so i accidently bought a car and started a challenge team last night. have questions.

In reply to Pete Gossett:

Unfortunately not yet. Due to the issues and me being by myself, had no way. But i assure you that video will happen of the next start.

Fire in the hole, bitches!

In reply to AngryCorvair:

More like pull the pin!

Dusterbd13 wrote: The engine showed signs of life today. Few things to sort before we can break it in...... Its nasty sounding with the open headers..... And we have a scca scrutineer coming tomorrow. Hopefully a logbook will follow....

AWESOME !

SaaWeeeeeet !

https://youtu.be/1SU3I4QhGRA

Cause it's cool.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/1SU3I4QhGRA

In reply to Dusterbd13:

Now THAT is awesome!!!

It's ALIVE !

I have to admit, i got a little wood wuen i revved it.

Gotta figure out what is going on with the fuel system. Something aint right. Pump keeps losing prime, but will suck drom a gas can three feet underneath it. But not the tank.....

And tank/pickup hold pressure just fine.

Challenge Budget: Car/parts $200

Donor Lincoln town car: 410

Engine crossmember: 120

Sold transmission crossmember from Lincoln: 10 Sold rear axle from lincoln: -50 Scrapped what was left of lincoln: -89

trans cooler: 2

Engine swap: 5.0 plus 300 boot

Sold kelstar wheels-200 (cant recoup more than we spent)

2x2 angle iron, tractor supply 12.05

Brand new Watkins glen nascar slicks and wheels, which were bought for $50, and promptly sold to Dallas dad for $50 and some weld wheels with really old drag slicks. So, slicks were $0, but $50 taken out of the recoup limit.

6 5/8 heim and jamb nuts, as well as threaded tube for the front suspension: $65

Pair of aluminum seats, $40 and on;y usng 1 so $20. .

Sheet of flame retardant high density foam $10

Fire suppression system parts (not included in challenge budget. But ive had 2nd degree burns on the boys before, so were getting safety gear come hell or high water)

Solid steel lowering blocks, with the holes drilled to offset the rear axle rearwards. $5

1/4 plate, scrap metal yard: 7.50

Mustang convertible mounts 22

Bending plate cost 25

Swedged tubing, ebay: 31.90

Threaded adjusters and 650lb springs, SRI performance: 65

2 used billstein shocks, pull-a-part: 14

Cage materials: 271.40

Spool welding wire: 33

Leaf spring sliders: 40

Clamps for spring adjusters: 23.59

Adjustable brake bias valve 18 (amazon)

2 cans of flat black spray paint (lowes project source) .97 ea

Half melted, used 21 circuit ez wiring harness cut from my duster after the mice chewed it up and it had a meltdown. $5 is what I was quoted as FMV due to the fact that copper prices are down.

Accessories and flexplate: see link in update

Battery cables and relays, pull-a-part: 12.75

Steering box, pull-a-part: 27.50

25feet 3/8 steel fuel line, ebay: 25.75

Bypass fuel pressure regulator, ebay: 29.23

Used and noisy fuel pump: 6.50

Used mix and match nitrous kit: 32

Used cast coat aluminum paint: 3.50 (advance price is $7 new, and the can was half empty)

Two half cans of ford engine blue $7

3/8 plastic line clamps, lowes: 1.78

1/2 metal line clamps, lowes: 3.48

Throttle return springs and brackets: 5

3/8 2x compression fittings, 3x npt-compression, 1x t fitting from plumbing supply house: 6

battery hold down, oriellys 5.99

2x 36 inch 1x1 holey tube: 2

Driveshaft safety loop (dad bought it at an auction last week) 5

Tractor supply run for bolts and angle iron: 18.08

Wheels for monster slicks: 50 from facebook marketplace

Shifter material (going to retain the 7.50 number for now, unsure of what fair market value for this stuff would be)

Lower radiator hose: 14.82

Crimping a splice in power steering hose: 13.69

Oil filter: 4.17

Bucket of hose clamps (pull-a-part doesn't charge for these, so I added the admission charge to the yard): 1

