killnine
Well-Known Member
I've started a million threads regarding this car, so I might as well start keeping track of things in a build thread. I've come a long way though, so I'll try to list the replacements/upgrades. The goal is something between a car that could autocross or rally race, which it will probably do neither. I am looking for a well handling car that can take some back roads and bumps. Not all the roads in Mississippi are 80 mph highways. I don't care very much about top end HP or speed. The goal is low end and mid range torque, with a little better punch than my 4.0 Jeep XJ. I'm guessing around 200-250 HP would do it. I would like to see it grab and go from about 1800 rpm. I'm not looking for a hard to drive 440 Duster. I already have one of those too, and it's almost the opposite of my goals with this car. I'm definitely want to reach these goals with a turbo, but hopefully I don't have to do a ton of engine work.
It's a slant six, 198, with an upgraded Mopar purple stick of some sort. Unknown specs. 904 transmission, 8.75 rear, front disk, rear drums
Here's what I've done.
2 bbl Carter (from a 318 I think). Choke is manual at the moment but I have an upgrade
HEI
NGK plugs (longer reach ones that I might need to shorten for turbo)
Magnecor Electrosports 80 8mm wires
Rewired the alternator feed directly to the battery, with 2 10ga wires and fusible links
Rewired the ignition sense line and feeds in the engine bay, up to the bulkhead
Replaced the drool tube seals
Super Six style distributor. It has the preferred weights in it, but I don't have the year or
model handy at the moment
Replaced the vacuum advance with a unit I thought would work well. Again, don't have the number handy
New ignition switch, fixed some under dash wiring issues, replaced the headlight switch.
Resoldered the intrument cluster, added a DemonIVR and some new bulb holders and bulbs
(it's still failing on the left two bulbs)
Ripped out most of the heater and AC controls and some of the heater box and under dash elements. This was an AC car but all of the under hood AC stuff is gone except the can and the blower motor.
Replaced the starter
Spectra gas tank and fuel sender, with the original gasket ring
A new fuel filler grommet which has never sealed right and pours gas out because I have yet to get the filler tube back in right or all the way properly
All new stainless fuel lines
All new stainless brake lines
QA1 k-frame (for a small block, modified to mount to a Slant)
QA1 upper and lower control arms (small ball style)
New idler arm and pitman arm and tie rods
Monroe shocks
ESPO springs, 1" lower ride than stock
Hellwig front sway bar (73 up style to fit the QA1 k-frame)
PST 1" torsion bars, clocked I believe 15 degrees
Daniel Stern's headlight relay kit and Cibie E-Code lamps and Rangepower +50 bulbs (best upgrade of all)
Replaced the 904 transmission's selector shaft seals, they were leaking. Replaced the filter and dialed in the pressure on the 904.
8.75 rear, Sure Grup 3.23 from some mystery vehicle. Replaced the ends to bring it to the proper length and resolve issues with the way they were previously welded on. Replaced the axles with axles from Dr. Diff to utilize the BBP drilled 10" drums and 1 3/4 brake hardware I already had.
UBolts for the rear AFCO Racing U-Bolt Kits 20238
A breather bolt for the rear Right Stuff Detailing FHB86
Rear axle brake line Right Stuff Detailing Brake Line Sets RRA7101
SSB front disk brakes
Cragar 08/61 S/S Super Sport Chrome Wheels 61815 15 in x 8 in., 5 x 4.5/4.75/5 in. Bolt Circle, 4.25 in. Backspace
Some of these lugs for the back Cragar Wheel Lug Nuts 27780-4
Cragar 08/61 S/S Super Sport Chrome Wheels 61654 15 in. x 6 in., 5 x 4.0 in. Bolt Circle, 3.375 in. Backspace
Some lugs for the front Cragar Wheel Lug Nuts 09005-4 (still SBP up front)
BFGoodrich Radial T/A Tires 57931 255/60/15
BFGoodrich Radial T/A Tires 71599 205/60/15
I've got an aftermarket chinese exhaust manifold to replace the ageing one that is leaking a bit. It also has a bung for an O2 sensor which I thought was nice, but its very close to the flange. Haven't installed this yet.
Remflex gaskets to do the exhaust manifold replacement
Replaced wiper arm seals
Drilled a hole cowl and ran some approx. 3" tubing to the air cleaner for some intake air. Cleaned out in the cowl while I was at it.
Replaced the valve retainers when I bent a couple pushrods after starting and running it with the old gas tank and lines. Set the valve lash.
That's everything I can think of for now. It rides very nicely. Not too harsh. It's no crown vic though, it's pretty tight. Idles well, no heat issues, seems to have decent power. Probably about what I should expect. Mileage is ok.
Some of my current issues:
The balancer has slipped from the timing mark, so it's tough to determine proper time. I've tried to match it up to TDC, but the distributor and TDC never seem to exactly agree. I think the cam might have been put in incorrectly and it's affecting my ability to make sense of the timing. I set it to where it runs well, doesn't seem to ping, but before it would make it hard to start.
The stupid filler tube grommet has to get put in right before I turn into a fireball.
I need to fix the instrument cluster once and for all, so the lights work all the time.
Aftermarket fuel senders are all junk. I need to find one that isn't so I know how much gas I have.
The cam was upgraded by the previous owner. I need to find out what the specs are, so I can determine whether I want to keep it or not. It feels like the power should be coming in sooner, so this might have been a bad upgrade. it doesn't really kick in (if you could call it that in a NA slant six) until around 2300 rpm or so even when you punch it.
Not enough get up and go. The plan is a turbo, keep the power steering if possible, intercooler if necessary, pishta j-pipe, some hacking of the stock style manifold, and possibly a 2 barrel Holley or something I can use with the turbo with the right modifications.
