The fuel injection wiring is done except the O2 sensors and the IAC valve. There are lots of clicks and whirs when I turn the ignition key to ‘run’ as relays and solenoids move to their startup positions. The fuel pump switches on for 5 seconds to pressurize the fuel system and then is turned off by the ECU until the engine is cranking. In the ‘start’ position the engine cranks normally. The tach and speedometer gauges were acting a little weird when I first tried them a few weeks ago but they are working properly now that I am … Continue reading Update 6/13/16

On an impulse I bought an Audi R8 intake manifold from eBay. The price was too tempting. Unfortunately I hadn’t done my homework because the R8 has the FSI engine so the intake doesn’t have injector ports. Also the mounting holes are off very slightly and the ports sizes are different. Interesting that the R8 actually has smaller intake ports than the ARS 40v engine. So the stock variable length manifold is back on the engine and I’m routing the fuel injection wires. I decided to mount the fuel injection ECU inside the passenger compartment to the rear firewall. The … Continue reading Update 4/14/16

I got the mock up axles taken apart so that I can send them in for fabrication. The Audi tripod end came off with a little persuasion and help from videos on YouTube, but then at first I couldn’t get the outboard GM CV off. Then I found a hidden circlip and they came right off. I bought two more re-manufactured GM axles after the first pair were junk and the CVs were shot. I used the axles with the blown CVs for the mock up axles. The second pair were re-manufactured by a reputable company and not just an … Continue reading Update 3/31/16

I welded the mock up axles which were spliced together using the Audi inside CV joint and the GM outside CV joint. I’ll be sending them to TheDriveshaftShop.com to make new 1-piece axles. I pulled the engine and re-drilled the engine mount holes and now the billet engine mounts and transmission mount all line up properly. I put the engine back in the car and hooked up most of the components. It took less than three hours to pull the engine and install it back in the car, but I still have a few things to hook up again. I … Continue reading Update 3/22/16

I tidied up the wiring in the front of the Lancia and installed braided loom everywhere including on the braided brake lines where they could rub on other parts. I installed relays for the fuel pump and cooling fans. Those are activated by signals from the fuel injection. I still need to install connectors on the leads to the horns and cooling fans so I’m ordering some waterproof bullet connectors. I tightened the mounting on the Bosch 044 fuel pump, made a short harness for the pump back to the relay and tightened all the fuel fittings after applying thread … Continue reading Update 3/21/16

I was never happy with the number of fittings in the brake and clutch hydraulic systems. Many adapters and couplers were required to fit the hard lines and flex hoses together, plus extras inside the passenger compartment because I couldn’t run continuous hard lines from front to back. The hard lines wouldn’t snake through the passenger compartment after creating all the bends so the clutch and rear brake lines were joined inside the passenger compartment with couplers. Instead I replaced all the lines with stainless flex lines. This solved a couple leak issues and drastically reduced the number of fittings … Continue reading Update 12/24/15