Inspiration: Paid Forward

[Swift]

I finally get the whole assembly together....Take a breather and have wife snap a pic for old time sakes.



Some will remember this as a flashback to putting in someone else's motor. Same hoist!
online pic share

[Swift]

I crank the engine quick to make sure starter works because I reused JDM starter. I am waiting for an alternator to come in as well. I hook up shifter as well and guage cluster


.3.5 mount machined and welded following week.

[Swift]

Now I am somewhat de-stressed. I should be able to do this. Motor in and it starts. I have no real pics beyond this point. I am to busy chasing things down. I got 3weeks left.

Finally get it running. Need to reuse one of my older metal radatiors. Find a cap to throw on and bleed system. It has a vacuum leak and check engine light.

I trace the light down to three things. I fix two. One was bad wires at ECU that I had used for something back in the day. The other is vacuum line leak. I can still hear a hiss and realize the brake booster is leaking at master. Brand new Master Cylinder doesn't sit flush cuz made wrong. I modify but also realize the gasket doesn't seal. This has always been a problem and I reuse the OEM one because it has a metal backing plate. Offer this can't be done because that one is to far gone.

I fight this leak for a couple days.

Heater circuit on right O2 is bad. Throw in O2 I have ...same thing. So now I have a wiring issue. I will fix later. Still have fuel leak at return line because I can't find adapter in time.

I drive around and have huge exhaust leaks I have to spend time fixing on y-pipe.

Finally get it quiet enough to drive to work and listen to how it is running and to seat in the rings.

Drain oil at 20miles. Drive some more and realize that it has a bad vibration at 1200rpms and around 2200 rpms. I call up engineer where I got pistons from and he confirms that it is probably because I removed so much mass with lighter pistons and flywheel that it is out of balance. I try putting balance belt on and it is worse. I check injectors and swap one because the heat on that port is not same temp as others. I disconnect each coil to no avail. It is more than likely out of balance. So bad , it kills the dream and I am sad. I am not angry. I am sad at the state of our country and lack of proper education and people going to blue collar careers. I am sad that yet again I need to do things myself. I also have a fear that the valves were not properly vacuum checked based on an odd sound on one cylinder and how it runs.

I rechip the car as well and regap the spark plugs. I still need to fix return fuel line. In mean time I work on those seat pan brackets to mount seats and start cleaning up the garage..

[Swift]

So I will add more here this next couple days, but even if it is not a balancing issue...I do not have time to do alignment, get tires, and make the interior quiet enough for the long journey with my lovely wife.

I have made some custom parts for this car that I will be bring with me and talking with members and owners on what else should be made for the platform. I plan on making a custom muffler and already have supplies for custom tail lenses as well.

My plans for the future of the car and this thread is to get a hoist in the spring and pull the engine. I also will be tearing apart the transmission to inspect the mainshaft bearing as it is bad as well. I need to get proper rims, suspension and the paint fixed in a few areas. Interior is getting custom leather as well. Thousands of dollars still will be spent to get it where it needs to be.

I hope others view this as a way to not give up and build the car right the first time. I didn't trust my gut enough and wanted to try and beat the clock and it bit me. It is nice to look at the car though now that it looks in one piece. It will get it's proper photo shoot soon enough and will be one of the most expensive and modified legends in existence. It wont hit a track but for fun now, that will be for another platform.

Stay tuned. Be well.

[Swift]

again saved

[lgnd4u2nv]

Thanks for sharing, Ben. I like the 'teaser' shots.....can't wait until you get it done, or at least mostly done and can post pictures of the whole car. The engine looks beautiful and the paint color and rim combo looks like it is going to be very aesthetically pleasing!

[Swift]

Thanks for the comments. Some people wondered why I tried so hard to have it even show up not finished, but I like drive a decent car on such road trips versus the "daily" ya know. Now I can relax and make sure to do it right. I will just have to drive yours around the block lol

[lgnd4u2nv]

Originally Posted by Swift

Thanks for the comments. Some people wondered why I tried so hard to have it even show up not finished, but I like drive a decent car on such road trips versus the "daily" ya know. Now I can relax and make sure to do it right. I will just have to drive yours around the block lol

I will be at NALM, but not in my Legend....too far of a drive for me.

[returnoftheack]

Good stuff, Ben!

[holyabish1]

The vibration issue is really disheartening. Is it continuous from 12-2200 or at each interval? Do you have an AFR gauge hooked up?


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