The 93 GM "Tank of Justice II" (TOJ2)

[SVT98t]

Just picked up a tach from Harbor.Freight. I'm going to put three gauges in the A-pillar; tach, volt, and vacuum.
It's a good thing I have my old stock A-pillar laying around so I can graft a three gauge pod onto it.



-ryan s.

[SVT98t]

Stupid fucking sway bar end links.

-ryan s.

[sly]

now what?

[SVT98t]

I went to install those sweet new Moog swaybar end links and when I was attempting to unbolt the sway bar from the bushing mounts, the two bolts on the right side spun. And they those dumb clips that lock into the frame. Which are now twisted metal.
I need to find two new ones so I can finish this project up!

-ryan s.

[gadget73]

at least you got replaceable clips. Boxes had tapped holes that strip out. Fixing that is something of a pain in the dick, usually involving bigger bolts or welding a stud to the frame and threading nuts down on it to hold the bracket in place. Or just weld the bracket on if you want the really shitty fix.

[SVT98t]

I see. It sucks because I just did this last year and put anti-seize on as well.
What a fuck.
Oh well. Time to find a solution to the problem.

-ryan s.

[SVT98t]

la la la la boom!

To the junkyard on, eh, Thursday or Friday this week. I'm (unfortunately) going to see if I can't salvage two clips from another Aero. An CVPI Aero would be clutch, but I don't think it's going to happen. I also need to find two more Aero steelies so I can make them black and green.
I also want to start pulling the Teksid block and C- heads for my other "modular disaster".
And, I took my son to my parents house yesterday morning because the wifey and I are sick. So we were trying to limit our exposure to him so my little dude doesn't get sick.
Anyways, it was a bit chilly out, and he was in his pj's, so I decided to give him a little warm air.
Nope.
So I need a thermostat.
Well, with this, I can put the new T-stat in, install my sweet blue silcone upper hose, and install my sweet powder coated green housing with satin black bolts.
Yes.
Also, I did a baseline for the ecomodding thing. 379 miles @ 20.68 MPG. That's all city/country road/ highway driving. And normal driving. Like WOT on the on ramps, driving not slow, and other fuel-deficient habits.
I filled up, so now I am using the hypermiling driving techniques and seeing how big of an improvement I can get from just the techniques.
After that tank, I'll do a tune-up (Plugs, wires, fuel/oil/air filter, coolant flush) and see how it goes. Then comes the more funerer mods.
Huzzah!

-ryan s.

[SVT98t]

Picked up a Stant SuperStat yesterday, along with a new gasket, and a set of E3 spark plugs.
Ordered the new MSD BLACK spark plug wires today. They should be here some time this week.
Then, all I need to order is a new BLACK air filter, and go from there.
I powder coated my thermostat housing last night, in lime green, and it looks amazing!
I'm going to work on the Tank Saturday evening. Hopefully, i can put in the t-stat, the new housing, and silicone hose, and fix the sway bar end links issue.
I'll also be topping off the gas tank Saturday evening to see how well the hypermiling paid off. And because I'm going to the Bills game on Sunday, means I'll be in a lot of traffic and it will skew my numbers.
Sweet.

-ryan s.

[gadget73]

You cant install a blue hose. Gotta use black or have a custom-made lime green part.

[SVT98t]

Or keep the stupid black rubber one that's 20 years old. Crap.
I'd love to have a lime green one, though.

-ryan s.

[SVT98t]

I went to the junkyard today. Results:
What I needed to pull: 0 for 4
What I kinda needed: 2 for 2
What I never expected to find: 1 for 1

I needed to find 2 sway bar bushing mount bracket things. I broke all four.

Since I found a 1996 vic, I pulled the engine harness. And the battery hold down thing.
Plus, 96 had plug wires, and the newer intake.
So here's the spark plug wire bracket, that mounts to the new intake, and goes over the alternator:



It's green!


And I've never seen one before, but here it is. It's a lower skid plate from the aftermentioned 96 vic. It bolts to the bottom of the radiator support and the cross member. It also has tension clips that go in the side of the radiator support. And it has vents that go down to create a cowl effect for the radiator. It's quite bad ass. And it will be installed shortly.
From the front:


From the side:


And I started tearing in to the Mark8 block. Good times!

-ryan s.

[86VickyLX]

My mom's 94 has that shroud underneath. I thought all aeros had that.

[gadget73]

adding some underbody aerodynamic upgrades can't possibly hurt fuel economy. Its an extra bonus if its a direct fit off another car.

[87gtVIC]

hmm. Can I makes fit???


That is sweet Ryan!

[pantera77]

My mom's 94 has that shroud underneath. I thought all aeros had that.

My 92 never did.