In looking around at the HMP website, I noticed what looks like a really big HOT show--Jan 22nd. I even heard an ad on the radio for it. Even if my IROC is up and running (should be) I probably won't run/maybe I will?-- mainly going just to watch. Anybody want to hook up and go , let me know.

http://www.houstonmotorsportspark.com/

ooops....my mistake the radio ad was for this Sat....the 15th

Still want to go on the 22nd

 

I'm there.

 

I got the car fixed, so I'll be down I'm gonna fill the bottle tommorow, finally get to make some juiced passes. Be nice to see how the new tires hook on that VHT.

 

I should have the trans back in the car by then..........and beefed up.

 

I may be able to go I just got my new griffin radiator today so I will be putting it in this saturday. So if that goes well then I will probably go. It also depends on when the guy whos going to do my gears gets time to do it. So if the car is running Ill try to make it.

 

Who doing them?

 

A co-worker of mines husband owns a shop by my office. Hes going to do it on the side one weekend for me for a good deal.

 

My brothers b-day is the 22, so unless i can convince him to bring his zz4 out, I probably wont be there. My car will probably be down at that time as well. Have to get the trans rebuilt, oh yeah....I need to install that Dana 44 too.......

 

22nd I should be able to make it, car is going to the doc next Monday (at least she has an appt!) so hope to have her rollin' by wednesday, maybe thursday next week... I hope! :hail:

If so, count me in, been wanting to go back to the track, doubt I'll be up to snuff quite yet to run down the track, but who knows!

 

Tranny?--where?

 

circle d, down off hempstead. I talked to both them and hughes and went with these guys. he just seemed to want to take more time to talk to me, explain what options and talk about some costs which might pop up. I really appreciated that as a customer.

 

I wouldn't mind going and doing a little racing.

 

we still up for this weekend guys?

 

Still planning on it--knida depends on the weather.

Get your tranny done?

 

I'm SOOO ready. I want to see if I can take Steve's TA, it'll require bigger jetting, but Oh well. The bottle is full, the tires are sticky, let's git r' done.

 

yes'ir, she's ready to roll, I gotta go pick her up in the morning and check out all the goodies. I went ahead and had them drop that corvette servo while they had everything pulled, basically a complete rebuild + a few tweaks here and there. We'll see how she runs in the morning!

 

UH-OH--Look out Michael's got a new toy!

Don't blowup the motor testing out the new tranny.

 

Unless we get rained out (U know how Hou weather is--but there's supposed to be a front coming thru--rain in the AM), I am going to get there in the mid afternoon. According to the web site the gates open earlier than normal, because it's some kind of big show (unless I have confused this with another date)--anyway, I am taking Friday off and working on my car and will continue working on it Sat morning. I may have it there--maybe not--either way I;ll be there.

 

I'm planning on having the car together and being there. If it's raining, oh well........................

 

w00t, got the car back and she's a runner! I got some things to figure out yet (had shift kits installed and the shift timing adjusted a bit) which'll take a bit of getting used to since I don't have to lift to shift anymore!!! BTW Craig, INSTALL THAT SERVO! Can't tell you the kick in the *** shifting from 3rd to 4th at 110 and still seeing all those RPMs! Now I just gotta find me a looooong road

I still slide all over the place in first gear but I haven't done any suspension mods yet so that's not overly surprising. I haven't done a good burnout-then-launch test, so I don't know how good I'll grip and these tires are kinda worthless too :lala: but hey, I'm making inroads!

I'll definately be there Saturday, have a birthday party to go to in the early afternoon, so that'll probably put me there around 4-6pm'ish or so. If it rains, well, it'll just rain cuz I'm already gonna be on that side o' town anyway!

 

So did U light em up leaving their driveway, or wait a while?

Really glad your back on the road running strong--it sucks to have a muscle car and not be able to drive it like a muscle car! Are u letting it shift automatically or shifting it manually or have u had enough time to even get to that point.

Already got that and MUCH MORE in mine. As well, mine has been converted to manual shift only up or down--all gears except 3/4. I have the plunger to install to change that, just havn't got it in yet.