Scrap chunk of 16gauge sheetmetal: .25

Suspension and 3.73 posi 8.8, offerup: 100

Traded ultralights and sun tach for pro-tach, mechanical 2 5/8 gauges and chunk of diamond plate from a 4x4 buggy guy down the street

Rear brake hose: challemge budget exempt

Spark plug boot insulators, ebay, 11

Spring perches, amazon 17.49

Pipe standoffs (5) and 3/8 allthread, rhulens supply 8.22

Chunk of diamond plate: unknown dad scrounged it somewhere, and said he got ot for free. I just dont know where, or if I need to FMV it.

Misc crap (zipties, sheet metal screws, wiring terminals, used toggles, nuts and bolts, etc. Pretty much the little oddball crap that goes into every build that I had laying around from over the years) 50

Starter solenoid: 12ish (placeholder till I find the receipt or a cheaper one)

New challenge budget total: 1715.08

Holy crap we've been busy. I really don't even know where to start, honestly. I guess we will start with the tire fitment. Well, we all know they don't really. Up front there was no way to turn. The rockers were in the way. So, we cut the last remaining virgin sheetmetal on the car. We also beat the seam flat with a 5lb sledge. Tires clear now. [URL=http://s54.photobucket.com/user/dusterbd13/media/amc/20170413_195841_zpsswhl042w.jpg.html][/URL] [URL=http://s54.photobucket.com/user/dusterbd13/media/amc/20170413_200221_zpst32e7obb.jpg.html][/URL] While dallas was cutting and beating, I finally gusseted the strut rod brackets. And added the proper hardware/ and painted them black. And made the spacers for the heim joints from a scrap of gas pipe off the plumbing truck. [URL=http://s54.photobucket.com/user/dusterbd13/media/amc/20170413_195834_zpsybyrlxis.jpg.html][/URL] [URL=http://s54.photobucket.com/user/dusterbd13/media/amc/20170413_225201_zpsjwqcdecc.jpg.html][/URL] We also took the x pipe exhaust that didn't fit, and hit it with a sawzall to make headpipes. I also added a chunk of flex tubing to route the exhaust fom under the car temporarily. But a real exhaust will be fabricated from the chunks of the old. SCCA has a 95db at 50ft sound rule, and I need to follow that for testing. [URL=http://s54.photobucket.com/user/dusterbd13/media/amc/20170413_225219_zpsvojixigk.jpg.html][/URL] Next, we giggled a little. The car is a 97 inch wheelbase, with a front track width of 76 inches. It should be stupid. Which is just right. But, the rear track is a few inches narrower than the front. Its also an AMC 15 with 2.xx gears and a peg leg. It was on borrowed time before this much grip. Wed been half hunting an 8.8 from an explorer. Uncut, they are 2.5 inches wider than the amc15, strong, plentiful, and available with gears that don't suck. Usually they are stupid expensive. I found an ad on offer-up that was at least a month old of a guy parting out a 99. Messaged him, and asked what hear ratio it had. He had no idea. So he sent me a picture of the data sticker, and it turned out to be a 3.73 with limited slip. So I lowballed the hell out of him, as I really wanted the 4.11 gears, and he took my offer of 100 bucks for the complete rear suspension. Springs, driveshaft, axle and all. He even offered to pull it for that price. Unfortunately, he cut the brake hose to the frame from the axle. Luckily, that part was deemed to be challenge budget exempt. It was only 18 bucks, but at this point in the budget, 18 bucks is 18 bucks. The axle will make front and rear track width almost identical. The springs aren't quite the same dimensions as the AMC pieces, but with some mix and match, we should be good there. Ill have to adapt the staggered shock from the AMC as it helps prevent axle windup. And I need to move the perches. So I ordered the cheapest perches I could find. [URL=http://s54.photobucket.com/user/dusterbd13/media/amc/20170417_180538_zpsmhccel1p.jpg.html][/URL] [URL=http://s54.photobucket.com/user/dusterbd13/media/amc/20170422_183735_zpsakpfbsor.jpg.html][/URL] [URL=http://s54.photobucket.com/user/dusterbd13/media/amc/20170418_080546_zpsuzex1vsd.jpg.html][/URL]

