My 86 442: update 11/11/14 Auto Gear M22Z
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Re: My 86 442: update 5-19-10
Shes far from perfect but this car isnt meant to be a show piece. This is my new daily driver except for in the winter, i dont really care too much about how many miles I put on it or anything really. I realize the front end will get all chipped and such but hey its a car and its meant to be driven right? It doesnt do me much good to let it sit in the drive way and let all my work go to waste I might as well enjoy it as much as possible. As i drive it I'm going to keep modifying it and changing things until I get it just right and Im totally happy. The way I see it is: if I shoot for perfection I will never be happy because something will always be wrong or just not right. But if i keep it as a driver I know ill be happy and be able to turn a few heads, these things a pretty rare around here.... But thanks for all of your comments and Im sure your car will look just as good when it is done also. Next step... 350 swap, maintain driveability and still keep it fun to drive!
Shes far from perfect but this car isnt meant to be a show piece. This is my new daily driver except for in the winter, i dont really care too much about how many miles I put on it or anything really. I realize the front end will get all chipped and such but hey its a car and its meant to be driven right? It doesnt do me much good to let it sit in the drive way and let all my work go to waste I might as well enjoy it as much as possible. As i drive it I'm going to keep modifying it and changing things until I get it just right and Im totally happy. The way I see it is: if I shoot for perfection I will never be happy because something will always be wrong or just not right. But if i keep it as a driver I know ill be happy and be able to turn a few heads, these things a pretty rare around here.... But thanks for all of your comments and Im sure your car will look just as good when it is done also. Next step... 350 swap, maintain driveability and still keep it fun to drive!
Re: My 86 442: update 5-19-10
Nice work and great project.
In terms of the in-dash fuel gauge, are the other in-dash gauges working (volt/temp/oil)? If not the fuel gauge is not going to work or be accurate as they are tied together. Had the same issue on the 81 and 86. On the '86 I removed the gauge cluster and cleaned the traces / connectors and it is working good. You could try the "BFH" technique and hit the top of the dash with your fist while running to see if it moves. Another thing could be a short or chafe in the sending wire, a bad ground or possibly an incorrect (ohms) or bad sender.
As far as the oil concerns, if it's the original engine shouldn't it have roller cam / lifters and not flat tappet? I know at the beginning of the thread you were talking 5A versus the stock 7A heads, but didn't all '86 - '90 307s have roller lifters? If this is the case running the ZDDP may not be much of a concern, IMO, but agree with the others, that the Valvoline VR1 is good.
Nice work and great project.
In terms of the in-dash fuel gauge, are the other in-dash gauges working (volt/temp/oil)? If not the fuel gauge is not going to work or be accurate as they are tied together. Had the same issue on the 81 and 86. On the '86 I removed the gauge cluster and cleaned the traces / connectors and it is working good. You could try the "BFH" technique and hit the top of the dash with your fist while running to see if it moves. Another thing could be a short or chafe in the sending wire, a bad ground or possibly an incorrect (ohms) or bad sender.
As far as the oil concerns, if it's the original engine shouldn't it have roller cam / lifters and not flat tappet? I know at the beginning of the thread you were talking 5A versus the stock 7A heads, but didn't all '86 - '90 307s have roller lifters? If this is the case running the ZDDP may not be much of a concern, IMO, but agree with the others, that the Valvoline VR1 is good.
Re: My 86 442: update 5-19-10
Nope, none of my gauges work besides the tech and speedo. The senders are no longer on the engine due to the new gauges being installed, and the previous owner had removed them in favor of mechanical gauges that i got rid of. My sending unit is brand new and it is OEM not aftermarket all of the wires in the back of the car are connected properly and the grounds should be fine. Thats why I'm lost as to why its not working.
Also yes the car still does have the original engine with the 7a heads and the roller cam. I have not played with the motor yet as I wanted to get the body done first.
Nope, none of my gauges work besides the tech and speedo. The senders are no longer on the engine due to the new gauges being installed, and the previous owner had removed them in favor of mechanical gauges that i got rid of. My sending unit is brand new and it is OEM not aftermarket all of the wires in the back of the car are connected properly and the grounds should be fine. Thats why I'm lost as to why its not working.
Also yes the car still does have the original engine with the 7a heads and the roller cam. I have not played with the motor yet as I wanted to get the body done first.
Re: My 86 442: update 5-19-10
Ok, if the other in-dash gauges are not being used but the in-dash fuel gauge is stil connected I'm thinking there is something to that. I would check to see if you are getting any life out of the gauge (power, reading) then work your way along the wires to see if you are getting a signal - might find a chafe or broken wire up from the sender.
