84 301T

[tajoe]

No, he didn't Mike. I got the impression he wasn't in contact with the other Joe. "Rickter" (?) I think was his last name.
The only thing I knew about him was his site has been up for about 20 yrs (?), and that he was a pilot. I believe he was on this site too, wasn't he? Kinda ran the 301 area here. (?) I don't know. Once again, I hope he's OK.

[kentucky yeti]

Yes.  Joe Richter started 301T.  We used to talk quite a bit, and I sent him any 301t engine stuff I ran across.  He flew a commercial airliner; I want to say it was a MD-80.  He stopped communicating with me a couple years ago, seems like, and the site too.

[tajoe]

Such a shame. Would've been nice if he at least explained it to his members. That's what makes me think the worst.

[5th T/A]

Joe,
Although I have not commented on your project in some time, I have been following it very closely. I am impressed at the progress you have made in a relatively short time span and the obstacles you have overcome. To my knowledge no one has attempted putting a turbo 301 in a third generation TA, I find this very interesting and exciting. Thanks for keeping us in the loop with all the details!

[tajoe]

Appreciate the comments, 5th. glad you're enjoying the build. But I can't take credit for being the 1st. The video link below was a member of another forum we both belonged to, and he had the jump on me, when I began contemplating this. (Probably 10 yrs ago). His is a sad story, but believe I've already posted this. Here it is again, for anyone interested.

In the comment section of his video, go to his reply in the bottom comment. He explains his story a bit.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LI3p18_owcg

[tajoe]

Still in fall time yard clean-up mode, but getting impatient to get back into the garage. Received a few mail-order things finally, and will post them soon. 

[Jack]

I see great progress and you cleaned up your garage. I will go back and read in detail but did you resolve closing the hood issue?

[tajoe]

Hello Jack. Good to have you back home. You have become very "worldly" haven't you?

You made me laugh, when you mentioned I "cleaned" my garage. LOL. My garage cleaning duties are a never ending battle. i'll clean a section one day, and destroy all my work the next day.  I posted a thread somewhere recently, where I had cut an 80 T/A into pieces. It was the car the 301T came outta. I showed pics of it whole, and cut-up, and my garage was pretty M/T back then. It looked much better than today. But that was 30 yrs ago. Cleaning takes so much time, and working for a living just eats into the time so badly. i wish there were 36 hrs to a day, so I could get more done. Sleeping doesn't help either.

[FormTA]

I hear you. I'd rather spending my time on a project than cleaning.  Hence why my shop is always a mess....

[tajoe]

There are people that can't work that way. (I envy them). They say, "I can't be stepping over stuff, and looking for stuff that gets buried. I'ld rather be organized". And I get it. But I know, (for me), I can accomplish more by working, rather than cleaning.

 Maybe I just slow down when I'm cleaning, cause i'm not really rushed. But when I'm working, I set goals to be at, before finishing a task. Which usually takes me to suppertime, (or even bed-time) depending what I'm doing. Then, (the next day), if I've completed a step, 'then" I'll clean, before beginning the next stage. But hey, that's just me. Now, I must return to fall time, yard clean-up duties, while recovering from a crappy cold. Rather be in the garage.

[TATurbo]

This is awesome! God bless you.  I love that one of the main reasons for this swap is to put something under the hood bulge!
Keep at it, I'm loving this.
 

[tajoe]

Thanks for riding along TAT. More to come, (once I get these God forsaken leaves gone.) Tomorrow is Sat. My day off. And of course, it's suppose to rain....on all my leave piles, ready for the dump. Guess I'll be getting wet. Won't do my cold any good. (I know..."quit belly-aching, and get it done.")
 Need ta get this car on the lift again, and get this clutch workin. Also wanna stab the driveshaft, and see how it fits the T5. That shouldn't take long.

[tajoe]

Finally made some time to play. I needed some hyd. hood supports that were worn out, and am tired of working around a prop rod, holding it up. Once replaced, I decided to end the weekend, with some more play time on the air cleaner, and cold air system. I was able to do some modifying of the 80 T/A air cleaner base, and got it to sit flat, (W/O hitting the wiper motor). But I wasn't sure how close it would come to the brake booster. So I stuck it back on the firewall, and altho it's close, there is room...barely. Then I scabbed an old air cleaner top, and cut it down to the size of the air filter element. It now has the same appearance of the shaker system on the 2nd gens. Nothing is pretty ...yet.
 
And amazingly, I can now close the hood, with room to spare.

The next step will be to fab a pan with a foam seal on the hood, which should be doable. I don't want it to look makeshift, if I can help it, and will be looking for more ideas, or factory systems that might fill the void. As for now, I couldn't resist sticking these decals on the hood. (Just for fun)

[ryeguy2006a]

Yeah buddy!! I knew you could get it to fit. Just like factory now.

[tajoe]

LOL. Sure, I'll call it a "prototype". 
Tonite I think I'll get it back up in the air, and start looking at connecting the Z-bar and brackets. I'm missing the one that bolts to the frame. It's actually a double bracket, (Why (?) I haven't a clue.). I have one half of the two. Will probably need to fab the outer one. More pics to come.

