Yes Sir, We had a string of triple digit temps here and that is what prompted the A/C buy. Can't get anything done when I can't breathe...
Printable View
yep 4 or 5 days triple in a row and we'er at 6 at 90s+
just went down the road with it caddy some work done to it. making 610 hp and 585 tq not to bad had a smile on my face for a hour or so.. the vett is coming in for me work on the rocker arms thats is the blue one in my photos road race car only.. but who knows is has a plate :)
Very nice! I wouldn't mind taking a ride in that V... :)
This past week we worked on a few things. The seat frames, the shifter cover and the instrument cluster. The seat frames are well on there way. Both are ready for welding and all we are waiting for are the front and side braces. I dug out a small sheet of 10 ga I will be taking to work to have all of this stuff cut out on the laser... Much faster and neater. I will also have them make a set for the rear seats for when I get around to building/adding those.
http://images42.fotki.com/v664/photo...MVC003F-vi.jpg
With the mockup seat brace. The front brace is laying on the floor.
http://images15.fotki.com/v588/photo...MVC005F-vi.jpg
This is a rear view of the pass side.
http://images49.fotki.com/v1510/phot...MVC002F-vi.jpg
Mel did the brunt of the work on the seat frames, After we got them bent up and designed last week he has been mocking them up and drilling holes. I spent most of my time working on the shifter cover and getting that fit and smoothed and primed. It's not done by any means but it is well on it's way.
This is after a couple applications of bondo. Starting to smooth out quickly.
http://images107.fotki.com/v71/photo...MVC003F-vi.jpg
The cleco in the lower right corner is holding the two halfs together. Just to the left of the cleco is a verticle seam between the two parts... Can you see it? I think not... :)
http://images60.fotki.com/v661/photo...MVC004F-vi.jpg
The upper cleco is doing the same work but that seam is more visible because it I have sanded down thru the bondo on the removable piece to the 'glass so you can see the transition... It goes away in primer.
http://images50.fotki.com/v406/photo...MVC013F-vi.jpg
http://images14.fotki.com/v218/photo...MVC014F-vi.jpg
The seat braces and gage cluster face are in for laser cutting. I took in the steel for the braces yesterday. I hope to have the parts tomorrow or Monday.
Thanks for looking
Mark
I blew apart the old cluster. This sure did bring back memories! I did the initial cluster design for these back in '83-'84... I had forgotten how much **** we packed into these...
http://images42.fotki.com/v664/photo...MVC011F-vi.jpg
With the lens removed.
http://images52.fotki.com/v637/photo...MVC013F-vi.jpg
What I am going to do is remove all of the original gauges and light pipe and replace them with a flat panel and Autometers' Pro-Comp 5" speedo and tach.
Here is the back of the light pipe where all of the gauges are mounted. Once this is removed the cluster case itself is an empty shell...
http://images24.fotki.com/v874/photo...MVC017F-vi.jpg
I took everything off the back and used the light pipe as a pattern to make a foam board blank. I used that 5 dollar saw to cut this out...
http://images55.fotki.com/v268/photo...MVC010F-vi.jpg
I used the scroll saw again to cut out some more foam core to make the speedo and tach. I used these to mock up the gage positions in the cluster.
http://images16.fotki.com/v377/photo...MVC011F-vi.jpg
As you can tell I am not going to have a lot of room for the fuel level gage so I may make a tunnel in the upper shroud so I can push the gage higher in the cluster. there is nothing up there so there is plenty of room as long as I don't block the gage with the upper bezel.
Here is the basic layout of the instrument cluster and center stack gage cluster.
http://images55.fotki.com/v608/photo...MVC013F-vi.jpg
Lots going on in the Bad Ast shop this week! I brought the tank home tonight. Should be good to go after a couple of pressure testing sessions and fixing a few pinholes. Jesse did an excellant job welding this thing up. There is a bit of warpage but it is all in areas that will not be visible so it is all good.
Sitting back in the van as a one piece deal this time.
http://images24.fotki.com/v798/photo...MVC016F-vi.jpg
After I cleaned it up a bit. Sitting on saw horses in front of the shop.
http://images52.fotki.com/v639/photo...MVC004F-vi.jpg
There is a butt-load of welding here. To do all of this and have only three pinholes is incredible in my book.
http://images15.fotki.com/v588/photo...MVC003F-vi.jpg
http://images21.fotki.com/v840/photo...MVC005F-vi.jpg
You can see a bit of warpage on this long flange. This is the upper bolt flange.
http://images55.fotki.com/v608/photo...MVC011F-vi.jpg
I will fill it with water and let it sit for a while to see if it weeps any.
