theoldsone daily build

[Texas82GP]

Really glad to hear this didn't end in tragedy. You and your dad are o.k. and the car miraculously survived mostly unscathed. Can't ask for much more. Good work on getting the fire put out quickly. Funny story: When I was a kid my dad was an independent distributor for Borden's Milk. I would go out on the route with him during the summer. We were headed in to go to the milk plant in downtown Houston to unload the truck and then load it with the next day's product. Close to downtown, we spotted another distributor's truck (medium duty) on the side of the highway. We pulled over to help to discover the big block Chevy 366 in his truck was on fire! Neither truck had a fire extinguisher. The other driver had tried to put the fire out with gallon fruit punch, but because of the citric acid in the drink, every time he would put it on the fire, the flames would just get worse! Dad and I really didn't have anything on our truck except empty milk cases and some out-of-date product, or "spoils". We ended up pouring half gallons of out-of-date buttermilk on the fire and smothered it that way. What a mess! It saved the truck though. It suffered electrical damage and the fiberglass flip front end on the truck got its feelings hurt but it was up and running, pulling a route again in no time.

 

[theoldsone]

Really glad to hear this didn't end in tragedy. You and your dad are o.k. and the car miraculously survived mostly unscathed. Can't ask for much more. Good work on getting the fire put out quickly. Funny story: When I was a kid my dad was an independent distributor for Borden's Milk. I would go out on the route with him during the summer. We were headed in to go to the milk plant in downtown Houston to unload the truck and then load it with the next day's product. Close to downtown, we spotted another distributor's truck (medium duty) on the side of the highway. We pulled over to help to discover the big block Chevy 366 in his truck was on fire! Neither truck had a fire extinguisher. The other driver had tried to put the fire out with gallon fruit punch, but because of the citric acid in the drink, every time he would put it on the fire, the flames would just get worse! Dad and I really didn't have anything on our truck except empty milk cases and some out-of-date product, or "spoils". We ended up pouring half gallons of out-of-date buttermilk on the fire and smothered it that way. What a mess! It saved the truck though. It suffered electrical damage and the fiberglass flip front end on the truck got its feelings hurt but it was up and running, pulling a route again in no time.

Yes your right. Im looking at it like a new chapter to this car. Ill be driving it from home to work buy some valve cover gaskets for now maybe. And start collecting parts for the swap. So hope fully its a one two done deal. No major time having the car parked. Again its my daily lol. Funny story because when driving back after the incident i thought to my self If i didnt have that coolant id be forcing my sweet tea out from that morning onto that fire what ever gets a fire out IDK!

 

[theoldsone]

Got the 200-4r today. No time for slacking! Hopefully this 200-4r will be seeing a rebuild. And of course ill be doing all the work. Ive done it befor and ill be doing it again. Ill have to convert it to non cpu controlled too. But for now clean up!

 

[theoldsone]

Took these pic somtime last week I thought about entering gbotm but...not yet.

 

[Texas82GP]

"...forcing out sweet tea" Hilarious! Glad we can laugh about it. It's a good looking machine. Keep up the good work.

 

[Texas82GP]

Does your car still have the original catalytic converter from the factory?

 

[theoldsone]

Yes it does have the stock cat but its very very restrictive its Most likely clogged up.

So here's some good news the 200-4R I pulled out was out of a Monte Carlo SS hence the codes CZF on the ID tag. One of the best 4R's that came stock. I cleaned the trans case off and opened the pan no flakes of metal or chunks. Going to open the filter up but my best bet it that this MCSS had very low miles and was junked due to floor pans.

 

[Texas82GP]

I figured it probably still had its stock catalytic converter. I'm sure it is plugged up. I'll bet it was a major contributor to the car having to work so hard getting up that hill and a major contributor to the engine overheating. I experienced this on an 85 Delta 88 about ten years ago. The car had a 307 4-bbl, 2004R and a 2.41 rear gear. The car was gutless. I always just attributed it to the engine being very low on power when new and the insanely high rear axle ratio. I had trouble getting the car to pass smog and had to replace the catalytic converter. I replaced the original converter with a direct fit (bolt on) piece from Walker. Man did it wake that car up! The poor 307 was strangled by the old cat. The exhaust actually had a little tone to it with the new converter. It was night and day. I don't know what your exhaust plans are or if you have to pass smog but either way, replace or get rid of that converter and you will be amazed at the difference.

 

[truracer20]

Glad you saved it.

 

[jetsetw31]

Glad you guys made it home ok. I was going to say the same thing about the CAT.
I'm sorry to hear that you're going to Chevy. A 350 Olds is a no brainer swap and you won't have to do all the switch overs involved in a Olds to Chevy swap. If you were going racing, using a Chevy would be for good long run cost issues. But for cruising, the Olds wins due to it's longevity using superior stock parts. JMO.
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