So, we then hit full on thrash mode. Dallas custody hearing is this week, Steve is back from busy season, and this damn car needs to be on track ASAP if we hope to have any time to test and tune before the challenge. And I need some seat time, as im freaking rusty. Dad offered, before he left for vacation, to get our dash designed and made. He was able to locate and get cut a chunk of diamond plate. I think its stainless, cause its heavy as hell and a magnet doesn't stick. Its also some incredibly hard crap. Before I go much further, I need to note that we traded the autometer ultra-lights and sun tach from the car for a pair of jegs 2 5/8 gauges and a black bezel tach. Easier to read on track. So,m when dad left for vacation, he left this on the bench for me. [URL=http://s54.photobucket.com/user/dusterbd13/media/amc/20170422_183741_zpspexy7nhc.jpg.html][/URL] After considerable time with a carbide burr, destroying drill bits, measuring, marking, and shooting with some more of that 97 cent spray paint, we get here: [URL=http://s54.photobucket.com/user/dusterbd13/media/amc/20170422_213646_zpshb82dwxp.jpg.html][/URL] While trying to figure out how to mount the damn thing, as well as the column, to the roll cage, Dallas was looking through the speedway catalog. He made a comment about pipe standoffs, and went to the supply house. He came back with allthread and apparently pipe standoffs. It worked shockingly well. We put a few wraps of duct tape around the cage to take up the slight amount of slack between the sizes. You can see the clamps and way we did it in the right corner of the picture. We did the same thing to mount the column and pedals to the cage. I couldn't figure out how to make anything I liked that would accomplish the same task. [URL=http://s54.photobucket.com/user/dusterbd13/media/amc/20170423_173803_zpsk8u4vohe.jpg.html][/URL] Steve was working on cage tubes for the door bars, and Dallas gutting the doors while I was installing the dash and wiring the car. [URL=http://s54.photobucket.com/user/dusterbd13/media/amc/20170423_173738_zpsjtqlibba.jpg.html][/URL] [URL=http://s54.photobucket.com/user/dusterbd13/media/amc/20170423_173749_zpsshe59ozi.jpg.html][/URL] [URL=http://s54.photobucket.com/user/dusterbd13/media/amc/20170423_190747_zpspd7tko1f.jpg.html][/URL] I apparently didn't get any pictures of door gutting, other than a really neat stamp on the passengers door. This is how the car finally got a name: Gary. We also decided that our mascot should be Gary the snail from spongebob. But we want to cross Gary the snail with the dodge rumble bee from the quarter windows of a 69 superbee. Anyone any good at photoshop? [URL=http://s54.photobucket.com/user/dusterbd13/media/amc/20170423_174831_zps0x2sfpo3.jpg.html][/URL] This is where we ended that work day: [URL=http://s54.photobucket.com/user/dusterbd13/media/amc/20170423_190827_zpss137acid.jpg.html][/URL] [URL=http://s54.photobucket.com/user/dusterbd13/media/amc/20170423_202947_zpsk1evy8wl.jpg.html][/URL] [URL=http://s54.photobucket.com/user/dusterbd13/media/amc/20170423_225021_zpso3mfcpkr.jpg.html][/URL] [URL=http://s54.photobucket.com/user/dusterbd13/media/amc/20170423_225104_zpsg26ncl4t.jpg.html][/URL] [URL=http://s54.photobucket.com/user/dusterbd13/media/amc/20170423_225324_zpskpzbt2yp.jpg.html][/URL] Up next was getting her to run. We got the gauges hooked up (Dallas was doing a kitchen remodel, and found a braided icemaker line that was going in the garbage as apparently they don't meet code. That, and a couple of used fittings got us a good oil pressure line for the gauge). brother Dustin, Dallas and I spent the night getting the plugs in, the oil pump primed (by hand), fluids filled, fuel leaks fixed, timing eyeballed, gas in the tank, etc. I then proceeded to fight with the starter solenoid for a few days. Finally got it fixed though.... [URL=http://s54.photobucket.com/user/dusterbd13/media/amc/20170426_183414_zpsjg4hyybh.jpg.html][/URL] [URL=http://s54.photobucket.com/user/dusterbd13/media/amc/20170426_183410_zpsxiu2b5yw.jpg.html][/URL] [URL=http://s54.photobucket.com/user/dusterbd13/media/amc/20170426_184420_zpsxqn9ckho.jpg.html][/URL] Due to the starter solenoid issue it didn't fire that night (Dallas birthday). I need the lift for the miata, so I pushed the car outside and used up the last of the paint on the cage and inner doors while it was out there. [URL=http://s54.photobucket.com/user/dusterbd13/media/amc/20170429_125626_zpszeejrxco.jpg.html][/URL] [URL=http://s54.photobucket.com/user/dusterbd13/media/amc/20170429_125636_zpslulvuwm7.jpg.html][/URL] [URL=http://s54.photobucket.com/user/dusterbd13/media/amc/20170429_125651_zpsih38jvlg.jpg.html][/URL] And just because it looks badass off the lift.... [URL=http://s54.photobucket.com/user/dusterbd13/media/amc/20170429_125620_zpskuerede5.jpg.html][/URL] So after I got the miata finished, I sorted out the starter solenoid, made throttle/kickdown prackets, tidyd up plug wires, etc.

