'84 capri LS1

Wallace wrote:

I'm so pumped to see this thing in person. Nice work

same here, those seats look awesome too

thanks guys. still a lot of work to do... but i got some little stuff done:


msd spark plug wires (the ones on the engine weren't in very good shape and were mismatching)
mm bumpsteer kit
mm brake pedal

I got the old Wolfe Racecraft upper and lower control arms out. the uppers are going to be replaced by the MM HD torque arm and i swapped the lowers with the MM extreme duty ones.



the MM extreme duty ones on, no springs yet - trying to figure out what the two sets of springs that came with the car are first:



Swapped in the spark plug wires, in the process i found one of the coil pack's connectors was broken off, so I'll have to get a new one :\



i think i'm going to pull the rear axles or the brake booster next.

shit looks even more epic on the computer than on my phone! haha cant wait to see it in a couple days (and you too )

ughhhh bunch of setbacks.

angle grinding off the old subframe connectors has proven to be much more of a chore than i thought. still working on it... so the new ones aren't going to be welded in soon.

while i was doing that, zach was working on the rear axle. unfortunately we realized that i can't get rid off the c-clip eliminators and use c-clip axles because you cut off the ends of the axle housing to install the c-clip eliminators (AFTER zach took apart the rear axle brakes and cleaned all the rtv off). soooo i could either get new ends welded on or find another rear axle housing. i'm going to do the latter and sell my whole rear axle to someone building a drag car. probably worth more together anway.

think we're just going to pull the transmission - so i can commit to converting it to a t56 and sell the auto tranny.

xcoldricex wrote:

ughhhh bunch of setbacks.

angle grinding off the old subframe connectors has proven to be much more of a chore than i thought. still working on it... so the new ones aren't going to be welded in soon.

while i was doing that, zach was working on the rear axle. unfortunately we realized that i can't get rid off the c-clip eliminators and use c-clip axles because you cut off the ends of the axle housing to install the c-clip eliminators (AFTER zach took apart the rear axle brakes and cleaned all the rtv off). soooo i could either get new ends welded on or find another rear axle housing. i'm going to do the latter and sell my whole rear axle to someone building a drag car. probably worth more together anway.

think we're just going to pull the transmission - so i can commit to converting it to a t56 and sell the auto tranny.

YES, great choice especially if your going to be doing any sort of road racing.

Hope the welder serves you some use even with you set-backs!

Keep us updated, I'm loving this build!

sigh, no, so basically i'm going to take everything apart.
zach and i took out the rear axle, the drive shaft. we were going to drop the transmission but there's bolts on top you can't get to - so i have to take out the engine and trans. so i'll probaly just drop the whole subframe if I can get the car high enough to clear the engine. disconnect the trans - get a t56 and put it on off the car - i'll have to cut a hole for the shifter anyway so it'll be easier with everything out. so yeah the whole drivetrain is coming out, most of the interior is coming out to work on the trans tunnel for the new trans, i still have to cut the subframe connectors off... at least i can sell the rear end and trans for good money so i won't be out of pocket for the parts i'm going to put in.

also i realized i don't have standard coilpacks, because the replacement one i got (from a pontiac gto) is totally different - which explains why those spark pug wires seemed so short. so i have to figure out where mine are from and either get new wires or new coilpacks.

so it continues to be a big project... but at least i'm learning a lot as it goes forward and backwards in progress haha.

yeah and remember, you're getting to the point where you can pull and swap drivetrains in a weekend honestly derrick thats what happened to me a bunch with the DSM. i had the enging out twice and the trans 3 times before i finally parted with it. also the full suspension, brakes, front subframe etc.

just imagine downshifting hard into second while flat footing it through a hard corner.

mmm

oh and i sat in the sparcos guys! they're tight but super comfy and have the best seating position ever! and they weigh NOTHING. i tried to steal one but it didnt work out

located a t56 rebuilt with viper t56 bearings/gears/internals and a textralia clutch. probably picking it up out near philly later this month. probably break even after i sell the th400 auto trans. w00t!

