Valin's Roadster Build Thread in Pictures # 8632

[valin]

This thread is a bit late on this site, as my car is now finished, but I thought I would post it up in case anyone is interested in it, since you don't see them built with BBC power. I have about 900 miles on it now, and absolutely love it!


Build specs:

MKIV Roadster #8632
Powder coated chassis
3 Link rear suspension
Manual steering rack
Body cutouts
Wind Wings
Sun Visors
Cup holders
Hood Hinges
Side Louvers
Heater
Wipers
Chrome Roll Bar
Brake duct wire mesh
Electrical system completion components
Stainless side pipes
Leather seat upgrade
Wilwood big brake kit with red calipers
Roll bar grommets
Leather steering wheel
Koni coilovers
Wilwood pedal box with matching 3/4" master cylinder for the clutch
Individual billet brake and clutch reservoirs (3)
Autometer 5" speedo and tach with shift lite
Autometer 2 5/16 oil pressure, temp, water temp, volt, and gas guages
Battery cut off switch
Russ Thompson signal system
Russ Thompson gas pedal
FFmetal Battery Box with Optima red top
Custom built 25 gallon fuel cell with Holley Hydramat


17x9 Halibrands up front, wrapped in Kuhmo XS 245/45r17
17x10.5 Halibrands in the back, wrapped in Kuhmo XS 315/35r17


Motor:

Chevrolet 454 marine block, all forged internals
10.5:1 compression ratio
088 cylinder heads, mildly ported, big valves
Victor Jr. intake
Comp Cams 310B camshaft (0.638/0.631 lift, 270/276 duration @ .050", 108 LSA)
Comp Cams aluminum roller rockers
PRW High flow water pump
CVR Protorque mini starter
Quick Fuel Q-series 950cfm carburetor
MSD Ignition (6AL, pro billet distributor, blaster SS coil)
Billet Specialties pullies and mounts
Canton 7qt oil pan
Billet fabricated valve covers

The motor should make 570hp, and 6500 rpm, and 520 ft. lbs. Should be nice and scary!


Driveline:

Tremec TKO 600, .82 5th gear
Mid shift kit from Mike Forte
Quicktime 6022 bellhousing
McLeod RST Twin Disk clutch
McLeod flywheel
McLeod throwout bearing
Lakewood clutch fork
8.8" rear end , 31 spline, 3.27 gears

[valin]

12v winch installed on ceiling for the body and buck...

[wallace18]

Congrats! sounds like it will be a cool build, enjoy!

[GoDadGo]

Valin,

1. Greeting Sir Valin From The Other Dark Side Guy!
2. Thank God Another Chevy Cobra Exists!
3. Rat Motors Rule Supreme In My Book!

Steve >> aka: GoDadGo

[valin]

Valin,

1. Greeting Sir Valin From The Other Dark Side Guy!
2. Thank God Another Chevy Cobra Exists!
3. Rat Motors Rule Supreme In My Book!

Steve >> aka: GoDadGo

Hey! I don't think there are very many of us! I really like the ones that are different and unique.

[GoDadGo]

How far forward did you have to place the engine?
Also, did you need to change the spring rates up front.

[valin]

[valin]

[valin]

[valin]

The motor mounts on the BBC don't quite line up.....




You can see the valve cover is pushing in the drivers side footbox. It will need a bit of modification to squeeze the big block in there to allow clearance for the headers.









Ended up notching the footbox to fit the engine.

[valin]

Brake Lines run.







Rear.







Finished the notch in the footbox.




FFMetal battery box installed.

[valin]

Battery Disconnect switch




McLeod Racing RST twin disk clutch. It's Puuuurdy. Too bad you can't see it when installed




Starter gear does not line up with flywheel.







Parking Brake installed.




Need to recess this area on the mill.

[valin]

Cut down the FFR supplied shifter lever.




Installed Bellhousing and Mike Forte slave clutch cylinder setup.




Motor mounts extended forward.




Modified the passenger footbox to clear the headers.




Had to re-modify the drivers side footbox. After installing the engine (which fit beautifully inside the notch in the footbox), I realized I could not remove the valve covers, so I continued the notch all the way up.







Engine in for the last time!

[valin]

Installed the 3 core rad.




Brake and clutch reservoirs installed.







Looking good!




