I decided a while ago I would only post progress updates when I had done something significant on the car. Kind of as a way of getting me focused on finishing the car.
I hit a fairly significant mile stone today when I finally fired up the engine and drove the car out of the shed under it's own power. I'm pretty excited about this as you will probably read by incoherent ramblings.
I've been working steadily on the wiring loom and getting all of the engine electrics and lighting etc working. I made a bit of a rod for my own back when I decided to relocate the ignition coils to inside the foot boxes. There's a fair bit of wiring work to do if you attempt this. Check and double check as there are a lot of wires to the coils. Each of the 8 coils on the LS1 has it's own driver built into it. This takes the demand for current away from the ECU and provides some protection for it to. I could have thrown the wiring loom together and got it going but I wanted to wire it up right first time.
I pressure tested the fuel system a week or two back and found a bad leak on the output of the Bosch 044 Pump. I had done my own flares for nearly all the fittings but decided to use an Earls AN#8 compression fitting for the 1/2" hard line connecting to the pump. I didn't trust my own work with the flaring tool and thought this fitting would be a safer option. The compression fitting has a brass olive (ring) inside it that bites into the outside of the soft aluminium tube as the compression fitting is tightened. The olive provides a surface for the fitting to seal against. Ironically this was the only joint in the whole system that leaked and it was the hardest to get too. I finally got it sealed up tight the other night and the fuel system pressurised with no leaks.
A few more late nights got most of the wiring finished and the dash in. My guages are mechanical and have lines connected directly to the motor for oil temp, water temp and oil pressure. These all needed to be in before I could put oil and coolant in the engine.
Sunday morning saw me heading down to the auto parts shop to buy 5 litres of Mobil-1 and 5 litres of genuine Holden coolant. I filled every thing up and then with the coils disconnected and the fuel pumps turned off I cranked the engine until the oil pressure guage registered pressure. I reconnected the coils and plugged in the fuel pump relay and with fingers crossed turned the key. The pumps let out an angry whine and were obviously keen for action. Turned the key another notch and the starter motor growled into life and a few cranks later the engine spluttered into life. After 20 or 30 seconds the idle settled into a steady 900RPM burble that was music to my ears.
A big thank you to Plumbs and it's a testament to his tuning skills coming up with a MAFless tune that runs nice straight out of the box. Thanks to everyone else for your patience and support getting to this point.
Here's video of the beastie running:
Cheers
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Mike Murphy
Melbourne Australia
Cobra Make, Engine: FFR Coupe, 416ci of LS goodness
Posts: 2,349
Not Ranked
It looks and sounds great!
You've put the pressure on now Mike!
Sorry for not returning your call I got several callouts after picking up my mower and I have been moving furniture all weekend and havn't had my phone on.
Congrats and speak to you soon
Cobra Make, Engine: Classic Revival #3199. 366ci L76, T56 6 speed, Blue circle custom paint, Australias most original cobra 2009-2010
Posts: 2,396
Not Ranked
I reckon that would have to be the single biggest landmark in a cobra build - I can see the grin on your dial in the vid! Well done Mike - not long now
My face hurts from grinning like an idiot all afternoon.
It goes! The next job is making it stop. I still have to hook up the brake lines to the master cylinders and bleed the system. I've also found a pin hole in one of the welds on my lower radiator pipe. I'll have to drain the coolant and pull it out so I can re weld it. Such is life.
Cheers
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Mike Murphy
Melbourne Australia
Cobra Make, Engine: Classic revival kit (CR3181), gen III engine, T56 6 speed box, AU XR8 lsd diff
Posts: 5,699
Not Ranked
Congratulations Mike on what is a big point in your build.
I too am dead keen to get my car fired up fairly soon, Still have a few small things to get done but getting closer by the day.
Sorry I didnt get to catch up on this latest trip with you but it was good to see you afew weeks ago.
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Cruising in 5th
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Never be afraid to do something new, Remember, Amateurs built the Ark: Professionals built the Titanic.
The coolant thing is a bugger, I was not to keen on buying bottles of the stuff every time I had to do something with the cooling system. The last time I drained the coolant into a bucket and then strained it thru a stocking and reused it. The coolant was only in the car for a day.
congrats Mike i am very happy for you .
Now as long as you dont decide to pull the engine out to fix the leak it should all be well.
I must say you are a typical cobra builder in that you make it go well before you can stop it .
I would have hated to see the consequences if you had it in gear gave it a rev and the pivot fell off the clutch lever . it would have turned you cobra and your house into demolition yard. .
Anyway Mike well done and will see you at shelby fest in you cobra .
Regards oz
Too right! at $65 a bottle I'll be recycling the coolant. I'll buy a nice clean oil drain pan to drop it into and then use your strain it through a stocking trick before putting it back in.
Oz, I've got all the bits there to make it stop they just aren't connected yet. It was something I was working on whilst doing the wiring but I just couldn't wait. I had to drop it off the axle stands and fire it up.
It was a bit of a nervous ride rolling out of the work shop. I wasn't sure what to expect. The coper/ceramic clutch behaved itself nicely and didn't mind slipping a bit as I eased the pedal out. I reckon I could have used a 3/4" Clutch MC rather than the 7/8" and it would have worked fine too. Might be something to change in the future for an even lighter clutch pedal.
Cheers
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Mike Murphy
Melbourne Australia
Wow Mike thats great no more pretend brum brum noises from the garage its now got the real thing running. Well done! Cant wait to see it at Shelby Fest.
It's Alive!!!!
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It's all fired up.
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