It runs!

John Mcgraw · 05-07-05, 11:50 PM

Well I got out to the shop early this morning with the intent of getting the 59 started before noon, yea, right! I got the oil and trans fluid put in, finished up on the power steering hoses and hooked up my battery cables. First problem: the fuel pump did not come on when the key was turned on. Checked all the wiring, everything checked OK, jumped out the pump and it ran OK, checked the relay that is fired by the computer, and it checked out OK. For some reason the computer was not commanding the pump relay on. After chasing my tail for another 30 minutes, I found that I had left the grounding lug on the harness unconnected at the rear of the block. This gives the computer it's ground, and the computer will not function without it. Hooked it up and the pump came to life just like it is supposed to. Tried to start the car and it just cranked and cranked, but did not even try to start, Argh! After completely checking all the circuts and chasing all the wiring from the harness, I was at a loss. I checked the coil packs and they were firing, then checked the injectors and they were firing as well! After some more head scratching, I got out the can of starting fluid and sprayed some into the intake, and the engine started right up, but died imediately! Pulled the fuel rails and injectors, and ALL EIGHT injectors were gummed up tight by the old gas that was left in them from the last time I ran it over 2 years ago, Double Argh!!! Soaked them in some carb cleaner for a while, and they freed right up after being fired a couple of time by a bench power supply. Put them back on and the engine fired right up on the first crank, Yehaa!
The engine sounds incredible, and gave me a chubby that still has not gone down yet! The exhaust is a little loud for my tastes and I will have to think about new mufflers. The ones from stainless works remind me of a car with undercar chambered exhaust, it will be okay around town, but will probably drive you to drink on the road. Since this is going to be a longhaul cruiser, I will probably have to put something a little quieter on the car. I sure pi**ed away a lot of time today for something that shouldn't have happened, but I was too lazy to blow out the injectors when I stored the engine! I can't wait to take it on it's madien voyage. Spent way too much time on my feet today and am paying for it tonight. I will probably not get much done tomorrw except for keeping my feet up, but will probably slip out to the shop to fire it up again for a few minutes just to listen to it! I wish I had a way of capturing the sound of this monster and posting it, it just sounds awesome.

Regards, John McGraw

tigernut · 05-08-05, 12:08 AM

Congratulations! I can't wait to see pictures of the finished product and maybe you will have it entered in a local car show soon for us to see.

Doug

IH2LOSE · 05-08-05, 01:18 AM

John

A sincere congradulations on first fire. Most of the newer digital cameras are capeabill of taking a video. Sorry about your excaust.I studied the work you did on it and can tell you have hours in the fabrication of it.Any chance of just getting a tiny muffler out back some place?

When do you take it for a ride,

as for your feet. Nothing is better then

Rest
Ice
Elavation
Compression

From exspereance I can tell you there is nothing better then ICE, 20 minutes on,30 minutes off.then repeat.Once you get past the first 3 minutes its starts to feel good.

Maybee its time to treat the wife to a new digital camera with a video recorder in it for mothers day tomorow.If you get a vid I am sure 67heaven can upload it to my web site and post a link for us.

Good luck sleeping thinking about your car,Just remember the faster you go to sleep the faster morning comes

Mac · 05-08-05, 01:34 AM

Congrats, John. You'll get the exhaust ironed out soon enough!

-Mac

studiog · 05-08-05, 09:22 AM

Congrats John. You got allot done. Now you can take it easy for a while.

67HEAVEN · 05-08-05, 10:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Mcgraw

I wish I had a way of capturing the sound of this monster and posting it, it just sounds awesome.

Regards, John McGraw

Open the garage doors. We'll hear it.

Congratulations on first fire.

BarryK · 05-08-05, 04:45 PM

John

WOW! first fire on your car. that's great!
You must have been very excited

I can't wait to see your car at Carlisle, along with Bob's, and Larry's, and...........

LT4man · 05-08-05, 05:18 PM

John,

Congratulaions on your Vette! Sounds absolutely awesome. If you can get the sound posted, that would be great.

Don't beat yourself up about the starting of the car. Just last week I installed an Accel HP remote mounted ignition coil on my LT4. I checked out all the wiring, must have been 10 times. I made double sure that the distributor ignition wire and the coil wiring was hooked up. Tried to start - only cranked - no firing. Got out of the car to see that I had not hooked up the wire to the module! Duh!

BTW, with the module connected, started right up!

Save The Wave!

richscorvettes · 05-08-05, 05:36 PM

John,

Congratulations on getting life into your car.

Your experience with the wiring seems like a pretty small problem in the context of everything you did.

I'd imagine you are a little anxious to hit the road. Let us know how the first drives goes.

Rich Lagasse

John Mcgraw · 05-08-05, 05:50 PM

Thanks guys,

I also found out what happens when you hook up the power steering hoses up backwards today, you turn the wheel right and the tires go hard left! LOL
Luckily, I left enough slack in the hoses, that swapping them over to the opposite ports on the rack, was not a problem.

61 Silver · 05-08-05, 06:00 PM

Hi! John

It is good to here that you are back in the shop! Looking forward to seeing pictures of your projects and reading your post.

Ray

BarryK · 05-08-05, 06:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Mcgraw

I also found out what happens when you hook up the power steering hoses up backwards today, you turn the wheel right and the tires go hard left! LOL

wow, that would make a great theft deterent.......imagine the confusion of someone trying to steal the car and drive it away.......

Vette66AirCoupe · 05-08-05, 06:21 PM

I also found out what happens when you hook up the power steering hoses up backwards today, you turn the wheel right and the tires go hard left! LOL<<<<

Holy cow! My wife's brain is hooked up backwards!

BarryK · 05-08-05, 06:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vette66AirCoupe

I also found out what happens when you hook up the power steering hoses up backwards today, you turn the wheel right and the tires go hard left! LOL<<<<

Holy cow! My wife's brain is hooked up backwards!

oh Terry, Terry, Terry............you better hope she never sees that post or you will really be in the doghouse!

in fact, what's it worth to you for me not to print this out and drive it over to your house?

NAH..........I could NEVER do that to another Vette buddy and fellow club member!