Dash upholstered.

[valin]

I modified a set of Ford 460 headers to fit. It wasn't easy.






Body and side pipes on!




Gauges lit up! I bought all red LED bulbs from Autometer.....brighter than the traditional bulbs.




Here's a video of the first startup!








Not going to be much clearance for an air cleaner...

[valin]

Body work time!






Primed!








And Paint!




And so the painting begins......

Sprayed down some Super Jet Black fist.



Taped off the centerline.

[valin]

Sprayed the Steel Grey Metallic for the stripes.




Taped off the outside of the stripes.




Sprayed the Viper Red for the pinstripes after taping a 1/4" strip on the edge of the Grey stripes.




Taped the red pinstripes off, and sprayed the rest of the black.

[valin]

Custom air cleaner from RJB Performance.

[valin]

Had to take a photo with the Turbo Busa in the background










Final Assembly!




And....the finished product......

[valin]

Required badass pose

[valin]

How far forward did you have to place the engine?
Also, did you need to change the spring rates up front.

I didn't really have to place the engine any further forward......but the motor mounts on the chevy are further forward on the block, therefore I had to extend the motor mounts on the chassis forward.

I went with 750 lb springs up front. It is just about right with weight of the BBC on iron heads.

[GoDadGo]

Just wondering because I had to move things around to fit my transmission.
ZF 6-speeds aren't long, but they are rather wide and you can't move the shifter.
Your Car Has Got To Be A Beast!

[valin]

Just wondering because I had to move things around to fit my transmission.
ZF 6-speeds aren't long, but they are rather wide and you can't move the shifter.
Your Car Has Got To Be A Beast!

The BBC is very wide, and tall. I had to have a custom 17.25"x9.5" drop down air cleaner made to get it to breathe, and it's very close to the hood scoop.

The car is a lot of fun. After putting some miles on it, I have decided that I am going to swap out the cam over the winter. It is pretty choppy at low rpm when navigating slow 90 degree turns, etc. I pretty well have to drop it into first, and it's a little annoying. I am going to swap out the solid mechanical camshaft with a Comp Cams XR292R solid roller camshaft. It will bring the peak power down to 6000 rpm, but bring the torque curve way down, and it will make a ton more torque down low. With the new cam it should bring the power from 570hp/520tq up to 600/600, but a lot more useable. I'm sure it will be a very different car after that. I'm also toying with the idea of swapping to aluminum heads. It's a big cost, but would make another 100hp and 40 ft. lbs., and probably save me about 90 lbs. I'm not yet decided on that.

[GoDadGo]

Totally Insane!!!

[Jazzman]

It pains me to admit it because you have moved to "the Dark Side" to quote GoDadGo, but that is a truly beautiful car! Even the engine looks great. (Man that stings coming out of my mouth!) The engine sounds like it is an amazing one, and the upgrades you are already considering are simply over the top! Congratulations on creating a stunning car. I hope you enjoy it immensely! And thank you for joining GoDadGo. While he is a beloved member of the family, he does take his share of shots! It's good that he has a friend!!

[WIS89]

Ryan-

Your car looks incredible! Very well done. I love the details, and that engine is insane.

Your paint choice is great too, it just seems to fit the car. The red accent sets it off nicely as well.

I am sure you are enjoying the heck out of it. Thanks for taking the time to post your build pictures.

Regards,

Steve

[valin]

Thanks guys! I absolutely love it. The weather up here is stating to turn cold, and hunting season has begun, so I'm not sure how much more I will be able to enjoy it this year. I hope it's a warm fall!

[valin]

Sneak Peak. A new motor is going into the Cobra this year to replace the 454. Going to go a little bigger

598 Cubic Inch BBC from Blueprint Engines. Hydraulic Roller. 358cc heads. 10:1. Should be just about right

Will be on the dyno soon!

[KDubU]

What??? You only just finished your build and now a new bigger engine? I remember all the trouble you went through getting your air filter to fit.

[Yama-Bro]

Hey, Nice choice of engine! Thanks for choosing Blueprint! I didn't expect to see one of those going in an FFR roadster when I opened up the forum today. =)

[Straversi]

Great build. Love the red accent stripes. How long did your build take?

