04-02-2018, 09:53 PM
Day 1
![[Image: 29871967_10156320401956810_2127153422158...e=5B2976B8]](https://scontent.fric1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t31.0-8/29871967_10156320401956810_2127153422158878595_o.jpg?_nc_cat=0&oh=da628c1030bb33c49f574424f9b3479a&oe=5B2976B8)
Today was mostly a success. The headers came in a little early around 4. I wrapped up work and got in the garage by 5 feeling pretty optimistic. It was a lot harder getting them in the car than I hoped it would be. There was just no way they were going to get on the studs from underneath the car without ripping everything out and I mean everything. The starter was the first to and I quickly realized leaving the box in place just wasn't going to happen. Had to remove the starter stud and pull the steering column all the up to the firewall. I could tell pretty early on that nothing about this was going to be easy.
Finally got the driver side on but couldn't find a way to get the steering box back in. Bit the bullet and jacked up the engine about 2 inches and in it went. The front tube wasn't routed like the shorties unfortunantely and still barely touches the steering box at one point but at least it wasn't resting on it like the Doug's. These things aren't coated yet so I had no hesitations about taking the hammer to them. Problem solved ... hopefully. They fit a lot better around the box but they came a lot closer to my frame rail which meant rerouting my battery cable and tranny cooler lines. Not sure how I'm going to route my shifter cable with these. There's not real good way except looping it underneath. The tension in the cable makes that a little difficult though, it doesn't really want to hang at all. I may have to find a way to attach a small weight to the cable to maintain the gap, we'll see.
I was hoping the passenger side would go smoother but no dice. I had to pull the oil filter so that meant draining the fresh break-in oil I just put in the car. Didn't have anything clean to catch it so I went to AutoZone and just got a 7 quart pan so I could at least reuse the oil. I caught a break with the fuel lines, they're not anywhere close to the passenger side headers so that was a relief.
Pulled the headers back off and got to work rerouting the driver side stuff and wrapping it in the heat sleeves I bought. Everything should be fine where it's at now. That's all I had the time and patience for today. Was hoping to at least get the headers sandblasted with a coat of primer but I knew that was going to be a stretch goal from the start. Going to get that started around lunch tomorrow. Hopefully the weather cooperates, it's going to be 65 but with a chance for some rain here and there.
I doubt the coating is going to be dry enough to handle tomorrow evening so I probably won't get much else done. I guess that really depends on how well I stick to light coats. Still I'm glad I didn't run into any kinda blocker even though I'm pissed it was about as hard it could have been with there being one. Should still be on track to driving this thing on Thursday or Friday if I work my ass off.
Today was mostly a success. The headers came in a little early around 4. I wrapped up work and got in the garage by 5 feeling pretty optimistic. It was a lot harder getting them in the car than I hoped it would be. There was just no way they were going to get on the studs from underneath the car without ripping everything out and I mean everything. The starter was the first to and I quickly realized leaving the box in place just wasn't going to happen. Had to remove the starter stud and pull the steering column all the up to the firewall. I could tell pretty early on that nothing about this was going to be easy.
Finally got the driver side on but couldn't find a way to get the steering box back in. Bit the bullet and jacked up the engine about 2 inches and in it went. The front tube wasn't routed like the shorties unfortunantely and still barely touches the steering box at one point but at least it wasn't resting on it like the Doug's. These things aren't coated yet so I had no hesitations about taking the hammer to them. Problem solved ... hopefully. They fit a lot better around the box but they came a lot closer to my frame rail which meant rerouting my battery cable and tranny cooler lines. Not sure how I'm going to route my shifter cable with these. There's not real good way except looping it underneath. The tension in the cable makes that a little difficult though, it doesn't really want to hang at all. I may have to find a way to attach a small weight to the cable to maintain the gap, we'll see.
I was hoping the passenger side would go smoother but no dice. I had to pull the oil filter so that meant draining the fresh break-in oil I just put in the car. Didn't have anything clean to catch it so I went to AutoZone and just got a 7 quart pan so I could at least reuse the oil. I caught a break with the fuel lines, they're not anywhere close to the passenger side headers so that was a relief.
Pulled the headers back off and got to work rerouting the driver side stuff and wrapping it in the heat sleeves I bought. Everything should be fine where it's at now. That's all I had the time and patience for today. Was hoping to at least get the headers sandblasted with a coat of primer but I knew that was going to be a stretch goal from the start. Going to get that started around lunch tomorrow. Hopefully the weather cooperates, it's going to be 65 but with a chance for some rain here and there.
I doubt the coating is going to be dry enough to handle tomorrow evening so I probably won't get much else done. I guess that really depends on how well I stick to light coats. Still I'm glad I didn't run into any kinda blocker even though I'm pissed it was about as hard it could have been with there being one. Should still be on track to driving this thing on Thursday or Friday if I work my ass off.