383 ez-efi and overdrive

[ttype]

@50ish that would have been causing issues.... 10 is much better although single digit to zero would obviously be ideal.

Suxs your 383 gave you issues. Love my 383 w/ EZ EFI

yeah well ya know? hindsight is definitely 20/20... s'pose i could've just popped that motor open when i first got it and cross referenced any numbers from the crank to Eagle's website... but that guy said there was no balancer or flexplate with it, and armed with that info (you guessed it) "assumed" it was internally balanced... he had 2 builds on the go at the same time...

it made great power, was economical fuel wise, but on the same token(you guessed it again!), assumed it was the poly motor bushings transferring vibrations to the body thru chassis... hmmmmmm... i know a lot more about that now i'll say.

there ain't no fat lady signing around here 😉,

thanks for the kind words CDub. i've perused your threads since becoming a member here looking for others' successes.

i'll look at improving the IRM count in the very near future, however, just knowing i can move the car with the flick of a key is a huge improvement from the last time the little motor ran with a 600cfm Eddy on it. i'll also add that the more i use the EZ, the easier it gets. 'specially when you're alone firing up a freshly assembled melee of parts. little Buford will only be getting better from here on in.

thanks 😀 again.

r.

edit:

p.s. i only just recently learned of the IRM values from reading a lot reviews and threads. since i was already in possession of a new MSD distributor, i figured the best bang for the buck was the ez-efi. many equally good "others" have surfaced since my purchase of it, and am still enamored with the simplicity of it, and likely will not turn back anytime soon. it works!

Rob.

 

[ttype]

oh! before i forget... the sfi flexplate and balancer for the 383 came in just today from the engine builder guy... right on time! they'll come in handy for the balancing job happening soon. 😎. all in all tho, i'm thankful i had enuf sense to abandon running that mill before anything drastic occured. the upcoming balancing work will only start once i have a flywheel to accompany that flexplate to the balance shop... and i'll gladly fork up the required bucks to have balancing info sheets for all work up and coming.

i' ve heard from others that this information is invaluable for additional work after the fact...

keep wrenchin, and keep smilin' too... it confuses the crap out of people.

r.

 

[ttype]

had 'er cooled down for a bit do some research, and she fired right up with just a little crack of the throttle. she has never seen the temps this low, so i'll attribute most of that "not so easy" cold start to it not knowing what to do when it gets cooler.

outside of the dynomax VT's on a dual exhausted 3" x-piped exhaust, it sounds a bit like turbo mufflers. with the cooler temps outside, there were nice steam plumes rising from the tailpipes too. must be that California emissions friendly camshaft i guess.

the absolute coolest thing so far is the modified GM air breather... it actually sounds like a stock motor, complete with that faint little whistle sound we heard on our grandparents mid 80's GM station wagons and TBI trucks. (can even discern fuel injector pulsing as well)

i'm thrilled to bits even though i didn't get my ride to the marina with it, but hey... what i experienced today was sheer delight.

thank you for the kind gestures gents(and gals out there too), most importantly though, for the patience to read through my uhhhh... rants.

there'll be more. now to get the "shop/carport" cleaned up, tools organized and put away, and get ready for work.

Rob.

p.s. i did get 'er off the jackstands, and onto the street for a turnaround... and maybe a bit of showing off to the neighbors who haven't seen it move much lately. especially cool was that it ran long enough to get to temp today, and immediately driving again after setting the timing and lockin' it tight. they're pretty much aware that i have had two motors in it in just a short time.

t'il the next installment GBody folks.

 

[ttype]

went for a real spin in it today for the self tune portion of it... raining out and just above freezing. figured i put a put right arpund 50 miles on it total. found a nice secluded spot to do full throttle burnouts to help out those parameters of the tune and it's working rather well. at one point i managed to see IRM count value of 9. finished washing the carport floor and tucked 'er back in until i get some more time with it. once the weather gets a bit nicer, i'll take it out for some real good self tuning.

bye for now,

r.

 

[CWPottenger]

LOL... You sound like me. I was out testing and doing WOT pulls to teach my EFI when it was only 12degrees outside. I was amazed at how well my 383 ran with the EFI installed. With a Carb I had to tune for performance or economy or shoot for a bit of both as a compromise. Once the F.A.S.T. system was on it I had both better then ever before. The instant start and idle no matter the temperature is great. When I was shopping for systems I liked the FAST system over all the other ones I looked at.
.
Glad you were able to get your other engine in and still get to enjoy your car.

