It's done! Ok, I have to qualify the 'done' aspect here. I still have to get the restrictor and install it, and install the second oil cooler - I run 210 or more without it. I put the 5-pt harnesses in tonight, after driving all over the place and giving rides to all my friends.

This car is simply unbelievable. There is no other way to describe it. On my initial test drive, I drove gingerly for about 1/2 mile, then tried to nail the throttle; the backlash ripped my hands off the steering wheel!
The amount of accelleration on tap, and how fast it comes on, is just amazing. Everyone who has ridden in it has just stared at it in
wide-eyed disbelief after disembarking.

I have less than 300hp - I don't know how the 400+ guys handle it.

The B&B exhaust is quite loud. I have nother muffler on order, which has cats, but I doubt it will quiet it at all. It has an unworldly
growl at idle, and a tremendous roar at speed. The sound is very deep; it sets off car alarm motion detectors just above idle. The C2 B&B fit after some engineering, and I could run it with some simple mods to the rear valence. I have that smog check coming up in April, so I broke down and bought the muffler/cat combo.

The shop charged me $2000 labor, and just a hair under $500 for misc parts, like an oxy sensor, misc h/w, new clutch fork, oil, etc.
My net cost, after liquidating the 2.7, was about $14,000

I'm keeping the race tires on for a couple of days until I get the hang of it.

The only mechanical issues are the need for a second oil cooler, a very loud loose valve, and some oil leaks around the valve covers. I'm taking it back in a couple of weeks for a tune up and going-over. I also want to get a new set of sway bars on pronto.

I'd like to extend a public thanks to Robert Zampardi (DC Auto, for the engine), Frank, Nick, and Zeke @ Frank's Automotive (for the labor), and most importantly, to Dr Steve Timmins for the conversion kit and endless patience with me and Frank during the process. And to all of you for putting up with my endless blather on the 3.6l subject!

I'm physically exhausted, time for bed. I have the final shop pix at:
http://www.calweb.com/~thom/cgi-bin/...gi?string=3.6l

 

Thom,

Wahoo...Congratulations on completion and the exciting results!

 

Hi Thom,

Congratulations! Sounds fabulous!

So, do you look forward to driving the car?

 

Heck, I burned thru half a tank of gas before I went to bed!

I feel doubly bad today, because I woke up all excited and anxious, not yet aware that the sh*t had completely hit the fan...

 

Yeah, I drove into work without listening to the radio. I didn't know what had happened, until one of my co-workers came in and told me about it ....

Surreal ... like something out of a Hollywood movie. Sadly, this is not fiction.