1983 Cutlass Calais “The Cripples Cruiser”

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Stupidquestionspro

Master Mechanic
May 23, 2019
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Tampa Bay Area
I know Foxtrot saw a 30 or 40 degree drop over a 5 blade clutch fan. Briguy 220 to 160 over a wrecked flex fan. Both on the 403, much harder to cool. I believe it should be half way in the shroud at least.

Wow that’s impressive ok thanks for letting me know and I’ll post a picture to see if I need to space it


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Stupidquestionspro

Master Mechanic
May 23, 2019
369
107
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Tampa Bay Area
ab00b21f6bee23042bd71b95fcb76f6f.jpg
4caa21b530aa5574765c18778dc0ae22.jpg


Not the best pictures but is my fan positioned correctly in the shroud?

And now that I’ve verified the cooling system is full and replaced the temp sensor when idling and fully warm on a hot day the temp gauge reads 220 degrees.


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Oct 14, 2008
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Melville,Saskatchewan
A cheap temp gun is nice to double check. It looks like the fan is positioned correctly.
 
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Stupidquestionspro

Master Mechanic
May 23, 2019
369
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Tampa Bay Area
Ok so I’m not positive but I think .5 may have been too wide of a gap so I’m dropping back to .45 and trying it I’ve been having a random slight knock from one or both of the rear cylinders with no pattern and usually only happens if the RPMs get too low and never higher than idle. My dipstick is a b*tch to read but I can see that my valve covers are seeping and my pcv is moving some oil through it as well as the small amount of oil on my plugs so to be safe I put in a bit more oil to be sure that I wasn’t running low.

I haven’t had a chance to check the fuel pressure the regulator is putting out yet but it’s currently set to 4psi on the regulator. My floats are back at 1/4 to try and help stop my hot fuel pushing past the needle. Unfortunately the car is still running around 220 verified that it’s completely full of coolant and no blockage in the radiator and from what I’ve read my fan is placed correctly in the shroud as well I was told the non thermal clutch I put on wouldn’t raise temps though I guess my 160 thermostat could have I just didn’t imagine it raising temps more than the 195 thermostat. Thinking if I buy the newer style aluminum and plastic tank radiator for a 307 with ac that should help and then possibly switch to the 4 blade fan suggested though have to wait on cash flow.

Kinda wish I could just start from scratch since things are way harder this way but the challenge is definitely fun sometimes.




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Stupidquestionspro

Master Mechanic
May 23, 2019
369
107
43
Tampa Bay Area
f668a8b0f8a8e0080461d7644925b75b.jpg


I have this fan laying in my garage should I be using it instead?


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Stupidquestionspro

Master Mechanic
May 23, 2019
369
107
43
Tampa Bay Area
Well been doing a terrible job keeping this up

Changed the fan for the other I had and spaced it a bit more in the shroud

The temp still isn’t where it should be but changed the thermostat from the 160 to 180 to make sure I wasn’t causing my own issue

Lowered my floats a bit more to try and help with my fuel boiling into the intake

Turns out choke was getting stuck so I adjusted it to open way earlier and that has been helping hoping it improves my gas mileage

I think my exhaust cross over plugs are rattling so it’s scary because you never wanna hear metal on metal with a motor.

Still trying to solve my heat issues finally got my alternator racket courtesy of wskirvin.

Need to install that still and get new belts

Ac pressures are closer to normal but compressor still isn’t cycling will probably have to completely evacuate drain oil and recharge because I think the last time it was done they overcharged and put too much oil in

Lots of other little problems I’m fighting as detailed in my other threads

And of course either courtesy of the intake or my ineptitude the intake is leaking oil again so that’s been awesome

Still need to seal the rear end and figure out what my gears are and really need to figure out what’s up with the brakes if it is bad adjustment or what probably gonna buy a b body master and I think there is a better booster from what I’ve read I think I have a 9 inch dual diaphragm

Need to run a return fuel line and finish swapping all my rubber fuel lines and the list goes on


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fleming442

Captain Tenneal
Dec 26, 2013
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You need a cheap daily driver until you get this sorted out.
My thought? Pull the engine and start over. Take the block to the machine shop and have it bored an RCH. If it has TRW/SpeedPro pistons that are too tight, you'll never get it to cool correctly.
 
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Stupidquestionspro

Master Mechanic
May 23, 2019
369
107
43
Tampa Bay Area
You need a cheap daily driver until you get this sorted out.
My thought? Pull the engine and start over. Take the block to the machine shop and have it bored an RCH. If it has TRW/SpeedPro pistons that are too tight, you'll never get it to cool correctly.

Fairly certain they’re Keith black cast and it’s already been done .30 over and yea I’ve been dying to do the same thing however finances say a no go. But I’m definitely looking into that while I fight through the issues at hand


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Oct 14, 2008
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Melville,Saskatchewan
Get the 4 blade on the car. The single core aluminum plastic rad performed better than the Champion 3 core in my 88.
 
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Stupidquestionspro

Master Mechanic
May 23, 2019
369
107
43
Tampa Bay Area
Get the 4 blade on the car. The single core aluminum plastic rad performed better than the Champion 3 core in my 88.

Yea I only tried the other because it was free when I have the money I intend to try it and am I right I’m assuming that you run the 4 blade without a clutch?


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