Mark B's Build Thread

[Mark B.]

Since I've had the car for 6 months already I thought I'd start a build thread...
It's going to be a slow process since the car is #4 behind my wife, two kids, and work, but it will get there

First the delivery pics and making it in to my driveway designed for 4X4's

 

[Mark B.]

Having a small garage for a build does indeed suck. I have my lift, which is great, but there's not much room to work.

Hoisting the spider up to the ceiling is a bit of a trick as a one-man job. Through some creative use of pulleys, though, it's up there. When I'm ready to take it back down, I'll be using neighbors and free beer though!

 

[Mark B.]

Finished the pedal assembly and brake lines a couple months back...

 

[Mark B.]

Parking brake done
I ended up using some 1/4"x3" aluminum angle to make the bracket for the handle. Also simplified the routing of the cables a bit by just threading the cable retainers into the chassis.

 

[Mark B.]

I decided to mount the coils under the frame rails to get them out of the way and hidden. Just simple angle aluminum brackets with p clamps. Bolted to the frame rails with riv-nuts.

 

[Mark B.]

Mounted the dry sump tank and remote oil filter.

 

[Mark B.]

Front lift pump / lines / etc installed.
I still need to buy or make some shims for the tops of the rams, though.

 

[Mark B.]

Installed the rad and fans. I used rubber grommets to isolate the rad. I still need to hook up a ground strap.
I decided to cut a ridge into the fans to lock them in to the rad frame on the top edge, with bolts/riv-nuts on the bottom. I had to trim the shrouds on the fans a little to make them fit cleanly, but they seal up completely to each other so no leaks.

 

[Mark B.]

AC condenser installed rubber grommets and fabbed bracket on the bottom with rubber p-clamps to isolate the top.

 

[Mark B.]

For the steering wheel, I went with the NRG Gen 2 quick release and short hub. I had that setup on my Corvette and it works great on the street and track.

There have been several posts on here about using the new NRG177 hub (for C6 / Caddy columns). For those with Fran's newer kits, the racks he's now shipping actually use the older style column shaft, so the NRG170 is the correct adaptor to use.

Of course, I realized that after I already bought the 177, so Alex got himself a decent discount on that one

Once I had the right one install was a breeze. The rack didn't have the airbag clock spring, so the hub went right on. I got the plunger wire for the horn as well, so once I power it up, I *should* have a working horn...

 

[Ken Roberts]

Hi Mark. It was me that you sold the NRG 177H hub to. How do you get the horn button to work in the steering wheel without the clock spring installed? The clock spring is used for more than just the airbag. It transfers all the electrical connections to the steering wheel.

What make of car was the newest version of the steering column from?

 

[Mark B.]

Sorry Ken! I was going back through some notes and for some reason thought it was Alex.

On the older style GM column (like the one shipping with the kits now), the horn doesn't use a clock spring, but a contact disc with a plunger that sticks through a plastic housing. They used a separate clock spring for the airbag connection.

Unfortunately I didn't take pics of the plunger setup, though.

I'm pretty sure it's still a GM rack, but I'm not sure what year/model it's from (i never bothered asking Fran). GM and Chrysler used the same steering wheel hub design for many years.

 

[Eric McClellan]

Sorry Ken! I was going back through some notes and for some reason thought it was Alex.

On the older style GM column (like the one shipping with the kits now), the horn doesn't use a clock spring, but a contact disc with a plunger that sticks through a plastic housing. They used a separate clock spring for the airbag connection.

Unfortunately I didn't take pics of the plunger setup, though.

I'm pretty sure it's still a GM rack, but I'm not sure what year/model it's from (i never bothered asking Fran). GM and Chrysler used the same steering wheel hub design for many years.

Knowing which make and model would be really helpful. I just found the tilt feature on mine LOL.

Would like to make a pull for it or get one from a junkyard.

 

[Fran Hall RCR]

Guys,
the electric column is NLA from GM...I purchased everything GM had in inventory a few years ago , and we have used them all.
The new column is much the same from a functionality point with the OEM switchgear but is now manual tilt only.. It is still a GM column from an Olds/Buick...but I was never informed as to what particular model.

 

[Eric McClellan]

Guys,
the electric column is NLA from GM...I purchased everything GM had in inventory a few years ago , and we have used them all.
The new column is much the same . It is still a GM column from an Olds/Buick...

So the new column is from a newer 2000+ buick/olds?

 

[Mark B.]

Knowing which make and model would be really helpful. I just found the tilt feature on mine LOL.

Would like to make a pull for it or get one from a junkyard.

Hi Eric,
I actually found an extra pull handle for the tilt column in my box of small parts. If you PM me your address, I'll send it over to you since my column already had the lever.

 

[Eric McClellan]

Hi Eric,
I actually found an extra pull handle for the tilt column in my box of small parts. If you PM me your address, I'll send it over to you since my column already had the lever.

Hey that'd be great! PM Sent

 

[Frank Clark]

Parking brake done

Did you have to machine your rear uprights for the brackets?

I have same calipers and brackets. But my uprights are not drilled or tapped for the brackets.

 

[Mark B.]

Yep, you have to drill and tap the holes. I used Allan's video for reference. It was pretty straightforward, but drilling that first hole in the beautiful new upright was a bit nerve-racking

 

[Ken Roberts]

Mark can you find any GM part numbers on the steering column. If so I'll find out what cars they were installed in and post some schematics for anyone needing to do some diagnostics/trouble shooting in the future.