1987 Olds Pro-touring project build - Now with paint

[82Calais]

Re: 1987 Olds Pro-touring project build *LONG*

I just read the whole thread. Impressive ! You're very patient & imaginative finding solutions to problems. Can't wait to see it finished as I'm sure you are. I'll be watching your progress. When the paint is finished what's left?

 

[FE3X CLONE]

Re: 1987 Olds Pro-touring project build *LONG*

I just read the whole thread. Impressive ! You're very patient & imaginative finding solutions to problems. Can't wait to see it finished as I'm sure you are. I'll be watching your progress. When the paint is finished what's left?

Thanks a bunch.

Well, after the paint is finished I still have quite a bit to do. I was talking with some friends the other day and they asked once its painted if I was going to have it out cruising this summer. I just laughed and said that while getting it painted would be a HUGE step forward, there's still going to be a lot of stuff to finish and it's not really the end to the money I'll need to spend to finish it.

A short list that will need to be done:

1) I still need to get the HVAC system plumbed properly and wired. I'm kind of dreading this as things are extremely tight behind the dash and I'm running out of room for the plumbing. 🙁

2) I need to get the engine running properly and will likely take it to a local chassis dyno shop to tune the EFI system. Although lately I've really been considering scraping the Megasquirt system and going with an Accel EFI setup for ease of setup.

3) I still need to buy all of the components for my electric windows as well as my shaved door handle poppers, solenoids, etc.

4) Will need a new front windshield installed and the rest of the original windows put in.

5) Once it's at full weight, I need to finish tightening down all of the suspension and get it aligned as well as experimitting with the watts link and getting it adjusted.

6) I still have issues with the brake lines leaking and need to figure that out as well.

7) Finish the trunk and interior upholstery as well as hooking up the sound system


At least once it's painted and I show somone a picture of what I've done, it'll actually look like I've done something.

 

[Dragonist]

Re: 1987 Olds Pro-touring project build *LONG*

Don't recall seeing the details 0n your hood so I figured I'll ask . I seen you labeling it a w-25 hood is this custom fabbed meaning cutting of a old w-25 and welding it your self or is it essentaily this hood?

that comes from http://www.usabody.com?

direct link to the hood

http://www.usbody.com/Pages_Cars/78-Cutlass.htm

 

[FE3X CLONE]

Re: 1987 Olds Pro-touring project build *LONG*

The hood I have was actually made Oldsmobile/their contract company that built the pieces for the original FE3X concept car in '85. It was made for Angelo Valenti's '85 442 and I bought it off of him.
So it's not exactly the same as the US Body Source hood but pretty similar. However would look into the new VFN hood they are working on. It should be pretty decent in quality if it's anything like their other products.

And no, I'd NEVER take an original W-25 hood and cut it up. 😉 Actually the original hoods were fiberglass over a steel frame.

 

[Dragonist]

Re: 1987 Olds Pro-touring project build *LONG*

thanks I'll look into it

 

[82Calais]

Re: 1987 Olds Pro-touring project build *LONG*

I was looking at the Megasquirt system & realized how much I would need to learn about FI. Not a bad thing but the Accel EFI seems like a bargain for the price compared to me learning That much about FI when I dont neccesasarily have to you know what I mean. :lol: How much do you have into your Megasquirt system so far? I keep thinking fuel milage & drivability are worth the cost & headache for the install vs simplicity of carburation.

 

[FE3X CLONE]

Re: 1987 Olds Pro-touring project build *LONG*

I was looking at the Megasquirt system & realized how much I would need to learn about FI. Not a bad thing but the Accel EFI seems like a bargain for the price compared to me learning That much about FI when I dont neccesasarily have to you know what I mean. :lol:

That's the problem with the MS stuff. You have to start from scratch on EVERYTHING. I'd rather learn to tune EFI by messing around with an engine/efi setup that's already running and just making small adjustments rather than the HUGE amount of troubleshooting that goes into a scratch-built system. Half time I'm not sure if the problems I have when trying to tune are my tune itself or something in the wiring, etc.

How much do you have into your Megasquirt system so far? I keep thinking fuel milage & drivability are worth the cost & headache for the install vs simplicity of carburation.

Well, for just the assembled MS unit, Relay board and stimulator I have probably around $350 in it. I started adding things up and can get a complete Accel Thruster system for $1600 (not including the electronic distributor) which is a bit more than buying it through Jeg's or Summit but I would get the expertise and resources of the guy selling it who tunes and installs these systems on Olds engines. Which is great because I would get a "base tune" that is tailored to my specific engine.
For the MS stuff, I'll have to make at least two trips to a chassis dyno to get the bugs sorted out. Shops around here are in the $500-$600 range for 4 hours of dyno time which is what I was quoted as it probably taking. However that doesn't include any troubleshooting of the system. So if I wired something wrong then the rates will just go up from there.

By the time I'd be done with the MS stuff it would be close to an Accel unit.

 

[82Calais]

Re: 1987 Olds Pro-touring project build *LONG*

Even with a wideband guage I can only imagine it would be time consuming to say the least to build a fuel map from scratch. After reading your post I know I won't be going with their system. Just too involved. Makes a 5.3 or 6.0 swap seem like a worthy hassle.
:idea:

 

[FE3X CLONE]

Re: 1987 Olds Pro-touring project build *LONG*

Well, I actually have a base map from a guy with a BBC. It was a decent starting point but considering his had a 6-71 blower I couldn't use all of it.

I *think* I might be able to get things close if I could actually drive the car on the road. MS has an auto tuning feature that will adjust your fuel and spark maps as you drive and will even do WOT but you really need a wide band for that (which I do).

But like they say, it won't work miracles. You have to already be somewhat close to your target VE and AFR for it to really be effective.

However I still believe it's worth the time and effort to do an EFI upgrade on an engine that never had it offered from the factory. It pegs the cool factor compared to the LS stuff.

Only way I would EVER consider and LS anything is if it was something exotic. At a minimum the engine out of a ZR1 vette.

 

[81cutlass]

Re: 1987 Olds Pro-touring project build *LONG*

Was your megasquirt kit a you solder the computer board together or was it pre assembled?