Waiting and Updating
Well, I am somewhat stalled out. I really want to get the motor in, but I need two things: chassis stiffening brackets (at the water jet cutters, hopefully done this week) and hard lines from Hot Rod Air.
I decided to swap to hard lines in the center tunnel, so I am having HRA make them up. I think it is worth noting that I ordered (and paid for them) on March 2. I was told they would take three or four days to make. I still do not have them, now April 8. Hey Fran, does this sound familiar? Anyone who doubts that HRA has been slow to deliver parts to RCR should order something directly from them, you know, just for the experience. They are also supposed to be here this week. Fingers crossed.
In the meantime, I completely re-did all the plumbing in the center. After reading Bill D's comments about heat, I decided that now was the best time to do a little more insulating. I pulled the thin stuff I had wrapped around the lines and wrapped all 5 of my coolant lines with much thicker thermal wrap. In was a PITA to get them through, but in the long run I think it will be worth it. The best solution would be to duct outside air through the tunnel so that the heat could be pushed into the engine bay instead of in the cabin. I am going to look at this, but I think residual space will be minimal when I am done, so it may not be effective.
I also redid the flimsy aluminum line for the fire suppression system. I did not like that you could bend it easily by hand, and I was not happy with the path I had originally chosen. Any frontal impact would probably have rendered mine useless. This is run better and is much sturdier.
The radiator wll have to come off to get the hard lines through, but I will have to remove it to do a nice fan bracket anyway. I hope to pull it this week.
