I played hooky from work on friday and spent most of the day doing wiring work in preperation for starting the motor. Saturday we made final preperations for running the engine. I ran a switch from the dash to the relay to power the ignition system and fuel pump. Then I ran a new power line from the battery to the amp meter. I did this because I am not utilzing a starter selinoed from the firewall anymore. Instead I ran a new power cable from the battery to the starter. So the only engine bay wires i am going to use are the alternator power and activation wires, start ignition wire, gas tank sender wires, and oil and temp guage wires. All the rest are not used or replaced.
We got the new exhaust sytem to align properly by basically hanging off it to bend it a bit. With a little sweat the whole thing lined up properly. I looks great too, and we didnt have to heat it which would have ruined the jet-hot coating. I filled the motor with oil, the transmission with lube, and the cooling system with water. Since I work on this car at an automotive shop in an industrial part of town, as soon as we hit the starter button about thirty people gathered around to see the 3 year old project come to life. I manned the carb and my brother in-law manned the starter button ( remote starter button, key wasn't wired up yet ). It started after three cranks! I kept the motor alive with the throttle and was amazed at the sound. This is a 408 stroker motor with solid roller lifter cam and a GTS exhaust system, the sound was amazing. The throttle response was great, the aluminum flywheel helps with that as does the A3 heads with spider single plane intake. The crowd was just amazed at the sound of the motor and the amount of rocking the car was doing when the motor was reved. The Electromotive HPV-1 ignition worked flawlessly, timing was perfect the first time, no muss, no fuss.
I was so excited I had to call my wife on the cell phone so she could hear it as well. After 3 years and close to $50,000 this a monumental milestone for this project. I have to make a driver out of the car now. I need all the guages and electrics working, and driver controls to complete as well. Words cannot describe my excitement.
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