Lippy's ERA #797 build log

[blykins]

Yeah, this thing's a mean son of a gun.

[kevins2]

Sounds great. Lippy, I'm guessing that'll make any other car you've owned seem kinda tame.

[lippy]

It's been a busy week. I took delivery of the engine on Wednesday night. It looks great, but it was really hard to get it around the workshop by myself. Before installing it in the car, I:
- Checked the starter clearance and clocked the starter
- Installed the trans
- Installed the slave cylinder
- Calibrated the dipstick to read properly

Saturday morning I had a bunch of friends over to install the engine in the car. Everything was tight (ceiling clearance, movement of the crane, clearance between the engine and the car) but we got it in as one assembly (engine + bell + trans), and it couldn't have gone any better. The only hiccup was that we didn't use the ERA alternator bracket and then realized we had a serious alternator clearance problem that required lifting the engine a few inches. But then I remembered there was a strange looking "extra" part that turned out to be the ERA alternator bracket, which solved the problem.

After getting the engine bolted and leveled, and the trans mount installed, I spent the majority of today:
- Installing the driveshaft
- Finishing the fuel system plumbing
- Checking carb/hood clearances and taking care of odds and ends

I'm hoping to get the car started in a week or two, and I already have my CHP appointment to get my VIN in early March.

[tkb289]

lippy,

That’s a serious looking motor, Brent built you a beast! All installed as a complete assembly, nice job … your helpers do good work.

The plumbing looks great, the remote oil filter setup is very cool. What type of fuel pump are you running?

Nice work with the photos, keep them coming!

[blykins]

What size tubing is on that driveshaft?

[DanEC]

Great job Lippy. Wish I had realized at the time that the entire unit could go in at once.

I didn't recognize he alternator bracket for awhile either. I think it was about 2 years before I knew what the tubing for the windshield wiper system was for.

[lippy]

Originally Posted by blykins

What size tubing is on that driveshaft?

I'd have to ask ERA, but it is strengthened and they told me it is good for >600HP. I think my weak link is the half shafts, but they said they should hold unless I "drive like an ***hole."

[blykins]

Originally Posted by lippy

I'd have to ask ERA, but it is strengthened and they told me it is good for >600HP. I think my weak link is the half shafts, but they said they should hold unless I "drive like an ***hole."

It looks like the driveshaft off of my dad's Suzuki Samurai.....

[lippy]

Originally Posted by blykins

It looks like the driveshaft off of my dad's Suzuki Samurai.....

Hopefully it isn't one of those.

[lippy]

Originally Posted by tkb289

lippy,

That’s a serious looking motor, Brent built you a beast! All installed as a complete assembly, nice job … your helpers do good work.

The plumbing looks great, the remote oil filter setup is very cool. What type of fuel pump are you running?

Nice work with the photos, keep them coming!

We looked at a lot of pumps. We initially were going to use a RobbMC but it didn't clear properly. We ended up going with a Carter high-capacity pump. We did the math and it should work fine, with plenty of safety factor. Brent and Barry use them on several of their builds. I really wanted to avoid an electric pump if possible because I don't want the extra wiring and complexity, and IMO the only way they are dead reliable is with a return line and in-tank (confirmed by tech guys at Aeromotive and Holley).

[ERA Chas]

The regulator and all that plumbing is not needed. The Carter will only give you 7psi.
Plus, you'll bury it when the upper rad hose goes on.

[lippy]

Originally Posted by ERA Chas

The regulator and all that plumbing is not needed. The Carter will only give you 7psi.
Plus, you'll bury it when the upper rad hose goes on.

Chas,
That's what I thought too, but Brent, as well as the tech guys at Aeromotive and Holley, advised me to use it. It is more complex, but I minimized the number of fittings and went straight from the regulator to the carb. No fuel log. Hopefully I can get at them with the rad hoses in place to snug them if they leak. Thx,
-Lippy

[750hp]

I thought for a moment that Brent had taken to putting his signature on your drivers side valve cover, ala Shelby...

Looks fantastic!

[blykins]

Originally Posted by 750hp

I thought for a moment that Brent had taken to putting his signature on your drivers side valve cover, ala Shelby...

Looks fantastic!

No, it says in all caps...."NO OIL"

[lippy]

I want to replace the black upper alt bracket, or at least refinish it nicely in silver. Anyone know of a nice billet one for an FE (upper only)?

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by lippy

I want to replace the black upper alt bracket, or at least refinish it nicely in silver. Anyone know of a nice billet one for an FE (upper only)?

Try Kirkham.

Forgot the link: http://kirkhammotorsports.com/products/parts/59

[blykins]

So are you in the pictures up above? I'm curious to see if you have more hair than I do.

[lippy]

Originally Posted by blykins

So are you in the pictures up above? I'm curious to see if you have more hair than I do.

I'm the guy in the black Indian Motorcycle tee, no hat. WRT the question about the hair, it depends on the angle you're looking from.

[blykins]

Doesn't matter which angle you look at me from. Bald is bald.

[blykins]

I was just giving Jeff a hard time. I've just never seen driveshaft tubing that small on a Cobra. Normally, we use 3" or 3.5" diameter for big horsepower stuff.