Another faithful driveabeater reader here.
Justjim75 said:Seriously, we all like to "play" with cars, but I don't think anybody else plays so thoroughly with everything from racecars to daily drivers in a manner that shows, and don't take this the wrong way, that an average guy with average tools and average money can put together something nice for cheap, or something fast for effort. Did that come out right?
Oh, and I nominate Stampie to lead the Duster fan club since he's important enough to take your car to the Challenge
I don't think important. I'm sure Michael will deny this but I feel his offer was one of being polite. Like we did the whole southern dance of "are you sure?" several times. I am forever grateful that he gave me that opportunity. Actually privileged. I learned a lot about light weight cars with higher power and am applying it to my current build. Plus it was the first car I said damn this car can handle let's do something really stupid and see where it looses grip.
I always check out your build threads when they pop up in the latest topics. I was excited to see this one pop back up as you started the swap. Keep up the good work!
I feel bad muddying up a build thread with too many comments, but want you to know I'm paying attention and appreciate you documenting your builds so well.
I am truly humbled. I really don't know what to say. Honestly never thought many really followed along with my manic mechanicing. I'll continue to try to do things worth reading about. Ive learned so much, from so many of you, that i don't feel I'll ever truly be able to give back.
As far as the stampie/miata thing, it worked out very well. It was not planned, and honestly i didn't even really think it through. But thats what friends do. Or at least how i was taught. If you can help a friend without suffering yourself. do it. Stampie gave the car the challenge run it deserved, not the one i gave it. I feel good about its retirement.
So, truck:
I didn't sleep well last night, worked late, and helped out my folks. So not a lot other than cleaning up the shop, and removing the torque converter and flexplate, draining the oil, and comparing old and new parts to make sure they're right.
Need to grab oil, filter, and rear main from the parts store tomorrow.
I guess that means my statement did sound worse than intended, and I think we all know handing the keys to Stampie was something you didn't think through!
Lol, love ya dude
Dusterbd13-michael (Forum Supporter) said:759NRNG (Forum Partidario) said:"Need my parts to get here. Bolts, seals, and computer chips"
Are you piggybacking ecu's/ecm's for this trans swap?
May I join in on the phun too?
Yes-ish. Burning a new chip and piggybacking it to the existing memcal inside the factory ecu. In theory. I haven't actually DONE it yet. So i don't know how successful ill be. Thats the most nerve wracking part of thw whole swap to me. Im messing with things i don't fully understand.
And you can join in the fun too. The parts and such are cheap enough, and the learning curve is steep. Thirdgen.org and gearheadefi.com are the places im doing my learning at.
I did the prom swap in a buddies 96 years ago... easy peasy lemon squeezey. Just make sure you and the pcm are grounded.
That's pretty interesting about the software reflash. It totally makes sense, I've just never look into what a trans swap like this would take.
I always love following along on your builds. You claim you're doing nothing special, but you do it with a speed and attention to detail that is really impressive. And on a budget too. Don't forget that.
Thanks Scott!!!
Tonight. so far, done the rear main, and rebuilt the oil cooler adapter that dad cleaned up. Ill get the lines on for both coolers yet tonight, and the flexplate. Probably coean up electrical parts while im at it too.
Rockauto had an incorrect flexplate listed. So, spent an hour tracking one down local.
Oil cooler rebuilt and installed. Lines too. Trans cooler hard lines hung. Rear main fixed. Oil drained. Need to take the trans hard line adapters i removed from this truck to be yto hook up the 4l80e lines, as they are larger than 4l60. Trans seals, torque converter bolts, and chips still in the mail. Luckily, the front seals behind the converter seem to be leak free.
Hopefully get it mounted tomorrow, but well see what the vaccine shot does to me.
Thanks! Grateful to be able to get it.
Today i hope to get the new ac parts cleaned up. Ince i have to pull the bumper for the trans cooler lines, i might as welldo the lines and condenser. No lines will probably make the headers easier too.
Really hoping to have the trans and headers in tonight.
Another follower here. Also, you might want to know the 'watch' function on the forum is not currently functioning - reported to Admins a bit ago.
Wow, I missed a lot! Please document the hell out of this trans swap. I pop in every now and then.
tunerpro RT
I did a thing at lunch.
$250 seemed like a fair deal for the right dimensions. 16x8, 5x5, eagle alloy 206. The two in front are roughest. One may need professional help due to the chunk taken out of the lip.
Dusterbd13-michael (Forum Supporter) said:I did a thing at lunch.
$250 seemed like a fair deal for the right dimensions. 16x8, 5x5, eagle alloy 206. The two in front are roughest. One may need professional help due to the chunk taken out of the lip.
Bro....IMHO these are not PU worthy now or back when they came available in the first place......sorry to harsh your mellow but you got more important things to do than detail rimz......like clear the "WOODS"
In reply to 759NRNG (Forum Partidario) :
I was thinking for a Michael level wheel they actually aren't that bad.
Stampie (FS) said:In reply to 759NRNG (Forum Partidario) :
I was thinking for a Michael level wheel they actually aren't that bad.
UH Stamptser please make him STOP!?!?!?!?!!!!....his dear sweet croc wearin' daughter deserves better than this....she could help with hey ....clearin' the "woods:"
+1 on the appreciation for your thorough builds.
I'll try to enable poor wheel choices where possible.
So, for the billet wheels: ive been hunting a 5x5 set of subtle ones. 16 inch was preferable for tire selection and sidewall height. These fit the bill, at a price i was willing to pay for their condition, and was 20 minutes away. Additionally, steve offered me ybe nearly new cooper discoverer ht3 tires off the service body for $100. That puts me at ~$350 in nearly new tires, and nifty wheels. However, they are not a priority job right now. They were a convenient purchase on a rainy payday. Ill polish them, fix the curbing the best i can, figure out how to locate and drill a hole for the center cap retaining screw, polish the center caps, mount the truck tires, and send it for a while.
Or until i find a different set i like more.....
Truck:
Got the correct flexplate bolted, torqued and lock tited. Filled the converter with fluid, stripped off the wiring and shields and stuff. Dad and i moved it from the tailgate to a similar height old rolling typewriter stand. Rolled the stand under the raised truck, and manhandled it onto the trans jack. This is my busted up self and my 78 year old dad vs a heavy motherberkeleying transmission. But we did it. Gonna feel it tomorrow though. Got the bellhousing bolts in, and then headers. Drivers side fell in. Easy. Passengers side fought us every inch. Still not sure how we got it in, but we did. Two bolts and a gasket on either side, tightened the adapters and lines for the in radiator cooler, and placed the 2500 crossmember in its new home. Called it quits after that, cause ive been up since 5, worked a 10 hour day, and then did truck. Im whooped.
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