Plastic Fantastic 2

[SuperBuickGuy]

As we all know, I LOVE wiring. Read that again. That is a lie. So what do I buy at SEMA? more wiring

this isn't complaining, just explaining. I run by myself - no tire temp checkers, no pit crew, it's me. And at SEMA, I saw something that I think will be the utter cat's pjs for me. It gives me 120 degrees of temperature (real time). so with one sensor, I can monitor brake temp and tire temps. But wait, there's more. It also monitors tire pressure.

I really think it will be a game changer for me.
display screen it also blue-tooth connects to apple or android.

basically, it mounts above the wheel (on the inside, vertically) and gives me a reading across 120 degrees. Did I mention that it also tells me how far the suspension is traveling?
not cheap but invaluable for someone like me.

and yes, I thought a bit about sharing - why help competitors? well, here's the reason, I like the Australians who make this. I want them to win (small, son and dad business)....

so I'll wire a bit more. And mount it so that I can move it between cars... the tire pressure monitors screw onto the air fill.... which means I could use it on my 4x4 too

 

[SuperBuickGuy]

took awhile to realize why I couldn't find the paperwork on this.... I stole it from the Fiat

and things are getting serious

how does one enjoy wiring?

 

[phantomjock]

Good on 'YA Mate! I'm not far enough along. Although I prodded Shaun about a Black Friday/Cyber Sale. He said more details when they get home he'd sort it out.
Should be today/tomorrow. before they'll be ready to do any good. I've made that 24 hour sortie both ways for nearly 20 years. It is a drag - even in first class!

Are those turtles the aluminum (alloy) versions? I assume the Black Ones are ptfe or? No doubt you had a chat with them at purchase. Drop me a note if anything to share.

Cheers - Jim

 

[SuperBuickGuy]

they're aluminum. About my only 'concern' is the caps.... I should have asked for the internal sensors for the TPS.
there is competition for their product but it costs 3x more, has much less angle of coverage, and is missing features.
Shaun is in Canada visiting relatives - told him to wave as he flew over, pretty sure he didn't

love wiring....

I feel like this is an accomplishment because I spent quality time trying to figure out what goes where.... may still have it wrong, but I feel good about it

 

[bobs77vet]

wow that looks great and is certainly a lot of wires to keep straight. i am not sure i could follow it all

 

[SuperBuickGuy]

To get the larger radiator in, I need to remove this piece

it was useful for the original build, but I'm going to move where it lands and add to the area in front so I can install tow hooks

amazing how much there is on my list.... but getting there

a reminder to call FiTech tomorrow. Apparently, this one won't work (so I was told)... replacement is supposed to be free - so hopefully I can put done on the throttle

about the hardest part of this was soldering stuff together - most was pretty much plug and play but not this time... 4 into 1 wiring

fine wiring... done


I don't get it, it's like I do wiring and everything blows up. I have a short in the shop, working on the welder on the '40, doing the Corvette, and the Blazer is just one large wiring project itself.... then this went down

bit of solder and it was fixed but those high impedance air gaps will get your every time

 

[SuperBuickGuy]

wow that looks great and is certainly a lot of wires to keep straight. i am not sure i could follow it all

it's a lot but it's not the worst - the worst will be the 50 sedanet. I know it's weird that wiring harnesses for twin turbo, port injected, crank fired 430 Buicks isn't an off-the-shelf.... but alas, it's not. But, this gives you a glimpse of the steps I'm taking to be successful when I get to the penultimate car.

 

[SuperBuickGuy]

oooo shiny baubles. I like shiny things

remove the old

seal some bolts

spray some sealant

and install

the disaster that was the space behind the manifold is starting to look better

not perfect, but closer

talking to FiTech and holley - they suggested just doing deadhead runs to the rails. I can't do it. too many air locks on diesels so with a couple 45 degree fittings and some tube

and the cross over is built

radiator still fits, bonus


the next step is more wiring work - I'm going to move the 2nd fuse block and relay block. Apparently, someone thought the red strip on the back of the motor was how I wired.... so I'll make it go away and add a box where they can be assured it was done right then and now. That said, I hate the individual fuse holders - they were there for convenience, time for them to go

 

[phantomjock]

Might need to check the alternator output curve. Especially when it gets hot.
I've the same electric water pump installed and am starting to add up the alternator requirements.
I hope it helps the overheating challenge. I was worried about the same thing.

I believe the trade off in HP loss from fans and pumps (water, power steering, brakes, etc..) to alternator is almost a wash.

Cheers - Jim

 

[SuperBuickGuy]

Might need to check the alternator output curve. Especially when it gets hot.
I've the same electric water pump installed and am starting to add up the alternator requirements.
I hope it helps the overheating challenge. I was worried about the same thing.

I believe the trade off in HP loss from fans and pumps (water, power steering, brakes, etc..) to alternator is almost a wash.

Cheers - Jim

will do. at full song, the fuel pump, water pump, and fans alone take 51 amps (not starting amps, running amps). I'm considering getting a brushless Spal fan which would reduce that number by 12 and allow use of a ramp up feature in the Terminator X.

and I'm doing this for the flexibility to run cooling with the motor off - and to that effort, I'll add a second battery (if necessary). I'm hoping the 1/3 increase in cooling from the larger radiator is enough but that's plan d (or whatever letter I'm on now). According to my calculations, I can run the fans/pump for 1 1/2 hours and still start the car with what I have now.... but remember how much I dislike electrical work? I suspect my own calculations.

