Proz07's Black Pearl build

[Isk Stark]

Man... Nice welds. Nice build.

 

[proz07]

Man... Nice welds. Nice build.

Thanks, its getting a lot better throughout this build. alot of welding YT videos are coming together and seem to be helping. Specifically weldingtipsandtricks.com if your into that kinda thing.


And a bit of an update on a few parts. Made a battery mount from an old tray, just waiting on the 78 series to come in to to start running wires and circuit breakers. Also mounted the fuel regulator on behind it so all I need to do once all the hard parts are in is run hoses and wiring.
20171023_200731 by Z S, on Flickr


Also after the power steering res i built an exhaust scavenging catch can setup as well. you can see its chambered, baffled, drained, and stuffed with screen to help aid condensing the oil vapors. worked pretty good on some supermoto bikes i did so hope it works in the larger scale.
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And lines ran to valve covers and downpipe.
20171015_154333 by Z S, on Flickr

Waiting on a couple more fittings to run all the fuel stuff back to the tank, and then i need to start the heater core and A/C so i can verify the rest of the fittment and run lines. more to come, i know its not all ford in this build but im sure theres a few of you out there that like fab and diy stuff like i do so hope this gives you some ideas for your project.

Z

 

[ksack]

I'm doing a similar build but with a coyote. Just got the drivetrain lined up this weekend and working on v2 of motor mounts. Hoping to have it running in the spring. Beautiful work!

 

[proz07]

I'm doing a similar build but with a coyote. Just got the drivetrain lined up this weekend and working on v2 of motor mounts. Hoping to have it running in the spring. Beautiful work!

Thanks yeah I'm following it, ill be honest it got a lot easier once the motor orientation was done and welded in for sure. just wish i had more than what seems like only one day a weekend to work on it. Im looking to fire mine before the holidays but we shall see once i dive into the wiring and how much of a perfectionist i become before first start up, lol.

Z

 

[proz07]

So only get so much time to work on it realized i could be closer than i thought to startup if i stop trying to do a finished project for non running things right now. So most effort will go to getting the drivetrain in and first starts out of the way so i can move it as needed.

Adapted the Ranger ducting to work with the vintage air heater/conditioning unit.
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And ran the firewall heater fittings slightly modded for better routing. Im holding off on the A/C as im going to get this pig rolling first. and cut for the wiring harness which i draped in it.
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And this is where i realized this project could take forever trying to make it all good before drivable or get it rolling and make the rest of the niceties projects as i go. soooo....... out came the engine and sealed up the seams and primed and painted the raw trans tunnel and firewall in prep to start installing the driveline operationally this weekend hopefully w/ clutch, slave, full bolt in etc.

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and since the wiring harness to run only needs power switched and ground im hoping to get it running and moving by Christmas

Z

 

[JoshT]

I'll be watching this one for the vintage air setup. If I resume work on the 86 V8 swap I'll be deleting the AC for now. I messed up the plenum under hood when trying to reshape it and I have a heat only plenum available. Also the 5.0L fits better with the non A/C plenum. Being here in the south I need an AC if I'll be driving during the summer, so eventually it'll be going back in. Thought about one of the under dash add on units, but your install might be a better option if works out good.

Can't say I'm a fan of the Chevy in a Ford thing, but it's your truck not mine. I am however very envious of the welding and fabrication going on here, looking good. I've never had much success at gluing metal together. Suppose I probably aught to give it another chance someday.

 

[proz07]

I'll be watching this one for the vintage air setup. If I resume work on the 86 V8 swap I'll be deleting the AC for now. I messed up the plenum under hood when trying to reshape it and I have a heat only plenum available. Also the 5.0L fits better with the non A/C plenum. Being here in the south I need an AC if I'll be driving during the summer, so eventually it'll be going back in. Thought about one of the under dash add on units, but your install might be a better option if works out good.

Can't say I'm a fan of the Chevy in a Ford thing, but it's your truck not mine. I am however very envious of the welding and fabrication going on here, looking good. I've never had much success at gluing metal together. Suppose I probably aught to give it another chance someday.

Knowing this I'll be sure to have plenty of info and pics of the vintage air. obviously it will be more for results since any vehicle its put in will be custom unless you have one of their vehicle specific kits.

I always see people trying to hack the stock ac/heat boxes up to fit 5.0s etc and well its just a hack job honestly. The conditioning units in this truck is so ridiculously big. I had to do it this was as i needed the engine farther back to fit all the cooling 3" intercooler, 1 1/4" A/C condenser, 2 1/2" radiator, 3 1/2" E-fan. all that stuff adds up real quick.

Thanks about the Fab, I like to make my own stuff it was part of this build requirements as i had a 94 twin turbo rx7 before and i could get anyhting for it but it was all bought not built i didnt want that this time so 80s truck, cheap engine i can still make 700hp without "building" etc... It came up the other day a friend of mine said kinda the same thing. He was saying how most people will be "building" a car and just buy and buy more parts and bolt them together to cobble it together or just not be able to do certain stuff. But ill see something and just make it without a second thought. Thanks all you really need to do is apply yourself to what you want to excel at.

Z

 

[Jim Oaks]

Man, can't wait to see this done!

 

[ksack]

I'd love to see this thing fired up before the end of the year! Mine definitely won't be, but the goal is to have mine ready for race season in the spring.

 

[mavereq]

Cool build

 

[proz07]

Man, can't wait to see this done!

I'd love to see this thing fired up before the end of the year! Mine definitely won't be, but the goal is to have mine ready for race season in the spring.

Cool build

Thanks guys, Over the last few weeks Ive been getting small things done here and there. Like making some of the fuel lines. Takes some time but for a build like this worth it i think for when it needs to come apart later on.

