The Unicorn: Abandon all Hope

[LS1ow]

the moonshine coil is my favorite part of the car by far.

[Blackbirdws6]

I assume there isn't enough room to put on a longer coupler with more than one clamp? Not ideal long term but figured it can get you by before you pull the bumper.

[LTb1ow]

Some tame 2 step action

Also wired in my boost dial, this way I can change the tune on the fly

[LTb1ow]

Finally ditched the dream of a draft style PCV can (pulls vacuum between air filter and turbo inlet) [Doesn't work too well once you have a very efficient air filtyer]

Used one of the ports from unnamedperfshop made


Check valve so I don't pressurize the catch can.


Pulls a lot of vaccum across the top end of motor, so thats a start.

[Blackbirdws6]

Checked valves are checked

[PolarBear]

Originally Posted by LTb1ow

Also wired in my boost dial, this way I can change the tune on the fly

it goes to 11

[LTb1ow]

Some confirmation that 2step and boost commanded works.

[LTb1ow]

Well, had a dream I could fix my lack of working dipstick over this weekend. Lesson there, there's never hope when working on LTX cars.



Tried my best to be safe working on gravel, snagged some scrap home depot wood for 7 bucks and made some bases.





You can see here how the lokar cable was sitting on this flat piece and the "tongue" part of the dipstick was stuck udner that lip.


In the end, I managed to properly measure how much oil is needed before it hits windage tray. Which for anyone who is concerned, is 6.25 qts, and with a full oil filter, system total is 7qt.

Downside, I could not manage to make the lokar dipstick work, would not clear past the main cap. So amazon claims to be delivering a OEM one today and maybe it will work.

[LTb1ow]

As a Sunday update, amazon pulled thru and the OEM dipstick tube fits (after trimming) and the OE style dipstick now touches oil and comes out.

[wretched73]

Knowing how much oil you have seems like a good thing

[sweetbmxrider]

It’s either full, empty, or somewhere in between.

[IROCZman15]

oh wow, I now see what the dipstick interference in the pan was. Glad you got that sorted out, must be a big relief. Good stuff

[LTb1ow]

Been without a dipstick since 2012, hurray for stock upgrades!

[Blackbirdws6]

Now enjoy the regret of wondering why it needs more oil than a rotary.

[sweetbmxrider]

ouch….

[LTb1ow]

For those keeping count, now its a BMW coolant pump, and a Volvo PS pump.

[Blackbirdws6]

Very slick but don't make fun of my early days wiring ever again.

[sweetbmxrider]

Agreed

[LTb1ow]

Originally Posted by Blackbirdws6

Very slick but don't make fun of my early days wiring ever again.

Originally Posted by sweetbmxrider

Agreed

Fair.

[LTb1ow]

First stuff tackled on the car for the winter.

Took off the alternator and found that the mount was broken. Oops


Quick and dirty turn buckle to hold alternator in place. Will need to revisit this.


Mounted coolant overflow off the head.

[wretched73]

Pics seem a bit small

I hope a power washer is in your future too.

[sweetbmxrider]

Aren’t you concerned with the overflow dripping coolant on the opti?

[LTb1ow]

Getting the easy stuff done and now we start the actual hard stuff.

After many years of putting it off, its time to cut out some of the factory harness that is not used anymore. Also let myself get sloppy with the holley wiring over the past summer so thats all gotta get redone.


And the winter to do list for the car.

[Blackbirdws6]

You must have admired the catch can on the blue bird.....

[LTb1ow]

Worked a little at lunch and got off early so had a productive tear down day.

Removed a lot of OE wiring


Removed most of the Holley stuff


Disconnected all the I/O wiring and started to tidy things


Lots of work ahead cleaning up that mess.