Oooops!

[rhipsher]

I get a call from the powder coater yesterday and he says he is going to ups overnight to me a sample of the color to make sure I like it before he starts. Then today he calls me and says there's a problem. While bead blasting the plenum they blew a 1/4 hole out the side where the wall is thin. Its on the bottom side where the port intersects with the big chamber. I know an awsome welder. Luckily its on the underside where nobody can see it. The powder coater knows what kinda car it is and I think the whole thing is making him nervous. I'm on my way over there to pick the plenum up to get it patched up while he powder coats the rest of the stuff.

[Paul Workman]

Originally Posted by rhipsher

I get a call from the powder coater yesterday and he says he is going to ups overnight to me a sample of the color to make sure I like it before he starts. Then today he calls me and says there's a problem. While bead blasting the plenum they blew a 1/4 hole out the side where the wall is thin. Its on the bottom side where the port intersects with the big chamber. I know an awsome welder. Luckily its on the underside where nobody can see it. The powder coater knows what kinda car it is and I think the whole thing is making him nervous. I'm on my way over there to pick the plenum up to get it patched up while he powder coats the rest of the stuff.

Wha-wha-Whaaaat??? Only one???? Marc H told me if I didn't go through it plenum at least 3-4 times, I wasn't trying hard enough!!

Betcha can hardly wait - now that you're getting close, huh?

We want pix when you're done!

Well...Misery loves company. I'm off to the shed to pick up where I left off on the heads last spring. But, then I'll be fully ported on the other side. Should be fun!


P.

[rhipsher]

Originally Posted by Paul Workman

Wha-wha-Whaaaat??? Only one???? Marc H told me if I didn't go through it plenum at least 3-4 times, I wasn't trying hard enough!!

Betcha can hardly wait - now that you're getting close, huh?

We want pix when you're done!

Well...Misery loves company. I'm off to the shed to pick up where I left off on the heads last spring. But, then I'll be fully ported on the other side. Should be fun!


P.

I can't wait is right. I picked it up and it doesn't look bad at all. More like an 1/8 slit. So I took it to race source/Grave digger monster trucks and walked into their shop and all I can say is Whooow! I looked up and I was standing under one of the monster trucks. The tires alone were taller than me. They have a full cnc machine shop sheet metal shop and weld shop. Very clean. He looked at it and said that should be no problem to fix.I can't blame that on the powder coater because I'm the one that did the porting and made it thin. Like you said Paul I'm just glad it was only one out of 16 ports.

[XfireZ51]

Originally Posted by rhipsher

I can't wait is right. I picked it up and it doesn't look bad at all. More like an 1/8 slit. So I took it to race source/Grave digger monster trucks and walked into their shop and all I can say is Whooow! I looked up and I was standing under one of the monster trucks. The tires alone were taller than me. They have a full cnc machine shop sheet metal shop and weld shop. Very clean. He looked at it and said that should be no problem to fix.I can't blame that on the powder coater because I'm the one that did the porting and made it thin. Like you said Paul I'm just glad it was only one out of 16 ports.

Exact same thing happened to me. Had plenum media blasted before paint and had paper thin material on top of runner. A certain "welder" fixed it for me. Like Paul said, you need to poke a few more holes in it before putting it on. You haven't made the ports large enough.

[billybaloneey]

Are un-ported plenums normally thin walled or did this plenum have some material removed?

[Paul Workman]

Originally Posted by billybaloneey

Are un-ported plenums normally thin walled or did this plenum have some material removed?

No, they aren't "thin" in stock form. but they tend to get that way along the large radius side of the runners - especially for rookies. But, the good news is the plenum is easy for a good welder to repair, and by the time you get done with the plenum, you have picked up enough practice and a few techniques to move on to the injector housings without issues, if you're careful.

If you're interested in ever porting your rig, PM me, and I can set you up with burrs, drum sander mandrel, and enough flap wheels to do the job for (cost) at about $100, depending on how many sanding rolls, flap wheels, etc. ya want. Yeah, it is a "project", to be sure. But, MAN-O-MAN when you hit the throttle for the first time after the porting (and a chip), you WILL be well rewarded and impressed!

P.

[USAFPILOT]

i was wondering how the project was coming.

[rhipsher]

Originally Posted by USAFPILOT

i was wondering how the project was coming.

It's coming slowly. There's nothing fast about it. If I didn't decide to have everything powder coated it would have already been back together and running. But I don't like doing things half azz. Having great HP and an Ok looking engine compartment is just not my thing. But Ryan your top end wouldn't need to be powder coated. It looks clean enough to eat off of. You wouldn't need to pull the break booster/alternator/a/c compressor/power sterring pump and pully and condensor box on the passengers side all just to get the valve covers off. It will be much less work. When you decide to go for a top end powder coat job, your looking at a whole bunch more work. Is it worth it? Sure it is. Is it allot of work? You bet.

[W i l l]

Rick,

Get it back together in time for the Texas ZR-1 gathering in New Braunfels!!!

Will

[rhipsher]

I'm trying my best brother. It's going to be just me by myself this time. My wife is just not interested in this kinda stuff. I'll probably caravan up there with Ryan Robert and Lee. Sanjay might want to caravan up with us to. I hope he brings his 415 instead of the Ford GT this time.