Skip to main content ↑ ↓

Messages

This section allows you to view all Messages made by this member. Note that you can only see Messages made in areas you currently have access to.

Messages - tommym

31
Engine Tech / Re: Holley Terminator X
Thanks Clayton. I have zero experience with this new tech and it scares me a little. I have been trying to read up on the Terminator X and it seems to be the answer to the tuning issues with the A9L. There is no one here in Las Vegas able to work with it. I'm a little hesitant to make the change because the tech aspect is way over my head. I posted a list of what I have in the TC in another post about the Mega Squirt in this forum. The car runs great as it is but I'm pretty sure it can be better. The other thing is, with the Terminator X, I can keep my Ford fuel injection.
33
Engine Tech / Holley Terminator X
Has any one tried to use the Terminator X to replace their A9L,P? Thinking of buying one.
34
Engine Tech / Re: New Radiator
Quote from: Haystack – on
That tiny hole doesn't circulcirculae much, but when its really cold, it doesnt take much to cool the car either.

My 88 car I just bought, I havent had tome to mess with it. Brand new radiator and water pump. Previous owner said it overheated easy in summer time. Threw new parts at it and then stopped driving it. Leaks out of the timing cover so I haven't messed with it much. Found a empty box full of receipts in the trunk and it has a fail safe 180° thermostat in it.

We got about a foot of snow the other day and I have been in the hospital with a new baby. Went to start the car up to keep the battery charged up and dig out the car. In 45 mins it never went over the first bar on the digi gauge and wasn't even warm enough to defrost the windows.

I did a winter out in Montana. Warmest it got was -1°f the day we finished the job and drove home, before that it was -27 to -40°f the whole time we were there, plus wind chill. And it was blowing 40+mph most days. Never been that cold before. The car ran really good the whole winter with a good heater.s the plastic headlights didn't get warm enough to keep snow off them on extended winter drives though. Never had a problem overheating that summer when I got home. Went from -40°f to 110°f running a.c. with no changes. I miss that car.
Haystack- Congratulations on the new youngster. Never worked in weather like that. Had the "opportunity?" to work on a pipeline project in North Dakota and turned it down. I doubt if I would of survived coming out of Southern Nevada. Drove my F350 this morning, 40* out, drove 27mi, truck got up to 136*.
35
Engine Tech / Re: New Radiator
I forget what brand of T-Stat I have, 180*, costs about $15, has the bleed hole but that's just if you have air in the system. When you install it the hole goes on top. I don't know how you guys make it in Chicago. Last year a friend went there in winter and said it was -40*. Hell when it gets 70* here I break out the Carharts. Getting to be a puss in my "golden" years. Other than the Army way back I've spent my life working construction. Rain, snow, HEAT. I was the boss so I had to show up. Quit work a few years ago and kinda like looking out the window when it's in the 30's with a 45mph breeze blowing. Walk over to the fireplace and warm my hands.
36
Engine Tech / Re: New Radiator
I know about that gasket. What I did was to cut along the middle of the support structure at the window. Raised the hood support up against the new cowl and added sheet metal in three locations at the rear. That allowed me to use the factory hood support. Looks like it came from the factory. I can cut foam pieces that will fit at the rear blocking the vent. I was trying to post a picture but it's asking for a url.
38
Engine Tech / Re: Changing a A9L to Mega Squirt
Thanks for the help Thunderjet. I would like to get it tuned just to see what it has. Like I said the car runs great, instant start, no lag or stalling, plenty of power. No tuners here in Las Vegas. I'll have to trailer it to LA, 4 hrs away.
39
Engine Tech / Re: New Radiator
I thought it might be stuck so I changed it. No change. Driving on the streets, 35-45mph, I can get it up to 180*. Tried that today. On the freeway at 70mph it stays around 150-160*. I think the cowl hood might be working better than I thought with drawing the heat out.
40
Engine Tech / Re: New Radiator
I drive my F350 27 miles out to the VA hospital and the temperature barely hits 140*. Have to wear Carharts with the window rolled up.
41
Engine Tech / Re: Changing a A9L to Mega Squirt
The list below is what I've done to the car. I'm a novice compared to you guys. Sounds like you guys have done way more to your cars than I have. I was kind of working on a budget but I'm sure you know how that goes. The only outside labor was the machine shop on the block and balancing. Won't know what the horsepower is until I get it tuned. I know it won't be close to what you guys are running. Aerocoupe it looks like I've got a similar problem with tuning. Looks like I will have to trailer the car over to Los Angeles for dyno and tuning. Can't get any recommendations here in Southern Nevada. Cougar 5.0 I'm using my stock wiring harness with no problems- yet but after the first of the year I'm ordering a new harness, from engine and MAF to the computer, from Ron Francis. I know, in the future, I will have wiring problems. Removing the ABS wiring helped a lot so I only have the engine wiring at the firewall.
With the changes to the suspension, custom, boxed frame connectors, 14-1 rack, CHE upper and lower control arms, Borgeson steering shaft, car handles great. So far I have no idle problems, stalling, no check engine light, soft codes. Car has 2100 miles on it since the rebuild. God knows I've spent enough time banging my head on the work bench.

