The new life of the formula fastback

[GTRS Fiero]

I am just viewing this tuning learn as preperation for the 3.4 TDC NA and then finally once the Turbo goes on. Crawl, run, walk and all that.

Spent a few hours today working on the new cradle so I can get it off to powder coating hopefull early next week. Stripping the junky paint work done by the guy I bought it from and cleaning it up a bit. Removing weld spatter from the factory and beefing up all the engine and tranny mounts. To keep from having problems.

I'm glad you're taking your time to do this correctly.  Whatever else, I always appreciate a job well done.  Forethought, patience, and care always pay off.

[GTRS Fiero]

19# injectors seems mighty high for a 3.4.  Stock for a 2.8 is 15#.  I'm running 17#.  Of course, with a shorter duration...

[GTRS Fiero]

That is their rated flow, not what I am getting from them. I have not measured what they are actually flowing.

The FPR is still the adjustable one from when I bought the car.

There are known issues with the adjustable FPR, but the adjustable FPR should not be used with the 7730.

[Fierofool]

Here's the Bosch Fuel Injector stats by injector number, along with a calculator.  You can see the above stats for the 901 injectors.
https://www.motormanfuelinjection.com/Fuel_Injector_Flow_Rates.html

[GTRS Fiero]

Hmmm.  It never performs the calculation, for me.

[Fierofool]

You may have to go direct to the Motor Man Injector site.  It didn't calculate for me in my link, either but it does on their site.

[NoMad]

So after many hours of searching through my data logs to try and identify what is causing the stuter and power loss (all the way to stalled on the way home from the meeting...) I have been unable to find anything that points to what is causing it. I am just stumped. Likely this means driving it as is and focusing all my attention on the 3.4 TDC swap rather than trying any further to find the cause.

To that end I just finished reinforcing my engine and tranny mount points on the mew cradle. They are now massive and very beefy. Tomorrow I hope to get it off to the powder caters. If my morning is productive the second stearing rack body will join it so I can get to rebuilding that one. Both will be done in a wet black powder coat. The intake and valve covers will go in the next batch with a few other odds and ends as they will be getting done in a turbine bronze/orange color to match the planned strip and the interior accents.

Last big choice is if I send out my 282 for rebuild or attempt it myself....

[NoMad]

Wellcthe cradle went to the powder coater 10 minutes from the house. $200 for a full sand blast, clean up some weld spatter I couldn't reach from the factory build, and powder coat. Seems right on the low end of my expected cost from a professional shop. If the quality is good I will drop a bunch of LQ1 parts there next week.

[NoMad]

Yesterday into today we rebuilding the spare 88 rack. Everything got stripped down, cleaned, and painted. All the bearings and the bushing were replaced with parts from Rodney Dickman. Used a flat black high temp oil resistant spray paint I had laying around. Any metal part that wasn't going to get coated in white lithium grease got hhk-s applied for rust prevention and lubricity where it contacted other parts. Process had a few hiccups but went well enough. The new moog rack boots ($13 on Rock Auto!) will be in Monday. The new inner tie rods from Rodney's are on and the new moog heavy duty outers will go on after that.

It is nice and smooth now and should be good for the next 20 years I would guess.

Also on this Rock Auto order were a bunch of gaskets for the LQ1 as well as a new timing belt. While these motors have never run I want to tear down the top end to get a look and make sure all is okay. With the age of the motors I wanted the spare timing belt incase I see any signs of dryrot. Plus it doesn't hurt to have a spare on hand. Will probably port match and polish the heads while they are off and other parts are at thepowder coated. With the gaskets in hand I can actually get stuff going together on the swap front.

Headed out for five days so likely not a lot will be happening till next week.

[mweldon]

don't forget to check and possibly replace the valve seals... the LQ1 OEM ones are notorious for cracking and rotting from long term storage....

[NoMad]

Thanks!

[NoMad]

Been working away in small chunks as time permits.

Got the rest of my parts for the rack in but have not finished the last bits (save the dust cover off the bottom of the rack I will have to take from my current one or find another) of install work.

Also started gasket matching and polishing the upper and lower intake manifolds. Been doing tons of reading on theory and techniques and have a bit of a plan in order. Managed to have all four of my mandrels break. As they were harbor freight ones I am not really surprised. Ordered more as well as longer ones and a set of die cutters for rough cutting.

Also spent the morning today building a new computer tray from aluminium flat bar to accomidate the new ecu. Have it all bent up and will rivet it together and do the grinding and finishing after Marilyn's family leaves.

Havey initial measuents taken and rough markings made for building my new one-piece center console. Plan to build it as a buck and then make a mold so I can build repeatable consoles from fiberglass and upholster them. Cup holders will be happening as well as better ECU cooling.

Also have the cradle finished after getting it back from the powder coater's. The semi-gloss black looks great and matches well with the new engine and transmission mounts from Rodney's.

Last maintenance task is to check and eother clean/lube or replace the IAC valve as that is the last non-injector issue this surging could be.

[Fierofool]

If you haven't seen it yet, check out mweldon's post in The Market for the exhaust pieces for the TDC engine. 

By one piece console, do you mean from dash to firewall?  Wouldn't that be difficult to get in and out? 

[NoMad]

I have been. Those are for the later heads and I have the early heads so the flanges won't fit mine.

And yes, from firewall to in front of the shifter. Have seen a few other folks with them and really like the look. Plus the strength and ability to adapt to finished piece to exactly what I want before upholstry means I can fine tune it before upholstery without having to rebuild the frame over and over till right. Plus if it comes out how others like I can make extras from the mold easily and quickly.

[NoMad]

Not disappeared, I swear! Been working away on life and the car. I fabricated the new computer tray and it is ready to be installed tomorrow. Most of my shop time has been porting and polishing to try and get the LQ1 ready. Upper intake should go to powder this week. Might be a slower turn around as the color isn't a stocked one. Will give me time to get the lower intake and the heads ported.

Really thinking hard about a change to an F23 as well. Would mean buying two of them to get the right bellhousing and final drive ratio but that is the reality of our little lives configuration.