Corvette Engine Build - The Power Principal, Part 2

Before we install our Performance Distributors LiveWires onto our Bosch spark plugs, a dab of silicone grease is applied into the plug boot and at the distributor. Performance Distributors warns that their warranty will not be valid if you rip the wires up trying to remove them if the silicone is not applied.

Our FAST fuel-injection system requires a MAP sensor to sense engine vacuum and control fuel delivery. We put our MAP sensor close to the vacuum source at the rear of the intake. The ideal location has the MAP sensor hose going down to the intake. This prevents oil from entering the hose causing erroneous vacuum readings.

Before we install our Performance Distributors computer-controlled distributor in place for good, we install it and tighten it down. Then we pull up and push down on the rotor and shaft assembly. This ensures that with all of our block machining the distributor won't be bound up sitting tight on the oil-pump driveshaft. Performance Distributors has shims available if necessary to keep the correct clearances.

Right before we start the engine, our oil-pump primer is used to build oil pressure. We run the drill clockwise until resistance is felt on the oil pump, then we look at the rockers arms watching for oil flow at each rocker. We also crank the engine a few revolutions, then run the primer again until all the rockers have oil flow.

Finally, we install our Performance Distributor and LiveWires on the distributor cap and start it up. We're using Performance Distributors billet wire looms to separate the extreme plug wires. The looms work easily and positively retain the wires. The LiveWires have easily read numbers at the distributor and plug end for quick installation-a nice touch on Corvettes that are hard to trace from the distributor.

The final touch is our Mini VIP voltage intensifier installation at the distributor. Just a couple of wires are necessary. We're using the original distributors pink wire that supplies ignition power. We need to connect the orange wire to the battery, then the black wire to ground. We'll be able to bump up our fuel pressure with the intense spark supplied from the Performance Distributors complete ignition system. Next time, we dyno the engine.