[5th T/A]

I like the TA 4.9 decal on the hood!

[tajoe]

So do I. I call it "incentive". (Maybe I should give my 73 a rest, and use the 4.9 decal as my avatar?)

[hakitup]

Great job looks amazing in there.

Tom H

[tajoe]

Hi Tom. I don't know about it "looking" amazing, but thanks. If you're insinuating fwd progress, it's a slow process, but it's getting there. I look fwd to the part when I actually, "do" get to make it look nice. One stage at a time tho, right?

[hakitup]

Building is always a struggle for me, make it pretty while cutting, grinding and welding or work prettiness after everything fit and works as it should?

Tom H

[kentucky yeti]

Sweet progress.  I hate hood props too.  Through the years, I've had my share of broom handle props 

[tajoe]

Seeing fall clean-up is ending, (but work still needs OT), and the weekend holiday is upon us, I made some garage time tonite. Got the T/A back up in the air, to check a few items off the list. Fortunately the weather is cooperating, and not too chilly.

1st on the agenda, was to make an access/observation port, in the drivers wheel well, to inspect or maintain the actions of the frame side of the problematic clutch Z bar. I believe I'll try and design a better method of attaching it to the frame. The original has some weird 2 piece bracketry, that is tough to find. Can't find a schematic to show it, cause the other website is "blocked" for some reason. Here's a couple pics of the roughed out hole. Will clean-up, and shield it, at a later date.

In the above photos, you can see the lead bracket, is not bolted to anything, and is just dangling crooked. If I remove it, and make a single heavy duty 90° bracket, slotted on the top, to drop the ball stud into, (as in all the previous designed clutch brackets), maybe it'll last longer. When trying to view that Z-bar from above, it's almost impossible to see, due to the brake booster and wiring conduits in the way.

Then I stuck the driveshaft in, just to ensure compatibility to the tranny output shaft, and the length dictated by the location of the Pontiac eng. mounts. And it all looks good. (well, maybe not "Looks good', but at least it fits.)


(Check out that "torque arm". Engineering marvels, at their best )

And last came the exhaust conundrum. The  original 80 T/A down pipe from the turbo, was interfered with somewhere below, and needed some more attention, to figure it out. Was hoping it would be useable, but doesn't appear it'll work. just too tight under there. One area that hits, is between the RHS exhaust manifold, and frame stub. Think it's visible from the eng. bay photo below.

I guess the next photo from underneath will show some other obstructions. I think a custom pipe will do better than that pipe.

So be it. Anyway, before I can alter the Z-bar levers to work, I first need-ta get the bracket made, and attached to the frame. Which will necessitate the removal of the brake booster, ...again. then I'll be able to work in there.
And tomorrow is Thanksgiving, and we'll be outta town. Hopefully more progress on the weekend. OFN

[tajoe]

Bad afternoon in the garage.
Had all the intentions of working the 84, but wanted to change out the mech. fuel pump on my 83 C-30 6.2 diesel 1st. Curse the chevy engineers for their moronic designed fuel pump push rod. Know all about the tricks to hold it up in place, (didn't work), and have changed the pump  in the past, (a few times). Never had this much of a problem. This time I was outside, on the ground, bent over the fender, working from daylight to darkness, and it beat me. Gave up, (for now). The truck is outside, and of course it will be raining tomorrow. Give me the excuse to get on the 84.

[5th T/A]

Joe, sorry the fuel pump replacement is giving you a hard time. Working outside with diminishing sunlight doesn’t help. Sometimes when things don’t go well, the best thing you can do is walk away and try another day, I sure you already know this. That is unless you need to use it to get to work tomorrow!

[tajoe]

Well, appreciate the sympathy vote, 5th. It's pretty frustrating considering the simplicity of the job. Altho it's location, (buried behind my garage in the dirt and leaves), that's still not a good excuse. I think the truck is paying me back, from all the abuse and neglect its had to endure, these past few yrs it's been sitting. Hope to rectify that when the next chance becomes available. And will be glad to have the rain, to get back to my real passion. 

[tajoe]

Got to finish my truck fuel pumps, B4 the rains, and finally got to put a couple hrs on the T/A.

My plan was to continue on the clutch linkage, but remembered I had never finished putting the 3 motor mount bolts into the lower brackets to the subframe. 2 on the top, and one on the bottom. The bottom ones I did 1st, and were easy. Accessed them from underneath, thru the rear lower A frame pockets. the top ones...a different story. No way to put an air gun to them, and being crushed nuts, is pretty tough with small, common hand  tools. Wasn't bad at disassembly, but trying to catch the nuts was very trying. Wobblers that you can't wobble, cause of the excessive angle, and richie ratchets that don't come long enuff, had me done after a couple hrs. Only got one side "almost" completed. Will post more, after the passenger side gets finished. "Man!"

