PhilAndrews Posted July 11, 2020 Author Share Posted July 11, 2020 Need to tweak the temperature gauge. Run to temperature today and it was reading 220 when my IR thermometer said the whole engine and radiator were at 170. Going to adjust that. Phil 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilAndrews Posted July 14, 2020 Author Share Posted July 14, 2020 Driver's front sash channel. Yes, that is window putty. Rubber strip is missing; also front glass channel is missing (glass did up tight against metal and fractured). Rear/top glass channel is bent. Does that just push in, or does it have fixings to hold it in? Phil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilAndrews Posted July 14, 2020 Author Share Posted July 14, 2020 Cleaned, straightened and painted the sash channel. Phil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilAndrews Posted July 17, 2020 Author Share Posted July 17, 2020 (edited) Built a little doodad to stabilize the voltage for the temperature gauge. Phil Edited July 17, 2020 by PhilAndrews (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilAndrews Posted July 17, 2020 Author Share Posted July 17, 2020 Cleaned up and fitted. Ran the engine up to temperature. Got it adjusted. That'll do. Phil 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilAndrews Posted July 26, 2020 Author Share Posted July 26, 2020 Lower heater matrix to radiator hard line. Fire happened. Half a pipe bracket. Phil 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilAndrews Posted July 26, 2020 Author Share Posted July 26, 2020 Bracket to shape, cooling off overnight. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilAndrews Posted July 26, 2020 Author Share Posted July 26, 2020 (edited) Completed the previous bracket and used it to hold the pipes in place where they go through the chassis. Making another bracket. I put the long run return pipe in and was dissatisfied at the lack of support so went ahead and fabricated a bracket to hold it. Fairly straightforward, bolts through one of the old battery tray bolt holes. Better, takes a fair bit of load off the radiator lower return spigot. Quite happy though, filled the cooling system back up and ran it up to temperature. Heater works well! Phil Edited July 26, 2020 by PhilAndrews (see edit history) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilAndrews Posted July 28, 2020 Author Share Posted July 28, 2020 Next thing on the cooling system, missing the thermostat. I need to take some measurements but it looks like the big truck (large Cummins diesel) thermostats are the same style as the one originally used- the funny high flow cage style ones that go up into the housing. I see there's an adapter plate to take a regular thermostat but it gets hot here and I want as much flow through this system as I can get, particularly when the engine is at low RPM (stuck in traffic). Any thoughts, experiences? Phil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kornkurt Posted July 28, 2020 Share Posted July 28, 2020 I have a NORS thermostat and a NOS thermostat retainer for $35. I have never found a late model thermostat that fits properly in the housing. Kurt Kelsey 641-648-9086 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Summershandy Posted July 28, 2020 Share Posted July 28, 2020 Mine didn't have a thermostat either when I removed the housing. I slapped in one that just barely fit (almost fell through hole) I think from a Chevy big block. Worked for a year or so but then decided to replace it with an original style one. I'm still a believer in original design. Works fine for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bloo Posted July 28, 2020 Share Posted July 28, 2020 In the original setup, you need the spacer ring to hold the thermostat up in the housing. It isn't obvious when you are looking at it without the old parts, but that's how it works. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilAndrews Posted July 28, 2020 Author Share Posted July 28, 2020 Yeah, that's what I was looking at- it measures 2 3/8" (with the aperture in the head 2 1/4") and 1" deep machined into the housing. I was just looking for anything that would fit in the depth as it's not particularly deep down into the head before you hit water jacket casting, using the depth of the machined section to allow the base of the thermostat to move toward the engine as it opens. --Phil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilAndrews Posted July 28, 2020 Author Share Posted July 28, 2020 (edited) All good now! Just spoke with Kurt (KornKurt), who was very helpful. I've got the correct part headed my way. Phil Edited July 28, 2020 by PhilAndrews (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilAndrews Posted July 30, 2020 Author Share Posted July 30, 2020 (edited) Gosh, that was quick service. Thermostat arrived today, need to get it unboxed and fitted in. Phil Edited July 30, 2020 by PhilAndrews Autocrect (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilAndrews Posted July 31, 2020 Author Share Posted July 31, 2020 Parts unboxed. I like new old stock. All together as an assembly. Cut a new gasket and applied a little sealant before reassembling, filling it back up and running it up to temperature. Opens up at about 180 and then holds about 190 or so. Heater blows red hot. Definitely good. Phil 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilAndrews Posted July 31, 2020 Author Share Posted July 31, 2020 Today is also a milestone day. Phil 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilAndrews Posted July 31, 2020 Author Share Posted July 31, 2020 Threw the brakes together and put it outside in the sunshine. Smiling again. Phil 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john hess Posted August 1, 2020 Share Posted August 1, 2020 Nice...looks good Phil... Glad your heater works.. Need that these last few days !!! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilAndrews Posted August 1, 2020 Author Share Posted August 1, 2020 35 minutes ago, john hess said: Nice...looks good Phil... Glad your heater works.. Need that these last few days !!! Only benefit it has right now is to boost the radiator at idle.. in winter it'll be pleasant. Phil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilAndrews Posted August 1, 2020 Author Share Posted August 1, 2020 There we go, all the dust rinsed off. Looks a little better. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilAndrews Posted August 2, 2020 Author Share Posted August 2, 2020 Rainy day so a bit of garage time before it got too hot. Previous owner decided the best polishing method was wire wheel. Buffed that out as well as I could- it's down to the nickel in places (courtesy of wire wheel) but it's better. Itty bitty buffing wheel to get into the tight corners, of which it has many. Phil 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilAndrews Posted August 2, 2020 Author Share Posted August 2, 2020 That's as far as I got before it got too warm. Improved, but there's still more to do. I think eventually I may look for a replacement in better condition than this one is. Phil 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilAndrews Posted August 3, 2020 Author Share Posted August 3, 2020 Cooler in the garage once the sun went down (by a couple degrees, at least), so I decided to have a go at a bit more of the chrome. Improving. A little. So long as you don't look too closely. Phil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilAndrews Posted August 8, 2020 Author Share Posted August 8, 2020 Got a brand new exhaust custom bent to shape, put it in tonight. Much better, the old one was all holes. Phil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PONTIAC1953 Posted August 8, 2020 Share Posted August 8, 2020 1 hour ago, PhilAndrews said: Got a brand new exhaust custom bent to shape, put it in tonight. Much better, the old one was all holes. Phil Now that new exhaust needs this. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilAndrews Posted August 8, 2020 Author Share Posted August 8, 2020 (edited) 21 minutes ago, pontiac1953 said: Now that new exhaust needs this. I would, but my budget is more $6.99 from AutoZone right now... ... Plus, it wouldn't fit. I brought it out to 2 1/4" at the muffler and took it all the way to the back that size. Phil Edited August 8, 2020 by PhilAndrews (see edit history) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PONTIAC1953 Posted August 8, 2020 Share Posted August 8, 2020 11 hours ago, PhilAndrews said: I would, but my budget is more $6.99 from AutoZone right now... ... Plus, it wouldn't fit. I brought it out to 2 1/4" at the muffler and took it all the way to the back that size. Phil yeah, looks like it would be a 1 3/4" to 1 7/8" tailpipe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilAndrews Posted August 8, 2020 Author Share Posted August 8, 2020 10 minutes ago, pontiac1953 said: yeah, looks like it would be a 1 3/4" to 1 7/8" tailpipe. Yes, the one I took off, where it wasn't holed, was 1 3/4". I decided to go with a modern standard size for ease of future replacement. Slightly bigger than what's coming down from the manifold, but such is life. That won't hurt, particularly as the bends take the diameter down somewhat. Phil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Summershandy Posted August 8, 2020 Share Posted August 8, 2020 13 hours ago, PhilAndrews said: I would, but my budget is more $6.99 from AutoZone right now... ... Plus, it wouldn't fit. I brought it out to 2 1/4" at the muffler and took it all the way to the back that size. Phil I like the look of this clamp style and my budget is like Phil's.....didn't even splurge on the ruby insert! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilAndrews Posted August 8, 2020 Author Share Posted August 8, 2020 This will just have to do. Sounds nice though. Quite happy with that. Phil 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilAndrews Posted August 14, 2020 Author Share Posted August 14, 2020 (edited) Just discovered the rear r/h window mechanism is missing. Great. The handle, gears, crossbar and lift arm are there, but the sash runner and channel are missing. I shook the door, didn't hear anything rattling about inside so they are presumed gone. I did get the lock working though. Edited August 14, 2020 by PhilAndrews (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilAndrews Posted August 15, 2020 Author Share Posted August 15, 2020 Too hot tonight to do much else do I had a go at the roof. Better. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilAndrews Posted August 18, 2020 Author Share Posted August 18, 2020 Free moment tonight, so I set the headlight aim. That'll work. They're not bad lights, the old Fed-spec 7" units. Phil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pfeil Posted August 18, 2020 Share Posted August 18, 2020 18 minutes ago, PhilAndrews said: Free moment tonight, so I set the headlight aim. That'll work. They're not bad lights, the old Fed-spec 7" units. Phil Great shot! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilAndrews Posted August 21, 2020 Author Share Posted August 21, 2020 The weather turned briefly pleasant this afternoon so I ran the car up to temperature and then put the front up on stands. Grabbed a selection of tools. My workspace for the next hour or so. Worth it because the lash was all wrong- I had set the valves by eye, cold, when I took the valves out last. It's got the correct note back to it now and runs nice and smoothly. Worth the burned fingers. Phil 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dosmo Posted August 21, 2020 Share Posted August 21, 2020 Great sounding exhaust note on that straight 8! One of my very favorite Pontiacs. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilAndrews Posted August 25, 2020 Author Share Posted August 25, 2020 Obtained some spare parts that were missing from the window mechanism on the passenger back door. Albeit cracked, that now winds up and down with care. Got creative and made a sash channel grip from electrical wire insulation and got the front window lined up well enough that it doesn't catch on the frame any more. 4 winding windows now. Good for summertime! Phil 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john hess Posted August 25, 2020 Share Posted August 25, 2020 Looks good Phil... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilAndrews Posted August 26, 2020 Author Share Posted August 26, 2020 Looks better with the glass having had a deep clean. Found out why the rear winder falls off the track. The lower stop is attached to the door blanking plate, which is missing. Phil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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