Something a little different for the Dark Siders

[Aussie Mike]

Hi All,

I've been on the road with work for the past 3 weeks. I got a nice surprise when I got home that some bits I'd ordered from the US had come in.

I got home from the office tonight and went out to the shed and started bolting the goodies on to see what it will all look like.

Check it out:





It's an Edelbrock Victor Jr for the LS1 but I'm using a 4 barrel throttle body rather than the carburettor that these are often set up for. The throttle body flows 1000CFM which should be plenty and it takes all the standard sensors and connectors used by the stock throttle body. This basically means it's a bolt on replacement for the stock manifold and throttle body and the ECU will run it fine.

Hood clearance is good. it will fit under the stock scoop however I've got to widen the hole a little.



At this stage I'm just bolting it up to see how it fits and working out where the loom will run. I've still got to source some fuel fittings and other bits.

I'm going to speak to the engineer and see if he thinks I can get it through rego with this manifold on it. I've seen plenty of other cars go through with aftermarket manifolds so I'm confident of my chances.

Cheers

[BMK]

Aussie Mike

Mike what about the little puffer of the F truck. Will you use that later..

[Plums]

Mmmm, I can see some serious HP coming from that engine bay in the future...... Looks good!!!

I'll be interested to see how it perfroms with the program you currently have. I might have to send my gear over to you for some "remote control" fine tuning over the phone.

[Aussie Mike]

I've been thinking about the blower quite a bit and decided that I liked the simplicity of the naturally aspirated setup. Also the blower puts me into the top bracket for all the track events and I liked the idea of mixing it up with all the other LS1s and the Ford 347 and 361 powered cars.

There are a lot more cars in this bracket and to do well against them will hold a lot more satisfaction. I guess people won't be able to just point at the blower and say "There's the reason it won"

I've still got plans for the manifold for a future project. It might end up with an 8-71 and an Enderle injector hat on top of it.

Cheers

[Aussie Mike]

Originally Posted by Plums

Mmmm, I can see some serious HP coming from that engine bay in the future...... Looks good!!!

I'll be interested to see how it perfroms with the program you currently have. I might have to send my gear over to you for some "remote control" fine tuning over the phone.

I'm hoping it'll make some good numbers. With the cam and other bits I'm hoping to smash the 400 RWHP mark.

I'll definitely be in touch when it comes time to fire it up again, Thanks Bobby. Initially my main concern is the idle adjusment. It should be pretty easy to set with the screw adjuster but it's just finding the best starting point without pushing the IAC past the end of it's range.

Cheers

[Plums]

You should be able to unplug the IAC and set the throttle stop manually. Aim for a lowish idle of around 500 rpm (Auto's idle at 550). I have your idle set at 750, so the IAC will make up the difference.

It is best to have the throttle blade/s cracked a little bit for two reasons: a; the IAC doesn't have to work as hard, and b; it reduces the "off idle sensitivity" that comes from the instant rush of air as the throttle is opened.

[macloft]

Very nice
Garage sale coming up ?, LS1 intake (painted red), fuel rails with braided hoses, intake manifold with almost new filter.

[Rebel1]

Looks great Mike, is that a progressive throttle body?.

Looks very similar to the mass-flo injection system. Does it use a MAF meter inside that air cleaner.

I really like that system. Vintage look with all the benefits of injection.

Would look much better on a ford though.

[400TT]

Now that's a nice retro look.

You know, it would look even better polished, has fantastic curves and plenty of visibility.

[HSVREDSLED]

Out of curiosity, what cam are you running?

[Aussie Mike]

Hi Les,

Yes it is a progressive jobbie. There is no MAF inside the air cleaner, the LS1 runs very well MAFless. The ECU gets enough data from the TPS, MAP and O2 sensors. The HSV GTS300 runs MAFless from the factory.

I'm pleased with the traditional look of the thing. Gives it a much more old school look.

Cheers

[Rebel1]

Originally Posted by 400TT

Now that's a nice retro look.

You know, it would look even better polished, has fantastic curves and plenty of visibility.

Mike's a very adaptable dude, I'm sure he will:

1. Adapt the oval ford cobra air cleaner to hide the origin of the engine.
2. Mill up some adaptors to fit the ford finned tappet covers.

That should make it perfect.

[Aussie Mike]

Originally Posted by HSVREDSLED

Out of curiosity, what cam are you running?

I'm running the stock cam for the moment but I picked up a Texas Speed and Performance "Magic Stick 4" from the US along with dual valve springs, Ti Retainers and a bunch of other engine internals.

The MS4 cam is fairly huge for a hydraulic roller. The specs are as follows:

Duration @ 0.050
Intake: 239
Exhaust: 242

LSA: 111

Lift @ Valve
Intake: 0.649
Exhaust: 0.609

Cheers

[Cameron Parsons]

Mike,

Nice

It looks like you could whip up a turkey pan to fit that set up and get the cold air benefits. It would also look the goods.

Not that I really need you to be making more power, as I sit right in that class you're targeting

Guess I'll just have to go on a diet to start closing the gap..

Cameron

[sambo]

Guys (semi related to the above post), how do these things handle on the track? All that power, minimal weight and not a lot of science in the engineering - are they a handful at 10/10ths?

[Aussie Mike]

The more HP they have the fewer 10ths you get I before they are a hand full. Another reason for not continuing with the blower.

To give you an idea the King Cobras at the last few Nationals haven't had huge HP.

Cheers

[David Hodgson]

Originally Posted by Rebel1

Mike's a very adaptable dude, I'm sure he will:

1. Adapt the oval ford cobra air cleaner to hide the origin of the engine.
2. Mill up some adaptors to fit the ford finned tappet covers.

That should make it perfect.

Don't forget to bolt a fake dizzy up front

[Cameron Parsons]

Sambo, anything is a handful at 10/10ths

I have been lucky enough to race a lot of cars, old and new in past lives. Cobra's can be made to handle very well, considering the tech level of the components.

It's all up to the builder and the resources. Mike for example will be driving an engineering marvel and will have the skills to change whatever he likes to make it as good as it can be. Some of us without those skills (Ah.. that would be me ) just need to either work with what they have, or get someone who knows what they are doing involved.

All that said, it's about the comparative performnace, handling and the enjoyment. Sure a GT3 will circulate faster and with less 'moments', but really, what fun is that

Bottom line, I don't really lust after a better track car, the Cobra is a ton of fun for a reasonable price, when talking track and road cars.

- Just one maniacs opinion -

Cameron

[pneall]

Some are a handfull at 7/10ths ......but guys like John white have managed to make them go around corners quite tidily.

I reckon 300 rwkw is sufficient to have more fun than should be allowed

Big rwkw are impressive but hard to get to the ground.

Mikes set up will comfortably get 300rwkw so I reckon he is in for some fun track days.

Should be good for sub 12 second quarters as well.

Phil

[Aussie Mike]

Originally Posted by David Hodgson

Don't forget to bolt a fake dizzy up front

I just threw out a couple of old 351 Clevo Dizzys as well . I could machine a hole in the valley cover and just jam one in there. Easier still just cut the shaft off the bottom of an old dizzy a stick it on with some "no more nails"

Cheers