My 78 Regal Build Thread. June. 21, 2011 UPDATE
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Re: My 78 Regal Build Thread. Feb. 1, 2011 UPDATE
As some may know I was having some high temp issues. The car would reach 230 in idle with electric fan on. I did what most of use are guilty of...started throwing money at it...lol. I bought a new 2 core aluminum radiator, 160 thermostat, water pump, and radiator cap. I changed everything and it seemed to correct the problem but would still creep up real quick while in traffic. To make matters worse it got up to 240 and I was almost stuck but I luckily made it to an auto zone on the corner.
As I pulled in my window fogged up with steam so I immediately turned it off and let it rolled into parking spot. I am thinking damn what did I blow!!! Head gasket!!! I had blown the upper radiator hose off the radiator. I have no idea how that happened. Especially since I have a tendency to want to overtighten clamps to make sure they stay. Anyhow I bought a new hose rewired my electrical fan and it was still creeping. I checked the oil and did another compression test to make sure head gasket was good. O I had also upgraded my alternator to a 120 amp thinking that the fan wasnt putting enough juice out at idle because when I was driving the temp dropped.
The problem turned out to be the thermostat housing was leaking coolant. I finally heard a hissing sound and you could see the pressure basically bleeding off from the housing. The system wasn't pressurizing so it wasn't cooling. I havent driven it yet but at idle its not over heating and when it reaches 190 I flipped the fan on and it maintains. I then revved the simulate acceleration and temps drop immediately.
Here are pic of the new chrome alternator I picked up. In my old pictures I had the ac bracket. I couldn't use it with this alternator. I just did it the old fashioned way and used a spacer on the bottom.
As some may know I was having some high temp issues. The car would reach 230 in idle with electric fan on. I did what most of use are guilty of...started throwing money at it...lol. I bought a new 2 core aluminum radiator, 160 thermostat, water pump, and radiator cap. I changed everything and it seemed to correct the problem but would still creep up real quick while in traffic. To make matters worse it got up to 240 and I was almost stuck but I luckily made it to an auto zone on the corner.
As I pulled in my window fogged up with steam so I immediately turned it off and let it rolled into parking spot. I am thinking damn what did I blow!!! Head gasket!!! I had blown the upper radiator hose off the radiator. I have no idea how that happened. Especially since I have a tendency to want to overtighten clamps to make sure they stay. Anyhow I bought a new hose rewired my electrical fan and it was still creeping. I checked the oil and did another compression test to make sure head gasket was good. O I had also upgraded my alternator to a 120 amp thinking that the fan wasnt putting enough juice out at idle because when I was driving the temp dropped.
The problem turned out to be the thermostat housing was leaking coolant. I finally heard a hissing sound and you could see the pressure basically bleeding off from the housing. The system wasn't pressurizing so it wasn't cooling. I havent driven it yet but at idle its not over heating and when it reaches 190 I flipped the fan on and it maintains. I then revved the simulate acceleration and temps drop immediately.
Here are pic of the new chrome alternator I picked up. In my old pictures I had the ac bracket. I couldn't use it with this alternator. I just did it the old fashioned way and used a spacer on the bottom.
Re: My 78 Regal Build Thread. Feb. 1, 2011 UPDATE
i will make a video later showing how the temp maintains with just the radiator and with the fan on.
i will make a video later showing how the temp maintains with just the radiator and with the fan on.
Re: My 78 Regal Build Thread. Feb. 1, 2011 UPDATE
Overtightening your clamps is most likely what caused the hose to fail. The clamp can actually be so tight that it compromises the strength of the hose. They don't need to be "death grip'd" a good snug on the screw is plenty :wink:
Overtightening your clamps is most likely what caused the hose to fail. The clamp can actually be so tight that it compromises the strength of the hose. They don't need to be "death grip'd" a good snug on the screw is plenty :wink:
Re: My 78 Regal Build Thread. Feb. 1, 2011 UPDATE
Got some much needed items. No more cutting out in the upper rpm range when fuel is low 🙂 This buick is a very thirsty girl.
140 gph fuel electric fuel pump, bbc block off plate(works on buick big block also), chrome regulator(single in and duel out)
Block off plate
Chrome regulator
Do I use a gasket with the block off plate?
Got some much needed items. No more cutting out in the upper rpm range when fuel is low 🙂 This buick is a very thirsty girl.
140 gph fuel electric fuel pump, bbc block off plate(works on buick big block also), chrome regulator(single in and duel out)
Block off plate
Chrome regulator
Do I use a gasket with the block off plate?
Re: My 78 Regal Build Thread. Feb. 1, 2011 UPDATE
Absolutely. Give the gasket a good smear of RTV too and you're good to go.
kingcolbert83 said:
Absolutely. Give the gasket a good smear of RTV too and you're good to go.
Re: My 78 Regal Build Thread. Feb. 1, 2011 UPDATE
Ok thanks. Also what filters are recommended? I want to use one pre and post
Ok thanks. Also what filters are recommended? I want to use one pre and post
Re: My 78 Regal Build Thread. Feb. 1, 2011 UPDATE
You'll prolly want a coarse element before the pump, like a 100 micron, no paper. Then after you can run a regular inline filter.
You'll prolly want a coarse element before the pump, like a 100 micron, no paper. Then after you can run a regular inline filter.
Re: My 78 Regal Build Thread. Feb. 1, 2011 UPDATE
Just got done reading this whole thread. I've always been a fan of the 78-80 cars, especially the Regals since I had an '80. Looks like yours is coming along nicely.
Are you planning on making a vid of you actually running the car? i wouldn't mind seeing how that 430 does in a g-body. Can you give anymore detail about how you made the 231 mounts work too?
Just got done reading this whole thread. I've always been a fan of the 78-80 cars, especially the Regals since I had an '80. Looks like yours is coming along nicely.
Are you planning on making a vid of you actually running the car? i wouldn't mind seeing how that 430 does in a g-body. Can you give anymore detail about how you made the 231 mounts work too?
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