More shakedown runs last night...
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From: Melbourne, FL
More shakedown runs last night... Well, I managed to make it out to the track last night for some more testing. Changes since last Friday's initial testing consisted only of the powerglide tranny, and I set my pinion angle to -3 deg.
The car seemed way down on power (compared to Friday) for some reason. I have no idea why at this point. I don't know if it's the powerglide tranny or something in the engine. Friday the car went 6.80 @ 102.7 in the 1/8th. Last night all of my 1/8th mile runs were in the 99.5mph range, with a best ET of 6.77. As far as 1/4 mile passes, the car went 10.72, 10.73, and 10.77 trying different launch techniques. The 1/4 mph was ~124.5mph on all three runs.
The car wants to 60' good with the powerglide though, as I had a 1.43 leaving off the brake/2-step, a 1.43 foot-braking the car, and a 1.48 off the brake/2-step (tires spun). However, I've mysteriously dropped ~3mph in the 1/8th mile since Friday.
Lastly, I keep losing water from the radiator and don't know where it's going. I pulled a breather off a valve cover last nigh, and could see slight traces of water in the oil by shining a flashlight into the hole on the valvecover. There was a slight bit of milky looking foamy oil around one of the head studs (the easiest place to try to peek in the valvecover). When I got home last night, I drained the oil out of the pan, and it looked OK, though. I've lost a good bit of water out of the radiator, so where the hell is it going? The tailpipes are dry, BTW, so it doesn't seem to be going out the exhaust.
So, all in all, not a great night as I have some stuff to figure out. I think the converter needs to be changed in order for the 'glide to work at it's full potential.
The car seemed way down on power (compared to Friday) for some reason. I have no idea why at this point. I don't know if it's the powerglide tranny or something in the engine. Friday the car went 6.80 @ 102.7 in the 1/8th. Last night all of my 1/8th mile runs were in the 99.5mph range, with a best ET of 6.77. As far as 1/4 mile passes, the car went 10.72, 10.73, and 10.77 trying different launch techniques. The 1/4 mph was ~124.5mph on all three runs.
The car wants to 60' good with the powerglide though, as I had a 1.43 leaving off the brake/2-step, a 1.43 foot-braking the car, and a 1.48 off the brake/2-step (tires spun). However, I've mysteriously dropped ~3mph in the 1/8th mile since Friday.
Lastly, I keep losing water from the radiator and don't know where it's going. I pulled a breather off a valve cover last nigh, and could see slight traces of water in the oil by shining a flashlight into the hole on the valvecover. There was a slight bit of milky looking foamy oil around one of the head studs (the easiest place to try to peek in the valvecover). When I got home last night, I drained the oil out of the pan, and it looked OK, though. I've lost a good bit of water out of the radiator, so where the hell is it going? The tailpipes are dry, BTW, so it doesn't seem to be going out the exhaust.
So, all in all, not a great night as I have some stuff to figure out. I think the converter needs to be changed in order for the 'glide to work at it's full potential.
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Re: More shakedown runs last night... strange? Did you look at the plugs? Anything strange there?
The tranny change could have easily cost you the mph. How were the pulsewidths looking? What about the valves/lash? how tight were you spinning the motor?
I hope you didnt drop a sleeve. Doesnt sound like it though because the coolant system doesnt seem pressurized.
Cheers,
Chris
The tranny change could have easily cost you the mph. How were the pulsewidths looking? What about the valves/lash? how tight were you spinning the motor?
I hope you didnt drop a sleeve. Doesnt sound like it though because the coolant system doesnt seem pressurized.
Cheers,
Chris
Launching!
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From: Brick , NJ
Re: More shakedown runs last night... You've had enough bad luck already...... I hope its just a leak or something not serious. Like Chris, I also think the PG could cause the MPH loss in the 1/8th.
Sounds like a real potent combo when sorted out.
Good luck
Mickey
Sounds like a real potent combo when sorted out.
