[67'7F6'Bird]

Back to tuning the past few days. We called in the Big Guns - SHAKER455 and Ed Page, with some consulting with Len Caverly.

The Engine has been experiencing some erratic timing/running & Starting issues. No Street miles yet.

The problem (We Think) came down to be Phasing issues with the MSD Pro-Billet Distributor where the engine was experiencing spark jumping due to the phasing being too far off.

New adjustable Rotor to be ordered this week. We will drill a few view holes in the cap to see exactly where the rotor needs to be adjusted too.

I have installed currently the Butler flat valley pan, the one with no baffling, causing a lot of exhaust smoke. Oiled Plugs and Jeff thinks time for a new O2 Sensor as it was reading opposite of what it should had when going from Park to Drive. The Tomahawk Valley Pan is in the garage, time to install it.

Took the car out for the first time yesterday, rear Disc Brake Emergency brake was a little too tight. Yes, We had some smoke and when I let off the throttle the car came to a quick stop. Also, Caliper Bracket was rubbing the rotor, making for some heat and metal. Took all the brakes apart today cleaned adjusted and eliminated that issue. The rear brakes are Wilwood.

Noticed one rear rime is warped as we had the car on the lift with the rear tires off the ground for about 15 minutes, went through all the gears, tested the brakes multiple times and now after letting off the throttle the car glides.

More to come.

Steve

[67'7F6'Bird]

Well after driving the car for a few brief times around the neighborhood there was a howling noise coming from the Driveline, about 20 MPH to 40 MPH. I drained the rear end fluid and it was all Grey with signs of moisture in the fluid, this current Ford 9 Inch was over 15 years old and purchase new(Car never driven). Also a lot of metal on the magnetic drain plug. Then a few weeks later after the fluid change I removed the Third Member and the gears were improperly set with too much backlash causing chipped pieces from the pinion to go through the whole differential. Not looking to put any money into this Differential I ordered a New "Strange S Trac" 35 Spline Differential. Should be delivered in about 2 weeks. Ordered with 3.50 gears.

Also have new Split Mono-Leafs from Calvert Racing ready to go in.

Some engine upgrades too, including New LSM Solid Roller Camshaft, Innovators West Harmonic Damper and CVF Pulleys.

Hopefully the howl will be gone after the new Differential is installed, or the Transmission may need work.

Next will be rear tires and rims.

Steve

[ponjohn]

Steve-

Is the S trac a worm type posi?

Did Len spec the LSM roller?

Good luck.

[67'7F6'Bird]

Originally Posted by ponjohn

Steve-

Is the S trac a worm type posi?

Did Len spec the LSM roller?

Good luck.

Hi John,

Yes, Worm Gear is the S Trac 35 Spline(Warrantied), can handle full bodied car to low 9's as Strange has said. Basically, the Strongest Posi unit before going to a Spool and 40 Spline. I want more street driving, so this was the best option.

The "Owner of LSM, Steve" designed the cam for me. He Designed Ed's Ram Air V Cam and it performed exactly as was requested so I called him directly and he spent the time designing one on the call.

Steve

[ponjohn]

Originally Posted by 67'7F6'Bird

Hi John,

Yes, Worm Gear is the S Trac 35 Spline(Warrantied), can handle full bodied car to low 9's as Strange has said. Basically, the Strongest Posi unit before going to a Spool and 40 Spline. I want more street driving, so this was the best option.

The "Owner of LSM, Steve" designed the cam for me. He Designed Ed's Ram Air V Cam and it performed exactly as was requested so I called him directly and he spent the time designing one on the call.

Steve

Good to know. I have not seen any real feedback on any of the worm type posi units.

[67'7F6'Bird]

Originally Posted by ponjohn

Good to know. I have not seen any real feedback on any of the worm type posi units.

DPI has been making them for 30 years, I had a Gold Trac in the current Ford 9 inch. still works, but only 31 spline. The Strange S Trac is Beefier or I would have tried the DPI Platinum Track.

Steve

[ponjohn]

DPI?

