So cool to see another MCM fan on this forum 
Yes, those guys are great to watch!
So as far as the car goes, it's been about 80 miles so far. Changed the oil at about 50, and glad to report no particles in the oil. Still running it on 30 conventional;any recommendations as to when I should switch to multi-weight, or synth blend even? Intake is still a bit loud, so I guess that's just how it is. I'm also hitting around 0.75 bar when warmed up now. I should be able to control it better now that my boost control components have arrived in the mail. I will just need to get some tubing and barbed fittings. Finally got my oil temp gauge wired and I think it's junk; it read nothing initially, now 90 Celsius just sitting there, and pegs the gauge when after even a light drive. I'm checking the wiring, and if it's good I'm replacing the sender and gauge.
I drove it on a local twisty road so I could get some multiple hard throttle sessions in, and I realized the temperature climbs near the red and took a bit to come down after the spirited session ended. My engine bay layout right now isn't conducive to a larger radiator, so I need to see about either re-arranging some of the components or getting a lower temperature thermostat, although I'm leaning towards the latter right now. It will at least give me time to changed the coolant out along with the old oil contamination.
Finally, I am coming to terms with some design flaws both from me and the car itself. The first is my intake layout; it's very cramped. The routing of the core and charge pipes forced me to mount my air filter in back, close to the exhaust and firewall, so that can't be good for intake temps either. If I'm going to solve the space issue, then I'll have to redesign and relocate the entire charge system, which means a different cooler core with same-side pipe connections. This will solve the issues of the air filter, as I can then use the TD airbox I have; the charge pipe length, since it would be mounted in the driver side of the bay over the transmission; the cooler pump location, as the mounting for the pump right now isn't in the absolute bottom of the system right now; even the cooling concern, as it would be an excuse to delete the remote coolant reservoir and get a higher-flowing aluminum radiator with a side-fill tank, mounting the cooler core in some of the area where the stock reservoir sits.
Second concern is with the stock chassis. It turns out that bending the K bar I have wont' work for clearing the 02A diff housing, so I'll have to get a Euro Sport lower tie bar instead, which I have done research on and have photographic evidence of it clearing the larger transmission's case. I also learned during this research that the A1 chassis is prone to cracking it's A-arm frame horns at their spot welds to the body as the vehicle ages, so such a lower suspension upgrade along with an upper tie bar is a NECESSITY now, especially since my drivetrain is heavier than stock and my plans for lowering it along with stiffer bushings puts the towers and horns under greater stress. This is yet another reason for modifying the intake tract, as the current hoses get in the way of commonly available upper strut bars; my mounting of the fuel filter onto the top of the passenger strut tower does me no help either. It might also be a good Idea to take the car and get additional welding done to the frame to reinforce the horns further.
The final problem is, as can be expected, time and money. All these reconstructions and reinforcements come with a price tag not very easily met going into the holidays. Driving around on a modified engine and stock suspension is putting greater stress on the chassis on these rough Virginia back roads. Couple that with the wheel/tire and suspension/brake parts still needing to be purchased, that leaves a tall order that I cannot fill right now. That doesn't mean I'm selling it, but it does mean I'm going to have to limit my break-in drives until at least getting the chassis parts. I'll probably even end up tarping it for the season (with a bi-monthly drive to keep it from getting lot rot) and come back to it in March with the money and parts to finish it up right. I've put too much time and money into this thing to let it all go up because I decided to rush it.
ADD version: Ideas on when to change to other oil, cooling ideas, anyone got used Euro Sport tie bars, gonna park her for the winter. That's it right now. At least my friends are impressed by it, and my friend Travis who welded my rear mount and is an experienced car modifier (read: he breaks cars
) said that it he "didn't think it would be this fast", and it's only at 0.75 bar! Wait until March!
Topic: Building AAZ motor; meet Harley (Read 68123 times)
