Recent upgrades on my 69 - 2018 time to clean things up

[xoman60]

Nice update W&R69. Hopefully I will get mine going soon. Just have the wiring and throttle hookup left. Oh yea the vent line also.

[WHITE AND RED 69]

For the shifter light measure the voltage.  I couldn't get an led to work in there so went back to an incandescent until I can figure out why I only have 9-10 volts at that socket.  The led needs more than that to work.  Stick a plain bulb in there and see if it lights up.

Thanks Dirk, I'll check that out. The odd thing is it worked fine for months with the new wiring (and for years with the old wiring) and now its dead. New LED bulb and still nothing. Hopefully I still have a standard bulb to try out in my pile of old parts. 

[Dino]

That's strange!  Why would it stop working all of a sudden?  I wonder if the socket itself is the culprit.  Maybe they build up resistance over time?  I just pulled my interior to do some major mods so I'l take some measurements along the wiring to se where I oose juice.  Maybe I can find the cause and get us both going.

[WHITE AND RED 69]

That's strange!  Why would it stop working all of a sudden?  I wonder if the socket itself is the culprit.  Maybe they build up resistance over time?  I just pulled my interior to do some major mods so I'l take some measurements along the wiring to se where I oose juice.  Maybe I can find the cause and get us both going.

Well, no dice on the standard bulb so it's most likely the socket or wire? Sad part is I really don't need the light since my shifter is an aftermarket ratchet one that doesn't line up with the lens but its driving me nuts!     I think I have some random sockets lying around so I guess I'll replace it and see if anything happens?

[darbgnik]

Thanks for the thread. I've already bookmarked it for the tank and FI setup, if my car ever gets out of the body shop!

[WHITE AND RED 69]

Thanks for the thread. I've already bookmarked it for the tank and FI setup, if my car ever gets out of the body shop!

No problem 

Well, I drove myself nuts contemplating getting the upgraded EFI and ended up ordered it. Showed up yesterday so I'll be selling the old one. Good thing is I have all the hard stuff done so it should only be a 10 minute swap. But wiring it to the fans will take a little extra time. I have to swap out the original fan controller and use a different set of relays but its pretty straightforward. Also going to add a junction block under the battery to clean up the wiring and keep most of it hidden. And then later on I will add in the timing control.  

I'll post up some more pics soon as I get it done.  

[Derwud]

Is that the 1200 or the 600 power adder?

[WHITE AND RED 69]

Is that the 1200 or the 600 power adder?

Just the 600. I thought about getting the Meanstreet unit but wanted the dual fan controller.   

[garner7555]

How much for the unit that you are removing?   

[WHITE AND RED 69]

How much for the unit that you are removing?   

I'll send you a pm   

[igozumn]

It's the snowball effect for me.  The $1000 unit would be fine for now.  But if I upgraded to dual electric fans and got my A/C up and running, the $1200 power adder is what I'd want/need.  But for $1300, I could get the multiport and find my own manifold/injectors/rails, which would end up being $1800-2000.


So, I'll probably end up with the $1000 unit, LOL.  Tank is here, hard line is here, tank pad and straps are here, pump and sender is here.....

[sixty-niner]

why don't you get the 800 HP unit?  seems like that may be a better option.

[WHITE AND RED 69]

It's the snowball effect for me.  The $1000 unit would be fine for now.  But if I upgraded to dual electric fans and got my A/C up and running, the $1200 power adder is what I'd want/need.  But for $1300, I could get the multiport and find my own manifold/injectors/rails, which would end up being $1800-2000.


So, I'll probably end up with the $1000 unit, LOL.  Tank is here, hard line is here, tank pad and straps are here, pump and sender is here.....

Tough choice. Its always a pain picking parts when new options are coming out soon. Fitech partnered with Edelbrock to supply intakes and fuel rails but who knows when the total kit is released? Could be a while? But it will be nice to purchase everything in one complete kit. I know when they offer the port injection setup on and edlebrock RPM intake in a bolt on kit I'm ordering it up if I have the cash.

why don't you get the 800 HP unit?  seems like that may be a better option.

The Meanstreet is a great looking product, if it had dual fan controllers I would have gotten that one.

[igozumn]

The Meanstreet is a great looking product, if it had dual fan controllers I would have gotten that one.

This.  Plus, with 8 injectors, I'm sure it would work ok, but not really needed.  For now, LOL.  I could always add a thermostat housing spacer with a secondary temp sensor controlling the 2nd stage on a fan or 2nd fan.  But it would be nice to keep a cleaner look.

I had a line on a new, but installed EFI Victor intake for about a $100 less than current sell pricing.  But still wasn't sure which way I wanted to go.  I do think I've put the Megasquirt on hold for right now.  Got a guy at work that may be buying an item from me this weekend.  If he comes through, I'll probably order the one White and Red is removing from his ride.  Heck, even if the guy doesn't come through, I may still order one.  

Edit: Actually, I could use a relay from the A/C clutch wire to engage a 2nd stage fan or 2nd fan.  Hmmmm.  Just wouldn't be able to get the EFI to kick up automatically.

