Here are some pics of the tips installed. They finally made it on the car after being in the closet for over a year (along with all my audio equipment) but at least its getting done!
Rob D.
[This message has been edited by chester (edited 08-28-2003).]
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02:47 PM
chester Member
Posts: 4063 From: State of insanity...moved in and comfortably numb... Registered: Jun 2001
One thing that I forgot to mention is that I ended up having one hell of an oil leak. Upon inspection I found that I forgot to torque the front valve cover down completely. Figures, it would be the FRONT valve cover! I have to say that the two piece valve covers made my life a walk in the park. I can get the rear valve cover off to get to the valve train in less then 3 minutes! Worked very well and I say it's well worth the effort to find a set if your building a SBC Fiero!
Rob D.
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383 V8 Finally Running! 2.5" Drop 11" Brakes 17" Revolutions RCC Coilover Suspension Updated June 29 '03 www.dirtyratracing.org
A mechanic can't get your car on a lift, but you can get it on a trailer? I don't understand
Matt
The joys of a tilt back trailer. 8 degree load angle. With the nose off it's no problem, with the nose on I'll have to board it to get it on the trailer.
Rob D.
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05:59 PM
chester Member
Posts: 4063 From: State of insanity...moved in and comfortably numb... Registered: Jun 2001
it increases drag by not being areodynamically correct with the body lines of the car?
I persoanlyl dont like the wing either but then agian, im not you and your not me so do what you think looks good
You mean Aerodynamically correct don't you?
It's funny that most either like it a lot or don't like it at all. I personally like it alot (obviously, its on the car) and like you said, go with what I like. For those of you who can't appreciate the look or the function, think of it as bait to those that pull up and think its all show/no go...
Seems like some of you are "Stuck in the 80's" hehehehe...
Rob D.
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383 V8 Finally Running! 2.5" Drop 11" Brakes 17" Revolutions RCC Coilover Suspension Updated June 29 '03 www.dirtyratracing.org
[This message has been edited by chester (edited 08-29-2003).]
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06:48 AM
mrfixit58 Member
Posts: 3330 From: Seffner, Fl, USA Registered: Jul 99
Thanks for the update Chester, looks like the Rat will see some street action before the summer is out.
Oh man, I can't wait to stop by your place next spring.
Hopefully will get a lot of street action before winter. Looks like we're heading to Kentucky soon. If you want to go thru Frankfort, your more then welcome to stop by!
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12:43 PM
Sep 23rd, 2003
Paul Randall Member
Posts: 86 From: Ft. Thomas KY Registered: May 2002
This may be late, but if traveling through Northern KY I would love to see the car.
The cars at Archies. I'll be traveling back thru Louisville. I'm moving to Frankfort. If I'm not traveling close, your more then welcome to stop by sometime once I get settled in.
Rob D.
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Big BAD V8! Choptop in progress! 2.5" Drop 11" Brakes 17" Revolutions RCC Coilover Suspension Updated June 29 '03 www.dirtyratracing.org
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04:31 PM
Nov 13th, 2003
vwaltdog Member
Posts: 418 From: Tewksbury, MA Registered: Nov 2002
Well, I got the car back from Archie but since I'm working now I don't have the time I used to to play around. I don't know if you saw the pics of the car since the chop. Here you go...
How's your car running?
Rob D.
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06:16 AM
chester Member
Posts: 4063 From: State of insanity...moved in and comfortably numb... Registered: Jun 2001
Fudge..... I saw this thread pop up & thought Rob's back! What's Up!
Hey Rob, what's up...... you can't be working so hard that you don't have time for us.
Archie
Yeah, working sucks, takes all my time now...Haven't done much with the car. I'm in the middle of installing garage doors for the winter. I took the car for a short ride and have to say that all eyes were on us. A lot of people can't figure out what kind of car it is. I have to have the two piece valve covers modified because they STILL leak! I'm going to bring the tops to a machine shop and have them machine a groove into them so I can o-ring the tops.
Here's a shot with the nose hanging on it...
Rob D.
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The Dirty Rat Chopped, dropped and just plain NASTY! 2.5" Drop 11" Brakes 17" Revolutions RCC Coilover Suspension Updated June 29 '03 www.dirtyratracing.org
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06:21 AM
1986GTV8 Member
Posts: 1259 From: Orlando,FL,USA Registered: Mar 2002
I thought the headroom would be greatly diminished with the chop but it is still fine! Boy, what a rush riding in this beast! I can't wait to drive it! I am thinking about chopping my blue gt but have to wait until I get everything else done to it first...
------------------ Elvira www.dirtyratracing.org Blue 87GT 5sp (TruBlu) Black 86GT 5sp (The Dirty Rat) 84 Indy-19k&300HP SD4! Maroon 88 T-top Formula (1988-2003 RIP)
Ah HA!! And you use to give me crap about not making progress on mine? LOL. Guess shoes on the other foot now. Kick a$$ car man. Hey elvira sent ya another PM. HIOSILVER
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10:04 AM
PFF
System Bot
Fiero5 Member
Posts: 8882 From: Arecibo, PR Registered: Jun 2000
Unless you plan on shaving the molding, I think you should have waiting for songman and purchased his design of that nose.
Otherwise, like the scoops, chop looks decent, engine is badass..
Yeah, I know - too bad that Songman didn't have any plans on a F355 nose when I purchased the one I have. I've had it for a few years now...but I do have a few ideas.
Thanks...
Rob D.
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12:50 PM
Philphine Member
Posts: 6136 From: louisville,ky. usa Registered: Feb 2000
I'm running a Comp Cams Xtreme Energy Cam XS274S-10. I have the specs on it kicking around if your interested...
Rob D.
