Papa's MKIV Roadster Build - #9115 (Post Grad) - One million + views!!!

[Papa]

Today I started laying down the Cool Mat. I completed the firewall and PS foot box.





There is a huge difference in sound transmission on the insulated panels. I hope the heat insulating benefits are just as noticeable.

[Papa]

BluePrint sent me my dyno numbers today and I plotted them out.

[srobinsonx2]

BluePrint sent me my dyno numbers today and I plotted them out.

That is really cool. I like that they sent you the dyno results. I bet you are really excited. That will be sweet when you get it running.

[Papa]

That is really cool. I like that they sent you the dyno results. I bet you are really excited. That will be sweet when you get it running.

My entire experience with BluePrint so far has been spectacular. I'm only six hours away from them, so I hope it won't take too long for my engine to arrive.

[Papa]

Today has been a good day. First, my engine is on it's way and the dyno results look good. Then, my leather door panels from Herb Fraser (cobraherb) arrived and they look fantastic!

[ChopperJustin]

Papa I just discovered your build thread! You're doing a very similar build plan to what I would like to do (347 efi from blueprint) Looking forward to following along! Thanks so much for taking the time to share your experience with the group!

[Papa]

Papa I just discovered your build thread! You're doing a very similar build plan to what I would like to do (347 efi from blueprint) Looking forward to following along! Thanks so much for taking the time to share your experience with the group!

I'm glad to share my build and hope it helps others with theirs. I hope my engine arrives in the next week, but whenever it does I'll be posting lots of pictures!

[ChopperJustin]

Standing by! - Popcorn in hand!

[Papa]

Standing by! - Popcorn in hand!

I got the call from the freight company today. My engine will be delivered Tuesday!!!

[GoDadGo]

I got the call from the freight company today. My engine will be delivered Tuesday!!!

Tuesday Will Be One Heck Of A Great Day!

[Papa]

Tuesday Will Be One Heck Of A Great Day!

Yes it will, Steve. Good to see you back on-line after the storm. Everything good out your way?

[GoDadGo]

We were A-Okay and just had a little tide water in the streets from Lake Pontchartrain.

[Papa]

We were A-Okay and just had a little tide water in the streets from Lake Pontchartrain.

That's good to hear. We lived in Pensacola, FL when Erin hit in 1995. Now I live in Colorado -- no hurricanes to worry about here. I don't ever want to go through one of those again!!!

[Papa]

I only got to work on the car today for a couple of hours, but made some progress just the same. I re-routed my front harness per Paul's recommendation.



I also wired up my gauges to the dash harness.

[Papa]

Today I insulated the DS foot box and set my dash into place. I installed the ignition, horn, and headlight switches.

[Itchief]

Papa

I always thought that there where 0011 types of people in this world

Those who make thing happen
those who watch thing happen and
those who wonder what happened


I like the door panels from Cobra Herb that you posted about, I am planning on ordering a set in a few weeks.

Looking through your pictures and the power steering install does the rack have the 1 inch rack extensions installed?

Your build looks great

Rick

[Papa]

Papa

I always thought that there where 0011 types of people in this world

Those who make thing happen
those who watch thing happen and
those who wonder what happened


I like the door panels from Cobra Herb that you posted about, I am planning on ordering a set in a few weeks.

Looking through your pictures and the power steering install does the rack have the 1 inch rack extensions installed?

Your build looks great

Rick

Thanks for the kind words. My steering rack was ordered with the kit from FFR and does not have any added extensions. Each rod is a single threaded piece. On the door panels, I wanted leather and you need to supply your own with your order. I found a full hide on eBay for $150 and the grain, color, and finish is an exact match to the leather seats. I sent Herb what he needed and still have over 1/2 of the hide remaining.

[bluse]

I sent you a PM regarding the left over hide.

Thanks

[Papa]

Look what showed up today!







When I ordered the engine I wanted the "Cobra" valve covers. I didn't realize they would have the 427 on them. I may be looking to do a swap at some point. I don't want to be accused of posing.

[rrrose]

You would have got a lot more done if it were not for me showing up and asking 120 questions. Your build is looking great online but out of the park in person. Thanks again for letting me drop by on Sunday. A most gracious host letting me take well over an hour of your precious build time.
The motor looks amazing. Give me a ring when you are ready to put it in I would be happy help. Many hands make small work.

Ron

[bluse]

That is way cool.

[Papa]

You would have got a lot more done if it were not for me showing up and asking 120 questions. Your build is looking great online but out of the park in person. Thanks again for letting me drop by on Sunday. A most gracious host letting me take well over an hour of your precious build time.
The motor looks amazing. Give me a ring when you are ready to put it in I would be happy help. Many hands make small work.

Ron

No problem at all, Ron. I enjoyed the visit and you are welcome anytime.

Dave

[Itchief]

I wish that factory five would have had the power steering option when I ordered
mine back in 2014 it would have saved me time and money

I miss read you thread about the headlight dimmer I thought you were taking about the
switch not the driving lights my bad

Love the motor pics should be one bad *** mkiv when you get it completed

Rick

[srobinsonx2]

Papa,

Very cool looking engine. That thing should awesome. Is that a vacuum advance on your distributor? I don't have that. I am pretty new when it comes to the engine stuff. Well, actually I am new to all of this. What am I saying? Did you specify that on your engine or just standard from blueprint? Just curious. If you don't mind, let us know if you like it and what it does for you.