I am thinking I will get the inside coated, just for piece of mind. Gas Tank Renu is right here in Swartz Creek so I think I will call them.
I am also thinking about having it powder coated black. What do you think?
http://images110.fotki.com/v1539/pho...MVC015F-vi.jpg
Mark
I brought home a bunch of steel tonight. :) Four sets of seat frame reinforcements, the center stack gauge pane piecesl and a little box full of my Dzus handles.
The reinforcements mocked up on the frames and a box of parts.
http://images55.fotki.com/v648/photo...MVC004F-vi.jpg
I think these will look real good when they are done.
http://images57.fotki.com/v139/photo...MVC005F-vi.jpg
The fit on the front pieces isn't quite right as I have to do some trimming to get them where they need to be
http://images14.fotki.com/v384/photo...MVC006F-vi.jpg
http://images54.fotki.com/v461/photo...MVC008F-vi.jpg
Tomorrow will see smoe complete seat frames. :)
The gauge panel will need some cleanup and a good polishing but it will work great.
http://images57.fotki.com/v256/photo...MVC011F-vi.jpg
The small piece gets overlaid onto the bigger piece to give it a 3D look.
http://images59.fotki.com/v420/photo...MVC002F-vi.jpg
I am thinking about making CF panels to fill the "cutouts" and add some interest. I haven't decided about finish yet. Polish it, scotchbrite it or powder coat black... Have to wait and see what happens with the rest of the interior.
http://images57.fotki.com/v1614/phot...MVC003F-vi.jpg
That's what I worked on tonight.
Mark
Looking good! Having access to that laser is a real blessing. I especially like the gauge panel, with the 3D overlay. Seats should look good, too.
Good looking work ...It just keeps coming ..What is your ETA for driving it??
Nice work, Mark! Worst thing about a polished panel is having to keep it polished!!!!
i would never seal a alum tank there is no need . if you seal it you can never weld it . the sealer in steel tanks are a pain in the ass. i have fixed many and put sump s in some as well. you never know if any more sealer will come loose . alum has to be clean on both sides if you fix tank with a tig you have a hell of a time with alum. stuff looks good
Thanks alot guys! I really appreciate the comments and the interest you are taking in the project!
ETA for driving? Probably not till next year. I would like to have the engine and trans set in the chassis and actually running by the end of September. Finishing the chassis work and getting the suspensions bolted in are high on the list after we get the interior usable. Note I said "uasable" not finished...
We are well on our way with that. We have seat frames! Got all of the laser cut pieces fit in and tack weled today. We sure were digging that A/C unit this afternoon! Made it bearable to work out there.
Here is the seat frame all clamped up and ready for welding.
Side view.
http://images54.fotki.com/v77/photos...MVC001F-vi.jpg
Front view'
http://images51.fotki.com/v303/photo...MVC002F-vi.jpg
Everything went together great!
We decided to tack the frames up while they were bolted into the seat... I had an issue with that but Mel assured me he would keep the seats safe from spatter...
http://images56.fotki.com/v702/photo...MVC007F-vi.jpg
He did..
http://images50.fotki.com/v1570/phot...MVC011F-vi.jpg
All tacked up.
http://images46.fotki.com/v1483/phot...MVC016F-vi.jpg
Sitting in thr van. They are very sturdy just tacked. I sat in this and jimmied around a bit. No movement at all.
http://images50.fotki.com/v1527/phot...MVC018F-vi.jpg
http://images16.fotki.com/v368/photo...MVC019F-vi.jpg
Both seat frames tack welded. We were pretty well wiped out by this time. Called it a day. I needed a shower.
http://images42.fotki.com/v664/photo...MVC004F-vi.jpg
http://images51.fotki.com/v282/photo...MVC008F-vi.jpg
Tomorrow. Final welding and we put in that stupid left front wheel well!
Mark
Yea, a good friend of mine has it held hostage in KAWKAWLIN of all places! :) He is building it into a runner... And I think it needs to be painted a hammertone med silver. Will look real close to aluminum if we do it right. I have three cans of it here at the shop. When do you want me to bring them up?
