Re: I've lost my mind.. or an MP90 on a 4.6L
Posted: January 27th, 2014, 5:10 pm
Not much to update. I took a break from grinding on the manifold for a while. I had some other things to attend to plus I am just getting sick of grinding. I started back on it this weekend and I have it 80% of where I want to be.
I did buy Gate's laser belt alignment tool. This tool is a joke. 1) Out of the box it was quite a bit off of calibration. 2) their calibration method is to use a folded piece of paper and align the dot on that. Talk about errors. 3) I talked to gates and voiced my problem. I sent it back to them so they could send it to the manufacture for calibration. I got it back today. I push the button on the laser to turn it on and the laser module slipped from the mount. They didn't even tighten it down sufficiently. 4) After tightening the tool down correctly I then used the rails on the router to calibrate it. I found that just turning it on allowed enough movement in the mount to put it out of alignment, however it went back once I let off the button. I don't have confidence in this device and may look into Dayco's device instead which shoots a line instead of a dot.
I'm also not 100% impressed with the McNally gauge. It works well enough, but it has not auto or even user calibration for altitude. Meaning that if you aren't close to the same elevation as McNally in Florida (118 ft) it will be off when you install it. Well, it was off a bit as I live at an elevation of 2103 ft. I sent it back to them after taking a voltage reading from the sensor, so it is good for now. However, when I move I will once again have to send it back to them. Nice idea, poor execution. Since it has a button they could simply add a feature in the code that if the user holds the button down for 10 seconds or so it would zero the base reading. Or better use a second in gauge sensor to get the ambient reading, then do the math from there. Or even do what Jeep does, gather the ambient reading at key on from the one sensor, however that could be a bit of a problem as they don't know when the gauge will be powered up.
I've also been thinking about the small hole in the hood that I will need and how to cover it up. Moving the hood latch mechanism and modifying the rods is easy enough. I'm leaning toward a fiberglass form similar to the covers on the Dodge Stealth. Mitsubishi 300 GT for the strut towers.. just smaller.
And the exhaust is in the back of my mind. Right now I have a Doug Thorley with a 2.5" outlet into a 2.5" all the way back. I'm not sure this will be enough for the stroker + supercharger. I could modify the Thorley to 3" outlet then a single 3" all the way back. The other option is going with a 00+ header with the dual outlets and either merge them into a single 3" (or larger) or do true duals of smaller pipe.
I'm also debating if I should just go with the stock height Brown Dog HD motor mounts or drop the engine.. maybe .5"... or maybe just keep it at stock height. Suggestions?
I did buy Gate's laser belt alignment tool. This tool is a joke. 1) Out of the box it was quite a bit off of calibration. 2) their calibration method is to use a folded piece of paper and align the dot on that. Talk about errors. 3) I talked to gates and voiced my problem. I sent it back to them so they could send it to the manufacture for calibration. I got it back today. I push the button on the laser to turn it on and the laser module slipped from the mount. They didn't even tighten it down sufficiently. 4) After tightening the tool down correctly I then used the rails on the router to calibrate it. I found that just turning it on allowed enough movement in the mount to put it out of alignment, however it went back once I let off the button. I don't have confidence in this device and may look into Dayco's device instead which shoots a line instead of a dot.
I'm also not 100% impressed with the McNally gauge. It works well enough, but it has not auto or even user calibration for altitude. Meaning that if you aren't close to the same elevation as McNally in Florida (118 ft) it will be off when you install it. Well, it was off a bit as I live at an elevation of 2103 ft. I sent it back to them after taking a voltage reading from the sensor, so it is good for now. However, when I move I will once again have to send it back to them. Nice idea, poor execution. Since it has a button they could simply add a feature in the code that if the user holds the button down for 10 seconds or so it would zero the base reading. Or better use a second in gauge sensor to get the ambient reading, then do the math from there. Or even do what Jeep does, gather the ambient reading at key on from the one sensor, however that could be a bit of a problem as they don't know when the gauge will be powered up.
I've also been thinking about the small hole in the hood that I will need and how to cover it up. Moving the hood latch mechanism and modifying the rods is easy enough. I'm leaning toward a fiberglass form similar to the covers on the Dodge Stealth. Mitsubishi 300 GT for the strut towers.. just smaller.
And the exhaust is in the back of my mind. Right now I have a Doug Thorley with a 2.5" outlet into a 2.5" all the way back. I'm not sure this will be enough for the stroker + supercharger. I could modify the Thorley to 3" outlet then a single 3" all the way back. The other option is going with a 00+ header with the dual outlets and either merge them into a single 3" (or larger) or do true duals of smaller pipe.
I'm also debating if I should just go with the stock height Brown Dog HD motor mounts or drop the engine.. maybe .5"... or maybe just keep it at stock height. Suggestions?