The most I would probably like to do to the block and heads is some porting, maybe deck the heads and replace the rings. Something tells me I'm in for more than this.
It's a 198, so I'm not really sure if my goals are possible, or if I need to first turn it into a 225.
Day one
Front brakes
I'll get some more current look pics and engine bay pics tomorrow.
It's a slant six, 198, with an upgraded Mopar purple stick of some sort. Unknown specs. 904 transmission, 8.75 rear, front disk, rear drums
Here's what I've done.
2 bbl Carter (from a 318 I think). Choke is manual at the moment but I have an upgrade
HEI
NGK plugs (longer reach ones that I might need to shorten for turbo)
Magnecor Electrosports 80 8mm wires
Rewired the alternator feed directly to the battery, with 2 10ga wires and fusible links
Rewired the ignition sense line and feeds in the engine bay, up to the bulkhead
Replaced the drool tube seals
Super Six style distributor. It has the preferred weights in it, but I don't have the year or
model handy at the moment
Replaced the vacuum advance with a unit I thought would work well. Again, don't have the number handy
New ignition switch, fixed some under dash wiring issues, replaced the headlight switch.
Resoldered the intrument cluster, added a DemonIVR and some new bulb holders and bulbs
(it's still failing on the left two bulbs)
Ripped out most of the heater and AC controls and some of the heater box and under dash elements. This was an AC car but all of the under hood AC stuff is gone except the can and the blower motor.
Replaced the starter
Spectra gas tank and fuel sender, with the original gasket ring
A new fuel filler grommet which has never sealed right and pours gas out because I have yet to get the filler tube back in right or all the way properly
All new stainless fuel lines
All new stainless brake lines
QA1 k-frame (for a small block, modified to mount to a Slant)
QA1 upper and lower control arms (small ball style)
New idler arm and pitman arm and tie rods
Monroe shocks
ESPO springs, 1" lower ride than stock
Hellwig front sway bar (73 up style to fit the QA1 k-frame)
PST 1" torsion bars, clocked I believe 15 degrees
Daniel Stern's headlight relay kit and Cibie E-Code lamps and Rangepower +50 bulbs (best upgrade of all)
Replaced the 904 transmission's selector shaft seals, they were leaking. Replaced the filter and dialed in the pressure on the 904.
8.75 rear, Sure Grup 3.23 from some mystery vehicle. Replaced the ends to bring it to the proper length and resolve issues with the way they were previously welded on. Replaced the axles with axles from Dr. Diff to utilize the BBP drilled 10" drums and 1 3/4 brake hardware I already had.
UBolts for the rear AFCO Racing U-Bolt Kits 20238
A breather bolt for the rear Right Stuff Detailing FHB86
Rear axle brake line Right Stuff Detailing Brake Line Sets RRA7101
SSB front disk brakes
Cragar 08/61 S/S Super Sport Chrome Wheels 61815 15 in x 8 in., 5 x 4.5/4.75/5 in. Bolt Circle, 4.25 in. Backspace
Some of these lugs for the back Cragar Wheel Lug Nuts 27780-4
Cragar 08/61 S/S Super Sport Chrome Wheels 61654 15 in. x 6 in., 5 x 4.0 in. Bolt Circle, 3.375 in. Backspace
Some lugs for the front Cragar Wheel Lug Nuts 09005-4 (still SBP up front)
BFGoodrich Radial T/A Tires 57931 255/60/15
BFGoodrich Radial T/A Tires 71599 205/60/15
I've got an aftermarket chinese exhaust manifold to replace the ageing one that is leaking a bit. It also has a bung for an O2 sensor which I thought was nice, but its very close to the flange. Haven't installed this yet.
Remflex gaskets to do the exhaust manifold replacement
Replaced wiper arm seals
Drilled a hole cowl and ran some approx. 3" tubing to the air cleaner for some intake air. Cleaned out in the cowl while I was at it.
Replaced the valve retainers when I bent a couple pushrods after starting and running it with the old gas tank and lines. Set the valve lash.
That's everything I can think of for now. It rides very nicely. Not too harsh. It's no crown vic though, it's pretty tight. Idles well, no heat issues, seems to have decent power. Probably about what I should expect. Mileage is ok.
Some of my current issues:
The balancer has slipped from the timing mark, so it's tough to determine proper time. I've tried to match it up to TDC, but the distributor and TDC never seem to exactly agree. I think the cam might have been put in incorrectly and it's affecting my ability to make sense of the timing. I set it to where it runs well, doesn't seem to ping, but before it would make it hard to start.
The stupid filler tube grommet has to get put in right before I turn into a fireball.
I need to fix the instrument cluster once and for all, so the lights work all the time.
Aftermarket fuel senders are all junk. I need to find one that isn't so I know how much gas I have.
The cam was upgraded by the previous owner. I need to find out what the specs are, so I can determine whether I want to keep it or not. It feels like the power should be coming in sooner, so this might have been a bad upgrade. it doesn't really kick in (if you could call it that in a NA slant six) until around 2300 rpm or so even when you punch it.
Not enough get up and go. The plan is a turbo, keep the power steering if possible, intercooler if necessary, pishta j-pipe, some hacking of the stock style manifold, and possibly a 2 barrel Holley or something I can use with the turbo with the right modifications.
The most I would probably like to do to the block and heads is some porting, maybe deck the heads and replace the rings. Something tells me I'm in for more than this.
It's a 198, so I'm not really sure if my goals are possible, or if I need to first turn it into a 225.
Day one
Front brakes
I'll get some more current look pics and engine bay pics tomorrow.
