I called up TPiS, Inc. a while back before I even had the motor out, and later they said they could make the chip for me, too.

 

they can as well. i went with pcmforless because quite a few people here used them, and they were very helpful and knowledgable pertaining to my questions

 

Speaking from my novice perspective, I enjoyed and learned from this well written story! I am stepping into a league of extraordinary enthusiast so to speak and this was an enlightening and intruiging story man! I assume I must prepare myself for such ventures! Can and can't wait! Lol

 

Well, if you are on a budget you may want to stick with the compression fitting route, but as mentioned, be sure to check them frequently. Ive never had them leak on a tranny fitting, but Im sure others have.

Funny how everyone mentions the added cost of pulleys, fluids, etc....I always tell people to budget at least 30% over their cost estimate of a job , and this still seems to fall short!

 

I thought I had a well laid out budget to start with, but the problem for me, was that I was getting things left and right.....headers, motor, motor mounts, brakes, headliner, t-top seals.....etc I just started hoarding parts rather than work it one section at a time. So, when it came time for the install of the motor I hadn't planned on sending units, oil, coolant, trans fluid, belts, etc.. I had the money, it was just I didn't plan correctly. Now that the car is finished and I have a new project, my planning is way better.

 

Well, I decided to not buy new lines. I looked it over and I doubt a leak will happen. I will certainly be checking those points very often though, just in case.

Anyway, I've gotten a lot finished since I last posted. Tranny is in, with it's dipstick. That was a slight pain, but not TOO bad. Torque arm re-attached, drive-line in, sensors reinstalled, headers bolted down, mounting hardware for the A/C compressor, AIR pump, Alternator, and Power Steering pump are mounted, along with a lot of what I just listed. Some other minor things done, and right now, I just have to attack the intake, really. There's a good amount of rewiring I have to do near the battery, as someone relocated the solenoid to there, and it's a little confusing at the moment.

 

It's been a long while since an update, but I've been trying to get a lot of time in on the car between work, social life, and a list of other things.

It's damn near literally just a handful of pieces away from firing her up. Cam, lifters, pushrods, and rockers got the pre-start up lube the other day, and today I torqued down the intake manifold bolts. Serpintine belt is on, fan and radiator is in and ready to go. Exhaust, headers, y-pipe, all of it is locked in and perfect, and that took a little hassling, as it didn't quite line up, had to be moved, etc. But that's all done.

Really, I have about 3 more days of time before I go back to working long shifts, and the only major parts left is simply the upper intake stuff and the distributor. There may be a few hiccups yet (IAC valve being one, possibly, and finding a place for my MSD box being another), but the only time limiting factor is to be the PROM, because I have to wait for it to come in the mail.

When it's altogether, I will be sure to take many, many pictures.

 

Actually took some pictures the other day to give you guys an idea of what it's gonna look like.

 

wow, thats really clean. what did you use to clean everything with?

 

Hey, thanks! Hah.

Well the crate engine is brand new, so obviously that helps a lot to be pleasing to the eye.

But I bought a lot of new emissions and heater hoses that you see there. Any ones I didn't buy new I cleaned up with degreaser and water or dish soap, actually.

When the motor was out, I used heavy degreaser liquid and scrubbed the **** out of it. Then I painted a lot of ugly stuff black, so the firewall looks great from above now.

The mounting plates that the P/S and A/C sit on were terribly dirty. I had to use gasoline to clean them, and in some of the crevices it didn't get completely clean, but it made a big difference.

And lastly all the convoluted tubing got replaced, and it made a HUGE difference imho.

But yeah, a lot of elbow grease, know what I mean?