i picked up a ARE dry sump kit, it's about $3.6-4k new but i got it for ULTRA cheap. i've read a bunch about the ls1 having oil scavenging problems, even the ls7 oem dry sump system isn't very good apparently. i was planning on maybe running an accusump system (those run several hundred), but i happened across this complete ARE stage 2 dry sump kit. i'm debating on reselling this to put help fund this build, but at the same time... keeping the engine well lubricated is important!



i'm going to pick up that t56 on my way home from baltimore. still have to drop the engine and trans and get those subframe connectors off. i realized why the previous owner told me to redo them - his friend did them while the car was on a hoist (you need to do it on jack stands) so the frame is a little twisted.

Wooooow, Nice dude. Deff keep it, it will be especially important if you hit the track this summer.

so when is this thing going to be done?

not anytime soon...

here's a short list:
pull drive train, rebuild rear end, fit new trans, install new k-member, fabricate new engine mounts, setup dry sump, reinstall drivetrain, reinstall front suspension, retrofit hydraulic clutch pedals, install new brake brake booster/master cylinder, install brake hard and stainless lines, weld in subframe connectors, install panhard bar, torque arm, refit exhaust, weld exhaust, install new radiator/fans. tune....

reminds me of the mk1 lol

so derrick, I'll text you ed's number so you can get with him about welding stuff. also, that dry sump is epical! this car is gonna be so retarded when you're done you might need to get another RWD car to practice with first

nice, did you talk to him about it?

Race wrote:

this car is gonna be so retarded when you're done you might need to get another RWD car to practice with first

yeah for real, i'll take the miata kthanks

talked to a nasa instructor and he said i should start with a miata on street tires

i picked up the t56 yesterday. also sold my current coilover setup and replaced it with a nicer bilstein HD coils all around setup.

yeah I had shitty all season dirrezzas when I started at grattan. they worked REAL good for literally about a minute and then greased up. the tires were almost new condition but just not good for tracking. the falkens i feel would have done real well but I never made it to a track day. They warmed up real good on back to back highway curley-q's and long sweeping high speed corners (70-90mph).

anyway derrick, i will have my miata for a long time to come. eventually im gonna swap the engine out and get a new clutch. i mean, its so cheap for all the stuff, eventually i'll have the money to replace it and then we can track it by then though you'll probably have the capri well seasoned and broken in

new coilover setup


MM3 race valved struts and shocks with Hypercoil springs, MM Upper shock mounts: Fronts: 450lb, 10", 2.5 diameter; Rear: 350lb, 8", 2.25 diameter.

How is the threaded portion attached to the strut body? They don't look welded? I've never seen anyone make coilovers with HDs. People on Bimmerforums always used to complain bout how it they didn't have enough stroke at lower heights. Anyways looks nice! I'm excited to ride in this bitch with the suspension.

lets just say nick that those have to be alot better than the konis were. plus they have pretty beefy cyl.

they're actually custom valved bilsteins so they aren't actually HD's. they don't make any "real" coilovers for the fox for whatever reason - everything is a kit. these are supposedly one of the best road racing setups for the fox though.

I see, I see, well they look great. Are those blue pieces camber adjustable tp mounts? The fox body front suspension is basically like a double a arm deal right? So no camber bolt adjustment?

no, the blue plates are rear upper shock mounts - so the shock is mounted with a spherical bearing to reduce side loading. i have cc plates up front already.

Stock fox suspension is a single a-arm, modified McPherson struts with coil springs. Rear, a four-link suspension with shock absorbers and coil springs. the rear is really bad since it binds all the time.

just scored a ron davis radiator for $100! ($500 new) selling my stock f-body radiator (commonly used for fox ls1 swaps for that much )

Is the ron davis radiator thicker then the stock radiator?

Those are some sexy coils!