Then this happened.

https://youtu.be/1SU3I4QhGRA

Next is sorting out the fuel issue, breaking in the cam, bleeding the brakes, and seeing if it moves under its own power. Maybe big smoky burnout before 8.8 swap.

That cage looks good all painted up, FINALLY.
More permanent exhaust is standing in my shop to bring over an hook up this weekend. Used glass packs and 2" tubing from another project that got changed... Friday night should be entertaining.

Awsome!!!!

Only wiring left is alternator, lights, and nitrous.

Im hoping to sort out the fuel issue this week sometime. I have a thought that the cheap and noisy fuel pump died. I have one from my spare box for the elky im going to try. If it fixes it, ill have to dig up the reciept.

Still need to bleed the brakes......

Also, the ebay quick release steering wheel should be here any day. With the cage and aluminum seats, its challenging to get in and out of the thing. Which makes it a safety concern. If you cant get out in under 3 seconds, its bad.

Challenge accepted

Edited

Hell yeah!!!!

In reply to 4cylndrfury:

Tires may need to be a little bit bigger on version 2, but we are damn close. You are now an honorary challenge team member for better or worse.

Edited version now linked above

Mint!

Now to see if mazdeuce can make them.....

Now THAT is an Escar-go!

Different fuel pump, same problem.

Will suck from a can, but not tank. Tank and sending unit hold pressure. All new lines and filters. Can lower than tank byb3 feet. So not an overcoming gravity problem.

No kinks in the line between pump and tank.

What am i missing?????

In reply to Dusterbd13:

Does the tank have a vent? If it's an air-tight seal that may prevent fuel from being drawn out by the pump?

Hmmmmmmmmm

Does have a vent. But is the vent plugged???

Other ideas? Im willing to try anything, up to and including the old virgin in a volcano sacrifice if it may work.

In reply to Dusterbd13:

Is it an EFI style in-tank pump with an attached pickup?

Nope. Efi rail pump from a ford, plumbed to stock tank pickup with a bypass regulator and return. So, e2000 fuel pump with a chinese copy of an aeromotive regulator, stock amc tank and sending unit, 3/8 feed and return.

Is it bad that i really want to pull the wheels on launch at the drag strip?

In reply to Dusterbd13:

Not at all!

If I'm understanding the fuel situation, the stock tank has a built-in pickup, correct? Have you verified it's not plugged?

When it pulled fuel from a can, what all was eliminated from the system? Was the regulator still in the loop? Was the return line still attached to the tank, or was it routed to the can too?