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The Dirty Rat Chopped, dropped and just plain NASTY! 2.5" Drop 11" Brakes 17" Revolutions RCC Coilover Suspension Updated June 29 '03 www.dirtyratracing.org
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06:54 PM
avengador1 Member
Posts: 35468 From: Orlando, Florida Registered: Oct 2001
Hey Rob, your car is certainly looking pretty exotic nowadays. It's no wonder people are scratching their heads trying to figure out what it is. Now if you could only finish getting it painted. Didn't Archie have painting facilities there? Or were you in a hurry to get it back?
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07:08 PM
chester Member
Posts: 4063 From: State of insanity...moved in and comfortably numb... Registered: Jun 2001
Hey Rob, your car is certainly looking pretty exotic nowadays. It's no wonder people are scratching their heads trying to figure out what it is. Now if you could only finish getting it painted. Didn't Archie have painting facilities there? Or were you in a hurry to get it back?
Thanks for the compliment! I still have some body mods to finish before paint.
Rob D.
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07:13 PM
Dec 10th, 2003
chester Member
Posts: 4063 From: State of insanity...moved in and comfortably numb... Registered: Jun 2001
Well, here's a little update on the car. I finally got the valve covers to seal (about damn time) and am ready to replace the harmonic balancer. That will get all my engine issues resolved except for the baseline tuning. I've finally recovered from the expenses of moving and have been gathering the rest of my parts for the interior. As some of you know from DKOV's thread, I received my carbon/kevlar headliner today. Very nice piece. I also purchased CSI's temp gauge/controller. Ever since the conversion I haven't been able to get my cooling fan to kick on automatically. Temp gauge works but the fan just refused to cooperate....so I decided to get CSI's temp gauge/controller. It allows you to set the fan turn-on to whatever temp you would like by the twist of a knob. Pretty slick. I'm moving the volt and oil pressure gauge along with the temp gauge and air/fuel mixture gauge to the driver side pillar. (yup, 4 gauges in all) My aux gauge cluster and pod (the red digital one, grey pod with grey marble faceplate plug and play) will be up for sale for $150 shipped if anyone’s interested. It will be replaced whit an Alpine 6.5 inch widescreen LCD panel and Kenwood center speaker (once I get the stuff back form the DA in New Hampshire) I'm waiting on the rest of the gauges and gauge pods to get here before I tear the interior apart. I also purchased the first piece to my cold air intake, an ATI procharger hat in polished aluminum. I'm hoping to change the harmonic balancer this weekend and make some headway on the interior the following weekend. That's all for now. Here are some pics of the parts.
Enjoy and thanks for following my build.
Rob D.
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The Dirty Rat Chopped, dropped and just plain NASTY! 383 Stroker MPFI with NOS 2.5" Drop 11" Brakes 17" Revolutions RCC Coilover Suspension Updated June 29 '03 www.dirtyratracing.org
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07:22 PM
LS1swap Member
Posts: 1181 From: McHenry,IL.USA Registered: Jan 2001
I love the headliner and you are going to love the CSI temp gauge / controllers. That is what I use to control my fan. I have one for the oil temp as well. It is nice because if it a little hot out you can have the fans turn on early, but if it is cold you can have them turn on late. With a push of a button. Haven't figured out what to have the oil temp control yet but it is nice just to have the digital gauge for it.
------------------ LS1 v8 T-Top 87 GT
http://www.acxunlimited.com/ls1swap.htm
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07:45 PM
LS1swap Member
Posts: 1181 From: McHenry,IL.USA Registered: Jan 2001
It nice to get close to the end of a long project isn't. I remember how long mine took and the day's when it was too cold, damp, or I just didn't want to look at the thing LOL. Then there are always the neigh sayers. I had allot of friends and coworkers tell me I ruined my car and would never have it done. I myself have to pop the trunk now and then just to see that it is real LOL. It will all be worth it when you take it to your first show. Congrats on the car. Looks and sounds great!
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08:02 PM
chester Member
Posts: 4063 From: State of insanity...moved in and comfortably numb... Registered: Jun 2001
It nice to get close to the end of a long project isn't. I remember how long mine took and the day's when it was too cold, damp, or I just didn't want to look at the thing LOL. Then there are always the neigh sayers. I had allot of friends and coworkers tell me I ruined my car and would never have it done. I myself have to pop the trunk now and then just to see that it is real LOL. It will all be worth it when you take it to your first show. Congrats on the car. Looks and sounds great!
Yeah, all I have is a couple more years to go.. It is nice to see some things come to completion. But honestly, I don't think it will ever be "Done". It was cool when I took it to the last show I attended in Marshfield Mass. It’s a typical all muscle car show that we had a Fiero class added to for 3 years in a row. The prior two years we had Fieros what had some body mods but no engine swaps. This year, when they saw me and Boomtastic off load our cars from the trailers and Kaz pull up in his sweet GT, we had crowds gather during the whole show. We had 3 Fieros with V8's that show. It's an awesome feeling to see others appreciate the blood, sweat and tears that you put in your car. They also appreciated the 100+ feet of rubber we left during our departing smoke show!
I know you can relate as you have a sweet ride as well. The look on peoples faces when they see a V8 in the back is priceless. Especially when they see the bottle as well..hehehe.
Thanks for the compliments.
Rob D.
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08:21 PM
avengador1 Member
Posts: 35468 From: Orlando, Florida Registered: Oct 2001
Glad to see you working on the Rat again. Looks great! BTW: My car has 2500 miles on it now. No problems so far. I had it out yesterday for inspection. After I got the car inspected I went to a local sub shop for some lunch. When I parked I had 3 guys come running up to me to ask if I really had a v8 in my car. Of course I had to show them. Matt
when is it going to the dragway?