Good luck
Mickey
Re: More shakedown runs last night... Damn George, that doesn't sound good. It's burning coolant; my money is on the sleeves. A friend of mine ran into this problem right after his 422 cid was finished, going on two years ago now. His started drinking coolant like crazy, like a quart or so with 50-100 miles of street driving. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Sad]" src="gr_sad.gif" /> I'm personally still not comfortable with the resleeved LS1 blocks. Once he dropped a sleeve, the car lost a LOT of power. He basically lost 7 MPH in the 1/4.
I hope you get things sorted out. You're just now getting stuff sorted out with the car, and I'm VERY impressed with how the car is 60'ing w/ no changes in gearing or tires.
I hope you get things sorted out. You're just now getting stuff sorted out with the car, and I'm VERY impressed with how the car is 60'ing w/ no changes in gearing or tires.
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Launching!
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From: Brick , NJ
Re: More shakedown runs last night... I forgot to mention in my last reply.... I also have a high compression solid roller motor being completed right now, but I sprung for the C5R block and as I keep reading about stuff like Trevor just mentioned, those extra few thousand are looking well spent . I also am keeping my 370" 2 year old 10.90 NA 6M motor in tact for a spare.
Mickey
98 Black Z28 6M
Mickey
98 Black Z28 6M
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From: Melbourne, FL
Re: More shakedown runs last night... I don't think it's dropped a sleeve, since like Chris said, it doesn't seem to be pressurizing the coolant system, there's just water disappearing from the radiator.
I talked to Wade @ ARE this morning. I'm going to check out a couple of things and get back to them on the coolant issue. I'll get it figured out one way or another.
I think the switch to the 'glide is to blame for the big loss of mph... I'm going to keep it in the car for now, butthe TH350's being fixed/upgraded with a new drum/roller clutch assembly to replace the stock sprag, and will be back in the car soon.
I talked to Wade @ ARE this morning. I'm going to check out a couple of things and get back to them on the coolant issue. I'll get it figured out one way or another.
I think the switch to the 'glide is to blame for the big loss of mph... I'm going to keep it in the car for now, butthe TH350's being fixed/upgraded with a new drum/roller clutch assembly to replace the stock sprag, and will be back in the car soon.
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From: Melbourne, FL
Re: More shakedown runs last night... </font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by Trevor D:
<strong>His started drinking coolant like crazy, like a quart or so with 50-100 miles of street driving. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Sad]" src="gr_sad.gif" /> I'm personally still not comfortable with the resleeved LS1 blocks. Once he dropped a sleeve, the car lost a LOT of power. He basically lost 7 MPH in the 1/4.
</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Trevor, what symptoms did he have? Was water getting into the crankcase? Into the combustion chamber? I'm not sure where mine is disappearing to yet, as there is only a tiny bit in the oil, but a substantial amount has disappeared from the radiator...
<strong>His started drinking coolant like crazy, like a quart or so with 50-100 miles of street driving. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Sad]" src="gr_sad.gif" /> I'm personally still not comfortable with the resleeved LS1 blocks. Once he dropped a sleeve, the car lost a LOT of power. He basically lost 7 MPH in the 1/4.
</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Trevor, what symptoms did he have? Was water getting into the crankcase? Into the combustion chamber? I'm not sure where mine is disappearing to yet, as there is only a tiny bit in the oil, but a substantial amount has disappeared from the radiator...
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Re: More shakedown runs last night... Thanks for the updates GeorgeC, makes for fun reading while I wait for my new heads from ARE.
1) Coolant loss. Well, I typically run the car cold with the cap off, and then top it off over the course of about 5-10 minutes, how do you fill yours? Check the hoses into the waterpump one of mine was soft and had a small leak.
2) MPH loss. I think you might want to email with Jay Billingsley IE someone who has switched back and forth and pick his brainz, his 93Z had a T350 and then he went to a glide... bgdrgz28@aol.com
1) Coolant loss. Well, I typically run the car cold with the cap off, and then top it off over the course of about 5-10 minutes, how do you fill yours? Check the hoses into the waterpump one of mine was soft and had a small leak.
2) MPH loss. I think you might want to email with Jay Billingsley IE someone who has switched back and forth and pick his brainz, his 93Z had a T350 and then he went to a glide... bgdrgz28@aol.com
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From: Cecil County Raceway!!!
Re: More shakedown runs last night... define big loss of coolant...
