Sprocket's Competition

[clocker]

Install kits are available for either Ford or Chevy.
I haven't researched the relative merits of either- especially in a first gen chassis- as yet.

As you say, finding an engine/trans package will probably be the determining factor because really, either would probably be stoopid fast.

[j2k4]

Yeah.

Reality doesn't bite in either case.

[clocker]

Today's loverly weather.
Really makes you want to get out and work on the car...


It's just a few degrees under being rain, shit weighs a ton.
Apparently we're setting a record for moisture with this one.
Supposed to start clearing in a few hours, if the sun comes out the roads will be dry by tonight.
I hope...

[j2k4]

I feel for you.

[clocker]

Yesterday's weather was the polar opposite (see what I did there?) of the days preceding...65 degrees and sunny.
Today will be even nicer and most of the snow will be gone.

We put in a marathon session, prepping the car for it's trip to the shop later today.

Inexplicably, I forgot my camera but will have it ready for today's meetup, so you'll just have to trust me that she looks like a real car, mostly.

Installed the new shifter block...all six forward speeds now work.
The new short shift assembly is also in and works pretty well although the lever will need some massaging to get it's height down.

Although mostly intact, there are still a plethora of issues to be addressed, all of which we decided to ignore in favor of a test drive.

All I can say is "Clocker, come to Jesus!"...this thing is a monster.

I have never, I mean never ever, been in a car with such a visceral sense of power.
She'll light up the tires in the first four gears without even trying.

The sense of sheer brutality is heightened by the gawdawful loud exhaust (next on the list after the tranny is done) and the extremely tight cockpit of the third gen RX.
The car seems to consist of two seats and a motor- my car is positively Cadillacian in comparison (note to self...stop making up words!).

My entire automotive life I've been an adherent of the European school of thought...small+ light + suspension= speed...and disdained the crude American approach- "Fuck it, gimme more motor!".
After yesterday, I'm rethinking my philosophy.

The animal nature of the car is exacerbated by the wonky clutch action (soon to be fixed, we hope) and the hair trigger throttle (no ideas yet but will have to be tamed).
As I said, we still have a long ways to go.

After yesterday though it'll all be easier since we'll probably still have these idiot grins plastered on our faces.

I'll get some pics up later.

[j2k4]

I'm grinning, myself.

We're getting your snow, so until I read that, I was a bit depressed.

I feel much better now, thanks.

Did you ever dope out the final drive ratio.

[Detale]

Thanks for the crappy weather dude. It's rain now BTW and its not going to stop until Thursday . Can't wait to see more car pics

[clocker]

Oh boo-hoo...you get rain, we get 35° and snow.
Trade ya.

Yesterday was nearly 70°, snow all gone.
Car is in the shop.
Wednesday night I go in and we put her on the lift and begin to see what's what.
Pics then.

Edit:
Much to my surprise, when he showed up at the shop yesterday, the car's owner- who we'll call "S." from now on- pulled out a folder that had specifics of the engine build...why I've never seen this I don't know.
Our engine is bored/stroked 350 (now 383 ci) with forged rods, larger valves, porting, bigger injectors, cam, yada, yada.
Most interesting was a dyno chart from 18 months ago.

There's no telling what's she's making now but back then it was 420 HP and 400 ft/lbs...at the wheels!
In a car that weighs @2800 lbs.

No wonder it seems fast...it actually is!

[j2k4]

Oh boo-hoo...you get rain, we get 35° and snow.
Trade ya.

Yesterday was nearly 70°, snow all gone.
Car is in the shop.
Wednesday night I go in and we put her on the lift and begin to see what's what.
Pics then.

Edit:
Much to my surprise, when he showed up at the shop yesterday, the car's owner- who we'll call "S." from now on- pulled out a folder that had specifics of the engine build...why I've never seen this I don't know.
Our engine is bored/stroked 350 (now 383 ci) with forged rods, larger valves, porting, bigger injectors, cam, yada, yada.
Most interesting was a dyno chart from 18 months ago.

There's no telling what's she's making now but back then it was 420 HP and 400 ft/lbs...at the wheels!
In a car that weighs @2800 lbs.

No wonder it seems fast...it actually is!

Yeah...that 420 is also (as I recall) stock LS7 for the car it came out of.

No ATC or ATW referenced, so...

I'm gonna guess your 383 is closer to 480-500 and 450 or so at, what, about 4500 rpm?

A total noob could probably break 11 in the quarter.

Relentless torque - shit, you'll never have to break 5K, unless you're showing off.

Did you get that link I sent.

BTW-

We've gotten about 18" inches of heavy white-stuff so far; it's not scheduled to stop until about 0300 tomorrow.

What's this shit about rain.

[clocker]

Our engine is an LT, not an LS, but that's neither here nor there.

You were on the money re: RPMs....which is a good thing because we have a real breakup/stumble issue right around 4500.
It does clear up over 5 grand* but you'd better have a lot of clear road ahead of you at that speed.
S. and Dan (the mechanic) are hoping that the ignition control module is the culprit.
It's relatively cheap and poorly located, bolted right to end of the head.
We'll get a new one and move it to the shock tower, a much cooler environment.

Can't wait for tomorrow night to get started in a real shop.
It'll be my first real look at the underside of the car.


*When S. first bought the car it had an AutoMeter Monster tach in it.
The telltale read 7400RPM.
We don't know what to make of that...