Challenge budget so far:
previous total: 365.99
recoup total: 800
this update:
deleted tax, environmental charges, and core charges, as those don't go in the budget
returned 3500 fuel rail, wont work
bought 2 inch intercooler piping kit, new in box: 60
bought 15 feet 3 inch exhaust, glasspack, boost gauge: 10
used headers of possibly Chevy descent: 10
x4 3 bolt 2.5 inch flanges for exhaust: 9
traded $25 boom tubes from last years car for FMIC, T04e eBay turbo, and blow off valve
current challenge budget: 445.90
recoup total: 800
so dad and I wanted to get to Ohio to pick up our engine from Patrick before it snowed. Friday morning, 5 am, we left his place pointed north. We had worked out a deal to pull a 454 and trans from a REALLY rusty Chevy 4500, load it up, and deliver it to another forum member in exchange for our gas. So we loaded up some tools (not enough), some thermal gear (also not enough), some grubby clothes, and hit the road. Smooth sailing to Ohio, and a WONDERFUL time with dad. Didn't take many pictures of the drive, but a nice time of year to do this.
20171201_103037 by Michael Crawford, on Flickr
we got to Patrick's about 3:45 or so, just as he had finished DRIVING the 454 truck onto the concrete. The three of us hit it hard, and we had the engine on the ground and the truck ready for the scrap run by 7:00 pm. Hell of a lot of fun, but after the sun went down it got cold in a hell of a hurry. Dad and I aren't used to that anymore, as we've been south of the mason dixon for 20 years. I was also reminded by how blessed we are as far as rust is concerned. I negotiated some El Camino parts, as well as the 3 inch exhaust from the 454 truck for the challenge car.
Saturday morning, dad and I followed Patrick over to his dads place where his dad had already gotten the 3500 hung on the bucket of his tractor with a rope and ready to load. His Dad also found some long tubes off of something that I bought purely to cut up for making headers for our car. We got everything loaded, bought some leftover turbo parts from Patrick after loading up everything, and headed to summit racing. It was only 30 minutes away.
20171202_103041 by Michael Crawford, on Flickr
20171202_103056 by Michael Crawford, on Flickr
summit racing is a very awesome and bad place at the same time. At the Tallmadge Ohio location, they had roughly 2 dozen racks of discounted and scratch and dent parts. No rhyme or reason to how its organized, and it was 25% off day. Challenge car wise, we scored 4 3 bolt exhaust flanges (think SBC header collector flanges) with a 2.5 hole for 9 bucks after discount. The plan is to use them on the header to crossover pipe junction. Speaking of exhaust, we also were able to retain the y pipe off the big block which uses 2.5 tubes into a very nice collector that turns into 3 inch. I think this should be perfect for the turbo flange/piping. We also got a turn down and glasspack in the deal. I apparently didn't take a picture of the boost gauge, and to be honest im not quite sure where it wound up....
Pictures of exhaust and sacrificial headers:
20171203_114348 by Michael Crawford, on Flickr
20171203_114344 by Michael Crawford, on Flickr
dad and I got home at 9pm Saturday night. 40 hours round trip, 1100 miles, and 168 in diesel. And a fantastic time with my dad. Time I wouldn't trade for the world.
We got all the parts and stuff unloaded and organized Sunday after church. I took dads truck to deliver the big block, came back to his place, and got the 3400 mounted to the stand. Hit it, and dads truck, with superclean and a pressure washer to get the worst of the grime off both.
20171203_151953 by Michael Crawford, on Flickr
20171203_151949 by Michael Crawford, on Flickr
20171203_160510 by Michael Crawford, on Flickr
got done with that, jumped in the El Camino, threw the boom tubes from last years challenge car in the bed, and proceeded to turn them into boost goodies in a trade in Winston Salem.
20171203_104452 by Michael Crawford, on Flickr
and the received boost goodies:
new in box piping kit (from Patrick)
20171205_171842 by Michael Crawford, on Flickr
20171205_171852 by Michael Crawford, on Flickr
FMIC:
20171201_141208_1512155529712 by Michael Crawford, on Flickr
20171204_080620 by Michael Crawford, on Flickr
Blow off valve (I think)
20171201_141156_1512155517059 by Michael Crawford, on Flickr
the turbo:
20171201_140920_1512155507626 by Michael Crawford, on Flickr
20171201_142057_1512156058664 by Michael Crawford, on Flickr
20171201_142042_1512156043352 by Michael Crawford, on Flickr
up next is figuring out just what I have as far as the turbo goes. In theory, its what it says it is. But, I want to verify that it will work well enough for what I want before I go to the trouble of installing it. It is physically a lot smaller than I thought it would be, but the price was right. For you turbo guys: how do I determine if its what I need/want? Is there a way to measure things to verify what it is/size/ability to work with this application? I was originally hunting an hx35, but this deal seemed too good to turn down. Intercooler alone was worth 25 bucks. Also, what exactly is the silver thing? I was told its a blow off valve, but it looks more like a blower bypass valve than anything else. This is the first time I have ever even held a turbo in my hands, so please forgive the ignorance.