They must have modified yours because normally a 700 won't shift at full throttle from 3rd to 4th.


WATCH FOR THE LAW--It's way too easy to get on it just a little bit and have them see u before U see them!!! Unfortunately, I know from experiance! One time that experiance is NOT a good thing!

 

I waited a little bit, I don't like to drive the car hard unless I know where I'm at (pot holes while drifting around a corner SUCK) but yah, it lit 'em up pretty goodly. 2nd gear shift is kickin' now with a nice scratch that'll bounce the rear a bit. :hail: Third gear is third gear .. it shifts but I need to start figuring out how to put down more power there! Fourth is definately all top-end now!

Mostly letting the tranny do the work, I didn't have 'em install any manual shift options or anything like that. She's still my daily driver so I didn't want to get to exotic - at least for now anyway! I did have 'em drop in that servo though and it was a kick in the pants to see it finally shift into 4th and not just wind out third! I gotta find me a mustang on the way home tonight!

The 5-0 is definately buzz-kill! I got popped a few years back joy-riding on the beltway. The guy was in a really good mood cuz he just got his suped-up camaro and got to chase me down the first night he had it (go figure!). Wrote me up for 110 in a (back then) 55 and slapped me with expired insurance (didn't have the right paper with me). $500 later and a stern talking to from the DA I was walkin' out tha' door. That definately ruined my evening!

 

Good to hear...we WILL be able to actually race Saturday right? I'd hate a repeat of the night with the brackets where we only got to make a few passes, and had to wait in between. I wanna go ballz to the wallz....

 

Looks like there is a chance of thunderstorms for Saturday.

Of course, its the only day in the week forecast that does. Knowing how Zap has crazy weather luck, we might be alright.

 

Well, Im not gonna make it. My car overheated on me on my way to work. Even with my new Griffin radiator the car is still running way to hot and I cant figure out why. This sucks.

 

that sux, what fans do you have on it? have you checked to make sure they are running ok?

 

Even with all my shortcomings about computer cars vs. traditional cars that I grew up with, cooling systems seem to be ome of my strong points in diagnosing as well as working solutions. If there is anything I can do to help out, let me know.

If U could make it out to the track this afternoon, that would be best where we can talk and look at it. By the way a cold front is supposed to be coming through midday and then get REAL cold the next few days. If U wait til late afternoon to come out it should be very cool (so to speak) where driving it in the cool weather should be OK?

If not call me rather than trying to e-mail--lot of info to cover to diagnose the problem.

Craig

 

I am going to go ahead and take a shot at fixing it today. I think it has something to do with my serpintine belt. I think since I swapped out my smog pump the belt is not putting enough tension on the water pump. Also there really isnt a chance of me getting out to the track seeing as how the car overheated on my 30min drive to work. The track is a 3 times longer drive for me. I will see what I can do and hopefully I will make it out. Thanks for the support. Oh and yeah I am running the single stock fan with a brand new motor in it.

 

U didn't by some weird chance get the belt routed different where it is turning the water pump the opposite direction. Regardless--U sure it is turning the pump the right direction?--this problem didn't start after changing a pump did it--where the parts store gave U the wrong direction rotation pump?

I'm leaving in a few to go get something to eat and then go out to HMP--call me tomorrow--713-723-6393--let's go over a few things.

When did this overheating problem start? When does it overheat--highway or just cruising around.

Craig

 

Define overheated? first thing's first, if you just swapped over to serp, check that belt routing. I know when I swapped my motor in my car, from serp to V-belt setup, I had to backdrive the waterpump (doesn't really apply to you V8 guys though..). Pull the thermostat housing and check and see if the thermostat is working by adding it to a pot of really hot water (read: boiling). It'll snap open as soon as it hits the water. Hell, throw a new one in just for good measure. Also, run the motor with the radiator cap off, if it's puking water out like ole' faithful, it's a blown head gasket causing you trouble. And another thing, pressure test your radiator cap, if it isn't holding pressure, your coolant will reach higher temps and boil off. And lastly, try a coolant mix of about a half bottle green anti-freeze, with the rest distilled water. Not really much that can go wrong to cause a car to overheat dude, assuming the fans are working properly. Anyhow, I dunno what time Steve and I are heading out to the track, it's a bit too early fo me right now, I didn't get in until 4 am last nite again BUT, I did get to spend the evening with a great girl

