Charlie Robinson's '99 Riv

Nice Charlie.........

I dont know if i am missing something or what, but the adapater plate is not fitting properly on the TB and it doesnt have the vacuum port tapped like the website shows.

Any ideas?

Did you get your own northstar tb? I don't see the rubber gasket in on it - do you have it? Anyway you just need to remove those two location spring pins at the bottom of the tb. Just take some needle nose pliers and work them out - pretty easy. As for the vacuum port on the adapter, are you saying they just have a hole in it? Mine had an elbow barb fitting pressed in like whats on the stock northstar tb in your pic and the zzp product pic. If you're missing that, I'd contact zzp or deal with it yourself as in tap it and install an npt fitting

turtleman wrote:

Did you get your own northstar tb? I don't see the rubber gasket in on it - do you have it? Anyway you just need to remove those two location spring pins at the bottom of the tb. Just take some needle nose pliers and work them out - pretty easy. As for the vacuum port on the adapter, are you saying they just have a hole in it? Mine had an elbow barb fitting pressed in like whats on the stock northstar tb in your pic and the zzp product pic. If you're missing that, I'd contact zzp or deal with it yourself as in tap it and install an npt fitting

ZZP sent me a junkyard TB..... all grimey too. prretty pissed paying $$$ for it..

No rubber gasket for it either! I emailed them about that, wtf

Roger that on the removal of the two pin things. I thought they were supposed to line up with the adapter! one fits in but the other doesnt!

This adapter doesnt have a vacuum port adapter. I emailed ZZP about this too.

WTF ZZP!   

Hope they sent me the right freaking cam...


EDIT:

Is the adapter plate supposed to cover the coolant passages on the supercharger inlet?

If the adapter doesn't have any port or hole at all, I'd say that's ok. The one I got 2nd hand for the genV/north* didn't have anything - no hole at all. If that's how yours is, I'd say leave it be. You can tap into vacuum somewhere else for that line. Otherwise if you have a hole with no fitting zzp f'd up.

I think the plate is supposed to cover the s/c-tb coolant ports. (I can't confirm though because mine is mounted upside down and I actually milled off that area of the plate) You just put a very light bead of rtv around them and around the inlet on the s/c, let it sit on there exposed to air for a little bit like maybe 15-20 min so that it gets tacky enough to sorta hold its shape if you just lightly touch it with your finger then install the plate and wipe off any excess rtv. If you don't do that exactly to my instruction, I'm sure it'll still be just fine but that's the best way IMO.

Yes, the coolant ports get blocked off. I recommend taking off the S/C and plugging the coolant ports on the LIM like I did. After that, you'll have to remove that little plate on the LIM under the TB and knock the "wall" out of the LIM to allow more coolant to pass through. If you don't, you restrict coolant flow to the rear head. ZZP doesn't tell you that either.

EDIT: I swear I had a pic on here of how I knocked that "wall" out. I can't seem to find it.

FOUND. I sanded down 2 dimes to fit snug in the holes. First I cleaned out the bores with a wire Battery Terminal cleaner, then put some GMS in the hole, and smacked the dimes in with a center punch. I then used GMS over top of the holes.


See the "wall" I'm talking about? It needs to be hacked away with an Aluminum Bur.

Scott, that looks scary..

I wont have too much trouble if I just leave mine the way it is, will i?

turtleman wrote:

If the adapter doesn't have any port or hole at all, I'd say that's ok. The one I got 2nd hand for the genV/north* didn't have anything - no hole at all. If that's how yours is, I'd say leave it be. You can tap into vacuum somewhere else for that line. Otherwise if you have a hole with no fitting zzp f'd up.

I think the plate is supposed to cover the s/c-tb coolant ports. (I can't confirm though because mine is mounted upside down and I actually milled off that area of the plate) You just put a very light bead of rtv around them and around the inlet on the s/c, let it sit on there exposed to air for a little bit like maybe 15-20 min so that it gets tacky enough to sorta hold its shape if you just lightly touch it with your finger then install the plate and wipe off any excess rtv. If you don't do that exactly to my instruction, I'm sure it'll still be just fine but that's the best way IMO.

I thought the adapter place should be tapped to get vacuum there? I dont have the means to tap it myself.

The plate does cover the coolant ports on the gen V blower. From what I see on the net and from what you mentioned, i just need to make circles of RTV around them to seal it.

No idea why they didnt provide the gasket for the N* TB.  I thought I was paying a premium so I didnt have to waste my time going on a scavenger hunt for all the parts myself..

Here are some pics from last Friday before she went to Detroit.