[Papa]

Papa,

Very cool looking engine. That thing should awesome. Is that a vacuum advance on your distributor? I don't have that. I am pretty new when it comes to the engine stuff. Well, actually I am new to all of this. What am I saying? Did you specify that on your engine or just standard from blueprint? Just curious. If you don't mind, let us know if you like it and what it does for you.

It does have vacuum advance on the distributor. I didn't specify anything other than the 347 with EFI and power steering and the transmission option. I haven't had a chance to really look it over yet. First step will be to go through the EFI package and start finalizing my fuel system.

[Itchief]

If you are using a march power steering sagnaw style pump you can get a kit part number p306 to set the pressure without having to install an external regulator. You add shims to the built in regulator to set the pressure.

[Papa]

If you are using a march power steering sagnaw style pump you can get a kit part number p306 to set the pressure without having to install an external regulator. You add shims to the built in regulator to set the pressure.

I have no idea what most of that means! I suppose I'll have a lot more reading to do before hooking up the power steering. I love this forum!

[Itchief]

Looking at your motor pics it looks like you have a march accessory kit
If that is true then the power steering pump is most likely a sagnaw type pump
From my crash course in power steering gear type steering units operate at around
1200 psi rack and pinion units operate at less than 1000 psi
Pressures greater than 1000 on a rack may cause the seals to fail
If your pump is a sagnaw style pump you can use the p306 kit to set the pressure
I set mine to about 700 psi it provides good assistance at low speed but
doesn't feel to light at highway speeds

Rick

[Papa]

Looking at your motor pics it looks like you have a march accessory kit
If that is true then the power steering pump is most likely a sagnaw type pump
From my crash course in power steering gear type steering units operate at around
1200 psi rack and pinion units operate at less than 1000 psi
Pressures greater than 1000 on a rack may cause the seals to fail
If your pump is a sagnaw style pump you can use the p306 kit to set the pressure
I set mine to about 700 psi it provides good assistance at low speed but
doesn't feel to light at highway speeds

Rick

Is this what you are referring to?

https://www.amazon.com/Performance-P.../dp/B000PHJ6X0

How/where does it install and how does it basically work to regulate pressure?

[carlewms]

Papa ...

The engine is beautiful ... this car is going to be a real winner.

Congrats,

Carl

[Itchief]

See if you can read this I found the instructions

If it is a march sagnaw pump there should be a large nut with a fitting in the center on the back of the pump which is the discharge port

RickIMG_0223.JPG

[Papa]

See if you can read this I found the instructions

If it is a march sagnaw pump there should be a large nut with a fitting in the center on the back of the pump which is the discharge port

RickIMG_0223.JPG

Thanks, Rick. That looks pretty straight forward. I was concerned I was going to have to tear the entire pump apart. I'll verify my specific pump design and go from there.

Dave

[Itchief]

The flow valve is under the nut you can use your finger or something to pull it out
Hope this helps i had to look for a while before I figured it out

Rick

Are you going to do a mid shift on the tko there is a kit that doesn't require you to take the transmission apart to install I found it by dumb luck you just have to remove and reinstall a couple of roll pins

[Yama-Bro]

Hey Papa, I happened to notice your serial # is 9754. Is that correct? I ordered mine after you and mine is 9158. Maybe I'm reading mine wrong? Just wondering if yours was actually 9154?

[Papa]

Hey Papa, I happened to notice your serial # is 9754. Is that correct? I ordered mine after you and mine is 9158. Maybe I'm reading mine wrong? Just wondering if yours was actually 9154?

Oh boy, this may be one of those senior moments! I took the 9754 from the green tag that was taped to the body when the car was delivered. Looking at the serial number on the chassis, I am actually 9115.

[Papa]

Today I worked on figuring out how I would install a floor-mounted headlight dimmer switch. I wanted to mount it in the lower left of the foot box in a way that would not interfere with the clutch pedal. I then made a template for a bracket.





I picked up a small sheet of 22 gauge mild steel at my local home improvement store and traced the template onto the steel and then cut it out using a cutoff wheel. I don't have a bending brake, but was able to use my vise and made the bends using just my hands.





Once I was happy with the fit, I drilled a hole and mounted the switch from behind with nutserts.







The final assembly will be attached to the foot box tube with button-head screws into tapped holes and likely just a few pop rivets around the perimeter. The wires will come out of the bottom and then up into the foot box and to the relay behind the dash. If I ever need to replace the switch, I can drill out the rivets in 30 seconds and remove the entire bracket to get the switch out and a new one in.

[GoDadGo]

You Dog!

Didn't Think Of That One!

Boy, do I miss those days of dimmers on the floor.

Steve

[Papa]

You Dog!

Didn't Think Of That One!

Boy, do I miss those days of dimmers on the floor.

Steve

I don't know why they ever moved from the floor. There is so much going on in new cars from the stalks on the steering column. Here is my finished bracket all painted up.

[GoDadGo]

Are you going to rivet it in from the firewall side or use rivet nuts in case you ever need to pull it loose?

[Papa]

Are you going to rivet it in from the firewall side or use rivet nuts in case you ever need to pull it loose?

I'm still undecided. I don't want any water coming in, so it will need to be done in a way that seals well. My experience with these switches is that they are very durable, so I'm willing to risk a difficult replacement. I'm looking at these:

https://www.mcmaster.com/#leak-resis...ivets/=19bd9f3