 

Well I do think it has something to do with the belt routing or belt tension. But heres the symptons. After driving for about 10mins or so the temp will sit at about 210. In stop and go traffic for about 30 mins it will get up to about 225 or so. But then When I get on the freeway the second I get on it and get up to about 65 the temp just keeps moving up and will slow down at about 240 then I will pull over and shut the car off. I actually drove it like this for about 5 mins yesterday because of that new to law I didnt want to pull over on the freeway. It really doesnt have any of the symptoms of a blown heads gasket. And also I am not running a thermostat right now.

 

Hmm...what is your timing set at? And what kind of fuel are you running? If the fans are coming on (might try ahrdwireing them), and you aren't running a thermo....somthing is amiss...

 

I dont know what my timing is set at because I dont have a timing light. I just set it by the way the car sounds and runs. Also I normally run 89 octane but by mistake this week I put in 87 do you think that could cause the problem?Also I have my fan hooked up to a switch and I run it from the second I start the car so that isnt the problem. This thing is pissing me off.

 

Try backing the timing off a hair. and add run the good gas. If it keeps overheating bad after that, check the wires going to the temp sender, Sonar had a lil accident the other day when his got cooked on a header and the needle went up.

 

I will see about the timing although I suspected it some time ago and messed with it and had no luck. I will try running high octane gas though. Also my guage is mechanical and I know it isnt burnt. One thing i do wonder though is if maybe my headers through the guage off a little bit see as how the wire for it is only a few inches away from my headers.

 

Maybe, but I doubt it's timing or type of gas.

WHEN DID IT START DOING THIS? That could be a very important clue to what's going on!

U said it starts overheating when U get up on the freeway--right?--do u have the airdam in place and not all broken up?--U may think that it's not that big a deal if it's not there, but it is!!! I SPEAK FROM PERSONAL EXPERIANCE!!! Trust me --take my word for it!!!

I don't think it would be belt tension--if it was loose enough to not drive the pump like it should, it would be squealing--I would think anyway.

Check the direction of flow like F-bod said--with cap off U should see it flowing from drivers side to passenger side--IE: it should be flowing (not real hard either--steady) out of the tubes. If U can determine that it's flowing the correct direction but flowing real hard, real fast, read the paragraph below about running no thermostat.

There is an age old debate about running an engine without a thermostat. I don't care what anybody says--running a car without a thermostat does not let the water stay in the radiator long enough to cool properly. When I used to run circle track cars on dirt, I had that EXACT SAME problem for the first 2 outings until I was talking to a more experianced driver. The thing to do was to take an old thermostat and remove the guts to restrict the water flow or to use a flat washer with the correct size hole (same as gutted thermostat) to restrict the flow.

Does it overheat if U stay off the freeway?

If all this checks out good and correct it may be time to go to a dual fan--not OEM either! That's what I had on mine--even with my aftermarket alum rad, the OEM fans just did not pull enough air to keep it cool--but only when in stop and go backstreet traffic. On the freeway (after I repaired the air dam), it would run 210/215--(maybe 220/225 with A/C going when it was 100* or more), even on very HOT Houston days while I was on the freeway--as soon as I got off the freeway where the forced air flow stopped it would start climbing. I ended up going to a dual flex-a-lite fan setup WITH A SHROUD that seals it (VERY IMPORTANT!!!) I have both fans running 100% of the time--when it gets below 60*, I turn off the drivers side fan.

Hope this helps!

 

That's possible, but mine is also. Mine is in the drivers side head by the #3 cylinder. I have it bent up away from the header pipe. If your not sure if it is this, then after U double check all the other stuff, find something to insulate it, even if only tempory (aluminum foil?--use several layers--shiny side out--that is the more reflective side), and go drive it under same conditions that is overheating now and see what happens, but I don't think it is that (but U never know!)

