BUILD-OFF CHALLENGE: Tygaboy's '75 LS3, It seemed a good idea at the time... Options

[tygaboy]

Chris - You already know what I think about it - SICK! Now that I also own two of these systems myself I am a very interested party in your tuning experience.

Hurry up so I don't have to go first! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/poke.gif)

T

PS: For once on this build it appears you don't have to modify the firewall for the stacks...how they are canted - it looks like you DID make it PERFECT! Damn!

Oh, I'm sure we'll be talking regularly as we learn about these systems! Re: the fit, these are the 55 mm air horns. I have room to go to the 75s, if I wanted to.
There's also a 35 mm option.

Taller moves the power curve lower in the RPM range (not really my priority) so I went with the middle option as a start. Let's see what the dyno says.

Plus, a bit shorter makes it easier for what I have planned for the air box. I did get the bug screens but I want a "real" air filter. I have a rough draft design and with the goodies here, I can get started. Like I need more to do...

[Mueller]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/pray.gif) How are you going to control those 8 beautiful butterflys right there?

It's cable actuated. I took advantage of the fact that Borla will package up a "kit". They recommended the Holley HP ecu and since I'm a fan of the "one throat to choke" model, I went with everything from them: ITBs, injectors, ecu, harness, fuel pump, sensors, fuel filter. They even threw in a sync tool.

Coming up soon on the to-do list, I'm going to pull the motor and send it to a tuner/dyno to get an initial set up.

Any suggestions for a shop in the SF bay area that can do this work?

Neat, this guy below is running ITB's with the Holley system as well.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-P9rSpi6Y48

[Andyrew]

That is going to be the best sounding LS 914 out there! SO EXCITED!

Didnt know you went with polished but I think it looks amazing!!!

Great decision there!

[tygaboy]

That is going to be the best sounding LS 914 out there! SO EXCITED!

Didnt know you went with polished but I think it looks amazing!!!

Great decision there!

Thanks Andrew. And actually, the throttle bodies and air horns are CNC'd so that's the 'base' finish. I could have gone w/powder coating but I can always do that later so I opted to start with this. I don't trust myself to pick any colors at this point.

But I have to agree, it really is crazy looking. I just love it!

[csdilligaf]

Getting more awesome as the build goes on. I noticed the headers and started from the page 1 to see what they were but got tired around page 20 or so. What are they? A stock shelf item for maybe a boat? Or did you have them made? Sure lays in the ideal location though.

[tygaboy]

After drooling over the intake set up for that past 24 hours, I re-hydrated and forced myself to get back to the chassis work.

Time to miter all the tubes in prep for welding.

Here's the notcher, in all it's glory, ready to cut the front hoop end of the door bar.

I set the tube in the car in the position I want it and use a simple, little plastic protractor to get the angle. Then set the notcher to that angle and cut the miter.

The only tricky part is that the hole in the firewall where the upper part of the door bar goes doesn't allow the door bar to sit quite parallel to the long. So I have to twist it just so to get it to line up. This causes the bends to sorta flare outward a bit... Hard to explain but suffice it to say that I have to cut the miter a bit out of line with the bends in the door bar.

So, here it is ready to cut. Ready... Set... CUT! (all the while praying I measured correctly and properly set all the angles...!)

[tygaboy]

Yea! Measuring, checking and measuring again 47 times and cutting once pays off.

I got a really nice fit!

[tygaboy]

I cut both door bars and all went well there. Then it was on to the verticals. I figured I start with what I thought would be the hardest one. I want the tube smack in the middle of the bend so I divide that bend angle in half and cut that angle into the top of the vertical. Then it's a matter of trimming the bottom until it's the exact length to hold the door bar in parallel alignment with the long (when viewed from directly above).

I have final, final trimming yet to do on the overall length but the fit is looking really nice. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smilie_pokal.gif)

This is the first time I've done this sort of detailed fab on cage tubes. I'm happy to report that if you follow what all those YouTube videos suggest, it all goes pretty much to plan. The series I found helpful was this one:

http://thefabricatorseries.com/build-blogs...ttack-roll-cage

He gets into some of the important tips and tricks that I found spot on and really effective.

