Proz07's Black Pearl build

[proz07]

OK so whats been taking awhile is the wiring and not that its hard just methodically time consuming to make sure the magic smoke stays in. First did the main power distribution for the additional power requirements like twin E-fans, ECU, Twin walbro 450 fuel pumps etc. For that I ordered a china crimper for 35$ works great just like with any cheap item though needs a little finaggling on certain sizes.

20180106_164743 by Z S, on Flickr

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I was able to use the stock tahoe starter wiring harness cut down to hit the alt, batt, and send a run over to the distribution block via C/B this way.

20180106_184530 by Z S, on Flickr

And pass side to the stock starter relay i changed out to a golfcart continuous high amp relay as the starter solenoid although can handle amps it cant handle continuous use at 5 amps draw. the golf cart pulls .5amps. reason for the relay is to have both constant power and switched power for ECU, fans, relays, pumps. all the stuff you want to ensure turns off at key off to not make a parasitic draw.

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I then setout to clean up the body harness in the eng bay and chassis as 30yr wires are fine if protected but the plugs were straight garbage. So used my delphi weatherpacks to make wiring clean and servicable.

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Now thats a taste of the wiring harness renew on the body side. more will be done as i get to it and tie all the systems together. But then it was on to the pnp harness for my Engine. Which yes it was plug and play but i wanted some other "creature comforts" that are easier to do now than later so i added a dozen wires or so for sensors and solenoids i knew im going to be using (E85,boost sol, oil press, misc sensor to be able to program and move for things like backpressures and the like). so now its an all inclusive harness that should in theory run everything engine and gauge wise. Other than an additional mechanical boost gauge i should end up with all sensors/controls through the ECU to a CanBus to the dash for everything to include speed, fuel, etc. Right now i have a RacePak dash but i may sell it and try to pickup an AEM canbus dash instead as i think its features match my goals better.

Nice harness when taking it apart
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And a dozen extra wires for E85, oil press, boost sol, map change, datalog, 2-step, nitrous, etc. all the fun stuff.

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And finished other than triming and terminating the plugs. This is where i finished last night so plan is to run this harness trminate what i can and then on to the fuel cell to finish fuel and wiring for first fire fingers crossed early next week.

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Now thats a 20gal jegs fuel cell. Im going to be running twin internal 450s so i need to crack it open re-baffle and run the feeds and return to better locations. also with a 20gal cell and lowerd im running out of space under the bed for fittings etc. so i may shorten it a touch pending but im trying to have as much weight as i can back there for obvious reasons, lol.

20180222_202614 by Z S, on Flickr

More to come
Z

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Looking really nice

 

[proz07]

Well as with everything on this build it takes more time than i alot, that and i probably spend more time looking and thinking about stuff than doing but a small update.

I like making little things that make the systems work better or easier to maintain etc. So made a standoff vacuum line holder for the wastegate, bov, and wastegate solenoid lines. another one for the boost gauge and fuel regulator will follow later im sure.

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and routing the lines

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And after a lot of looking and contemplating and at the end of the day plane forcing myself forward I have a fuel cell mount ready.

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And in doing this i keep learning every weld i throw down, and im starting to actually be proud of them. THis being probably the first real steel weld i like.

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Tomorrow is my last day of vacation this round and im looking to cut the fuel cell top off and make an internal baffle for twin walbro 450's to a -8an line which should be good through 800hp. goals are 550-600 on this motor and then 750ish on next rendition motor.

Z

 

[Jim Oaks]

Looking good!

 

[proz07]

Once again projects that take longer than planned...

Started deconstructing the fuel cell. Started with the sump as i wont need it. and then the top of the cell as well.

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Then i fabbed up a fuel pump internal cell sump with home made gates. All to try and keep fuel at the pickups at lower fuel levels.

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installed
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And how it works ***VIDEO***

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Also threw together part of the fuel pump mount. Ill still need to make a mount from the cell access port cover to place the pumps in the correct spot and will probably have the fuel pump power plug ran through it as well. Then ill just have to add the fittings for the fuel lines press/return. One other thing i want to do is be able to use the stock fuel fill so ill be adding a 1 1/2" fill port as well and run the fuel fill hose underneath the bed close to the frame.

20180228_141633 by Z S, on Flickr

 

[proz07]

Unfortunately i didn't get it started this weekend....Seems the fab takes longer than i a lot or I'm slow, lol. Nah i need to redo the fuel line routing as its just too hard to do as is if i have problems later on. But this is where its at now but with the top welded back on. Twin walbro 450s in a custom sump ran to -8an fuel line and -6an return into the sump.

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Now once the top is on and i have to jenga the fuel pump setup in its just too much of a pain and if there was fuel even though drained F that. So i ordered some 90 deg fittings and i will change the feed to also come out of the hat next to the power plug. Its really putting a damper on my plans. Now i realize the extent of this build and I was hoping to at least start it this last weekend. All because i am going to an EFI tunning class this weekend and wanted to take it to use in the class.... I dont think thats gonna happen unless I pull a drag week type week this week to finish it up and at least drive it up and down the street. I just dont think thatll happen though.