Not giving you crap but just because the sender is new doesn't mean it's not bad or the wrong one (incorrectly boxed). I've, and I'm sure others, gotten OEM parts that don't work as they should or at all.
In any event, great job and just remember - you're NEVER done. 8)
Ok, if the other in-dash gauges are not being used but the in-dash fuel gauge is stil connected I'm thinking there is something to that. I would check to see if you are getting any life out of the gauge (power, reading) then work your way along the wires to see if you are getting a signal - might find a chafe or broken wire up from the sender.
Not giving you crap but just because the sender is new doesn't mean it's not bad or the wrong one (incorrectly boxed). I've, and I'm sure others, gotten OEM parts that don't work as they should or at all.
In any event, great job and just remember - you're NEVER done. 8)
Re: My 86 442: update 5-19-10
I hear ya on that one! This car will never be done haha. I did fix my problem, I swapped in my other gauge cluster for the heck of it and the fuel gauge magically worked. The other gauge must have been shot, this car has been completely neglected for years and now I'm doing my best to get everything working again and bring her back from the dead one step at a time.
Just had the 2004R rebuilt about a week ago cuz it blew up, I lost 1st and 4th gears. That was a nice $1100 hit I didnt need to take....
I hear ya on that one! This car will never be done haha. I did fix my problem, I swapped in my other gauge cluster for the heck of it and the fuel gauge magically worked. The other gauge must have been shot, this car has been completely neglected for years and now I'm doing my best to get everything working again and bring her back from the dead one step at a time.
Just had the 2004R rebuilt about a week ago cuz it blew up, I lost 1st and 4th gears. That was a nice $1100 hit I didnt need to take....
Re: My 86 442: update 8-15-10
Well another update on my 442... About 3 weeks ago a 16 year old girl decided to slam into the back of my car and pretty much demolish everything on the rear passenger side of the car. She took out the bumper, bumper cover, reverse light, tail light, the filler panel, buckled the quarter panel, and bent the frame. The insurance company totaled the car, but i decided to keep it and fix it with money I got. Little did they know I had all of the parts needed to fix the car sitting i my garage, that I had taken off of my parts car just incase i ever needed them. So to make a long story short, they gave me almost $4600 for the car, but it only cost me about $300 to fix haha. So the rest of the money is being put into the olds 350 I picked up to swap in before this all happened. Anyways check out the car now and let me know what you all think.
took the time to straighten out the drivers door a bit too while I was at it.
One more thing, When I swap the motor, which exhaust do you guys recommend running? The 350 will be getting headers, and Im changing to the double hump crossmember to clear true duals. I looked at the pypes crossmember back exhaust, and i seem to be leaning towards that one. Any suggestions or thoughts would be appreciated!
Well another update on my 442... About 3 weeks ago a 16 year old girl decided to slam into the back of my car and pretty much demolish everything on the rear passenger side of the car. She took out the bumper, bumper cover, reverse light, tail light, the filler panel, buckled the quarter panel, and bent the frame. The insurance company totaled the car, but i decided to keep it and fix it with money I got. Little did they know I had all of the parts needed to fix the car sitting i my garage, that I had taken off of my parts car just incase i ever needed them. So to make a long story short, they gave me almost $4600 for the car, but it only cost me about $300 to fix haha. So the rest of the money is being put into the olds 350 I picked up to swap in before this all happened. Anyways check out the car now and let me know what you all think.
took the time to straighten out the drivers door a bit too while I was at it.
One more thing, When I swap the motor, which exhaust do you guys recommend running? The 350 will be getting headers, and Im changing to the double hump crossmember to clear true duals. I looked at the pypes crossmember back exhaust, and i seem to be leaning towards that one. Any suggestions or thoughts would be appreciated!
Re: My 86 442: update 8-15-10
awsome job on the car might have 2 send u mine 2 paint it haha Ohhh i like the gauges on the t top were u get the gauge cluster at =)
awsome job on the car might have 2 send u mine 2 paint it haha Ohhh i like the gauges on the t top were u get the gauge cluster at =)
Re: My 86 442: update 8-15-10
Thanks for the input on the car! The gauge pod for the t-top panel came from gbody parts. it sells for $46.
http://www.gbodyparts.com/product_info. ... 446a503774
Thanks for the input on the car! The gauge pod for the t-top panel came from gbody parts. it sells for $46.
http://www.gbodyparts.com/product_info. ... 446a503774
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