And certainly, having some nice tools makes it go faster and (for me), more accurately. Again, I'm no expert. But I'm thrilled at how it's going. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/aktion035.gif)

[tygaboy]

Getting more awesome as the build goes on. I noticed the headers and started from the page 1 to see what they were but got tired around page 20 or so. What are they? A stock shelf item for maybe a boat? Or did you have them made? Sure lays in the ideal location though.

$149 ebay "turbo forward" headers. Not great but great for that price.
I think I want the exhaust flange to end up about 4" lower. So I may modify these or start from scratch and make a set that give me exactly what I want. We'll see. I'd really like to get this on the road.

[914forme]

On the ITBs just use individual filters, keep the look, I would hate to cover them up. They look so darn good

[Mueller]

I didn't know Borla made intakes, further reading and I gather they bought or merged with TMW?

I looked at their Type IV page, I like how they gave Megasquirt a mention as well along with the high dollar EFI setups.

[tygaboy]

On the ITBs just use individual filters, keep the look, I would hate to cover them up. They look so darn good

I got the bug screens with the kit but also have draft plans for a set up that will provide "real" air filtration AND let these be seen. We'll see how it goes as I start fabrication...

[tygaboy]

Today was more measuring, cutting and fitting of the various chassis stiffening bars.

Here's the cross bar I mentioned in an earlier post - the one that has to fit behind the head rest supports then pop out/in to clear the bulge in the firewall. My bender can't do the needed double s-curve in that little space so I have to make it in multiple pieces.
Before you get too excited, remember, it's not a roll cage.
Yes, I'll plug weld a sleeve in both joints as part of all this.

And yes, it's all DOM material. I've ordered 3 different times from the same supplier and each time, the product is a different color. I called and asked them about it and they said it depends on which mill it comes from. Interesting.
But it'll all be painted so no worries.

[tygaboy]

Then it was on to the bars that will run from the back side of the seat belt retractor location to the rear shock tower. This bar will terminate on a plate that gets rosette welded to the plate that the top of the door bar lands on. That plate is not in place, I just used the hole in the firewall to help calculate the angles for all the cuts/miters.

I'm really pleased with how well these miter cuts are turning out. Maybe I shouldn't be so surprised, I just thought it'd be more difficult. Not that I'm complaining!

[tygaboy]

Here are both bars mocked into place.

I think it's going to be a LOOOOOOONG time before I get tired of this view!

And fear not, I keep the intake covered and protected when I'm working on the car. But whenever the camera comes out, somehow, the covers disappear! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/shades.gif)

[tygaboy]

Final trimming of the door bar. This is where it pokes though the fire wall at the seat belt retractor location.

That last cut on the front of each of these tube was done with the hole saw and was pretty much a "one chance to get it right" cut that set the final angle and length of the door bar.

The target length was to get this end to align with the fire wall.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/smilie_pokal.gif)

It literally just sits on the edge of the hole. Big sigh of relief...

[tygaboy]

Passenger side looks good, too!

And both sides will be plated and the plates rosette welded to each other.

[Andyrew]

Immma gonna need you to build me a cage when your all done (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

I want something I can weld to the A pillar and hide completely.

Looks fantastic!

[tygaboy]

Immma gonna need you to build me a cage when your all done (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

I want something I can weld to the A pillar and hide completely.

Looks fantastic!

Nope, that's not gonna happen. What's gonna happen is you're going to come here and I'll HELP YOU make your own cage! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smilie_pokal.gif)

Maybe we set up a workshop day where any interested parties come over and we all pitch in on something like your cage? Years ago I did something like this for carbon fiber: a composite workshop. About 25 people showed up and everyone got to make a small part. Link to a thread about it:

http://bayarearidersforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=150212

I'd be up for hosting something like this. I'm sure I could get Martin to participate and offer his experience, too.

Anyone interested?

[Mueller]

Immma gonna need you to build me a cage when your all done (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

I want something I can weld to the A pillar and hide completely.

Looks fantastic!

Nope, that's not gonna happen. What's gonna happen is you're going to come here and I'll HELP YOU make your own cage! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smilie_pokal.gif)

Maybe we set up a workshop day where any interested parties come over and we all pitch in on something like your cage? Years ago I did something like this for carbon fiber: a composite workshop. About 25 people showed up and everyone got to make a small part. Link to a thread about it:

http://bayarearidersforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=150212

I'd be up for hosting something like this. I'm sure I could get Martin to participate and offer his experience, too.

Anyone interested?

Yes.