427 engine (part 2) - RHS block

[Rich Z]

I agree about pushing it up farther if you rotate towards the throttle body but if you rotate it back towards the wheel it should pull down on the hose.

Ah, OK, I see what you mean. Yeah, probably would do that. Well, the car isn't going anywhere any time soon, so I'll just leave it be till I can fix it permanently.

I've also got some new couplers on order so I can tackle trying to get that air bridge down low enough too, so it isn't getting the hood bounced down on it. The paint is already cracked in the hood directly above it, but I don't want any more damage to take place if I can help it.

 

[Kap142]

Each day I read of your new "discoveries" in reference to the build. Just my opinion but you'll never regain the "confidence" in the C5. I am sorry this whole shin dig evolved as it did and again I say you are a better man then I for oh so many reasons.

 

[Rich Z]

Each day I read of your new "discoveries" in reference to the build. Just my opinion but you'll never regain the "confidence" in the C5. I am sorry this whole shin dig evolved as it did and again I say you are a better man then I for oh so many reasons.

Or.......

I could just be much more stubborn and hard headed than you are. :yesnod:

To give up would be to allow Chris Harwood to have taken my car from me by destroying it. I will have a VERY tough time allowing that to happen.

 

[RevXtreme 1]

I decided to change the oil and filter on the car today. Aaron told me that it has been changed at least three times since he's had it at the shop, even though there have only been 400 miles logged on the odometer since he's had it. But I figured that with the car running pretty rich because of those screwed up O2 sensors, probably would be a good thing to do now, just to play it safe.

I was quite surprised at how dark the oil was coming out of that oil pan....

With that breathered can and no proper crankcase evacuation your oil will need to be changed constantly to keep the motor from premature wear & failure. The amount of damaging combustion byproducts just keep re-condensing back into the oil every time you start up and cool down......but what do I know.

 

[Rich Z]

Got the exhaust system off the car up to the headers today. Replaced the O2 sensors and harnesses. One of the cats has a noticeable rattle to it, with the matrix core moving front to back when I tilt it. Probably not long for this world, but it looks OK visually on the inside. In any event, I have a pair of cat delete pipes coming in tomorrow. I want to take those catalytic converters out of the equation temporarily while getting everything else set up.

Oh, in case anyone is interested, here's what a rear O2 sensor and the needed adapter to mate it with the front harness.

Here's some pics of the old sensors that I took out:

And here's what it looks like with the new sensors in with the way the harnesses SHOULD look:

 

[navy2kcoupe]

Looks MUCH better Rich :thumbsup:!
Were either of the old ones cross threaded, did you have any trouble getting
them out, and any problems threading the new ones into the bungs?
Inquiring minds want to know..........
Andy :wavey:

 

[Rich Z]

Well, I got a thread chasing tool for the O2 bung and I really took my time to try to get it lined up right, No sense in having it clean out a crossed thread instead of the real thread. Honestly though, although it looks better, it's not really PERFECTLY flush. I actually got my head up in there and looked over the thread inside the bung and it didn't look damaged in any way, so I'm not sure what really is going on. The O2 that came out of it didn't have damaged threads neither. But interestingly both of the O2 sensors looked like they had been whacked with a hammer or something. They have dents in them. :shrug01:

But no they were no trouble getting out of the bungs at all. I bought a special wrench for the O2s that worked like a champ getting a grip on them.

In any event, I guess when I have it all back together, I'll just have to see if there is any exhaust leak there at that driver's side bung. Sure as hell hope I don't have to pull down the header and take it to a muffler shop and have a new bung welded in.

I bought a tool that I can use to straighten out the lips of the pipe ends so they are perfectly round and smooth out a few dents I see where the exhaust was leaking. And I'm also going to be smoothing out any burrs and dings, cleaning up a LOT of carbon buildup where it appears that the cross over pipe was leaking badly, and just smooth out everything so it will go back together a lot easier than it wanted to come apart. I bought all new clamps that will overlap the joints and hopefully seal that sucker up TIGHT.

 

[Benjamin]

did you coat the threads with anti-sieze? doing this will allow for easier removal later on down the road. you can get it in small packets marketed for spark plug threads. they are next to the register at most parts stores for $0.99 a pack. you will likely want to get 2 packets, 1 might do but 2 will be plenty.