[Jack]

People that never done anything like this before or any work think that a bolt should only take few minutes... thats never the case, we all spent hours on one bolt, keep at it Joe one bolt a time.

[tajoe]

Truer words, never spoken. Well said, Jack, and thanks for the encouragement. Need all I can get these days. And now, back to the grind tomorrow. Good luck with your week.

[Jack]

BTW I love the new avatar, very fitting.

[tajoe]

Thanks. Mike helped me a bunch with it. (And now, it's time for "Yellowstone") OFN

[MNBob]

Well you certainly get an "A" for effort!  On my 79, the Z bar mount is a simple flat bracket with 3 bolt holes for the frame and a slot to mount the ball stud.  Maybe you could alter those pipes to get a little to get more clearance (shorten or rotate).

[tajoe]

Good suggestion, Bob. I have a ball/stud on the eng., (as we're all familiar with), but not sure if the 3rd gen ball length is altered. I'm sure the ball I have is a 2nd gen. And I've heard horror stories of all the "problems" with the 3rd gen set-up. I'ld like to know what the actual issue is. Are the levers bending or breaking, and why? Is the double bracket on the frame side that attaches the Z-bar loosening up? Is the angled pushrod from the pedal to the Z-bar lever adding any resistance? Is the plastic bushings placed all over the attaching points wearing excessively? I don't know anyone with this set-up, to get info from, just the nay sayers on the brand X forum complaining. Hoping to get past it. But tonite, I'll continue with the lower eng. mount bracket bolts.
(Now where did I put that pound of patience?)

[tajoe]

Accomplished what I wanted, finally, and was glad to find my pound of patience, cause it really came in handy.
The photo below shows the location of the bottom bolt/nut assy of the mount. Easy enuff for a second grader. Sorry, it's a bit blurry, but at least you get the picture. It's inside the bracket for the lower A frames.

The 2 upper bolts, were  a different story. I already mentioned, and showed photos of the factory ones I needed to remove. They weren't as bad, but the upper ones also were a fight to remove. But trying to install the nuts, inside the spring pockets, puts a whole new perspective on "somewhat difficult to achieve". It was hard enuff, just trying to get this shot, because of the shadows, and darkness.

This photo is on the drivers side, and you can see the spring compressor, pulling the coil down, to access the bolt, (which needed the nut, of course). The other bolt/nut was just to the right, in the shadow. It took about an hr 1 night for the drivers side tops, and the same the next night for the other side. And because the crush nut is so tight, couldn't even tighten them up. Once the motor is back out, I'll be able to impact them tight, from above. "Whew!" The need for wobblers, extensions, and a combobulation of other tooling, had the be finagled with, in order to accomplish this. And mostly, some luck...catching the 1st threads of the nuts.
You can also see in the above photo, the old holes, for the chevy mounts. So, all in all, it can be done, but would be a ton more pleasurable, if the springs were out. I had thought about it yesterday, but it would just open up a hole new can of worms, I'm not looking to deal with...at this time. Not the "smartest way" to do this, but a bit quicker in the long run. At least for me.

[FormTA]

Congratulations! Have yourself an adult beverage, you deserve it!

Man I hear you and fight with nuts and bolts. The rusted stuck and weird location of bolts is eating up so much of my time it looks like I'm not getting anything done on my F1 project.  I feel your pain!

Just keep the updates coming!

[tajoe]

Well Luke, (?), I guess it's the "journey" we're suppose to enjoy, unlike the finished product, that doesn't bring us the same kinda reward, as if we didn't get down and roll around in the mud a while. (these days, I can do W/O the mud, if ya know what I mean).

[FormTA]

Ya, It's Luke. The getting down ain't so bad, it's the getting back up part I struggle with.

[ryeguy2006a]

Well Luke, (?), I guess it's the "journey" we're suppose to enjoy, unlike the finished product, that doesn't bring us the same kinda reward, as if we didn't get down and roll around in the mud a while. (these days, I can do W/O the mud, if ya know what I mean).

I wonder if that's why I end up selling the cars after I finish them??

[FormTA]

No, that is just some sort of mental problem.   

[tajoe]

Well Luke, (?), I guess it's the "journey" we're suppose to enjoy, unlike the finished product, that doesn't bring us the same kinda reward, as if we didn't get down and roll around in the mud a while. (these days, I can do W/O the mud, if ya know what I mean).

I wonder if that's why I end up selling the cars after I finish them??

No, that is just some sort of mental problem.   

Hey! Did you just say that "out-loud"? LOL. (I'm sure he meant it in a "tenderhearted" way Luke.

[FormTA]

He knows I'm kidding.  Ryan and I talk quite a bit outside this forum. 5 or 6 years ago he helped me out by reprogramming the ecu for my LS swap and answered a bunch of my questions when I couldn't get it running right. Ever since then we shoot texts back and forth when either of us need info. It's funny to have friends that you have never met. I have made a few because of this forum.  Anyway sorry to derail your awesome turbo Pontiac powered 3rd gen thread. Please continue!