Stock 5.0 block, 0.030
Stock crank, polished, 0.010
ARP main bolts
Trick Flow Track Heat aluminum heads
Ford Racing Graphite Head Gaskets
ARP 7/16 in. Head Studs w/ Trick Flow Head Bolt Bushings
Trick Flow Forged Pistons, 4.030 in., flat top w/ 2 valve reliefs, 10-1
Summit Racing Moly Piston Rings
Eagle SIR I-Beam Connecting Rods, forged, shot peened
   ARP 3/8 in. rod bolts
COMP Cams Extreme Energy Cam and Lifter Kit
   Operating Range 1600 to 5600 rpm
   Intake Duration @ 0.50- 216
   Exhaust Duration @ 0.50- 224
   Adv. Intake Duration- 266
   Adv. Exhaust Duration- 274
   Intake Valve Lift- 0.544 in.
   Exhaust Valve Lift- 0.555 in.
   Lobe Separation- 112
   Grind # XE266HR
   Computer Compatible
COMP Cams Die Cast Aluminum Rocker Arms
   Full Roller, 1.6
   ARP Stud Size- 7/16 in., w/ polylocks
Trick Flow Chrome Moly 5/16 x 6.75 Push Rods
PRO SPORT Billet Damper, 50 oz, SFI
Roll Master Dual Timing Chain, billet steel gears, nitride coated, ISWIS chain
Ford Racing Billet Flywheel
    157 tooth, 50 oz, SFI, ARP bolts
Centerforce II clutch, pressure plate
Ford GT 40 upper and lower intake, ported
BBK 70mm Throttle Body, EGR Spacer
BBK Fuel Rails
Kirban Adj. Fuel Pressure Regulator, fuel pressure- 42lbs
Bosch 30lb fuel injectors
Walbro 255 lph fuel pump
BBK Cold Air System, Through Fender
Pro M 75mm MAF, calibrated for 30lb injectors, cold air
Stock A9l Computer
Timing- 14*
Idle- 850 rpm
BBK Equal Length Shortie Headers
2 ½ Exhaust, BBK “H” Pipe, Flowmaster 40 lers
T-5 w/ 335 1st, 0.68 5th
8.8 w/ 373, 2200 rpm @ 70mph
42
Engine Tech / Re: New Radiator
I think it might be working too good. Getting down in the thirties in the morning. If I drive the car it barely makes it to 150*. Almost like my F350 only I can't stick a piece of cardboard in front of the radiator.
43
Engine Tech / Re: New Radiator
I ended up replacing the radiator and fan. I went with the Frostbit aluminum 3 row radiator. I thought about the 4 row but I would end up modifying the fan shroud to clear the tensioner. The stock 3 row is 1 1/2in deep and the new Frostbite radiator is 2 1/2in deep. I replaced the original 7 blade fan with a Mustang 10 blade fan and kept the Cobra fan clutch. Coolant temp went from 210*+ down to 190* with the A/C on in traffic. On the freeway, cruising at 70 temp stays around 180*. That is with the outside air temp above 100*. The cowl hood is working good to get the hot air out of the engine compartment. I think the suction created at the windshield helps draw it out. You can feel the hot air if you have the window down. In all I think I solved the heating problem.
44
Engine Tech / Re: Changing a A9L to Mega Squirt
First I'd like to say "THANK YOU" for the help. You guys talked me out of spending a bunch of money on something I don't really need. Most of what I know about the Ford ECM I've gotten from a book called "Ford Fuel Injection and Electronic Engine Control" by Charles Probst. That is the reason I stuck with the Ford fuel injection instead of a carb or throttle body fuel injection. Both would of been a lot easier. Neither would work as well.
My goal was to build a fairly quick, mild mannered street car. I'm a real novice when it comes to building a car. This is my first using a ECM and fuel injection. Spent a year researching before I decided on what parts I needed for this last rebuild. I've had a couple of race cars in street clothes. Impressive at the track and stop lights but a real pain in the ass. You spent more time working on them than driving them.
I had a lot of help from a friend who let me use his shop. He's a master fabricator and designed and built the 1/8 boxed steel frame connectors and the metal fab on the cowl hood. His advice on building the motor kept me from screwing up. Took me 3 months working 6 days a week. At the moment the only original parts on the car are the body, windows, and interior. The parts list is 11 pages. A little over $15,000. Parts only.
So far the car runs great just a little rich at idle and very noisy. I have more motor than rear wheels. And it handles great on a tight road.
If it wasn't for this site, Cool Cats, and you guys my build would have been way more difficult. THANK YOU.













45
Engine Tech / Changing a A9L to Mega Squirt
I'm trying to replace my A9L because no one here in Southern Nevada can tune it. They have a problem with OBD-1. Will a Mega Squirt work? Is it OBD-2? I'm not a computer whiz so I don't know if there is something out there that is basically plug and play?
I'm not positive but I think the modifications I have done exceed the capabilities of the A9L.
Appreciate the help.