March 16, 2025, 01:26:05 AM

Author Topic: 1989 GTU - 355 SBC - T5 - Non-Bubba Build  (Read 31961 times)

Offline bikedad

Re: 1989 GTU - 355 SBC - T5 - Non-Bubba Build
« Reply #30 on: July 05, 2012, 09:08:16 PM »
If you get locking nuts, get the all metal kind, not the nylock kind.   :)
Oh but why? :D That's what the original builder of my car used.  >:(

I put the car up on the lift at Kilpatricks tonight. The passenger side was tight as can be but the driver side was missing all 3 nuts. (dropped my nuts man.)
Clint had serrated nuts against the collector flange and he said he's never seen them come loose before. These are the same nuts and bolts they use on the race car. He thinks one of 2 things. Either he forgot to tighten them or due to the torque on the drivers side it might have loosened them but he said that should have happened on the passenger side as well.
He thinks he just didn't torque them enough.
We put new serrated nuts on and then just double nutted them. (just screw another nut against it and tighten the bottom nut)
I'll keep an eye on it.

I've used the metal lock nuts before and they hold well. But, if you want to remove them for maintenance or something they are a bitch to get off.  :punch:
If the double nut idea doesn't pan out then I'll go back to the metal lock nuts.  :bacon:
Don Teifke  :drive:
[smg id=8489]
"Life is tough.,, Life is even tougher if you're stupid."
-----John Wayne-----

Offline texfc

Re: 1989 GTU - 355 SBC - T5 - Non-Bubba Build
« Reply #31 on: July 07, 2012, 02:29:51 PM »
She moves!  First time out of the garage in 2 years.  Had to take my cute assistant (2 year old grandson) along for the first drive.  After, he kept asking "again, again?"  Please excuse the dogs, they thought it was a stranger.
1989 GTU - 355 SBC - WC T5 - TII rear - build thread http://www.norotors.com/index.php?topic=354.msg3811#msg3811
2005 Tacoma 4x4 - daily driver
1966 Mooney M20E upgraded to 201

Offline bikedad

Re: 1989 GTU - 355 SBC - T5 - Non-Bubba Build
« Reply #32 on: July 07, 2012, 02:46:12 PM »
Very nice!
It sounds very smooth and looks great. You do very nice work.

Looking forward to seeing some on the road video soon.... :popcorn:
Don Teifke  :drive:
[smg id=8489]
"Life is tough.,, Life is even tougher if you're stupid."
-----John Wayne-----

Offline GEAUX FAST

1989 GTU - 355 SBC - T5 - Non-Bubba Build
« Reply #33 on: July 07, 2012, 07:33:10 PM »
Very good looking ride!

Offline texfc

Re: 1989 GTU - 355 SBC - T5 - Non-Bubba Build
« Reply #34 on: July 07, 2012, 09:39:24 PM »
Very nice!
It sounds very smooth and looks great. You do very nice work.

Looking forward to seeing some on the road video soon.... :popcorn:

Thanks Don, I hope to get it "legal" this next week so I can get it on the road.  BTW, did you see the latest issue of Car Craft?  They did a test of SBC heads for under 1k and the one they said made the most power is the one I have on the seven!  420hp on a 350 set up about the same as mine.  I might be able to give your 383 a good run in a heads up race unless you get too carried away with your improvements!
1989 GTU - 355 SBC - WC T5 - TII rear - build thread http://www.norotors.com/index.php?topic=354.msg3811#msg3811
2005 Tacoma 4x4 - daily driver
1966 Mooney M20E upgraded to 201

Offline bikedad

Re: 1989 GTU - 355 SBC - T5 - Non-Bubba Build
« Reply #35 on: July 07, 2012, 10:14:25 PM »
Very nice!
It sounds very smooth and looks great. You do very nice work.

Looking forward to seeing some on the road video soon.... :popcorn:

Thanks Don, I hope to get it "legal" this next week so I can get it on the road.  BTW, did you see the latest issue of Car Craft?  They did a test of SBC heads for under 1k and the one they said made the most power is the one I have on the seven!  420hp on a 350 set up about the same as mine.  I might be able to give your 383 a good run in a heads up race unless you get too carried away with your improvements!

Yeah I did read that. Just finished the issue. My heads are massaged iron vortec heads. I kind of wish I had gone with the aluminum heads. For what mine cost to upgrade I could have gotten a nice set of aluminum ones.
I need to have my car dynoed again. I've put on the 800CFM carb and redone the exhaust since the last session.
I was 350 RWHP then. I'm thinking 375 RWHP or better now.

