B-Body.org

bfurches · Posted: Tue Mar 02, 2010 9:45 pm Post subject: pretty cool 81 caprice...

Hey guys,

I recently found this website and decided I would post some pics of my 81 caprice classic. Originally this car was a 6cyl (229 v6) that my grandfather had owned for quite some time. The car has 52k original miles. Its white with a navy blue interior, and overall the car is pretty mint...(no rot/ rust on the body or undercarriage).

...I own a small nitrous company in Springfield, MA and I needed a car that was a little different to catch some attention, which is why I decided to build this sleeper. I had the car running last year with a mild 350, .020 over....but this year I decided to go a little heavier on the setup.

Currently:
Engine
010 Block
Scat I beam forged rods, ARP Bolts
TRW forged and coated flat tops with molly rings
8qt Oil pan and high volume pump
Noisy gear drive
Comp Cams custom grind for the nitrous, and double springs
Double hump heads with stainless 2.02/ 1.60's, 7/16 studs and girdles
1.6 Ratio aluminum roller rockers
Old skool Edelbrock TM-1 Scorpion single plane manifold
Holley 770 Street Avenger (heavily tweaked)
Holley 110gph mechanical fuel pump
MSD Pro Billet HEI (locked out timing, and bypassed HEI)
Mallory 685 Digital Ignition Box
....and of course my nitrous with a stand alone fuel delivery system

Transmission
Full race built th350
Art Carr full manual reverse patteren valve body
Art Carr trans brake
Race Sprag
B&M Pro Ratchet shifter

...motor and trans are currently done and ready to go back in. The motor was similar to this setup last year and ran awsome with the 2.73 rear gears on an open diff. Now I have a set of 3.08's spooled with some real tires. With the trans brake, this car should come out of the hole like an animal. More pics to come.

Pic of the block after being freshened up with rings, bearings, all forged bottom end, and new ARP head studs. Compression is right around 10.25:1 with a .040 MLS head gasket set.

...Pic of the engine just about done and ready to drop in.

...a few shots of the transmission as I was building it. Ready to take whatever I can throw at it.

These are a few pictures of the car last year when I had it out and about.

Fuel system for the nitrous almost done. Custom aluminum fuel cell, walbro 255lph inline pump, -6an braided feed and return, aeromotive bypass regulator.

Keep watching. I will be back with more. I plan on having the car officially back to running status by March 21st for the first day of spring.
_________________
Brandon Furches
bfurches@lowkeyauto.com
413-231-0854

NotDadsW41 · Site Admin Joined: 10 Dec 2007 Posts: 195

Welcome and excellent work!
_________________
CD Smalley
Site Owner/Admin
1991 W41 #142
1995 Astro
1989 9C1
1997 C1500

"No sacrifice or service of mine requires any other reward than that which conscience gives to every man who does his duty" - Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain

Deathdeelr · Posted: Wed Mar 03, 2010 8:18 am Post subject:

Very nice setup. Looks like grandma's car all ready to go to Sunday Bingo at the Elks. I'm not fond of the noisy gear drives though. I ran a Proform in my Camaro but it sounded too much like a bad power steering pump instead of a blower whine so I took it out.

You're running over 10:1. Isn't the nitrous going to wreak havoc with that much squeeze? I'm asking not to criticize. I'd really like to know. I always thought nitrous and supercharging had the same end result; basically burning more mix better than naturally aspirated.
_________________
Me hid big dings wid da hamma.
ASE Certified Master Tech
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/3311846

bfurches · Posted: Wed Mar 03, 2010 4:10 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the compliments guys.

As far as the nitrous question goes.... The short answer is no. I will not have catastrophic failure due to compression.

You are somewhat right with your theory on nitrous and supercharging being similar, yet they are still quite different.

Both systems provide additional oxygen over what is available at atmosphereic pressure to aid in the combustion of supplemental fuel. However, nitrous does it chemically by breaking down its compound, while a blower or turbo does it mechanically.

The reason many superchargers and turbo applications run low compression is a direct result of the additional heat produced during the compression of the air. Since there is substantially more heat, compression is reduced to prevent detonation.

Nitrous on the other hand has a cooling effect on the cylinders which leads itself to less detonation when used with premium fuels and retarding the timing.