Haven't done an update for a while. Didn't have a lot to post until this past weekend. McCarthy performance completed the engine build last week and I went up there Saturday morning to pick it up... Quite a story there... Just a hint. I had a ride in a 606 HP CTS-V. I can reiterate if anyone is interested... Pat, your secret is safe with me...
The 509 is home and ready to rock! It looks a little different too. It's not Chevy engine orange anymore.
After Pat had the short block together I went up and painted it. Used a self-etching primer then layed on a couple of coats of hammer tone silver. Kept the coats light to limit the "hammer" effect.
http://images9.fotki.com/v120/photos...MVC017F-vi.jpg
http://images61.fotki.com/v665/photo...MVC016F-vi.jpg
http://images51.fotki.com/v628/photo...00_1514-vi.jpg
http://images54.fotki.com/v461/photo...00_1513-vi.jpg
Pat did a lot of work to this dude. I bought the engine assembled and was uncomfortable just firing it up without knowing what "exactly" I had. Pat told me to bring it up, he would check it out.
The engine was purchased with a set of rectangular port 124cc heads on it that had been ported and were WAY to big for what I wanted this motor to do. It also had a solid roller cam and a set of Crane stud girdles. I did not want to be adjusting valves two or three times a year and I wanted the motor to be drivable.
SO, we pulled off all of the "race" stuff we didn't want and I sold it all on eBay. I made enough to get a set of Brodix 270 Race Rites and a new intake. The issue with the new heads was the biggest chamber available was a CNC'd 119cc. Pat calculated the compression with the old heads was around 11:1. The smaller chamber head would put us at 12:1 or more. To much, which he fixed by milling the domes on the pistons.
Some of the things he fixed were not show stoppers but he didn't like the way they were done. The biggest thing was an oil leak he found in one of the main journal feeds. It got nicked when the engine was bored in a previous life.
Here is a list of things he did. Make any corrections you see fit Pat.
1) He smoothed off the bottoms of the cylinders which were left sharp after the bore.
2) We decided to put in new ARP rod bolts because the torque was low when he checked the rods. Didn't know how many times these bolts had been torqued so, replacing them was a no brainer.
3) Resized the rods to get them back within tolerance. New bearings of course.
4) Fixed that oil leak.
5) Milled the tops of the pistons to bring compression down to 10.5:1 with the new 119cc chambered Race Rites.
6) Assembled the heads with all new valves and springs and did some work to those when the factory work wasn't done right.
7) Hot tanked the block TWICE! Once after he smoothed down the bore bottoms and again after he fixed the oil leak.
8) Assembled the short block. I went up to his shop and painted the block when this was done.
9) Stuck in the new Erson hydraulic roller cam.
10) Finished up the motor build. Sprayed the RPM Airgap with Aluma-Blast and was going to install the distributor but saw the bronze gear was worn. I ordered a new steel gear and will replace that and stab in the distributor before I fire it up.
We are expecting 550 horse and around 650 LB/FT out of this guy. Should be plenty to get Bad Ast moving. I can always add some spray down the road if I need more.
Mark
I want to thank Pat for the work he did. A lot of it was above and beyond, but he is meticulous and I recommend his shop to everyone.
We will be starting a build on a Pontiac 455 next year.
Can you see the HUJAZZ smile on my face?
Mark
Here is a bit of an update on build progress after almost a month... What with a few car shows, running back and forth to Kawkawlin and pulling together all of the wiring stuff, actual progress as been slow
We built an upper crossmember and have been picking away at the rear floor closeouts around the tank.
This is an overall view. The xmbr bolts in between the wells and the closeouts sweep up along the inside of the wells.
http://images14.fotki.com/v219/photo...MVC020F-vi.jpg
This one of the tapping plates we made to hold in the xmbr.
http://images60.fotki.com/v361/photo...MVC008F-vi.jpg
The other side with the 1 x 2 tubing fit in and ready to weld
http://images15.fotki.com/v587/photo...MVC010F-vi.jpg
These are closeups of either side of the close out panels.
Right side
http://images52.fotki.com/v8/photos/...MVC016F-vi.jpg
Left side
http://images20.fotki.com/v681/photo...MVC019F-vi.jpg
We need to make the rear filler panel yet. I won't weld any of this until that is ready.
I also got that left front wheel well welded in and primed. Haven't seam sealed it yet. Will wait and do that when I finish up the rear panels.
http://images52.fotki.com/v640/photo...MVC005F-vi.jpg
Most of this we got done in a day about a month ago. The last few weeks I have spent WORKING ON THE WIRING!!!! I'm sorry, was I yelling?