Are you sure you didn't have an air pocket that just opened up and took the extra coolant? Do you run straight water? If not...can you smell any burning coolant in the exhaust?
Are you sure you didn't have an air pocket that just opened up and took the extra coolant? Do you run straight water? If not...can you smell any burning coolant in the exhaust?
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From: Melbourne, FL
Re: More shakedown runs last night... </font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by Chris ARE 360:
<strong>No signs of detonation? No water pouring from one of the heads? (Gasket pushed out slightly)
</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Nope... I've run nothing but Sunoco Purple 114 in the car, and the timing curve is pretty conservative. There are no outward signs of a water leak anywhere.
<strong>No signs of detonation? No water pouring from one of the heads? (Gasket pushed out slightly)
</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Nope... I've run nothing but Sunoco Purple 114 in the car, and the timing curve is pretty conservative. There are no outward signs of a water leak anywhere.
Re: More shakedown runs last night... George,If your running straight water it wont show on the plugs.
Pressurize the engine and see if waters comes out of the spark plug holes?
I think you have a head gasket thats acting up or a cracked head.
You could try K&W block sealer and see if it helps.
Its designed for water only....
JS
<small>[ August 08, 2002, 02:12 PM: Message edited by: JS ]</small>
Pressurize the engine and see if waters comes out of the spark plug holes?
I think you have a head gasket thats acting up or a cracked head.
You could try K&W block sealer and see if it helps.
Its designed for water only....
JS
<small>[ August 08, 2002, 02:12 PM: Message edited by: JS ]</small>
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From: Deep in the seedy underworld of Koonerville
Re: More shakedown runs last night... Go to a auto supply store and get a cooling system pressure tester. The one I used had a cap that screwed onto the radiator in place of the regular cap. It was hooked to a small hand pump with a pressure guage. You just pressurise the cooling system to whatever the cap pressure is and watch the guage to see if it leaks down.
John
John
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From: Melbourne, FL
Re: More shakedown runs last night... OK, here's the latest update...
I figured out why there wasn't an over abundance of water in the oil. Apparantly my crankcase evacuation system really works. The breather tank was filled with water, after sucking it all up through the breathers in the valvecovers. Looks like it may have saved my butt since the oil doesn't seem overly "watery."
I picked up a can of the K&W block seal recommended by JS (thanks for the tip, Joel), and just finished the procedure as directed on the can. As soon as the car cools down, I have to go drain the radiator and let the car sit overnight with the drain plug out and radiator cap off. I'll also change the oil again, and probably go through the procedure with another can of K&W tomorrow.
My fingers are crossed that this will take care of the problem. If not, I'll have to see what Nick suggests I do, since I'm pretty sure he'll want to take care of this. He's been a real standup guy thus far, and I have no doubt he'll do whatever is necessary to make things right.
If not, I guess I'll just have to carry around a few gallons of water and change the oil every day. <img border="0" alt="[jester]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_jest.gif" /> <img border="0" alt="[jester]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_jest.gif" />
I figured out why there wasn't an over abundance of water in the oil. Apparantly my crankcase evacuation system really works. The breather tank was filled with water, after sucking it all up through the breathers in the valvecovers. Looks like it may have saved my butt since the oil doesn't seem overly "watery."
I picked up a can of the K&W block seal recommended by JS (thanks for the tip, Joel), and just finished the procedure as directed on the can. As soon as the car cools down, I have to go drain the radiator and let the car sit overnight with the drain plug out and radiator cap off. I'll also change the oil again, and probably go through the procedure with another can of K&W tomorrow.
My fingers are crossed that this will take care of the problem. If not, I'll have to see what Nick suggests I do, since I'm pretty sure he'll want to take care of this. He's been a real standup guy thus far, and I have no doubt he'll do whatever is necessary to make things right.
If not, I guess I'll just have to carry around a few gallons of water and change the oil every day. <img border="0" alt="[jester]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_jest.gif" /> <img border="0" alt="[jester]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_jest.gif" />
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From: Alta Loma, CA
Re: More shakedown runs last night... Did you drain the oil? If the water is isolated to the valvetrain you might be in luck. If you are getting water down into the crankcase you will be looking at another block.