5.2 in a 68 Barracuda

Ok - got everything buttoned back up, tightened, torqued, sealed, and painted. So far it's all gone back together with no real problems.

I drilled a hole in the intake and tapped with a 1/8"-27 NPT thread to install a 68 style water temp sending unit for the B'cuda gauge. There's already a sender in there, but it's for the PCM. I really didn't know if it was required for the function of the PCM, so I added the extra.

I'm not sure what I'm going to do about the oil pressure gauge. With the 2001 setup, the gauges are sensed with the CCD bus signal. The oil pressure sender is used by the PCM to determine whether the fuel pump should be powered. If there is a loss of oil pressure, the PCM shuts down the fuel pump. I'm thinking I will have to use an old style oil pressure sending unit for the B'cuda dash gauge, same as the water temp. If anybody has already solved this problem, please let me know.

I powered up the fuel pump today with a couple of drip leaks. I'm using the Airtex external fuel pump and LS1 fuel regulator with a tank return through the old style fuel level sending unit. I was concerned whether or not the 1/4" return line would be sufficient to allow the pump to regulate at the proper pressure. With the pump deadheading, I was regulating at around 55 psi. Perfect! It makes some noise, but nothing I can't live with.

The Duralast battery that I was going to use turned out to not be holding a charge. I noticed it had an 08 sticker on the side. Probably an 84 month battery. I swear, I think those things have a microchip in them that self-destructs the battery when the warranty is up!

Now comes the exhaust issues. I haven't decided whether to buy the pipes from Jeg's, or to trailer the car to the local muffler shop. I already bought the Dynamax (Walker) Super Turbo mufflers. Whether you get the pipes at Summit or Jeg's, I think both kits are made by Hearthrob. Maybe not! LOL