Mel has been doing some serious camping. He has a 27' trailer and has a membership at one of the camp grounds out by Davison.
The next post will touch on a bit of the wiring for this dude.
Thanks for looking.
Mark
Now! On to the fun stuff! Actually wiring isn't that bad. I kind of enjoy it. Sorting through decade old harnesses... Fingers covered with YUCK from the old tape wrap... Yummy... This is where I've been spending a lot of time. Sorting through this stuff with wiring diagrams and actual harnesses.
Anyway, I will be combining the original '88 harness with the '95 donor harness. The '88 didn't come with power locks or windows and I will be throwing the '95 doors on Bad Ast to get those amenities.
Here are a few pics as i jumble my way through the wire jungle.
This is the '95 harness and column. I will use the '95 as the '88 didn' have tilt...
http://images107.fotki.com/v159/phot...MVC021F-vi.jpg
This is the '88 before i stripped off the loom and tape.
http://images16.fotki.com/v378/photo...MVC022F-vi.jpg
The '95 also has a lot of stuff I am not going to use. The computer wiring is not needed neither is the airbag stuff.
I am stripping all of that junk out and trying to maintain the ignition/start, neutral safety and HVAC systems. EVERYTHING is tied back into the ECM... See that pile of wire at the upper right? That's all airbag stuff I stripped out...
http://images15.fotki.com/v792/photo...MVC002F-vi.jpg
That's where the '88 harness comes into play. It is a little less complicated and has the HVAC stuff so I am pulling all of the power lock/window stuff out of the '95 incorporating it into the '88 junction block.
http://images54.fotki.com/v627/photo...MVC001F-vi.jpg
I have also traced the turn signal, hi beam and brake light circuits to the cluster connectors and will use those to power the new led's in the rebuilt cluster.
I work on it for a couple hours and I have to walk away... It all starts looking the same for some reason. :)
I took a break tonight and started building the center stack gauge harness.
I loaded the gauge panel.
http://images56.fotki.com/v701/photo...MVC004F-vi.jpg
Flipped her over and labeled all of the gauges. (helps me keep things straight).
http://images60.fotki.com/v662/photo...MVC009F-vi.jpg
First up was tying all of the illumination bulbs and grounds together. I simply butt spliced the wires into two different circuits with a long pigtail for the remote connctor
http://images60.fotki.com/v370/photo...MVC010F-vi.jpg
Then I got the ignition side done. I haven't shrunk any of the heat shrink tubing yet and I will wrap everything up with cable ties when it's done. Should look pretty good.
http://images12.fotki.com/v532/photo...MVC012F-vi.jpg
I knocked off here tonight. Tomorrow I will finish the ground side for the gauges and run the sender wires. At that point I can install one half of the 12 way molex connector I will be using and this harness will be complete.
http://images108.fotki.com/v1629/pho...MVC013F-vi.jpg
It was a good break. Got something done.
Mark
Wiring is always fun. If someone come by I quit till there gone
Coming along nicely, Mark!!! The wiring part is always soooooooo time consuming!!!!!
yep sounds about right mark . showed mark one customers shops and some of his toys .then one of the body shop i worked at on and off from the early 80s till the late 90s next to my customers shop. yesterday it burn down :( lucky for the guy he did not burn up .next time you come up .we can take the blue machine for a ride :) working one that right now. i will show you how i run threw the gears if your a willing passenger. mark had some cool sticker made for me :)
Very cool, Mark. You're doing some really nice work.
Are you serious? The place burned? Geez, are you sure you want me to come back up there??? Seems I have a bad mojo...
next time you come up .we can take the blue machine for a ride :) working one that right now. i will show you how i run threw the gears if your a willing passenger
You don't have to ask twice! I'll definetly have the camera in my grubby hands for that!
mark had some cool sticker made for me
Yes sir! I think they look pretty good!
http://images108.fotki.com/v1623/pho...00_5119-vi.jpg
http://images55.fotki.com/v1603/phot...00_5120-vi.jpg
Thanks for all of the good comments guys! I will keep at it.
Mark
I got the Gauge cluster wired up tonight. I put 12v's to the lites and they lit up without any arcing or explosions so I was happy!