My company has installed fogger setups on big blocks with as high as 13.5:1

hope that clears a little up.
_________________
Brandon Furches
bfurches@lowkeyauto.com
413-231-0854

rabidmadman · Posted: Wed Mar 03, 2010 8:46 pm Post subject:

It's sick that you kept the car virtually stock on the outside haha.. I drove a 1980 Caprice with a 267 and it made my 305 Caprice look fast...so I can't imagine how this beast was with the 229.
_________________
1988 Chevy Caprice Classic Owner.

Engine: 305 V8

Location: New Jersey

bfurches · Posted: Wed Mar 03, 2010 10:11 pm Post subject:

My 229 was a dog lol. I was never quite comfortable driving up hill!

I see your in NJ. Ever hit the tracks out there? I frequently hit Atco and e-town. This will be the first year there with the white whale.
_________________
Brandon Furches
bfurches@lowkeyauto.com
413-231-0854

rabidmadman · Posted: Wed Mar 03, 2010 10:25 pm Post subject:

I never really hit the track with my car but I've been meaning to go. 20 second quarter mile all day probably... Let me know when you're down here. I'd like to see the 9 second Caprice. Feel free to help me go faster with my car because I don't know what the hell I'm doing and it's my daily driver haha.

As for the smaller engines..I always wanted to check out a 250 l6 with the 3 on the tree. I think if I had a 77-79 impala/caprice with one of those, I'd keep it stock just for kicks.
_________________
1988 Chevy Caprice Classic Owner.

Engine: 305 V8

Location: New Jersey

bfurches · Posted: Thu Mar 04, 2010 7:06 am Post subject:

You ever need help in the speed department, let me know! Thats my passion.

Now... Don't flatter me too much lol. Im faaaar from nines with my curb weight and power. I will be happy with 11s this year!
_________________
Brandon Furches
bfurches@lowkeyauto.com
413-231-0854

bfurches · Posted: Thu Mar 04, 2010 2:25 pm Post subject:

should have put these up yesterday, but the motor is back home Smile

Transmission and my new serpintine setup are going in this weekend. Maybe I will even fire her up.
_________________
Brandon Furches
bfurches@lowkeyauto.com
413-231-0854

rabidmadman · Posted: Fri Mar 05, 2010 8:05 am Post subject:

You forgot to put on all the smog crap Smile

Very nice work. I'd be happy with this setup for sure.
_________________
1988 Chevy Caprice Classic Owner.

Engine: 305 V8

Location: New Jersey

bfurches · Posted: Fri Mar 05, 2010 6:29 pm Post subject:

I picked up my new shifter today. I was running the Hurst Quarter Stick (which is a gate style shifter), on a custom interior riser, so the shifter was placed nicely in relation to my bench seats.

It looked like this:

I had painted the riser the same color as the interior (as well as the aluminum cover not pictured).

This time around I switched over to a B&M Pro Ratchet. I like the design, and functionality WAY better.....not to mention it comes with EVERYTHING you need (unlike the Hurst that requires covers, brackets and etc).

Here is the new B&M:

...I will post some of the "installed" Pictures tomorow after I put the trans back in and get everything setup.
_________________
Brandon Furches
bfurches@lowkeyauto.com
413-231-0854

bfurches · Posted: Tue Mar 09, 2010 6:40 pm Post subject:

*UPDATE*

Everything is JUST about done. I have my guy comming tomorow to make my trans lines and power steering lines. Car is schedualed to go on the dyno next weds!
_________________
Brandon Furches
bfurches@lowkeyauto.com
413-231-0854

Deathdeelr · Posted: Thu Mar 11, 2010 4:47 pm Post subject:

NUMBERS!!!!!!
_________________
Me hid big dings wid da hamma.
ASE Certified Master Tech
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/3311846

bfurches · Posted: Sat Mar 13, 2010 3:19 pm Post subject:

ok...

So the caprice is finally running. I have a few pics, that are horrible thanks to my iphone, But once I pull the car out of the garage I will take some better ones.

...bad news is I need a driveshaft! I switched over to an 8.5 rear this year and I knew that my old shaft would be too long, so I grabbed the one from the donor cop car...and it's too short!!! Ughhh!

Hopefully getting my old one shortened monday so I can go for a rip!!!

...again, these pics do nooo justice lol. More too come.
_________________
Brandon Furches
bfurches@lowkeyauto.com
413-231-0854

Deathdeelr · Posted: Sat Mar 13, 2010 4:34 pm Post subject:

Enlighten us on the power steering pump.
_________________
Me hid big dings wid da hamma.
ASE Certified Master Tech
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/3311846