 

[proz07]

So its been a minute and I haven't taken enough pictures but here's a little update. Like i said before i went to EFI basics course by RealTuners, llc. Scott Clark, he also has a podcast thats pretty good on google play/YT/etc "realtuners". Here's a couple pics, tuned some pretty sweet rides. A procharged vette and a small block turbo mustang.
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So after that I needed to get this ranger running as I was getting the itch so that's probably why I don't have too many photos. So to make the harness easier to work with I made a Crank position pickup conduit so I can disconnect it at the top and not have to worry about it getting burnt by the downpipe and manifold. So upped my wiring game and got a Deutchs crimper and made a conduit.

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And installed so you can see how tight it is and why i made it.

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After that I needed to finish up the fuel cell so welded it all up changed the outlet to the hat as it was too hard to connect in the cell through the hole. I also dont want to cut a hole in the bed and still use the stock fill door, so i made a rather elaborate fill/vent hose.

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Fuel cell and lines leak checked good so then it was on to wiring and laptop stuff...

 

[proz07]

So then added Honeywell PX3 fuel/oil press sensors and had to calibrate those, Im still working on the Flex fuel sensor though as you can see with the resistor wiring. Temp ran all the extra wiring for now, ill add it to the harness later as well as the wideband wiring. So needless to say it looks like a rats nest.

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So taking one step at a time to update firmware and setup all the sensors took a few days on and off after work , its a lot less grimy than building it for sure.

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And then First start up! She runs so now Ill be ordering the last wiring needs to clean up the harness. Also ordering caltracs and shocks so i can get it on the street to tune.

**VIDEO**
BlackPearl by Z S, on Flickr

 

[Jim Oaks]

Holy crap! I want to see this thing in person. Awesome.

 

[proz07]

Ok sorry for lack of updates but of course lots happens when adulting from time to time.... have to sell it guys. LOL NOT!


So now that it was running it was time to get it tightened up to drive. Not a whole lot of pics but heres the highlights of the custom stuff. Now some of it will be temporary as I will be moving in 3 months to San Antonio area so i cant get into it real deep right now but I intend to button it up running wise and start tunning so essentially i should be able to drive a 600hp truck to TX in sep with no ac or heat lol.

Anyway here she is, Exhaust turn down out of spare stock. The intent is to later go out the side of the bed with a SS oval and twin 2.5" outlets. then with a split on the down pipe to a boost activated cutout for full bald eagle abilities.

20180619_193344 by Z S, on Flickr
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Makes it super quiet with the turbo and rerouted wastegate and large magnaflow. gonna be real incognito other than the throatines till the dump opens.

After that was buttoning up the coolant system so i coulf actually start tuning and one of the issues is the steam port vent. I could not get it to seal due to metal or manufacture process from GM so i busted out the silicoln bronze tig and brazed it up. Also made a steering shaft brace with scrap pipe and braze. looks pretty trick. might do more stuff later on with it for accent.

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then got my Cal-Tracs mounted up on Explorer springs. I say that because Cal-trac makes a set for the ranger but not the explorer which uses heavier spring and larger eyelet. so shout out to caltrac as they took care of me within a week and made one off bushings no questions and no cost to me. thats customer support.

Wrong size to fit the explorer leafs...
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and new ones in which replace forward bushing.
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then i needed to cut the front of the overload spring as it hits the caltrac bar at full extention. wont be an issue with this as i dont have as much weight as an explorer.
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and mounted up with relocated shocks using the explorer mounts cut down and welded to my frame.

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Then on to gauge mock up.
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temp for now as i will be adding a mech fuel gauge due to accuracy issues running through the ECU and a few more idiot lights. Possibly relocate Racepak up and left to clear column when that goes back in. but future me issues as it needs to be drivable for tuning before the move.

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Now this is what my underdash looks likke right now and i will temp it up and have everything working but I think after the move ill be getting either a painless or Leesh street/strip fuse/harness setup to replace the stock stuff.

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all in all it drives again though. pulled it out of the shop to move some stuff for the first time. but 15 months ago rolled in and is now rolling out on its own again.

**********VIDEO***************************
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And her she is in the light for the first time. dash wiring to clean up then tunning. Ill be adding a few more sensors as well. Coolant pressure, crank case pressure, speedo, front wheel speed sensor to incorporate traction control and boost by gear etc later.
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There she is boys still more to do but she rolls! and if anyones around san antonio TX let me know the good stuff to do go etc down there.

Z

 

[JoshT]

Looking good. I'm curious about your rear shock mounts. I get that you cut up and used a set of Explorer spring plates for the top mounts. What did you do for bottom mounts?

 

[proz07]

Looking good. I'm curious about your rear shock mounts. I get that you cut up and used a set of Explorer spring plates for the top mounts. What did you do for bottom mounts?

The CalTrac replaces the spring perch and for mine I ordered mopar plates with inner shock mounts. I talked directly to Calvert when i ordered due to the mix match of parts I'm using. Really good customer service, like i said before they originally sent me ranger bushings but wouldn't work with my explorer springs and they sent me one off replacements no questions when i gave them the dimensions.

20180528_182022 by Z S, on Flickr

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Just an awesome build. I don't have much more to add than that but it is pretty cool to watch

 

[Jim Oaks]

Looking great!

 

[proz07]

Just an awesome build. I don't have much more to add than that but it is pretty cool to watch

LOL, no worries. appreciate it, I'm just a car guy and hopefully other car guys can appreciate or get ideas or suggest things is all this is for. Its all for fun in the end. I'm a car guy not a brand guy.

Z