1970 Olds Cutlass S Rat Rod Style

[olds307 and 403]

I like how you made your gasket. I've heard of people having good luck doing that but I've never done it with anything other than regular gasket material. I may end up copying you since the reusable gasket from Mr G. is now $30. The knockoffs are $13 but I'd probably end up doing this after it leaked.

My thermostat gasket idea worked failed. It is shooting a stream of coolant out, so no test drive. I was hoping to go for a drive on Saturday. The belt stayed on and the oil pressure is even better with the fresh Lucas Hotrod 10W30, not below 50 psi at 800 rpm warm in gear. I was a little worried seeing some glitter in the pan, the little white container is where I dumped the oil filter. Some is magnetic. Hard to say how throughly the block was cleaned after the machine work. I certainly paid for it on the bill.

 

[Sweet_Johnny]

The oil itself doesn't look like the Milky Way galaxy but it's still not good, and that filter sure worries me. On my first rebuild I had a machine shop balance, blueprint, and assemble the shortblock and they never polished the crank so I feel your pain. I forget, are you running a gear drive timing setup? They've been known to add a little bit of metal even after break-in.

 

[olds307 and 403]

Yeah, I wasn't thrilled seeing the glitter. Man you guys give up hope quickly, oh wait, that is me. I decided to throw on an air cleaner since the car is outside. I put a bit more Optimum Grey in the spot where I thought it was leaking. I noticed the hose clamp right above crossover where the leak was split! Maybe my gaskets did hold.

 

[L.A.X-RATED]

Great cond factory white 70 buckets,console(black) and shifter with cable---870.71 shipped.pm me if interested.i also have a complete rust free 70 if interested in other parts.

 

[olds307 and 403]

Pulled the trigger, saved $276 CAD but still over 3 grand Canadian shipped. Holley Terminator X Max SEFI with 4L60E/4L80E control and their 350 LPH drop in fuel pump module, MSD noise capacitor, Mr Gasket fuel pump relay and other odds and ends, which included thermostat gaskets. The rubber gasket along with the thinner O ring both failed. Not sure why I have issues on the Edelbrock aluminum intakes no matter which thermostat housing I use.

 

[olds307 and 403]

Canadian members, here is a blast from the past.

 

[olds307 and 403]

Thermostat gasket leak fixed. This time I used the Right Stuff Grey 90 minute and 3 gaskets. I got the new temp gauge installed and working. I got it up to 180 degrees, 80 cold oil pressure, 75 psi hot at 1000 rpm, 50 psi hot around 800 rpm in gear with 10W30. There is a slight tick, sounds like maybe one rocker arm, I will go through them again.

 

[olds307 and 403]

I went through the rocker arms, no play of any kind, no tick on start up. I turned out the idle mixture screws a 1/4 then 1/2 a turn when running. It started and ran fine till the choke came off. The O2 was reading normal numbers then choke came off and went way lean on the gauge but idle choppy but didn't stall. I think the noise was the unstable idle, talking a minor tick. Pretty sure I could get the carb where I need it but why bother, it is coming off. I had to cancel one small optional gasket that wouldn't ship till March on my Summit order. The Terminator X, in tank 350 LPM pump module, Mr.Gasket fuel pump relay and MSD noise capacitor are on their way!. I may start replacing all spots with rubber hose in the stock fuel line with 3/8" efi rated hose and clamps, tomorrow and the next day.

 

[olds307 and 403]

Terminator X Max and Holley in tank module showed up. FedEx left it at my gate, really 3 grand just left at the gate, outside of yard! Good thing my Daughter came home and brought it inside. Definitely something up with my Qjet or maybe the fuel pump or filter. It goes super lean after the choke comes off. It should be very rich where the mixture screws are. Looking at the wiring and planning it out.

 

[DRIVEN]

Sure there's no vacuum leak?