Rebeldryver's '70 Caprice Granny's Luxo-Muscle-Barge

[Scott Liggett]

Is it from the heater, or is the outside air mixture door opening? My truck seems to pull air through the cowl vent - even a bit when it's on recirc/ max a/c.

installing an inline shut-off valve to your heater core should help if it's the heater door.

I used to zip tie the vacuum.controlled heater valve shut in summer. I replaced it a while back, so I dont have a zip tie.

[yellomalibu]

To get my a/c to blow cold, a mechanic tried to get me to eliminate my heater: "you don't need a heater in FL". I disagree - so I installed a heater shut-off valve. The a/c still blows warmer when the temp gets hot under the hood. He said he thinks the air mixture door is still pulling outside air in, even when it's on max and is recirculating... he's probably right (in my case) but I haven't taken the time to chase that down. It still blows cool enough to do the job ...

[Scott Liggett]

I dont need the heater until November.

[DanStokes]

Here's a useless tidbit. Back in the day (here goes the old man again) the heater control valve was known as a Ranco valve as Ranco made them. They were usually cable controlled from inside the car. This was before A/C was common and you needed to kill the heater so the vents would be effective. The Ranco valve seemed to be a 1/4 turn ball valve.

Dan

[Scott Liggett]

I jacked up the Caprice today and checked the brakes. Also cleaned the snot out of the wheels and tires while they were off. The poor car finally got a bath after 3 months of neglect. It sat in LA for a month under a car cover that shredded itself in a wind storm. Then, three days in the rain on a trailer. Finally, driving in the rain here and on muddy dirt roads. It was a mess.

I needed to check the brakes on the car. The rear brake shoes that were on the car when I bought it lasted ten years. The replacement ones are gone already. The fronts look to last the winter.


Under the hood, the 454 is still leaking oil. I crawled under it and pulled the flywheel cover off to see what's up. Does it make anyone else nervous to be under a car on jackstands that is running. It doesn't seem to bother me as much under the Impala. Anyway, the flywheel is dry. No star pattern that would show rear main leak. So the rear pan gasket is leaking. Joy. I slapped some RTV on it to hopefully slow down the leak. We will see.


The latest pic of the engine shows the one inch open spacer that came off the Impala and the new heads.

[TheSilverBuick]

I needed to check the brakes on the car. The rear brake shoes that were on the car when I bought it lasted ten years. The replacement ones are gone already. The fronts look to last the winter.

Seems like you are set up well. How are the neighbors?

[68scott385]

Looks like you got your fleet back together. Neighbors with minivan seem like they wouldn't be the most hot rodder friendly, hope I'm wrong.

Now that you have a garage, which car gets it. Do they share? Each gets it for a week?

I'm just starting trouble.

[blevinsracing]

I would love to have a neighbor like you!! Pulling in each night seeing your two cars would sure out a smile on my face.

[DanStokes]

Seems like an improvement in your living situation. Good luck on the cars - I sure hope they'll be happy there. Oh, and you, too!

Dan

[Scott Liggett]

Looks like you got your fleet back together. Neighbors with minivan seem like they wouldn't be the most hot rodder friendly, hope I'm wrong.

Now that you have a garage, which car gets it. Do they share? Each gets it for a week?

I'm just starting trouble.

That's the wife's kiddy hauler. He drives a Mustang GT when not driving a tow truck. He is pretty cool. They have a great St. Barnard. The folks across from us, I have not yet met. I see them coming and going, but haven't even said 'hi' yet.

[malc]

Toss out some weight and ugly....ACdelete.com

[Scott Liggett]

Toss out some weight and ugly....ACdelete.com

Nope. The AC system is going back in. Part of the reason for the head change was to lower compression in order not to have knocking when running the AC system.

[Scott Liggett]

Reality is beginning to set in. Snow is coming and this car is the best choice this winter. I don't have the funds for another car. I have a spare pair of wheels that I think are 8" wide I would like to mount some sort of more appropriate tires for getting around in snow. I don't think the 275/60's out back will do much but spin.

Looking for some ideas here.


Also, I am changing the oil and going to lighter oil than 20w50 valvoline VR1 stuff that's in it. That other Scott mentioned using synthetic in the car. Looking for other opinions.


The good news is that it starts up and runs just fine in low '30's temps with that 850 dbl pumper with no choke. If it gets cranky, I guess I could always put the 3310 back on it.

[William Wilson]

In my experience with snow tires you want a tire that is narrower then what you would normally use. Because it increases the contact patch pressure which helps get the snow out of the way.

Don't even go all season they are balls.

Go right to snows and the oil spray.

It may be a mess but it will save your metal from salt and death.

[SuperBuickGuy]

narrower tires are better, but as someone who used to work as ski patrol and drive a 67 Camaro to and from work; really, technique is far more important than equipment.