I wish you were closer. It would be fun running the two cars against each other. They are very close in build.
Don Teifke  :drive:
[smg id=8489]
"Life is tough.,, Life is even tougher if you're stupid."
-----John Wayne-----

Offline N2v8fcs

Re: 1989 GTU - 355 SBC - T5 - Non-Bubba Build
« Reply #36 on: July 09, 2012, 12:53:57 AM »
nice job!
keep the grandson smiling
:drive:
new personal best 11.45 @ 120 mph N/A car...9.11 @152 mph for the turbo car.


1987 FC  355 SBC, T-5, T2 rear        retired 5-4-11
1991 FC  383 SBC, sold to Dad. Now 5.3 w 76mm turbo, G-force T-5, 8.8 Ronin rear 
1990 FC  370 CID 6.0 w 88mm turbo, Powerglide, Ronin 8.8 w 3.15 gears

Offline Sho Amo

Re: 1989 GTU - 355 SBC - T5 - Non-Bubba Build
« Reply #37 on: July 09, 2012, 06:32:21 PM »
Car looks awesome!  :cheers:
[Sold] '90 GTU LS1/t56

Offline texfc

Re: 1989 GTU - 355 SBC - T5 - Non-Bubba Build
« Reply #38 on: July 23, 2012, 02:00:38 PM »
Just a small update.  Spent the weekend replacing the carpet and putting the interior in.  I removed the S5 mouse belts and installed the S4 seat belts.  Installed both the upper and lower shifter boots, and put in the GXL seats.  I have trim from 3 different cars, so the interior is an odd combination of gray, blue, and black trim, but it doesn’t look bad together.  I have to get the car looking half decent because I promised the wife I’d take her on a date in it Saturday to the local downtown concert and car show.



Lower shifter boot, just a cheap Mr. Gasket boot , don’t know how long it will hold up.


Upper boot (from ebay)


Plastic windshield trim.  I was happy how this turned out, wish I has a before photo, but like most RX7s the edge was chipped and the surface was really weathered and crusty.  I trimmed the edge with a small pair of wire cutters, sanded it smooth and painted it with Duplicolor Trim Black.


Got a die cut decal for the back window, I think the scripture is fitting.
1989 GTU - 355 SBC - WC T5 - TII rear - build thread http://www.norotors.com/index.php?topic=354.msg3811#msg3811
2005 Tacoma 4x4 - daily driver
1966 Mooney M20E upgraded to 201

Offline bikedad

Re: 1989 GTU - 355 SBC - T5 - Non-Bubba Build
« Reply #39 on: July 23, 2012, 04:35:24 PM »
Looks great.

My interior is like yours. Blue, Black and Grey from different cars. Looks good to me but that's not saying much. My wife tells me I have no taste in clothes or design.  :D
I like the scripture on the back window.
Don Teifke  :drive:
[smg id=8489]
"Life is tough.,, Life is even tougher if you're stupid."
-----John Wayne-----

Offline Sho Amo

Re: 1989 GTU - 355 SBC - T5 - Non-Bubba Build
« Reply #40 on: July 23, 2012, 05:20:22 PM »
Nice! I like the shifter.

Im glad you were able to restore the window trim, I was worried about what to do with mine.
[Sold] '90 GTU LS1/t56

Offline cool

Re: 1989 GTU - 355 SBC - T5 - Non-Bubba Build
« Reply #41 on: July 26, 2012, 03:43:52 PM »
My windsheild trim is missing.  I hope its still available.

Offline texfc

Re: 1989 GTU - 355 SBC - T5 - Non-Bubba Build
« Reply #42 on: July 26, 2012, 03:59:19 PM »
I found some on ebay new for about $300 for the pair.  :o  That's why I fixed mine.
1989 GTU - 355 SBC - WC T5 - TII rear - build thread http://www.norotors.com/index.php?topic=354.msg3811#msg3811
2005 Tacoma 4x4 - daily driver
1966 Mooney M20E upgraded to 201

Offline texfc

Re: 1989 GTU - 355 SBC - T5 - Non-Bubba Build
« Reply #43 on: July 26, 2012, 05:07:29 PM »
Got the car "legal" today with the state.  :)  Took it out for a serious drive.....all I can say is OMG!
I have deprived myself for too long.......
1989 GTU - 355 SBC - WC T5 - TII rear - build thread http://www.norotors.com/index.php?topic=354.msg3811#msg3811
2005 Tacoma 4x4 - daily driver
1966 Mooney M20E upgraded to 201

Offline cool

Re: 1989 GTU - 355 SBC - T5 - Non-Bubba Build
« Reply #44 on: July 26, 2012, 10:51:21 PM »
Awesome! I love driving mine for the first time after putting it away for a while.