79 Cutlass Wagon G-machine build
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Thanks to everyone who chimed in on my cooling problem. OK Ladies and Gentlemen, I humbly admit defeat. All along I've been "pulling" for my electric fan to not be causing my cooling issue. Well, turns out it's been a major problem all along.
A huge thanks do Dan Howe, owner of the killer Monte SS with a Scxhwartz chassis, clickey for his build... http://www.pro-touring.com/showthre...o-SS-with-Schwartz-Performance-G-body-Chassis for graciously sending the old fan shroud from his Monte. I got it installed not long after it arrived earlier today. I had a choice between a factory clutch fan or an old school 4 blade GM solid fan that I had on there before. I decided to use the 4 blade, that way I wouldn't have to wonder if the clutch was good or not, just trying to eliminate all possible causes of problems.
Upon starting and the car idling I could tell the new set up was pulling way more air than my electric fan. It's hot today, high 90s with a heat index of like 104. Not far along my typical test route it got up to 188 at a long stop light. After taking off it went DOWN to 178! It pretty much stayed there fopr a while, and I though this was too good to be true, so I dogged on the car for a bit, went on the freeway for a while, went up the largest hill in the area, drove around town, etc. Overall I took about a 40 minute drive. It stayed between 178 and 182 the whole time.
Before, on the freeway with the electric fan on both the 305 or now with the 406 it would warm up when I went faster. Now with the factory setup at 65ish it stays around 180, when you take it up to about 90 it cools down to about 178. I couldn't believe it but no matter how I drove the car, except for that early traffic light, it NEVER got above 182. Crazy that the right fan and shroud can drop the temp 50 degrees!
The best thing out of the last week of fighting this is I found out my radiator was bad, better in the driveway rather than halfway through Kansas! So now that the problem is solved I need to get my Nova ready for the trip and get going to GA!! Woohoo!
A huge thanks do Dan Howe, owner of the killer Monte SS with a Scxhwartz chassis, clickey for his build... http://www.pro-touring.com/showthre...o-SS-with-Schwartz-Performance-G-body-Chassis for graciously sending the old fan shroud from his Monte. I got it installed not long after it arrived earlier today. I had a choice between a factory clutch fan or an old school 4 blade GM solid fan that I had on there before. I decided to use the 4 blade, that way I wouldn't have to wonder if the clutch was good or not, just trying to eliminate all possible causes of problems.
Upon starting and the car idling I could tell the new set up was pulling way more air than my electric fan. It's hot today, high 90s with a heat index of like 104. Not far along my typical test route it got up to 188 at a long stop light. After taking off it went DOWN to 178! It pretty much stayed there fopr a while, and I though this was too good to be true, so I dogged on the car for a bit, went on the freeway for a while, went up the largest hill in the area, drove around town, etc. Overall I took about a 40 minute drive. It stayed between 178 and 182 the whole time.
Before, on the freeway with the electric fan on both the 305 or now with the 406 it would warm up when I went faster. Now with the factory setup at 65ish it stays around 180, when you take it up to about 90 it cools down to about 178. I couldn't believe it but no matter how I drove the car, except for that early traffic light, it NEVER got above 182. Crazy that the right fan and shroud can drop the temp 50 degrees!
The best thing out of the last week of fighting this is I found out my radiator was bad, better in the driveway rather than halfway through Kansas! So now that the problem is solved I need to get my Nova ready for the trip and get going to GA!! Woohoo!
Once again, Ben.
Glad you got the problem solved. At least you know overheating won't be an issue on your trek eastward.
When are you planning to start your journey? I guess you'll be also be towing the Nova.
Have a good safe trip! 😀
Glad you got the problem solved. At least you know overheating won't be an issue on your trek eastward.
When are you planning to start your journey? I guess you'll be also be towing the Nova.
Have a good safe trip! 😀
Congrats Ben! Glad to hear that the problem is solved. I always wondered about the difference between the engine driven and electric fans. I guess this is pretty graphic proof. Good luck on your trip.
Finally, an update-
I got the wagon together and packed it full and packed my father/son project 73 Nova full and loaded it on a car dolly for me to tow with the wagon. We also packed my 77 Suburban full, and my little import commuter car which we loaded on a tow dolly for my wife to tow, and headed for Georgia. The trip went relatively easy. It was very long and somewhat boring. My car only averaged about 11 mpg and the Burby averaged about 8 mpg so we burned through a lot of gas and a lot of cash. Overall the trip was right about 2,000 miles.
The wagon ran great, only problem I had was one of my Lakewood Drag Bags blew out before we even got out of Utah. The fender lip gouged the right rear tire a little, but a quick roadside fender lip mod took care of that. Unfortunately the Burby's 454 started burning a little oil along the way, but it got us here and still runs fine. I've been wanting to go through that motor and slip it into my 74 street/ strip Nova anyway so now I have a good excuse. I'm thinking the Burby will get an LS swap now before my wagon does. We'll have to see how things pan out over the next 6 months to a year as we get settled in here in our new life.
Working at Bulldawg Muscle Cars is great. I've been here about a week and a half now and have been working on a 69 Pro-Touring Camaro and a 70 Cuda that's getting a late model Hemi swap. I think there's a bright future ahead...
I have a bunch of final wagon assembly photos I need to post up but I haven't found the box with my camera in it yet. As soon as I do I'll get this thread updated. There's still a long way to go on the car, so there will be plenty more...
I got the wagon together and packed it full and packed my father/son project 73 Nova full and loaded it on a car dolly for me to tow with the wagon. We also packed my 77 Suburban full, and my little import commuter car which we loaded on a tow dolly for my wife to tow, and headed for Georgia. The trip went relatively easy. It was very long and somewhat boring. My car only averaged about 11 mpg and the Burby averaged about 8 mpg so we burned through a lot of gas and a lot of cash. Overall the trip was right about 2,000 miles.
The wagon ran great, only problem I had was one of my Lakewood Drag Bags blew out before we even got out of Utah. The fender lip gouged the right rear tire a little, but a quick roadside fender lip mod took care of that. Unfortunately the Burby's 454 started burning a little oil along the way, but it got us here and still runs fine. I've been wanting to go through that motor and slip it into my 74 street/ strip Nova anyway so now I have a good excuse. I'm thinking the Burby will get an LS swap now before my wagon does. We'll have to see how things pan out over the next 6 months to a year as we get settled in here in our new life.
Working at Bulldawg Muscle Cars is great. I've been here about a week and a half now and have been working on a 69 Pro-Touring Camaro and a 70 Cuda that's getting a late model Hemi swap. I think there's a bright future ahead...
I have a bunch of final wagon assembly photos I need to post up but I haven't found the box with my camera in it yet. As soon as I do I'll get this thread updated. There's still a long way to go on the car, so there will be plenty more...
Hey Ben,
Glad to hear that your trip went relatively well. I was wondering how things were working out with your plans.
You'll have to keep us up to date on what you're working on at the shop, and of course your own project(s).
Congratulations on starting your new gig with Bulldawg. I'm sure you look forward to going to work everyday.
I envy you. 😀 Good luck!
Glad to hear that your trip went relatively well. I was wondering how things were working out with your plans.
You'll have to keep us up to date on what you're working on at the shop, and of course your own project(s).
Congratulations on starting your new gig with Bulldawg. I'm sure you look forward to going to work everyday.
I envy you. 😀 Good luck!
liquidh8
Comic Book Super Hero
Ben,
Glad to hear some of us are making progress. Can't wait to see some pictures. I wish I had some updates for mine 😢 😳
Glad to hear some of us are making progress. Can't wait to see some pictures. I wish I had some updates for mine 😢 😳
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