 

[bobs77vet]

it's a lot but it's not the worst - the worst will be the 50 sedanet. I know it's weird that wiring harnesses for twin turbo, port injected, crank fired 430 Buicks isn't an off-the-shelf.... but alas, it's not. But, this gives you a glimpse of the steps I'm taking to be successful when I get to the penultimate car.

now you are just teasing me.

 

[SuperBuickGuy]

wiring continued.... pictures but not sure they show much
Holley recommends that if you have a dual terminal battery that you use the 'other' terminals for the EFI computer... at SEMA, there were all sorts of vehicles using these.. so I'll find out what their downside is... great


I'm going to put a bookmark here about FiTech. ONLY because they sponsor this page am I not going to unload - but I'm going to put paid on them and it should this latest thing play worse. The nutshell is they sent the wrong throttle bracket... .twice.... and the attitude of them is not sustainable.


fuel pressure sensor in place.... fun fact, the 'adapters' needed to be rethreaded with a 1/8 NPT tap to make it work

in fun news, new toy

wanted one for awhile but they were $300 or a lot more... this was less than $170 delivered.

computer fastened in place, just need to attach the power wire... 'just'

and then figure out the outputs. That means fan controls and which one runs the tach...
also waiting on a new relay box

and then a new core support and complete that frame mod that started awhile ago... one bite at a time

 

[phantomjock]

Cut - Crimp - or both>

2nd image the camera went Biden on me.
If a wire crimper I've been using a hydraulic press, works good and have dies for every size I need.

Looking for some cutting dies.

Cheers - Jim

 

[SuperBuickGuy]

cut

 

[SuperBuickGuy]

did I ever mention I hate wiring?

case in point, I had to trace and find a wire so I have a tachometer signal. Then forgot I needed to have 2 wires connected

I may now weld with brass often, but its welding rod works great for fishing wires

need to add another bank of relays and fuses...

 

[SuperBuickGuy]

what's left?
power the water pump
radiator system and fans
brackets for PS pump and alternator
oil pressure sender
solve the MAP sensor dilemma... probably just a wiring choice but it needs to be done.

 

[SuperBuickGuy]

why don't I recommend FiTech....

well


FiTech, putting the Cuss in cusstomer service

I wasn't gonna but I'm going to drive over FiTech with my bus and continue to do so until they're dead of a subsidiary of Holley.

To recap. Throttle cable bracket doesn't fit.


according to a sales guy at SEMA - they gave me the wrong bracket. Seems easy enough, send me the right bracket - but nope. I get Becky, Head of Warranty at FiTech (who admits to knowing nothing about cars) who seems to think sending me the wrong part somehow absolves FiTech.
So these pictures came after this email

I spoke with our QC manager and sales, they have confirmed the throttle cable bracket you received is the correct bracket ,as it is the same one used for our Ultra Ram and LS system. you should have a copy of these instructions, but If you would like to verify this yourself I have included a link to the ultra ram instructions below, you can view the part and part number on page 8.



https://fitechefi.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/38301_38302_-Ultra-Ram-Instructions.pdf
Best wished on the rest of your install.



Oh but Becky (which isn't the name on her signature).
Look at your figure 27. The correct bracket is pictured in it. That is not the same as the picture on page 6 (or the picture I sent you of the original bracket.
pay close attention to the 90* angle on the bracket - it's 45* on figure 27.



oops... page 8

but wait, it just gets better

---

email header


My name is Stephanie, which you are well aware of. I'm actually trying to get this resolved for you, even though I am not involved in the technical side of our product and have never been trained on this end of our product. My position here is purely clerical.



If you don't want my assistance, I can ask someone else to contact you instead.

email continues

By yelling at me for having the audacity to question you - and hanging up on me.*

I'm not sure we use the same dictionary because "help" means listening to the customer. Getting defensive when you're utterly wrong and out of your depth is not within the traditional definition of help.

I already asked to talk to your manager.

And this does beg the question of why you're the messenger for the QC manager.

Aaron.

*And where Becky came from - it was the word you used to name yourself. That was right before I said "so why does your signature say Stephanie?" which was right after you proclaimed you were your own manager.


so more pictures of this bracket which fits
no

nope

still nope

maybe other side.... nope



What's fun in all of this is this.... I couldn't care less if they send me the right one but at this point Becky has annoyed me and I'm bored.

or as my dad used to say

At some point, when you wrestle with a pig in mud, you'll realized that one of you is enjoying it.


keep firmly in mind that this is not the first, second, third or even 4th time that I've had trouble with FiTech so I was using the Harbor Freight rule - if it needs to do something, buy something else.... Anvils, great, electronics, no. But here FiTech is winning by proving they can't even build a sheet metal intake with f***ing up.

 

[SuperBuickGuy]

the fix - fitech makes a bracket that's 45 degrees to the throttle body ... problem - it may hit the hood... but so all of this may be moot.... but then again, screwing with Becky has become something of a sport....

 

[phantomjock]

...
but then again, screwing with Becky has become something of a sport....

heheheh get a kiss?
I think they have re-defined customer (dis) service.

Counting down the days for the Cyber release of the "Turtles."

Cheers - Jim

 

[SuperBuickGuy]

heheheh get a kiss?
I think they have re-defined customer (dis) service.

Counting down the days for the Cyber release of the "Turtles."

Cheers - Jim

I'm pretty sure she has other attributes that make her of value to the management. Usually, though, they put those in HR.

December 28. That's the day Optima Challenge opens registration. If I'm driving the Corvette, I'll register for next year. If not, I'll take a year to get some more seat time and make this thing reliable. cross your fingers.