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#401 (permalink) |
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Project 1450 supporter...
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Some of the improvements, showing the new heater core, lined heater box, revised coolant inlets and outlets (made from copper pipe), and all components cleaned and coated with truck bedliner for sound attenuation and as a thermal barrier to keep the heat in. Note the new foam seals everywhere, the stock stuff was non existant, having dried up and crumbled off. Less leaks equals more efficient heat transfer.
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#402 (permalink) |
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Project 1450 supporter...
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Today I got a new intercooler core for this project. Yes, I already had a WRX intercooler, and had modified it already, but when I went to test fit it earlier this week with an engine block in place and the radiator fitted, the WRX intercooler just wouldn't fit (too tall). I said screw it and got a new core, and will fabricate the end tanks from scratch. This new intercooler core is longer, but shorter in height, so it will provide the clearance I need. It will also allow for more horsepower potential, and with greater safety for the engine.
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#403 (permalink) |
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Senior Contributor
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Beyond Anal Retentive
Bob, what you did to that heater box is beyond anal retentive, that is a work of art. I was wondering when you said you spent 3 days on it.
I never thought I would be jeolous of another mans heater box.... |
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Steve
"ever notice you are never done tinkering with the GT?" Never mind, I am WAAAY beyond tinkering now...[/SIGPIC] |
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#404 (permalink) |
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6,000 Post Club
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Imperial Beach, CA South of San Diego
Posts: 6,033
Classified Rating: 0% (0)
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As always Bob, and I've said it numerous times, what you're doing is an art form. I can emphasize with you on the cooler. Margaret has oft told me working on a prototype is sometimes a real PIA. Next week the AC compressor brackets get built, I hope, depending on welder availability. Then the real fun of building an airbox to go to the throttle body from the Lenk Tuning Hood nostrils via a K & N air filter, with some sort of rain diverter in the mix. The only thing between what you do and what I do is skill, workmanship and aesthetics, your stuff looks much much better, by far, real far. Definately inspirational.
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Ron
72 GT 3.4L V-6/T-5/ZF posi - almost done - Just need AC installed. ![]() 75 Chevy monza 5.7L/TH350/Auburn 3.08 posi - Next |
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#405 (permalink) | |
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Project 1450 supporter...
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Bob |
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#407 (permalink) | |
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Project 1450 supporter...
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If you want some, let me know, we have a ton of it. Just used contact adhesive on both surfaces, and voila....no more air leaks, and no sticky/gooey mastic sealer either. |
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#408 (permalink) | |
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Southern Red Neck
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Gene Smith 1665 Norton Estates Circle Snellville, GA 30078 |
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"Yes, I do have a rifle rack in my Sportwagon"
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#409 (permalink) | |
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Cunning Linguist
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Definitely . . . not definately
. . . but, once and for all, definitely NOT definately!
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1960: ♥ '61 Rekord PII 1.7 3S 3.9 ♥ '69 Kadett LS 'sprint' 1.9 3A 3.18 1970: ♥ '70 GT 1.9 4S 3.44 ♥ '72 GT 2.2SSD 5S 3.44 ♥ '72 GT 2.4FI 5S 3.44P ♥ '73 GT 1.9FI 4S 3.44 ♥ '75 1900 1.9FI 4S 3.44 1980: ♥ '85 Bitter SC 3.9FI 5S 3.44P |
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#410 (permalink) | |
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Project 1450 supporter...
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#411 (permalink) |
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Southern Red Neck
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GREAT!! Then I can do my wife's Wagon too. She's driving it regularly now and I can pull the heater unit off this summer and redo it for better heat next winter. You didn't put that thick padding back on around the heater unit, you just used the "rhino liner" stuff correct?
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"Yes, I do have a rifle rack in my Sportwagon"
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#412 (permalink) | |
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Project 1450 supporter...
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#413 (permalink) |
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Project 1450 supporter...
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Okay, here's the defroster duct pics. Not quite done yet, but not much left to do. I polished the interior surfaces before welding the two halves together, then the outside will get the bedliner treatment. This should aid in keeping the temperature high within the ductwork and improving the Manta's notoriously crappy defroster system. Not to mention the days of cracked defroster duct tabs is over.
I started by tracing the stock plastic duct shape onto two pieces of 3/4" solid wood (I used poplar). I cut out the two shapes, one to the exact dimension, the other approximately 1/2" smaller overall. Then I used a 3/8" radius round-over router bit to create a radiused edge to the piece of wood that was the same size as the duct. A piece of .050" thick aluminum was clamped between these two pieces of wood, and I proceeded to hammer the edges of the aluminum to wrap around the radiused wood edge. I should note that I first annealed the edges of the aluminum to make it more malleable, and used plastic hammers to avoid damaging the surface of the aluminum. Another identical panel was made using the same hammer-form technique, and then I trimmed the edges of the panels with aviation snips, and filed them smooth. Next step was to polish all the inside surfaces of the two aluminum panels, and then to clean them well and weld them together. The final steps are to finish-weld the top flanges I made in place, and trim the overall length of the duct, then spray the bedliner coating and install. |
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#414 (permalink) |
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Senior Contributor
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Better than original
Bob, I am guessing you spent more time engineering and testing than the guys at Opel did 30 years ago. A heat gun and a pyrometer....too cool!
It is one thing to look at it and try to add something to make it better, but then to do validation testing prior to reassembly is going the extra mile. I am sure you took notes on the before and after data so that you can refer to it later! From now on, if you do two of everything you do, and auction off the spare, you will live a life of luxery! |
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Steve
"ever notice you are never done tinkering with the GT?" Never mind, I am WAAAY beyond tinkering now...[/SIGPIC] |
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#415 (permalink) |
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Non Civilian
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could you send any of that foam strip my way,Bob? my 74 manta is in dire need too?
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Some People Are Like Slinkies. They're Not Really Good For Anything, But They Bring a Smile To Your Face When Pushed Down The Stairs."
![]() Remember: Advice and Opinions are free, take it for what it's worth. Caution: Driver carries less then $20 of remorse. |
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#416 (permalink) | |
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Opelitis since 1984
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![]() Charles |
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'71 Opel Kadett 4 Door 36D
Blown motor = EV Conversion? |