uh oh...

just what a needed. a new distraction! and it drives phenomenally.

As a I arrived at Greg's home in Sacramento, there she was waiting for me.


A few hours later I satisfied my anality review, cut the check, killed a roll of painter's tape, and she was ready for the trip home!


5.5hrs later I realized I need a bigger garage. (Wait... doesn't Sacto-to-LA take 6-7hrs?... hahaha)


My garage is in need of a cleaning!

Things I like about the NSX.

• Honda's first car to introduce Variable-Valve-Lift Technology to the USDM.
  
• The car only weighs 2,9xx lbs. That's only ~200lbs more than my S2000.
  
• The engine is amazing and mated to the best chassis i've ever driven? ...it's absolute bliss.
• Still is a Honda with Honda bullet-proof reliability. (too bad when you tell the parts counter "it's for an NSX" prices jump 3x)
• Honda never made any money from this car but instead it was a tribute to their F1 domination in the 80's. R&D Costs must have been $$$.
  
• Steering is precise and communicative. Probably too much for the average driver (aka. Camry driver). The lack of a factory pwr steering option was a fantastic decision.
• Cornering is flat and stable, braking short and true, noise levels acceptable.
• Comfortable enough to function as a weekend getaway car. Arguably a capable GT.
• One more thing... In the 3 days i've been driving it, I have yet to see another one on the road and this is LA!
  

Now on to the videos! (Thanks John P. for the links!

1. Acura Commercial


2. British TV Show Fifth Gear's tribute to the NSX


3. A true-to-form video about the NSX's awesomeness :)

Calibration and Tuning

I've been casually driving the 66 Chevelle since my last post. I have about 130 miles since then. Still in the break-in period.

Here are some current issues I'm dealing with.

1. I initially thought my motor mounts were incorrect because my driver side header is waaaay too low to the ground. I'm scraping, spanking (and sparking!) my headers every time I come across a dip. I later found out it's the cheap-ass Summit Headers were to blame. Nothing I can do now but ponder new headers. I'm pretty peeved about this... and people complain about Made in China stuff...

http://www.chevelles.com/forums/showthread.php?t=227185


2. I'm having difficulty tuning the shift points or rather setting the TV Kickdown table for the 200-4R transmission. I've read all the online how-to's, which were all different btw, but nothing seems to get it just right. I'm going to take it to a pro in a couple of weeks. For I have it shifting *almost* right but the way it's hesitating makes me think i'm frying the clutch packs. I wonder if the Torque Converter locker makes a difference. I haven't set that up yet.

http://www.chevelles.com/forums/showthread.php?t=228032

3. The other issue... I'm a dufus when it comes to knowing how to set the timing on a car. Initial timing, vacuum advanceg, blah blah blah. I can build a motor. I can install an alarm system but for some reason I can't figure how to set proper timing on the car. When the timing light tells me i'm at 32 degrees total timing she seems to run like sh*t. For now i'm just shy of pinging and forced to 91 ($$$) octane.

http://www.chevelles.com/forums/showthread.php?t=228017

note: Let me also mention how awesome the guys at 'Hose Man' in Irwindale are. I needed to customize the high side of my power steering pump plumbing. They hooked me up real nice.

http://www.chevelles.com/forums/showthread.php?t=226886

I also sold my 307 Small Block last week and also my AP2 S2000 Exhaust. It's nice to finally have some room in the garage. Now I need to sell the other 3 sets of wheels.

ac-ces-so-ries

I was able to pick up a serpentine belt kit from a 91-93 Chevy Caprice from the local Pick-A-Part this past weekend. Thanks goes out to my cuz Wilbert for helping me dismantle the needed parts from the wreck that was once a cop car. So far all looks to be good. I had to order a long water pump (reverse flow) and had to keep the power steering pump mounted due to a lack of tools to unmount.

Issues:

• Need long water pump, reverse flow.
  
• Need to route the radiator hoses differently now and need to locate just the right flex hoses lengths and bends.
  
• A/C Delete Pulley is on order.
  
• Also need to figure out the proper serpentine belt length. The A/C Delete pulley looks much smaller.

After degreasing and after 2 more donated toothbrushes they were ready for paint. (My household is running out of toothbrushes.)


The kit is almost complete and looking good too.


note: Below is a shameless plug from yours truly.
If you are in need of Phlebotomy Certification and live in the State of California contact www.regancareer.com. They certify Phlebotomist and conduct CPR training/certification as well. Regan Career Institute is approved by the California Department of Public Health.

It's in and it's ALIVE

Dropped in the engine into Papa Smurf this weekend. Wasn't as easy as I thought but it's done. There's a still a bunch left to do but I got the headers installed and started it. Nearly woke up half the neighborhood. Good times!



from this view, looks like not much has change. i need a new carb

Engine Build Up. Progress Pics

Mike (My machinist): "This will be your best engine"
Me: "How so?"
Mike: "Because it's your first one"

I hope Mike is right. I know i've been super meticulous about getting everything right. I never used my Torque Wrench this much... ever.

Crank & New Freeze Plugs Installed


Old Rods, New Hypereutectic Pistons
Issues: Taking off the rods from the old pistons was a b*tch. You have to take them to someone with a hydraulic press. Don't use the hammer/mallet method!


If taking the pistons out was a b*tch, putting them back on is a b*tch and a half. The "heating the rod method" takes some skill.


Skipping ahead a few hours... Pistons are in!


Vortec 906 heads from the machine shop


Heads, Pushrods, and rockers are in!


My Harmonic Damper should be coming soon then I can finish the build-up. Let's hope she starts!!! Or at a minimum, let's hope I don't break anything while attempting to start.

Parts! Parts! and more Parts!!!

Received a bunch of parts on Friday and more to come today. Hope to have some time to put the bottom end of my engine together this wknd.

Part Number Part Description
NAL-12495499 HEAD BOLT KIT SBC
SUM-17350-60 SBC 4.06" HYPERUTECTIC PISTONS
SUM-133-139-60 RING SET 4.060 5/64 5/64 3/16
SUM-171020 ROD BEARING SET OF 8 SBC .020
SUM-173000 CAM BEARING SET SBC
SUM-G1581 BRASS FREEZE PLUG SB CHEVY
SUM-G2600 GASKETS-OVERHAUL KIT SBC
SUM-121155 OIL PUMP SBC HV
SUM-LUBE ENGINE ASSEMBLY LUBE
SUM-172030 MAIN BEARING SET .030 OVER
CCA-CL12-238-2 CL KIT
EDL-2116 PERFRMR MNFLD VORTEC
SUM-G9001 HEADER
FLO-5005 Flowmaster BOX 1 OF KIT#17119
FLO-1011 Flowmaster BOX 2 OF KIT #17119

McLovin' my Vortecs

My 906 Vortec heads are with the machinist getting a 3 angle valve job, taking 0.1" off the Valve Guide Bosses (for more lift) and some refinishing. Not doing a port job or anything else.

Should get it back by tomorrow. Also ordering my rebuild kit from Summit Racing - hopefully sometime today.