20171203_110412 by Z S, on Flickr

start of the -8 feed and -6 return for the fuel system. To make it easy i mounted bulkhead fitting in the frame for a disconnect in the engine bay.

20171203_130159 by Z S, on Flickr
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And added -10 fittings to the water pump heater hose connections as it will be easier to route all the lines in that area.

20171203_154116 by Z S, on Flickr

Then i had a setback due to having the wrong pilot bearing for the trans i have. as seen it sits flush to the crank and unfortunatly didnt realize it till i snapped one of the ears off the bellhousing.

20171210_112731 by Z S, on Flickr

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So spent last weekend fixing the bellhousing and ordered the right pilot bearing that as you can see sits farther in.

20171210_131943 by Z S, on Flickr
Cleaned with non-clorinated brake clean so i didnt kill myself.
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SO this weekend i was able to put in the right bearing and mount the trans finally with the addition of an extended clutch bleed line so i can actually bleed it in the truck.

20171216_174845 by Z S, on Flickr
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As you can see the bleed line was for sure needed and the clutch line routes great just need to figure out the pivot point on the pedal as the GM one is at a different angle than the ford master.

20171217_154504 by Z S, on Flickr


Now the eng and trans is in its one thing at a time till all the systems are hooked up and hopefully ill be able to fire it over the holidays. we shall see if i run into other issues.

Z

 

[proz07]

Haven't fired it yet but have been slowly trimming and adjusting the entire setup to fit and function so ill have less issues later. First up a custom clamp mount for my oil feed line off the back of the head so it wont rub the fuel lines or harness. drilled and tapped a stock bolt.

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Also added a shrink wrap to the SS line as anyone who has dealt with SS lines knows you need to mount them and keep them from rubbing as they will destroy anything else. this option was $7 and cleans up the line sooo much. I did it for the oil feed and clutch SS lines.

20180114_125940 by Z S, on Flickr

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The oil line i was able to use a 5/8" 4:1 ratio and then the clutch a 3/4" 3:1 so it would fit over the fittings but still shrink down to the 1/4" lines. these are glue lined shrink tubing so it really soaks into the ss braid and is a solid coating not your normal thin shrink wrap.

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Think im going to try to break these up based on the system or task so theres not 50 pic updates.

z

 

[proz07]

ran all my vacuum lines, map sensor, boost solenoid etc. Made a quick mount for the front of the head for the boost control solenoid right next to the wastegate. It will be controlled by the ECU so i will be able to do boost by speed/gear/hi-lo switch/ E85%, etc. pretty trick setup actually.

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THen made some standoffs for my vacuum block which will drive all vac/boost items to include the mount for the MAP sensor. It all mounts on the standoffs on the driver coil mount bracket so its all a quick remove setup for maintenance.

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Originally i cleaned up the lines with zip ties but i like to fab so i made a test aluminum divider which will be mounted for routing once its all back together and im cleaning it up a bit more. and the last one is the finalish routing of all the vac lines in blue.

20180220_175531 by Z S, on Flickr

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20180120_141406 by Z S, on Flickr

more coming
z

 

[proz07]

For some heat management stuff and thing i didn't quite take into consideration I had to relocate the forward most pass coil as the plug wire was basically smashed into the wastegate outlet and even with wrap wouldn't last long. So it got a quick relocation up, that side will also get plug wire boots and manifold wrap so g2g.

stock/hitting
20180101_181933 by Z S, on Flickr

relocate clearanced
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When i original cut up and v-banded the driver manifold i may have cut a nub off i needed for the heat shield so had to weld it back on to mount the stock heatshield and wrap the lower part of the manifold for heat managment. Then wrapped the crossover pipe. If you plan on doing wrap be sure to install wet and stretch to ensure it is tight in the end. Also look up how to tighten metal zip ties and it will also clean up the wrap that much more.

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Not perfect put tight AF so ill work on cleanliness more on the rest of the system i do.
20180121_172245 by Z S, on Flickr

Now part of the reason to wrap the crossover is it passes the starter by about 3/4" so i also made an aluminum heat shield for that to help not only heatsoak but heat dispersion off the starter like a heatsink. this one fought a little and had to pay the gods on this one.

20180121_142829 by Z S, on Flickr

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I have also been wrapping the fuel lines, clutch, oil, electrical conduits in reflective covered fiberglass heat wrap that youll be able to see in random pics i wont cover unless someone wants suggestions on brands and styles.
20180120_114909 by Z S, on Flickr

I stil need to wrap the log manifold after i add in a pressure sensor port and the downpipe but they need to be pulled to do so. maybe after first fire...

Z

 

[proz07]

Some random stuff i had to deal with and fab for ease of maintenance follow. First my clutch master although bolts up is at too much of an angle to not bind. So made a shim out of 3/8 aluminum. to reclock enough IMO, hope it works but we shall see later.

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Side note these cheap amazon carbide tipped hole saws have worked F-ing amazing for the 2-3 holes ive needed in aluminum and steel. But like any rotary bit it NEEDS the right speed cooling and lube to last or provide the best outcome.

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Was going to show the before and after angle but the pics dont really represent well so heres the mount to pedal and angle i hope to not have to re do later.

20180206_134631 by Z S, on Flickr

Same material also made a bulkhead fitting lock plate for my fuel lines where they pass through the frame in the engine bay for disconnect etc. makes any kind of adjustment 1 million times easier in that location with bulkhead fittings. you can also see the extent im doing heat management wraps and shields here. thats fuel, clutch, oil feed lines.

20180209_123200 by Z S, on Flickr

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