 

As for HMP itself--DAM _ it was cold!

We all (Sonar, F-bod, 20N!N, Barry85Iroc + myself) left about 9PM--it was just too cold to stay any longer! The wind was blowing about 20 to 30 MPH constantly.

There were a bunch of BAD *** cars including 4 maybe 5 thirdgens that defined the words BAD ***!!! They were all shop built chassis--all running in the high 4's + low 5's in an 1/8th mile. THAT'S QUICK! I've seen rear engine dragsters that don't run that fast in an 1/8!

There's supposed to be a 10.5 Outlaw meet Feb 19th (I think).

Basically the rules for a 10.5 Outlaws--10 1/2" wide slicks and ANYTHING GOES -- ANYTHING!!!

If it's not going to be COLD like it was tonight, I will definately be there!!! Even if it is, I'll probably go--just wear my longjohns, 2 pr socks, heavy coat, ski mask, ETC.

Craig

 

I'm STILL cold!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Cold enough to turn your Goobers into Raisinettes. Some very quick sh*t, though.

 

A one fan setup won't flow enough air. I have a stock 2-fan setup, and it works great, even in the summer w/ AC.

 

cold wasn't the word! they say it got down to 40 here last night but with wind chill I figure low 30s! that was insane!! I hung around a little while after you guys left and watch another run or two since I had that hood keeping my ears warm but then my stomach said it needed food and I wasn't about to stand in that crazy line again, so I gave up the good fight and headed out to the car!

I think I followed you guys to the dead end road where we had to back up and turn around, at least I think might have been you. anyway, I had fun, froze my *** off, and my ears are STILL ringing from that friggin alchohol car! the vid that I took was all of 3 seconds at the end you can see where I just dropped the camera to plug my ears

 

Wasn't me...didn't know there was a dead end around there

 

Yep, no dead ends here..

Cold.. HELL YES..

I am still very disappointed I didn't get to race. I wanted to try out my new chip mods.

 

Did U ever get the overheating problem sorted out?

 

Nope, I have narrowed down to not enough air moving through the radiator. I am going to buy a new higher flowing fan and install a 160 degree thermo and see what happens. I just started school again so I havent had any time to tinker with the car. I might not even have it ready by the meet.

 

Keep the stat at 180--it won't really do any good at 160, and unless U change the prom it will actually screw U up!

I did a lot research on the fan thing--I would recommend the flexalite dual 12" fans with shroud. The shroud adds a lot to the efficency of any single or dual fan set up. If You go with a single, get the biggest baddest fan U can get that will fit--if one is available with a shroud spend the extra money for it--it's worth it--IMO!

Did U ever check the flow direction and stuff we were talking about in an earlier post?

 

Keep the stat at 180--it won't really do any good at 160, and unless U change the prom it will actually screw U up!

I did a lot research on the fan thing--I would recommend the flexalite dual 12" fans with shroud. The shroud adds a lot to the efficency of any single or dual fan set up. If You go with a single, get the biggest baddest fan U can get that will fit--if one is available with a shroud spend the extra money for it--it's worth it--IMO!

Did U ever check the flow direction and stuff we were talking about in an earlier post?

 

Well I wouldnt worry about the prom considering I ripped that out a while ago when I switched to a carb. I am basically looking at a 16'' single fan setup that flows about 3000 cfm and a I will adapt to work with the stock shroud. Also I checked all of the other stuff we talked about and its normal. When I pop of the rad cap the coolent seems to being flowing to the right, but i really couldnt tell because I can barely see inside the rad. I am kind of blind.

 

Well I wouldnt worry about the prom considering I ripped that out a while ago when I switched to a carb. I am basically looking at a 16'' single fan setup that flows about 3000 cfm and a I will adapt to work with the stock shroud. Also I checked all of the other stuff we talked about and its normal. When I pop of the rad cap the coolent seems to being flowing to the right, but i really couldnt tell because I can barely see inside the rad. I am kind of blind.