What is are these called? They are 2 arms that attach to the rear control arms, I think? Are there replacements available I can swap in or do I have to get lucky at the junk yard? Only serious rust I can find on the car are these.

Thanks for the link , AA. Looks like I have some homework to do.


Bill just let me know the engine is finished and looking good. They are dropping it back off the shop today to get it installed and road tested.

I am still terrified something will go wrong...

Cant wait to hear that xp cam idle though

Cool stuff. Don't be scurred. You're gonna love it. It's going to take lots of tuning on your part though....

charlieRobinson wrote:

Thanks, ZZP....................





 

ZZP said I should just use RTV for the gasket here. What do you guys think? I have spent $2000+ at their store. I think I should get the proper freaking gasket for this $350 kit...

WTF 

Now this is interesting....

This is an update within the last 24 hours to zzp's website.

They no longer provide the TB with the kit

In the wise words of a young nerd..

'DID I DO THATTTT???'

That's interesting... It does make it easier though for those of us that want to piece it together ourselves. As for any of the issues you're having I would just call them up and complain. You could even make a trip up to them (you said you were going there for a dyno tune, right?) with the car on a trailer. Then just shove everything that didn't work in their faces and tell them to get it together.

Do NOT use RTV for that gasket. Go to the parts store and get the proper one. Just ask for the TB gasket for an '02 Cadillac STS with a N* V8. Take the TB with you to make sure it fits.

Abaddon wrote:

Do NOT use RTV for that gasket. Go to the parts store and get the proper one. Just ask for the TB gasket for an '02 Cadillac STS with a N* V8. Take the TB with you to make sure it fits.

If it comes to that I will. ZZP should make this right after all the money I have given them over the last couple years.

In other news; Bill called today and said my Riv is running like a brand new cammed 3800.

Gonna try and pick it up tomorrow.   

charlieRobinson wrote:

Abaddon wrote:

Do NOT use RTV for that gasket. Go to the parts store and get the proper one. Just ask for the TB gasket for an '02 Cadillac STS with a N* V8. Take the TB with you to make sure it fits.

If it comes to that I will. ZZP should make this right after all the money I have given them over the last couple years.

In other news; Bill called today and said my Riv is running like a brand new cammed 3800.

Gonna try and pick it up tomorrow.   

Wait..... How is it running when you're still having TB issues?   

matt270avian wrote:

Wait..... How is it running when you're still having TB issues?   

The car is at Bills place. The TB kit is at Charlies house.......

Abaddon wrote:

matt270avian wrote:

Wait..... How is it running when you're still having TB issues?   

The car is at Bills place. The TB kit is at Charlies house.......

Yeah, the gen 3 and L67 TB is still on the car

Gen V and N* is at my place getting polished and prepped for install.


ZZP decided they will send me the gasket for the N*...   

Well, it looks like your favorite noob struck again...

spun rod bearing in 5th cylinder. Most likely caused by leaking intake gaskets cause i waited too fugging long to get them replaced aka to do the gen V swap.

Stupid blower has been sitting here for a year now and I was waiting to do gaskets to hit them both in 1 go. Idiot..   

Good news is, i now have a like new cammed 3800.

How much did the job end up setting you back, if you dont mind me asking?

Z-type wrote:

How much did the job end up setting you back, if you dont mind me asking?

$2400 for full rebuild and installation.


So my 3.6" pulley is useless now. Even the 3.4" feels like its not pulling enough air! WOW! 3.25" is on the way. Got it for uber cheap shipped off the regal GS forum.
Depending on what the Gen V does, might go back to 3.4", we'll see!

Gas pedal fuels SUPER juicy. I am about 250 miles in with the new engine. Trying not to rev higher than 2.5-3k and not go any faster than 65mph. It's a test of discipline to say the least..

Just changed the oil yesterday after 200miles and I it was cool seeing the oil transparent from the clean engine. wow!   




Well, it's not even ready to hit high RPMs so Im not bothering with shift tuning yet. It ran FINE with no idle adjustments either. I was actually disappointed because I thought it would be lopier! From what i've read, it's recommended to increase idle RPMs just for the well being of the engine with the cam so I bumped em up a little bit.

Here's a video of how she sounds now. Sounds like the pushrods are going to bust through the valve covers!   

Glad things are back together and running again. You want to do a mix of high and low RPM during break-in period. Don't go crazy, but all low-RPM isn't so good.

I have a barely used 3.1" pulley for sale if you need one. I always enjoyed the .1" increments since it gives a finer tuning of boost.

Congrats on getting everything back together. Your video doesn't work, it is set to private.

SUPER....$2400 is not bad at all bro.