How to build a respectively fast minivan! w/pics and videos!

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Originally Posted by Ubmbass

One of these track days, I'll tow the Omni to the track with the van and I'll need a driver for one of the two, perhaps you can take the wheel?

Corby

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Corby I'll more than gladly drive either one anytime you need!:partywoot:But just a heads up, I do have a history of getting the fastest times in other people's vehicles! I still hold the best time in my Dad's but now Matt's Roadrunner. Hopefully that won't change your mind as it'd still be your car your knowledge and work that made it go fast! But anytime you go to the track, even with just the Hoopty. Let me know! I'd love to see it run! I've never seen it run yet.

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Originally Posted by Vigo

I think I've always pushed people in the direction of raising their expectations and not confusing their own lack of success with actual limitations of the parts when simple math proves otherwise.

How many people would have told you you couldn't run 10s with a 4cyl @ 12psi? How many of them would've been wrong? All of them. Is that negativity? I think embracing that as a possibility is exciting, just like knowing people ran 13.9 with stock drivetrain is exciting even though people with upgrades are out there running 15.2 all the time and telling people how hard it is to go any faster.

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Yeah 10's on 12psi makes you really wonder what's possible when the car should easily handle a LOT more boost .... :eyebrows:

When I ran the 10.5 on 12.8 psi, I dynoed it shortly after and managed 308hp/312tq up here, uncorrected. After some timing adjustments and a bit more boost, it made 553hp/502tq I'm excited to see if it will hook up at the track this year. But, I refuse to take it to the track until the van is ready so I can tow it. I think it would be awesome to have a quick van hauling a quick Omni, then tow it home haha!

Corby

Oh, btw, I have been out of town this past week so I haven't had any chance to run to the machine shop to pick up the short block. Hopefully it's done, I'll take pics and let all of you guys know when it's ready. Thanks for all the followings!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Ubmbass

When I ran the 10.5 on 12.8 psi, I dynoed it shortly after and managed 308hp/312tq up here, uncorrected. After some timing adjustments and a bit more boost, it made 553hp/502tq I'm excited to see if it will hook up at the track this year. But, I refuse to take it to the track until the van is ready so I can tow it. I think it would be awesome to have a quick van hauling a quick Omni, then tow it home haha!

Corby

Oh, btw, I have been out of town this past week so I haven't had any chance to run to the machine shop to pick up the short block. Hopefully it's done, I'll take pics and let all of you guys know when it's ready. Thanks for all the followings!

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Dang.... so 245 whp more than when you ran a 10.5... 9's shouldn't be even trying too hard!!! And alright I guess I can wait for when you have the van done! :thumb: That would be way awesome to have both the van and the Omni running and get them lined up once too.

Yes, it's going to be a lot of fun, hopefully you can make it to the track when I bring them down. I'll be posting in this thread when it happens!

Corby

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Originally Posted by Ubmbass

After some timing adjustments and a bit more boost, it made 553hp/502tq

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Isn't this some kind of new record for our cars? There are a few claiming more due to track times (which deserves every bit of respect as a dyno pull), but none that come off the top of my head that put these numbers to the wheels. Do a video, pictures exist of that run or session?

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Originally Posted by Ubmbass

Yes, it's going to be a lot of fun, hopefully you can make it to the track when I bring them down. I'll be posting in this thread when it happens!

Corby

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Well I'll make sure to follow this closely!

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Originally Posted by Reaper1

Isn't this some kind of new record for our cars? There are a few claiming more due to track times (which deserves every bit of respect as a dyno pull), but none that come off the top of my head that put these numbers to the wheels. Do a video, pictures exist of that run or session?

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my brain literally did not absorb whatever it was I read in the previous posts about 10.5 on 12.8psi and 550 something horsepower...I am just assuming there is something I must be missing about all this like hes talking about a turbo V8 or some other non 2.2/2.5 engine...right???? otherwise where is the trophy and how do we get it to him

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Originally Posted by acannell

my brain literally did not absorb whatever it was I read in the previous posts about 10.5 on 12.8psi and 550 something horsepower...I am just assuming there is something I must be missing about all this like hes talking about a turbo V8 or some other non 2.2/2.5 engine...right???? otherwise where is the trophy and how do we get it to him

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Really, the secret is in the head flow and proper turbo sizing, rpm and power to weight. I *only* made 308hp on 12.8 psi, the real fun started around 22 psi. Now, I haven't made a trip to the track with the new power, but it's sure to be a hand full. On the street, it's completely useless in any gear at just about any speed. There is a video of the dyno pass and I have the dyno sheet, I'll see if I can scan it and post it up. I don't think it's any sort of record or anything like that, but it's finally making some power.

This thread isn't about the hoopty, lets keep it on topic.

Corby

Well, it's been quite a while since I took the short block to the machine shop, it's BACK!!! yay!

Here's a shot of it right after I got it home and put it on the stand for assembly:

http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l2...pshtrsjhxw.jpg

Those fresh cross hatches are a thing of beauty!

http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l2...ps0sgpotkl.jpg

Nothing like a freshly built short block to make you day better!

http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l2...psjfs0myfp.jpg

You can see those beautiful Forged Venolia slugs hiding in there

http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l2...psysildrwx.jpg

I don't have everything quite yet to fully assemble the engine, but I do have a severely ported head that came off a ten second charger, and some studs.

http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l2...ps15ikreog.jpg

Head looks new! Thanks to the great work at a local machine shop!

http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l2...psujffxi5w.jpg

After I put the studs in, I figured the block needed some fresh paint. so I sprayed it down and set the head in place.

http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l2...psulvhvukt.jpg

Next thing we have to do is prepare the engine bay to receive the engine and transmission.

If you remember when we first started this build, I took all of the wires out of the van to thin it out a bit. I removed all the wires that aren't going to be used then placed the harness in the engine bay to see what I have to deal with. As you can see, there are a LOT of wires in this harness.

http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l2...psc7d4vepg.jpg

http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l2...psnmu5noev.jpg

Here's the driver's side harness, you can see it's partially disassembled as I wanted to take the time to put everything where I want it, not necessarily where Dodge wanted to put it.

http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l2...pswtavcqos.jpg

This might seem a little strange, but I hated the way the wire bundle looks when it's running along the top of the fire wall, to me it just looks a little cluttered, so I decided to place it in the cowl. Be warned, it took some planning to get the wires to clear the operations of the windshield wiper assembly

http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l2...psoyntoauv.jpg

http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l2...psthzl8bse.jpg

To me, this just looks a lot better

http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l2...pstyujnx4i.jpg

There is still a little bit of sanitizing I want to do, but it's a start!

http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l2...pscujws7s2.jpg

Here you can see how well it clears the wiper assembly.

http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l2...ps3wyqqguz.jpg

Next up, more sanitizing and some installation of some missing parts. Stay tuned!

Special thanks to Cindy Lindsay for the great help with this project! It wouldn't be possible without her help!

Corby

Looking good!

Might be the lighting in the shortblock pics or shadowing but what kind of piston to wall clearance are you running? Looks generous... IME Wisecos can be set up a little tighter that Venolias or J&E's and DEFINATELY are quieter when cold

I'm guessing they measured the block deck and didn't see a reason to cut it?

Interesting stuff on the wire reroute.

They have 5 thou clearance as per the directions Cindy at FWD gave me with the pistons.

Thanks for the comments guys! I am hoping this will look decent when I open the hood along with running some good track times!

Corby

I would like to refer everyone to the build page on FB, sorry for not updating this thread in a LONG time, but the format on FB is a little easier and I feel like it's a bit better than a forum.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1832...?ref=bookmarks

Thanks you guys!
Corby