 

[Rich Z]

did you coat the threads with anti-sieze? doing this will allow for easier removal later on down the road. you can get it in small packets marketed for spark plug threads. they are next to the register at most parts stores for $0.99 a pack. you will likely want to get 2 packets, 1 might do but 2 will be plenty.

Actually the O2 sensors came with a small pack in each box. Each small tube was enough to do 4 of them. I replaced the steel plugs that Aaron had put into the back sensor plugs in the crossover pipe with some stainless plugs. I also got a tube of anti-seize when I ordered the O2 bung thread chaser, just in case.

I'm thinking maybe I should use it to coat the ends of the exhaust pipes when I put them together again. I guess it will act as a lubricant, won't it?

 

[Rich Z]

Took some video of a few problems I found while poking around underneath the car. I found one more rattle, it seems. The AC condenser is loose on the driver's side. Not sure what holds it in place, but I guess I'll find out.

Then I found that a screw was left off of the tunnel plate. Didn't notice it with the exhaust pipes in place.

I had run the car for a bit and noticed water splashing on the floor from one of the exhaust leaks I knew about on the driver's side. Then I saw another few drops coming down from the catback flange. Looks like the bolts just were not tightened sufficiently.

Also of note was that when I was trying to bang the cats off of the back of the crossover pipe, instead of them coming loose, the x-pipe itself pulled off of the headers. So apparently the clamps holding the x-pipe onto the headers were not tightened down neither...

:banghead:

 

[Kap142]

:banghead::banghead::thumbsdown::thumbsdown::thumbsdown::banghead::banghead:

 

[RevXtreme 1]

Cats strata will break it hammered on or banged around. Can only be slipped on and clamped or the next ones will break as well. Dosent take alot to break the ceramic strata.

 

[Rich Z]

Cats strata will break it hammered on or banged around. Can only be slipped on and clamped or the next ones will break as well. Dosent take alot to break the ceramic strata.

Yeah, I think I was living on borrowed time with them. All it would take is for one to break up and the turbo on that side would be history.

 

[Rich Z]

Well, I will say that I'm darn glad I got that lift. I'm sure this would all be a major pain in the butt trying to do it laying on the floor underneath the car on stands.

Anyway, the cat delete pipes came in today. But I'm still cleaning up the mating surfaces of the pipes so they will go together easier. Probably won't get the exhaust system back together today. I sure am glad I have that pipe end spreader thingie I bought. Will make it much easier putting this back together with those female ends a little looser.

Are there any negatives to using something like anti-seize compound at the exhaust pipe joints to make the joining and positioning them easier?

I did find that missing bolt in the tunnel plate. It was just sitting in a box of hardware that had been in my trunk when I brought the car home. Lucky thing, too, I guess, because I checked ALL the tunnel plate bolts and every one was at least a half turn too loose.

BTW, got a question for anyone who would care to hazard an opinion.

Would it be better to have the X-pipe directly after the headers, or have the cat delete pipes inbetween the two? Since I have unused plugged bungs on the X-pipe, I'll be able to use that when I get my wideband figured out. So there are two variables to consider: (1) In respect to the wideband, would it be better closer to the headers? And (2), does it make any difference performance wise where the X-pipe actually is located in the exhaust?

Oh yeah, I noticed that the pipe on the driver's side of the X-pipe is 1 inch longer than the other side. Is that normal?

Thanks...

 

[shakedown067]

Nice work Rich...so why did you ever drop this car off at a shop? You could have done all the work yourself!

 

[Rich Z]

Nice work Rich...so why did you ever drop this car off at a shop? You could have done all the work yourself!

No, I couldn't have done this all myself. I didn't have a garage and lift when I decided to do this. Even now, I don't have the capability, nor desire, to pull out an engine and drivetrain. I thought I could trust people to do this work for me, and I am quite disappointed in the quality of workmanship I have received from them. That, and the fact that I have now paid TWICE to have this sort of work done, and really don't wish to pay yet a THIRD time for it.

