did not fit, not their fault. So I re-measured, changed the angle, and gave it back to have them do it again. It has now been over a week. So another two-week deal for a two hour job, and another $100 or so.

Rich Manchen was supposed to have started my work this week. As today is Thanksgiving, I will not call him now, rather tomorrow, and see how his schedule is looking.

12/16/07

After waiting nearly 4 weeks for FabTech to redo the hat to brick interface, leaving many messages, going by to find no one there, I finally got a call from Jamie. I told him not to bother, that I would get someone to do it.

I came over and he had done it, claiming he had it done 10 days prior but couldn't find me. Hmmm, what became of all my calls and messages?

So another $75, and I was out the door.

I received an email from a fellow Rodfather named John Schneider, touting an out of work fabricator who is local.

I called the fellow immediately, and all looks good.

I had two meetings with Jay Dykes (Papa-J), got the Condor over to him Thursday, and he has as of today, Sunday, done about half the fuel cell fabrication, is working on clearancing on the righr fenderwell area for the Vortech inlet, and is altering the Procharger hat inlet 90 degrees to allow the brick to move about 1.5” closer to the engine centerline, eliminating the difficult S-bend we were going to have to make to mate the blower outlet to the brick. That little observation on his part completely validated going to him. He can fabricate, where Roy and I could not, so there are numerous options available to his thinking, exactly what I need right now.

All is not great at QMP. The 348 Impala motor is at about 6 months and not done, and I need some clarification from them as to when and how long the 427 Condor motor will take once I hand it to them. I will be calling another engine builder/dyno shop in Valencia tomorrow to start getting some backup plans in place.

12/24/07

I seemingly have smoothed all at QMP, and Mike promises that if I bring him the 427 after Xmas, he should have it off the dyno within two weeks. Meanwhile, Jay is working along, have spent $2300 of my money, and we're working on week two now. I see easily that much again, and that's just to the point of getting the engine out. We have the heater core to remove through the firewall, engine bay detailing to do, and some reservoirs/brackets to be improved or replaced.

12/28/07

Jay Dykes has essentially completed the blower mounting adjustments, corrected several little things, has nearly completed the fuel tank, and will be pulling the engine out next week, of not sooner. Jay is on his way over right now to pick up the Vortech brick body to weld up our modified transition pieces. Todd at Vortech was to do this, but this will be WAY faster, and allow us to make any adjustments if needed.