Topic: What did you do to your Kappa today - Part 2

[tazz]

Ihawk
I'm surprised that no one told you to actually remove the seats so you can remove the carpets and let them drip dry.  The carpets have white absorbent material under them that can hold alot of water and will cause the musty smell.

[elff]

Was he behind the camera car?

[elff]

Tazz

I never thought of that, but you are correct
Also, with the carpets out, you can spray both sides with that stuff that inhibits mold growth.  They do that when a basement floods and they don't throw away the carpet

[miller11386]

Was he behind the camera car?

From what I understand, yes

[40rtyp]

 Well, I ordered a set of Viton Seals for the Sky and a special tool to put them on since my stock Fuel injector Seals finally gave up on me thanks to the ethanol eating away at them. Viton seals repel ethanol so that will take care of that. Total cost $180 of which $130 was just for the special tool. The seal kit was only $35. This is a most for anyone running ethanol. I'll post pic's of the process.

Here is a little more info for those just wanting to be educated on the subject:




These are the replacements. You can see the stock FIS's are White, while the Viton one in this pic are Black.


Having these go out are very noticeable since you pretty much hear a machine gun fire coming from the engine bay. Operation of the car is a NO NO as you can not only damage the injector with the missing or demaged seal but can also cause the cylinder or cylinders(more than one seal, to go lean which in turn will damage your head gasket.


Here is the link to the kit: http://www.crateenginedepot.com/LNF-Fuel-Injector-Seal-Kit-217-3425-12633374-P18283.aspx

This is the special tool you need to put the injector seal on: http://www.handsontools.com/Kent-Moore-EN-48266-Injector-Seal-Installer-Sizer_p_40273.html

[tazz]

?
Since most fuels even the premium fuels can have a 10% E mix will this happen to the fuel system eventually without further intervention of blending E mixes?  If so how long does it take to happen?

[40rtyp]

You will be fine with fuels that add a very small percentage of ethanol in, that won't do anything really. I was running 50/50 and now I'm running Full E85(100%) so it was a given that this was going to happen with the stock white Fuel injector Seals. Once the Viton are in, I should be able to never worry about them again.

[ihawk95]

Ihawk
I'm surprised that no one told you to actually remove the seats so you can remove the carpets and let them drip dry.  The carpets have white absorbent material under them that can hold alot of water and will cause the musty smell.

Joe from JPM told me that right away. I left it top down in the 90+ degree sun last Saturday. Drove it yesterday and had a faint smell. Then I saw the bag I'd forgotten with my wet river shoes in it. Removed the shoes and no smell when I left work yesterday. I think the seats and floor mats took most of the water.

I'm gonna pull the carpet back some to be sure there's no mold or rust. I'll prolly need help with the seats, so I don't see that happening soon.

[miller11386]

You will be fine with fuels that add a very small percentage of ethanol in, that won't do anything really. I was running 50/50 and now I'm running Full E85(100%) so it was a given that this was going to happen with the stock white Fuel injector Seals. Once the Viton are in, I should be able to never worry about them again.

E85 is only 85% ethanol at max... they are usually less than 85% in reality...especially on winter blends which can be as low as 70% ethanol.

Only people having issues with the seals have been guys running E47 and E85. I would imagine that GM has tested the seals in the 93 octane with 10% ethanol and not had noticable issues... however it is a seal, and they can wear out eventually. Ethanol just speeds up that issue.

I am still waiting for the rubber fuel lines/socks in the tank to start failing, or the pump itself. Not sure what fuel pump is in the tank or if it is rated for E85 use. Mose OE applications are not rated for ethanol unless they are flex fuel vehicles, however it all depends what parts bin sending unit is in the kappa

For reference:
"Top tier" premium pump gas = no ethanol
Premium pump gas = up to 10% ethanol
E47 (mixing E85 and 93) = 40-47% ethanol
E85 at the pump = 70-85% ethanol depending on blend and time of year
E98 = 98% ethanol and only water is added to the fuel to make it legal to sell.

E100 is 100% ethanol which is illegal for sale unless it is diluted to E98

[critter]

Today I put three coats of RaggTop on the Redline. It says something about 48 hours to micro-bond - whatever the hell that is - so I guess I won't be putting the top down for a bit yet. Unless someone out there has used this (or similar) and it makes no difference whether I fold or not after it is dry. Goes on easy as a spray and cleans up nicely from all the things it shouldn't stay on like windows, paint etc...Now maybe someone can tell me how often one revisits this? Once a year? Twice a year?