They are kind of dim. I was running them off my cheapo battery charger so they probably aren't getting a full 12.
http://images52.fotki.com/v733/photo...MVC003F-vi.jpg
Full view
http://images52.fotki.com/v733/photo...MVC001F-vi.jpg
The back. I will get to the final bundling after I get the shrink tube finished. It's kind of sloopy looking right now but it'll look nice once it's all cable tied.
http://images16.fotki.com/v383/photo...MVC015F-vi.jpg
I finally got myself a good Molex style terminal crimper. This one came from Jegs.
http://images15.fotki.com/v587/photo...MVC007F-vi.jpg
I did all six wire and insulation crimps with zero defects. These crimpers make this a no brainer, really.
First, strip the wire.
http://images57.fotki.com/v300/photo...MVC008F-vi.jpg
Crimp the wire side.
http://images49.fotki.com/v566/photo...MVC009F-vi.jpg
Then move to the next bigger crimp and crimp on the insulation. These are strong crimps, they aren't coming apart.
http://images9.fotki.com/v114/photos...MVC011F-vi.jpg
I then shoved the connectors into the housing. You can see how I labeled the connector with the wire color. Probably not necessary but it helps when planning the connections.
http://images56.fotki.com/v168/photo...MVC012F-vi.jpg
All done..
http://images49.fotki.com/v570/photo...MVC014F-vi.jpg
I have done a lot of wiring before so I am very comfortable doing it. I know a lot of people are intimidated by the "spaghetti"... If you want to learn more I would suggest picking up two books. Both of them are by Tony Candela and are very well written.
He touches base on all of the basics in his first book
http://img2.imagesbn.com/images/39880000/39882075.JPG
and covers some fairly in-depth projects in his second.
http://img2.imagesbn.com/images/101430000/101439313.JPG
I have read through both of them a few times and everything I am doing here on the van I have either picked up through Tony's books or had my knowledge reinforced or changed for the better by him. The other thing I can tell you is, if you want to learn to do your own wiring, get out and do it. It's not that difficult and, with these books as reference, I think anybody could re-wire a car with little difficulty. Or just start small by tiding up all of those loose wires! :)
Thanks for looking
Mark
Got a lot done today. We finished closing in the fuel tank. Made the rear filler panel out of a piece of 18ga. Bent a 1/2" lip on the front side, punched a bunch of holes in it and spot welded that and the two end panels into the van.
This is the driver's side before spot welding.
http://images55.fotki.com/v1604/phot...MVC003F-vi.jpg
The passenger side.
http://images54.fotki.com/v514/photo...MVC004F-vi.jpg
After welding. This closes out the rear tank opening and, after finish paint, a strip of rubber will go between the tank and body to seal everything up
http://images56.fotki.com/v1600/phot...MVC007F-vi.jpg
http://images54.fotki.com/v880/photo...MVC008F-vi.jpg
After some cleanup and primer.
http://images20.fotki.com/v503/photo...MVC014F-vi.jpg
Here you can see the verticle spot welds on the end panels.
http://images16.fotki.com/v378/photo...MVC015F-vi.jpg
These will get buried in seam sealer to smooth things out. After the body comes off the frame I will seam seal on the back side also.
http://images59.fotki.com/v111/photo...MVC016F-vi.jpg
Here's a shot with the tank in place. Everything fit up great! I will work on the seam sealer stuff tomorrow night.
http://images18.fotki.com/v270/photo...MVC020F-vi.jpg
http://images14.fotki.com/v384/photo...MVC021F-vi.jpg
I got the engine compartment inner wheel wells cut out today also. Fired up the plasma cutter and did some trimming.
http://images57.fotki.com/v1614/phot...MVC001F-vi.jpg
There isn't much left! I will be rolling some 18ga to rebuild these guys. The drivers side will see mounts for the relay box build into it.
This is the pass side. Won't be much of this visible once the HVAC box goes back in.
http://images45.fotki.com/v148/photo...MVC002F-vi.jpg
Got something done today!
Thanks for looking!
Mark
Back end around the tank came out great Mark! Neat and clean installation.
Thanks Dave! For what room there is, neat and clean was about our only option. :) All of this will get enclosed in another box for fire safety which will make a short deck right above the tank. Some shag carpet and a disco ball and it'll be good! :)
As I have been pulling together the wiring I have found some excellant suppliers with high quality products. The wiring books were a couple and here is another.