[67'7F6'Bird]

Originally Posted by ponjohn

DPI?

http://www.dpiracingproducts.com/pro...treet-rod.html

[67'7F6'Bird]

I picked up the Strange Ford 9" today. It looks Sweet!!!!

Has the Back brace and the "HD Pro Aluminum Case" with 3.50 Gears and 35 Spline S-Trac Differential.

I will be reusing my Wilwood Rear Disc.

Steve

[RAIV-Z]

Originally Posted by 67'7F6'Bird

I picked up the Strange Ford 9" today. It looks Sweet!!!!

Has the Back brace and the "HD Pro Aluminum Case" with 3.50 Gears and 35 Spline S-Trac Differential.

I will be reusing my Wilwood Rear Disc.

Steve

Plenty of daylight left in the garage to start installing tonight.

[ponjohn]

What are the bolts on the 3rd member with the black collars around them?

[67'7F6'Bird]

Originally Posted by ponjohn

What are the bolts on the 3rd member with the black collars around them?

Those are thru-bolts for the main caps which were designed to be used for added strength compared to standard bolts.

[67'7F6'Bird]

I removed the Rancho Leaf Springs and Old Differential. Installed the New Split Mono-Leafs with the help from My Nephew Ed and brother. Those rear shackles are a pain to work with.

Used the Transmission Jack to elevate the New Ford 9 Inch and put in place - Went smoothly - Thanks Ed.

Shocks are a 50/50 setup, may upgrade in the future.

Steve

[67'7F6'Bird]

More Assembly Pictures.

Cal-Tracs, shocks, Wilwood Disc Brakes with Emergency Brake Cable & Drive Shaft Installed.

[67'7F6'Bird]

HD Pro Aluminum Center Section with Chromoly 1350 Yoke attached to a 3.5" Aluminum "Driveshaft Shop" 1000HP Driveshaft.

[AG]

I don't think your set-up is strong enough. That's some nice suspension porn there. What do you expect to be making for power?

[67'7F6'Bird]

Hi AG,

The Engine is a 11 to 1 Compression 455 with "72 HO455 Round Ports" soon to be upgraded Solid Roller Camshaft Designed be LSM - Not installed yet.

The Cam going in is replacing an Ultradyne Solid Roller which was not ideal for this set-up.

The LSM Camshaft has the LS1 Firing Order, 252,258 Duration @ .05 112 LCA .660 Lift with 1.5 Rockers.

Power should be between 550-600 HP.

The Suspension changes are for the long term. Maybe some DCI Ram AIR 5 Heads someday with an F3 Supercharger.

The current motor was raced years ago before many changes and ran 11.62's @ 117.3 MPH - 3650LBS with 3.42 gears and Junk Stall Speed, raced only about 20 times - still have my times slips form the early 90's. We are looking for Mid Tens. Car is a little lighter and engine should be making much more power than before.

I would consider spraying it 100-200 HP when all dialed in to break in the 9's.

Steve

[AG]

Steve,

Is that a street/strip car or just race? You got some nice stuff in that car! I'll be putting the whole CalTrac system in my car next spring with their shocks, how was the install? When will the car be going to the track?

[67'7F6'Bird]

This will be a street/strip car, it will have good street manners and then tear up the track - I hope. The Cal-Tracs and Split mono-leafs were very easy to install. Just have patience for the rear shackles as there is limited space to fit your tools and get new J-clips for your front spring eye bracket, put the new clips in and install this first slowly making sure all bolts get started, its very easy to strip the J-Bolt clip, as this happened to me today. My brother finished this Fix for me as I lost patience after a long day.

I ordered the Split-Mono-leafs 1 Inch lower than stock height. The car sits nice. I just have to figure out what rims I want and tires.

For shocks, I may go with the Strange Double Adjustable shocks.

Hopefully my car and my brother Ed's(Twin Turbo 535 RAV) will be racing early Spring Next Year.

Steve

[AG]

We'll have to line up together, it'll be a great shot of 2 Birds running.