Also, installed the DDM fender trim. My thumbs are still sore from pushing the damn things on but it sure feels like they are there to stay...
Critter

[GaryDN]

Was he behind the camera car?

he was 2 cars behind me, Nomead was behind me not sure if he was running his video.

[40rtyp]

E85 is only 85% ethanol at max... they are usually less than 85% in reality...especially on winter blends which can be as low as 70% ethanol.

Only people having issues with the seals have been guys running E47 and E85. I would imagine that GM has tested the seals in the 93 octane with 10% ethanol and not had noticable issues... however it is a seal, and they can wear out eventually. Ethanol just speeds up that issue.

I am still waiting for the rubber fuel lines/socks in the tank to start failing, or the pump itself. Not sure what fuel pump is in the tank or if it is rated for E85 use. Mose OE applications are not rated for ethanol unless they are flex fuel vehicles, however it all depends what parts bin sending unit is in the kappa

For reference:
"Top tier" premium pump gas = no ethanol
Premium pump gas = up to 10% ethanol
E47 (mixing E85 and 93) = 40-47% ethanol
E85 at the pump = 70-85% ethanol depending on blend and time of year
E98 = 98% ethanol and only water is added to the fuel to make it legal to sell.

E100 is 100% ethanol which is illegal for sale unless it is diluted to E98

I have a Fuel tester I use and take a sample of what I get. Been using it for a week now and have tested it at 3 stations I get Ethanol.  Propel here in Cali actually tested @89%. I know the blends change throughout the year. The other stations were 84% and 81%.

[elff]

Can you post a link to that tester?

[40rtyp]

Can you post a link to that tester?

There you go: http://www.jegs.com/i/Quick+Fuel/793/36-E85/10002/-1

 I think that for the price, its a great tool to have.

[1LILNDN]

he was 2 cars behind me, Nomead was behind me not sure if he was running his video.

I was behind Bill Clinton in the Silver Sky,He also had a camara and was right in front of Me. He gave me the card from his camara but I can't find his Vedio only a bunch of pics that others downloaded on his Card.

       Still looking for it so I can Post it.

[MomsSol]

Blacked out the taillights using two coats of clear plastidip then 3 coats of Nightshade.  Trying out a possible strip on the driver's side of the hood and decklid.

Tomorrow.....may plastidip my door handles, plastidip and nightshade the backup lights and most of the headlights..

[elff]

 

[MomsSol]

But, but elff....the tasks are not yet complete!  Do you want to wait and see the finished package or see the steps along the way?


BTW....anyone know how to get the waterfall off?  The one that has the Pontiac emblem on it.

[elff]

It would be cool to see the mods step by step.
But I can wait for the final product

I wanted to beat Kelu with that.
hee hee

[MomsSol]

It would be cool to see the mods step by step.
But I can wait for the final product

I wanted to beat Kelu with that.
hee hee

Okay....I'll get some pics tomorrow, to whipped tonight to go back out.  Stripe won't get completed until next weekend but I should be able to get the rest done tomorrow.

[ihawk95]

Hey moms, let me injure how the plastidip works on the door handles. I'd like to do mine, but I'm wondering if it will hold up.

[TomatoSoup]

BTW....anyone know how to get the waterfall off?  The one that has the Pontiac emblem on it.

If you mean the BIG panel, then look here: http://www.kappaperformance.com/forum/index.php/topic,2450.msg28825.html#msg28825

If you mean just the painted insert piece above the cubby door, then you need to remove the big panel first.  The painted piece is heat-riveted on.  Just break off the edges of the melted rivet studs from the inside area and then you can pull off the painted piece.  After that, to reattach it, get some suitably-sized wide-dome-head screws and screw into the rivet studs again.

[Sly Bob]

Looking forward to seeing the pics...   

[Sol Asylum]

Hey moms, let me injure how the plastidip works on the door handles. I'd like to do mine, but I'm wondering if it will hold up.

Did Critter type that for you or do you really want to injure how the plastidip works?  If so what did the plastidip ever do to you?

[ihawk95]

Stupid swype on my phone!

Ok, I'd like to know how the plastidip works out.