Brushing up on my Hurst Olds info for 1979 and need an answer

[olds307 and 403]

My understanding is 2.73 gears except 2.56 for California cars. A member on Classic Olds just pulled the cover on his 80 442, 2.73 gears. Some say they have a factory high stall, others say they don't. My 70 with 2.78 gears runs around 2500 rpm at 60 mph without lock up.

 

[Jeff Blagden]

The 79 hurst and 1980 442 did not meet California emissions so it was not available in that State but at 60 mph i am at 2500 rpm if my factory tach is still accurate

 

[olds307 and 403]

The 79 hurst and 1980 442 did not meet California emissions so it was not available in that State but at 60 mph i am at 2500 rpm if my factory tach is still accurate

That sounds right. There is a lot of misinformation out there for these cars

 

[azmusclecar]

I found this article, or maybe IT FOUND ME..........giving me a bit more insight to the specs to our beloved 79 H/Os.

https://www.hemmings.com/blog/article/1979-hurst-olds-w30/

 

[hoffa65]

One reason I asked was I saw on the You Tube GBody site the guy got scratch from the tires in 2nd gear.........he did mention a shift kit, so that
may have been installed, but with 2.73 and posi....I just couldn't see how he could bark the tires in 2nd gear.....and thought maybe his H/O
has the 3.08
That and I just wanted to know for my record.......
Odd with all that other site that mention the 3.08 was such a detailed specs website.......and for it to have the 3.08 makes me🤔😕

Years ago i had a 79 HO, shift kit in it it would get second gear scratch on demand and on a few occasions i a got 3 chirp if i let it shift iteself in D.
2:73 gears

 

[Jeff Blagden]

Sorry I stand corrected the 1980 Olds 442 was not sold in California the 79 hurst came with the 2:56 gears I think in California

 

[azmusclecar]

Well I just took the H/O out for a shakedown run.............
Had some success and 2 failures.
Of course after redoing all the gauges the tach decides to play silly games and is so eratic.......so that needs addressed.
All was well when all of a sudden the temp gauge went high and had to put the car away. New thermostat seemed to be okay but
when I got back to the shop, the bottom radiator hose was a lot cooler to the touch...............so I'm pulling the thermostat to check.

And finally I nstalled the Shift Kit in the transmission from Trans Go and wow does that kit hit hard...........and it stays in the high
rpm band and then bang.....................yes, it barked the tires...............😵

I'm not sure id this is adjustable and if not I may pull the shift kit out..............🤔

Overall the new brakes worked great, 👍the ride was superb with new shocks. 😎 I put gas in the new tank with no issues.👍

The steering seems to be very light...............very little road feel. May just be the nature of the beast. I'll have to check air pressures.

The rebuilt QJet worked great........😎👍......the LED lights in the dash all seem to work well.

Shifter was okay.........with new cable..........may need to tweak the adjustment just a bit to get fully in low gear.

So as the H/O is out in the garage puking her old antifreeze out...........I'll wait for a cooldown and order a failsafe thermostat.

Got a $10 off any part $20 or more at OReillys so I spent that coupon today. New windshield washer pump.

Still have to figure out why oil pressure gauge reads pegged at over 60.🤔

Overall after 3 months of work, and missing a lot fo those days due to health reasons, I'm ok.....I am not the one who has the luck
to do it once and done. That's why it's my hobby and not my career. 😊

 

[azmusclecar]

Follow up:

Light steering was due to high tire pressures. I aired the tires up when I trailered the car home and forgot to take them back down. Was 45, now 35. SHould make a difference in steering.

 

[olds307 and 403]

You replaced the sensor for the oil pressure? I always heard the Transgo TH350 kit was the best, normal under light driving but firm under hard driving. I assume you set it for firmest shifts? They usually have different levels, maybe go down from the firmest. I am running a Mallory Hyfire 6AL, I have the same issue getting a tach to work. Check the grounds for the dash cluster. It does sound like a Thermostat issue or a plugged rad. Throw your thermostat into a boiling pot of water. I like the Robert Shaw high flow, I have only had them fail open.

 

[azmusclecar]

You replaced the sensor for the oil pressure? I always heard the Transgo TH350 kit was the best, normal under light driving but firm under hard driving. I assume you set it for firmest shifts? They usually have different levels, maybe go down from the firmest. I am running a Mallory Hyfire 6AL, I have the same issue getting a tach to work. Check the grounds for the dash cluster. It does sound like a Thermostat issue or a plugged rad. Throw your thermostat into a boiling pot of water. I like the Robert Shaw high flow, I have only had them fail open.

Maybe I didn't fill the coolant correctly. I believe with the way I did it, I only got the radiator full and the hose to the thermostat. I believe the coolant, (actually water for this test run), did not fill up the block or the heater core and so, with the low coolant it couldn't dissipate the heat and so, the temp kept going.

I did put the thromstat in a pot of water and it opened on cue.

So......this time I am going to fill the block with water up to a level, and then install the thermostat, then reinstall the coolant hose from the radiator and
top off the level. Then see how that goes.

I know I didn't or forgot to let the system circulate and add coolant as it passed by the thermostat.

So let's say 😳🙄🙁MY BAD on this one..........guess I was in too much of hurry to get the car off the jackstands and see if I coudl at least
get it around the block.

So old age, forgetfulness, lack of concentration,🤔 your call. I'll reinstall and try again. The new oil pressure sensor is on it's way.👍