Jim Kelly's V8 re-conversion Options

[colingreene]

3900 rpm? why so low.

[Chris H.]

Sounds like you have air in the system. Check for leaks?

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif)

Seems like it's gotta be air in the system. If you don't have a leak you might want to run it through a few warm up/cool down cycles and see if it works its way out.

[jimkelly]

no leaks. i have been running it for months and never need to add coolant.

[matthepcat]

Air in the system can happen without visible leaks. Air can get in during the cooling off of the system.

If you open the radiator cap when cool, does it need additional fluid added?

Does it stay warm all the time or only when stop & go driving?

I don't think 190 is a problem temperature. You probably run more efficient at that then lower.

[jimkelly]

today i noticed my water level was about 1" lower than normal but in pic below engine has been running for some minutes and level is higher then when fully cold.

but aside from this i have a funny story. not ha ha funny really.

i see my car in the work parking lot, but it is not were it was, it was about 5 feet forward and touching a fence pole. seems no one did it but i could not figure out that happened. later in the day a coworker says, jim your car is making a funny noise. i get out there and it sounds like a dead battery trying to start a car. turns out my alternative momentary switch that runs to relay board got wet among other things cause i had the car in a big rain storm UNCOVERED, and this caused my starter to get power and it SELF DROVE itself forward and into a fence pole. it is all dry now and all is fine and battery is charged back up.

bottom line, got to keep car dry, or less wet.

jim

[sixnotfour]

That's Funny !!

[jimkelly]

i fully expect that one day a PORSCHE rep is gonna show up at my door and say THAT"S IT, we are pulling your porsche card and banning me from owning a porsche of any kind for life (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[76-914]

If your plenum has any gaps your pissing in your mess kit, Jim. #1; Seal it up properly then you can begin to diagnose and address your over heating problems. It helps to stick a drop light inside the plenum then turn off the garage lights. If you see light it ain't sealed. #2; Bleed the air out. Trapped air gets the blame a lot and I don't know why. I have 6 up/downs and never had that problem. Very easy to bleed the system once and then your done. #3; When, if ever have, you done a thorough flush of the block and radiator. I assume that radiator cooled your SBC sufficiently prior to this. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif)
Ditto to what Andy said about sealing up the SBC. Very easy but don't over tighten & warp the cover when you put it back together. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

[siverson]

> my alternative momentary switch that runs to relay board

What's that?

-Steve

[jimkelly]

the momentary function of my ignition switch sometimes does not work, so i put a momentary switch that is wired from battery, to switch, to relay board, to starter solenoid, for emergencies. just another one of my half assed temporary solutions (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

> my alternative momentary switch that runs to relay board

What's that?

-Steve

[jimkelly]

today i hoped into the car to pick up some things for work right after talking to rightpedal and i was taking a cloverleaf to enter the highway when i hear a ZING noise like a cable snapped but my throttle felt ok and my clutch felt ok and my water temp was fine, so i chauked it as being something on the road that i ran over on the road. but when i reached my destination about one mile later, i shut the engine down, and then noticed my water temps were out of control. my guage said 240-250 +-. turns out my water pump belt flung off probably due to the massive amount of leaked oil that protects my entire engine and engine bay (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) (thus my talking to rightpedal today) so while it was cooling down i called some coworkers but cell phone reception sucks here in this steel building, so it took me many calls before i reached anyone. finally i reached root and he came to my rescue with his 1965 chevy pick up loaded with tools and jacks and jack stands. we went to carquest who gave me the wrong belt at first, requiring a second trip to them for the correct one. gates 7410. anyway, after UP TO elbows covered in grease and coolant, we got it back on the road, and went to lunch : ) this is the second time i almost COOKED this engine. i'd be remiss to not mention how great the guys at roberts oxygen where with helping me out today.

[jimkelly]

well. yesterday I had the opportunity (I use the term loosely) to drive my car in 85 +- temp and on the highway at 65mph my car was running 210 degrees with fan on the whole time.

today I decided that for summer driving, I need to do it without a thermostat, so it is out. I just ran the engine, at idle, it is 90 degrees and the car came down to 190 with fans on, fans are triggered by a 185 degree thermos switch that did not come on till engine hit 205+-

later today or tomorrow, I will take it for a drive to see how it does at 65mph steady.

a debate..
http://www.chevytalk.org/fusionbb/showtopic.php?tid/296111/

when temps are 80 and above, I NEED to get my water temps to safe levels , and thus the thermos must come out in summer, or I need to replace my radiator for something with more capacity I guess.

[jimkelly]

ok, 190 degree thermostat out, and local temp is about 82 degrees, and at 65mph and at idle while getting gas, engine water temp stayed pretty solid at 190 degrees WITH FANS RUNNING ALMOST NON STOP. probably should also replace my 180 degree thermos switch for a 190 degree in summer so fans will run less.

bottom line: 20 degree improvement and at ideal temp of 190 also. curious to see what happens when outside temps hit 95+-.

[jimkelly]

finally relocated my light that tells me when my radiators are running. and that is my engine idleing at 190 in my garage with door open. want to change over to electronic oil pressure and water temp gauges at some point.

[jimkelly]

rightpedal gave me one job to do when he fixed my car back in feb. to mark TDC more permanently on my flywheel. i finally got to it today. new problem, ticking sound when starting car. almost sounds like sparking but i think it may be a broken tooth on the flywheel or starter?

[jimkelly]

took my car to rightpedal's home today, as he offered to swap out timing cover and timing cover and oil pan gaskets, in an effort to stop my oil leak. during the job, he discovered that my harmonic balancer had a crack in it (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif) so i have to order a new one and this coming weekend we will be able to button it up. i can't thank steve enough for giving my car some much needed attention (IMG:style_emoticons/default/popcorn[1].gif)

[al weidman]

Although I hardly ever use 1st, I chose to keep it. With the torque of a v8 you can put it in first gear on a hill and idle at a stop light without the clutch in.

I never use first for driving, up or downshifting.

BTW, Mark has the sweetest V8 conversion I have seen or ridden in. Quiet enough, powerful enough and a very good looking narrow body. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

[Andyrew]

Had. He sold it to a fellow member who won best conversion with it at WCR. Agree its a fantastic car.

[jimkelly]

my next purchase. to fix my loose engine bay shift rod.
http://www.tangerineracing.com/transmission.htm

[jimkelly]

just spoke to steve at renegade hybrids and my balancer should be getting picked up by fedex tonight. i should be back on the road sunday thanks to rightpedal and renegade hybrids.