Opel Prep for West Coast 2017 (Page 2 of 4)

Finally got my package from Opel GT Source with new motor mounts and driveline u-bolts. I know my driveline will need serviced, the rear joint is stiff and can't be greased. Opel used a "plastic injection" system instead of conventional clips to locate the u-joint caps, and few driveline shops have the equipment or experience to work on such an odd unit. Gil at Opel GT Source referred me to a driveline shop near Seattle. Specifically Pat at Drivelines NW in Fife WA.

I went ahead and installed my driveline just so I can drive the car around a little bit to say that I did. I'll pull it again to mail it to the shop, and replace my torque tube donut, it is SHOT.

I bought a little drill press and started working on my TBI adapter plate. My friend machined a nice piece of 4 x 4.5 x 0.75" aluminum for me, we might CNC the final adapter plate, but this will get me running. FYI, a wood hole saw does not do a great job drilling through billet, but it eventually punched through. I messed up and drilled my TBI holes to clear an M8x1.25 bolt, not to tap M8x1.25 threads. Thankfully everything is symmetrical except the TBI bolts, so I can just flip the plate over and drill/tap new holes. The ones I drilled oversize will just add lightness.

Hopefully my Tech4 air cleaner will clear the hood.

I have my adapter plate "finished", I made some mistakes, but it will be functional. A friend might CNC a final product for me if I draw it up. Tech-4 aircleaner almost looks like it belongs.

Earls fittings for putting AN-6 fittings on GM TBI:
Inlet - 991955
Return - 991954

Waiting for Amazon to deliver my tubing bending tool, then I'm going to tweak some old Trooper fuel line and have it TIG'd into my Opel tank for a return line.

Installed a 9" electric puller fan positioned at the lower left, above the outlet. Water pump pulley is pretty close to the radiator, I couldn't fit my 12" fan between. I didn't have a shroud on the mechanical fan, so I imagine the single 9" fan will have greater cooling effect anyway. I have a 180-degree thermostat installed and the fan temp set at 195-degrees, controlled by Megasquirt. I don't think it will be necessary, but there is room for a couple smaller pusher fans behind the grille.

Swapping to an electric fan was medium-high on the priorities because I have a minor but consistent oil leak (something pressurized). I couldn't tell where is was coming from because the fan was blowing the oil droplets everywhere. I believe it is coming from the oil pressure safety switch which I installed for an electric fuel pump for the carburetor. Unnecessary now that I have Megasquirt running the fuel pump. I never ran the engine with that switch installed, so I never noticed an oil leak. I'll delete the brand new mechanical pump while I'm there.

Haven't done any real tuning on the car, I need to read up on the base tuning procedure and workflow. I'm going to be out a few days on some parts, and it's kind of a busy week, so don't expect too much. Might as well get my drive shaft mailed off tomorrow as I won't be driving the car. One of the parts I need to order is a universal throttle cable kit, and I'll need to make some brackets to get that installed. THEN the car should be drivable.

Yeah, external oil pump. I never installed my oil pressure gauge, I should do that someday.

That carrier bearing, looks very similar as what is in my Opel. Where were you able to get one of those?

The driveline shop still has my shaft. I was hoping to have it back before the weekend, maybe next week...

In the meantime, I did the rear suspension bushings. The panhard bar and trailing arm bushings were original, but not that bad. Already had poly replacements that I bought three years ago, so they went in anyway. Rear sway bar bushings were shot (the Kadett came with a rear sway bar but not a front, I'm working on that). I had also ordered poly sway bar bushings, so now those are installed.

My "parts car" is an abandoned Opel GT that I drug home five years ago (literally drug it, one of the brakes was seized). It had vintage Cragars on it, with a much more appealing offset. The 205/60-13 tire size is hard to come by, but I think I need to find some (the good looking tire in this picture is old and rotten). Ebay is the only place I've found any. I might give a wheel shop in Portland a call about refinishing them.

Lastly, there is a rebate on KYB shocks right now. So I did. This is a good thing, I don't think the old ones had all that much left to contribute.

Was able to get my hands on an Opel MPFI manifold, it drives so much nicer than with the Iron Duke TBI retrofit.

I've been putting hundreds of miles on the car in recent weeks. It's mostly pretty good!

Also, the new Walker muffler is much quieter! Totally worth it.

I have a GT parts car too, but I think Elana's car is pretty well sorted, probably doesn't need anything that I have. I suggested that she run her Opel on the Rally too, but I think she is too busy for that. I'll send her the story, maybe I can get my junk in another web or magazine article.

My Zip-tie Drags V8 Volvo build and road trip story was pretty long. There were a number of V8 Volvos at the drags, so they were going to do an article on them but ran out of room in the current issue so it's going in the next.

Damn that's a lot of wires.

Even when it's nicely organized, it's still a lot of wires.