If anyone is in need of automotive wire give Nate Garland at Welcome to Wire Barn - Your Trusted Wire and Supply Source a look. He sells a number of different types with GXL cross-linked polyethelene being one of them. This stuff is a far cry from your basic PVC covered junk.
He sells it in 25' lengths in multi-packs of six or eight colors. This is perfect for a home builder like myself as I don't need 100' spools of wire laying around. It's also a helluva lot cheaper... I just bought 1 ea. of the 18ga, 16ga and 14ga 8 color packs from him and paid about what I would have for four 100' spools of 16ga. This is more then enough wire to finish up the van and probably a couple more projects down the road. With 8 colors and three ga sizes I am pretty well set for wire for a while. He also has 12 ga and I'll be picking up a selction of that this week.
Here are some pics of the wire he sent me. It is very nice stuff. And it is made in the USA!!!
http://images60.fotki.com/v224/photo...MVC017F-vi.jpg
http://images107.fotki.com/v159/phot...MVC018F-vi.jpg
Mark
His prices aren't bad at all...Let us know when you find that shag carpet wearhouse
Things are moving slowly on the van. I have been working on another "project" and the fall weather is making me take care of some "around the house" projects.
I have gotten a couple things done though. I ended up ordering some chromed pulleys from Jegs. Just to get the front dressed out and let me finish the alternator brackets. The pulleys needed a bit of work to get them tofit right but I did that last week and got the alt brackets done over the weekend.
I made the mounting studs from 3/8-16 threaded rod. Cut two to length and threaded them into the aluminum head as far as they would go. I will pull them out and put a little anti-sieze on them for final assembly. I will probably put some acorn nuts on them to clean them up.
http://images109.fotki.com/v144/phot...00_5268-vi.jpg
Here is a creen shot of my UG file for the bracket design... Looks pretty close doesn't it? :)
http://images55.fotki.com/v585/photo...RNATOR1-vi.jpg
I used 1" dia aluminum to make the spacers. Bored them out on the lathe and put a nice polish on them after I faced them to length.
http://images107.fotki.com/v159/phot...00_5271-vi.jpg
The brackets will get sand blasted and powder coated black after I smooth out the edges.
The pulleys will get the motor running and drivable but I plan to upgrade them to polished aluminum when the van is on it's way to completion.
http://images59.fotki.com/v683/photo...00_5267-vi.jpg
I have a chromed fan and pulley for the alt and am waiting on the power steering pulley to show up.
Mark
Here are few pics of the wire spool I made to hold all of the wire I got.
http://images59.fotki.com/v684/photo...MVC016F-vi.jpg
This is pretty simple as it's only a heavy cardboard tube with dividers made from heavy cardbooard and hotglued in place... A scrap of 5/4 deck board made the base.
http://images55.fotki.com/v268/photo...MVC018F-vi.jpg
I put hooks in this and it hangs right over my wiring bench so the wire is easy to reach and stays out of the way.
Here are some pics of the battery box. The rear most position just isn't good because it's way to high in the van.
http://images107.fotki.com/v159/phot...MVC005F-vi.jpg
I thought about putting it in the floor in front of the passenger side wheel tub but that is a lot of work for no real gain. Also it would be in the way of my planned exhaust routing.
http://images49.fotki.com/v855/photo...MVC002F-vi.jpg
I've made up my mind to put it up front. Centered in the frame as low as I can get it yet keep it above the bottom of the lower frame tube.
http://images23.fotki.com/v859/photo...MVC018F-vi.jpg
It will be sitting fairly low and will not even see the radiator. This is also going to simplfy the wiring by leaps and bounds! No huge mass of cables running front to back now.
Mark
hey looks good by the way can you flip the alt bracket so it closer to the water pump if so i bet you could sell a bunch of them or at least one :) been some time was thinking at last ride may he done you in :)
Neat stuff Mark, I especially like the engine brackets!
Hi Pat, Hi Dave,
The alt bracket was designed to keep it low on the engine so it will clear the passenger side floor and engine cover. I looked at pulling it in closer to the engine but, if it was any closer, then you start running into the lower water pump outlet. I couldn't pull it up because of the mounting bracket itself.
Thanks
Mark
yes i know you need it to work the way you have it but i was looking at the bracket to work closer to the water pump . more close to the top of the head next to the upper part of pump .if you had the print i could have it cut out for my use or i just lay one out like i have with cardboad :)
This thing is killer, Mark! I'm doing everything I can to not go on Craigslist and find an Astro and a big block!