Both Chris Harwood and Aaron Scott knew that I was doing this mostly as a way to promote this site with this build, and I was going to be making it as public as possible. And look what I STILL got from them..... I guess people just no longer have any pride in their workmanship, and don't give a damn about what people think about them.

 

[shakedown067]

Man, that is crazy. You do think with someone documenting your work to broadcast it for free to possibly get them more work, they'd taken top notch care of you. Pretty amazing what people will do to each other these days. Everyone wants something for nothing. Man do I love a hard days work for our clients...I not only want them to come back to us, but to tell their friends. Why has that changed for so many people?

Whoa, I'll get off the soap box.

 

[Rich Z]

Man, that is crazy. You do think with someone documenting your work to broadcast it for free to possibly get them more work, they'd taken top notch care of you. Pretty amazing what people will do to each other these days. Everyone wants something for nothing. Man do I love a hard days work for our clients...I not only want them to come back to us, but to tell their friends. Why has that changed for so many people?

Whoa, I'll get off the soap box.

Maybe I just expected too much out of people.

With Chris Harwood, he did quite a few small jobs on my vehicles and did very good work. Went above and beyond in many instances, plus he was a sponsor here, and certainly knew he would be in the spotlight with my build. But it still went sour.

With Aaron Scott, he is well known in this area and is very well respected. No one had a bad word to say about him that I could find anywhere. To say I was shocked and highly disappointed with the condition of my car when I got it home and inspected it is quite an understatement. In a phone conversation with Aaron he said "Rich, your car was a piece of sh!t when it came in here, and it was a piece of sh!t when it left." So why did the guy have my car for 14 months and not be able to make it NOT be a "piece of sh!t" when he said it was ready for me to drive it home? Why did he TREAT my car like a "piece of sh!t" instead of making it RIGHT? Did he seriously think I would want to take my car BACK to someone who would say something like that?

Yeah, trusting people is for the frickin' birds.

So I am forced to try to do everything I can myself on my car.

Speaking of which, that guy Charlie Stumpp from Panama City came over here, what, a couple of weekends ago to help me with the fuel leak and took a look at the idle tuning. I paid him $100 for his work and asked him to look over the car, take note of what needs to yet be done (including replacing that screwy fuel system that Harwood put in there), and get back to me with a price. Haven't heard a peep out of him. So he's out. I am certainly not going to chase anyone to take my money and I am NOT going to ignore even the smallest red flag any longer.

 

[ironhorse]

Maybe I just expected too much out of people.

With Chris Harwood, he did quite a few small jobs on my vehicles and did very good work. Went above and beyond in many instances, plus he was a sponsor here, and certainly knew he would be in the spotlight with my build. But it still went sour.

With Aaron Scott, he is well known in this area and is very well respected. No one had a bad word to say about him that I could find anywhere. To say I was shocked and highly disappointed with the condition of my car when I got it home and inspected it is quite an understatement. In a phone conversation with Aaron he said "Rich, your car was a piece of sh!t when it came in here, and it was a piece of sh!t when it left." So why did the guy have my car for 14 months and not be able to make it NOT be a "piece of sh!t" when he said it was ready for me to drive it home? Why did he TREAT my car like a "piece of sh!t" instead of making it RIGHT? Did he seriously think I would want to take my car BACK to someone who would say something like that?

Rich, the money you spent with these two guys, you could have had Kateck or LPE build a killer motor, and had money left?...Hang in there, you will get all of the Sh*t sorted out...

 

[Rich Z]

Rats..... Still got some exhaust leaks at the header collector/X-pipe junction. Not sure why, but maybe there is a lip on one of the pipes I didn't notice when I had it apart. And got condensation leaking out of the cat-back flanges. I forgot to put permatex sealant there, so that's likely why. Guess I'll be pulling it back apart again. Damn... I'd rather do 10 things once than 1 thing again....



I'll put the cat deletes at the headers this time, however.

I've got to figure out some way to may that spring hanger easier to hook back up this time. Maybe wrap it up with wire ties to keep it where I need it to be.

Oh well, Connie is working Friday and Saturday anyway, so that will keep me off the streets..... Supposed to rain, and I guess there will be worse places to be than playing in the garage.