-Steve

[valin]

Hey, Nice choice of engine! Thanks for choosing Blueprint! I didn't expect to see one of those going in an FFR roadster when I opened up the forum today. =)

Haha! A perfect combination!

Tony Zullo brought me over and introduced me to Chris Larson when we were down at the SEMA show in November. I was inquiring about the 540, when he mentioned he was about to design the 598 on the standard height 9.8 block.......and I was sold! I considered having him do a solid roller setup in it, but I think it will make enough power as it is

It looks like he and I will be working together at the Barrett Jackson show in Scottsdale next week I hope you boys get the motor on the dyno this week. I'm very anxious for power numbers! That way I won't have to harass Chris about it all next week

[valin]

Great build. Love the red accent stripes. How long did your build take?

-Steve

Thanks! I took my time with it and put it together in about a year. I didn't rush by any means.

[Yama-Bro]

Haha! A perfect combination!

Tony Zullo brought me over and introduced me to Chris Larson when we were down at the SEMA show in November. I was inquiring about the 540, when he mentioned he was about to design the 598 on the standard height 9.8 block.......and I was sold! I considered having him do a solid roller setup in it, but I think it will make enough power as it is

It looks like he and I will be working together at the Barrett Jackson show in Scottsdale next week I hope you boys get the motor on the dyno this week. I'm very anxious for power numbers! That way I won't have to harass Chris about it all next week

I was talking to the R&D guys today, and heard they were building that engine for a factory five roadster. So it is getting closer! I would still harass Chris though, If I was you. haha

[bobl]

That should make one wicked ride! I met you at SEMA and we talked big blocks for a while. I'm real curios to hear some specifics on this engine. I've built many big Chevys, but nothing bigger than a 565 on a standard deck block. I assume it's a Dart block and 4.500 inch crank? What length rods?

Bob

[valin]

That should make one wicked ride! I met you at SEMA and we talked big blocks for a while. I'm real curios to hear some specifics on this engine. I've built many big Chevys, but nothing bigger than a 565 on a standard deck block. I assume it's a Dart block and 4.500 inch crank? What length rods?

Bob

Hey Bob! Yes, it was nice talking to you! Blueprint uses their own block design, and yes it's a 4.5" stroke. I'm not sure what the length of rods are, but I will ask for you.

Some specs for you:

598 Cubic Inches. 4.6" Bore, 4.5" Stroke

10.0:1 Compression Ratio

Aluminum Heads, 119cc Combustion Chambers, 358cc Intake runners, 125cc Exhaust runners, 2.3" Intake valves, 1.880" Exhaust valves

Hydraulic Roller Camshaft: .647 Intake/.647 Exhaust Lift, 258/266 Duration at .050. 112 degree lobe separation.

My Victor Jr. Intake Manifold off my old motor
My Quickfuel Q-950 carburetor

[Dave Howard]

Hi. Great looking build. I've lost track of the progress. My Coyote/MkIV is just down the road now in Espanola. I'll sneak out to the valley this spring with my Alberta plates for a visit. Every time I take it out it's like a car show at the gas station or the DQ. Haha...love it.

Dave

[2FAST4U]

This is one very bad *** build!!

[ProJoe]

the red accents are gorgeous, great work!!

[bobl]

It ought to be monster. The 598 I built for my boat made 800 HP at 6000 rpm using afr 335 heads and a slightly smaller hydraulic roller cam than yours. It did have a Dart tunnel ram with 4 2bbl efi throttle bodies that I made. And it would run wide open for hours on end. I would certainly expect your engine to make similar numbers. Not sure what effects the rod ratio will have on it though. They are going to dyno it for you, right?

Hey Bob! Yes, it was nice talking to you! Blueprint uses their own block design, and yes it's a 4.5" stroke. I'm not sure what the length of rods are, but I will ask for you.

Some specs for you:

598 Cubic Inches. 4.6" Bore, 4.5" Stroke

10.0:1 Compression Ratio

Aluminum Heads, 119cc Combustion Chambers, 358cc Intake runners, 125cc Exhaust runners, 2.3" Intake valves, 1.880" Exhaust valves

Hydraulic Roller Camshaft: .647 Intake/.647 Exhaust Lift, 258/266 Duration at .050. 112 degree lobe separation.

My Victor Jr. Intake Manifold off my old motor
My Quickfuel Q-950 carburetor