 

[ttype]

hello folks! i haven't turned a wrench on ole Buford for almost a week... i am working a compressed work week these days and not much leftover time for anything after dinner(s). home repairs and maintenance must also be performed as well...

'been looking into the price of a replacement crankshaft for the 383(just in case)... drove past Mopac 3 different times in the past week. the hardest part of driving past Mopac without stopping in is akin to an alcoholic driving by a beer store for the first little while. i couldn't stop in due to being pressed for time, however should be going by the store again in about a week. i know of one guy with decent prices and all, however his prices only work if you have ample time to wait for things to come in.

more to come, however paid work takes precedence over my fun time.... i'd like to know what kind of pricing there is for a crankshaft with more than one delivery option(Edmonton/Calgary/Vancouver), since i haven't autopsied the 383 yet. all i know, is that if there is any scoring on the thrust surfaces on that low mile stroker of mine, simply re-installing new bearings could turn out to be a crap shoot even if polishing it is all that is required . it is very possible for that current crank to survive the next torture test it will endure, yet gambling with stressed parts is not something i would like to do.

'til the next update... keep wrenching,

R.

 

[ttype]

Hi folks! going thru withdrawals while at work... ain't life like that sometimes? Did manage to get talking with Mopac and JB's Power Center looking for a replacement crankshaft for the 383. As this is to be a really fun car for long commutes with an occasional stop at Saratoga Speedway for some slalom events if there's a bit more time than the current schedule allows...

Out of curiosity, how are you other Canucks fairing for in-stock pricing as far as stroker cranks go? Do any westerners shop at either of the two places i mentioned? If so, is there one brand of stroker crank you guys prefer over the other? Bearings are a non-issue as far as needs go, and since my EFI has a Rev Limiter in it set to 5800rpm or thereabouts, are an Eagle and/or Scat crank of the same quality when it comes to cast steel cranks? Mopac doesn't handle Scat anymore, and JB's is selling Eagle. Scat is 301 vs 266 for Eagle. pistons are Hypereutectic, I-Beams weren't "blued" from the quick peek i took with the pan off. both are external balanced machines that will be spun in order to improve engine life and fun factors. what are your thoughts?

r.

 

[ttype]

Hi folks.

Managed to put the 327 through some torture... With 45 minutes of run-time, I figured she'd be good for a road-trip.

Once warmed up, it ran good. If shut down and re-started hot, not so good.

Made it through a good trip of 1100km, although it still needs a tune(or better yet, replacement), since blow-by must be a contributing factor to the rough cruise a/f tables.

Brother and I have been playing with a new plasma cutter, mig welder, 4 and 6x2 x .188 HSS and plate.

Also scored 13" 5th gen rotors, 4piston calipers and flexlines with 6km on them. That fella just upgraded to 400mm rotors as a condition of purchase of his '16 z28.

Lucky me!

That's all for now folks,

R.

 

[ttype]

Hi folks!

Been working a lot lately... Had the old Buick out and it was sure a lot of fun. Possibly having some fuel pump issues as the last spin I took my FP regulator was reading a measely 12 psi, with some squeeling noises emanating from the area of my pump area. Have just picked up a replacement walbro 255L/h pump and a cleanable 100 micron prefilter.

All that is required now is some time off work to replace it. And, maybe drop the tank to see if it could use a cleaning again... I have been studying Ron Sutton's teachings over at lateralg net, and all I can say is that man is inspiring for the do It yourselfers.

Have been installing an 8" step notch into the 55 pickup and making my own control arms for a home brewed 4 link rear suspension to compliment the Z28 front clip. They are built with 3/4" spherical rod ends, and 121kpsi tubing. I made some lower control arm brackets that I will be finish welding in the exact location as our gbodies would have them, just in case I happen to require a little extra axle width for the upcoming suspension upgrades.

Was just at my favorite scrap heap and peeled some pbr calipers, rotors and brackets from a 98 firebird that I'll wittle into the ttype later.

The old new shop truck needs some remedial work to the heads, as I will be replacing the stock TBI heads with some freshened up 781's we had kicking around. Having a fleet to look after and work full time is rather time consuming to say the least.

Pardon me for not posting any new news for some time.

R.

 

[Texas82GP]

Good to see you back Rob.