[SRT-440]

Looks good..EFI is always an upgrade.

Btw, love the tire letters..I got a set of "NITTO" letters I'm gonna put on my 18's this weekend. Mine will be 1 inch letters on front and 1.5 inch on the drag radials. Yours look awesome so I'm not as worried how it's gonna look now. 

[WHITE AND RED 69]

Looks good..EFI is always an upgrade.

Btw, love the tire letters..I got a set of "NITTO" letters I'm gonna put on my 18's this weekend. Mine will be 1 inch letters on front and 1.5 inch on the drag radials. Yours look awesome so I'm not as worried how it's gonna look now. 

Thanks, not too many dig the big wheel with white letter look but I like it. Post up some pics when you get it done 

[Derwud]

So no clearance issues with the Perfomer RPM Manifold, Fitech, air cleaner and hood? I love your set-up..

[WHITE AND RED 69]

So no clearance issues with the Perfomer RPM Manifold, Fitech, air cleaner and hood? I love your set-up..

No issues with mine but the air cleaner is custom with a drop base for extra clearance. So it all depends on what air cleaner you are going to run. I used to run a Summit drop base 3" round air cleaner with the carb and it fit nicely but that one would probably interfere with the fittings for the fuel lines on the Fitech. A shorter drop base should work though, mine was a 1.25" drop. A 1" drop should clear the fittings. Or a 2" filter will work. 

Also don't add a hood insulation pad, It will most likely rub.

[Derwud]

I was thinking of this, Yours has more offset?

[WHITE AND RED 69]

Maintenance time! Here's what I've got to do this weekend to get it ready for Optima at the end of the month.

-Install gauge cluster
-New headlight vacuum lines
-Change oil, transmission, gear oil, and coolant
-New spark plugs, cap, and rotor
-New fan relays
-Wire up the efi to the fans
-Wire a/c to efi system
-New LED lights for the high beams
-New powder coated valve covers
-Header collector gaskets
-Brake fluid flush
-Add dust boots to upper control arms and probably replace the heim joints just to be safe
-New sway bar bushings
-Fix heater box squeaks (I think I forgot the steel spacers so it's coming back out )
-Going to paint the center of the rims with plasti-dip for a slightly different look

And next week new tires mounted and get it aligned.  

[WHITE AND RED 69]

I was thinking of this, Yours has more offset?

That's what I used but I modified it to sit lower. The stock height will hit the hood. I cut out the center and added a flat base, that took about 3" out of the base.  

[garner7555]

Awesome list!   Looks like you will be busy.        Are you still looking at putting Trick Flow heads on?

[Dino]

Maintenance time! Here's what I've got to do this weekend to get it ready for Optima at the end of the month.

-Install gauge cluster
-New headlight vacuum lines
-Change oil, transmission, gear oil, and coolant
-New spark plugs, cap, and rotor
-New fan relays
-Wire up the efi to the fans
-Wire a/c to efi system
-New LED lights for the high beams
-New powder coated valve covers
-Header collector gaskets
-Brake fluid flush
-Add dust boots to upper control arms and probably replace the heim joints just to be safe
-New sway bar bushings
-Fix heater box squeaks (I think I forgot the steel spacers so it's coming back out )
-Going to paint the center of the rims with plasti-dip for a slightly different look

And next week new tires mounted and get it aligned.  

That sounds like a fun Saturday morning.  What are you doing the rest of the weekend?   

I need to temporarily reinstall my instrument cluster as well to power up the interior and test out all of the electrical mods I'm working on.  It's probaly one of the jobs on this car that I like least.  I can probably do it blindfolded but I still don't like it.

[WHITE AND RED 69]

Awesome list!   Looks like you will be busy.        Are you still looking at putting Trick Flow heads on?

Not quite yet    I'm out of money so it will happen later on. I want to hear some real feedback on them first but I might just go with a set of edelbrocks.

That sounds like a fun Saturday morning.  What are you doing the rest of the weekend?   

I need to temporarily reinstall my instrument cluster as well to power up the interior and test out all of the electrical mods I'm working on.  It's probaly one of the jobs on this car that I like least.  I can probably do it blindfolded but I still don't like it.

Saturday morning!     I thought I'd stare at everything til noon, break for lunch, then have a beer, and then get started. Isn't that how most of us work?     The only part I'm dreading is pulling the heater box and flushing the brake fluid. I hate both of those jobs!

Really? I actually like putting in the gauges. It's one of those jobs that I can be done in 10 minutes without looking for tools for an hour. 

[garner7555]

You sound like me, I want to order a set of Trick Flows while my motor is out, but if I do that it will delay buying all the other 587477585 pieces I need to re-assemble the car.      I would be willing to bet the Trick Flows would be noticeably superior to the Edelbrocks.     But I'm like you, I sure would like to see someone build a mild street 440 with them and get great results before I dropped the money on them.   
Can't wait to hear about your next Optima event!         Keep having fun and slinging that old beast around!