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

[Scott Liggett]

Re: Rebeldryver's '70 Caprice project

I ran over to the local speed shop, Westside Performance, to get a new diaphram for the Holley 3310 on the car. It's ancient and I did a spare parts rebuild on the carb back when I put it on years ago. But, the I didn't have a diaphram. I used the old one. It was a bit dried and cracked around the edges, but looked OK. Today, I decided to get a new one just be sure. I ended up getting one with a quick change lid and an assortment of springs that's made by Quik Fuel.


My other and more nasty job was rebuilding the freebie 750 dp today. It was nasty because I had to get out the ancient 5 gallon can of Chemdip. My sinuses are still closed. I had to break down and buy a kit for this one. It was too far gone. I got it back together, but I ran out of time to test it out.

Notice that it has progressive linkage. It also has no ported vacuum on the metering block. Not sure what this was used for.



The car now does burnouts with ease. That locker is sure violent when it hits. I kinda like it. ;D

[milner351]

Re: Rebeldryver's '70 Caprice project

NICE!

Not familiar with that progressive linkage - I bet that was a factory piece of some sort.

So - with the quick change vac kit - how does the vac carb run?

I'm generally a fan of vac sec carbs on any street car with an auto trans that's got a reasonable cam. The only reason I'm putting the 600dbl pump on the 302 / auto in the ranger - is cause I had it!

[SuperBuickGuy]

Re: Rebeldryver's '70 Caprice project

why not replace the points distributor with an HEI?

[milner351]

Re: Rebeldryver's '70 Caprice project

I'm all for old school - but not old school enough to keep points.

There are several choices out there for electronic conversions, some have rev limiters built in - all under the OEM looking cap.

I like that option instead of puting a "billet" distributor in everything - the '54 for example - will NOT get an HEI!
(not that I have anything against those - I have a couple!)

[Scott Liggett]

Re: Rebeldryver's '70 Caprice project

It's got a Pertronix.

It runs fine for what the engine is. 130k miles with a flat cam. #1 intake lobe is completely gone and has been since I bought the car. It's shocking how smooth the car idles and runs all on 8 cylinders.


Next up is the front suspension.

[milner351]

Re: Rebeldryver's '70 Caprice project

I know some have had problems with pertronix but at least Scott and I are happy with ours.

I put one in the 54 and it's never given me any grief.

[TheSilverBuick]

Re: Rebeldryver's '70 Caprice project

I know some have had problems with pertronix but at least Scott and I are happy with ours.

I put one in the 54 and it's never given me any grief.

I'm in the happy camp too. I have one in my T-bird (a god send) and I installed one in my friend's '69 442. Going good. I'm considering one for the Skylark so I can go to a small cap distributor and a wider coil selection.

[Scott Liggett]

Re: Rebeldryver's '70 Caprice project

My guess is those guys who are having issues didn't pull the distributor and shim so the clearances between the magnetic pickup and the ring were correct.

[Scott Liggett]

Re: Rebeldryver's '70 Caprice project

My guess is those guys who are having issues didn't pull the distributor and shim so the clearances between the magnetic pickup and the ring were correct.

[SuperBuickGuy]

Re: Rebeldryver's '70 Caprice project

the electronic portion of the ignition is a great upgrade, but it's not the only reason for an HEI.... the hotter spark is the other reason - did you also upgrade the coil?

[Scott Liggett]

Re: Rebeldryver's '70 Caprice project

Repacing the points without upgrading the coil is a waste of time. Reusing the old, weak coil will negate any performance gains. But, the object is not a hot ignition, its to rid yourself of problematic points.

HEI's are not a performance improvement in stock form. The modules cant cycle fast enough past 4000 rpm and the spark loses intensity. Points style ignitions are better in high the rpms comparing stock type equipment.

[SuperBuickGuy]

Re: Rebeldryver's '70 Caprice project

^^^^ all true. Of course, anything I have now wouldn't live above 5500 rpms so HEI is the only way to fly (Buick, Cadillac).

[Scott Liggett]

Re: Rebeldryver's '70 Caprice project

Today, I did some cleaning out of the storage closet and in the process had the drag radials out. I looked at them, then the car, them, the car. Well, you can guess the end of this. Yep, they're on the car. I have to say the car is looking less and less like granny's bingo mobile.



I also decided to see if the Holley 750 dp I got works. On it went. I wish I could say that it went with ease. As with all mods, I just needed to fiddle with things a bit.

First, there is no ported vacuum port on the carb for the vacuum advance. It's just set aside. Also, the wire for the other carb's electric choke needed to get covered because it's ignition hot. I used a rubber vacuum cap.


This vacuum thing-em-a-bob is for the AC. When the vacuum gets low enough, it cuts power to the AC compressor. The AC won't work without it hooked up. I had to move it aside to get the DP on.


I grabbed the old fuel log from the Proform carb. It needed some bending and prodding to get it to work.


After I first started it, the idle speed was way up even though the idle speed screw wasn't touching the linkage. So, off came the carb again. Turns out the high speed idle screw for the choke was bent and stuck on the choke linkage. A little bending and everything was okie dokie again.



There, it's on. And, it actually runs decent. I'm not a fan of the progressive linkage. And, I would want a primary metering block with a port for the vacuum advance.


I may pull the base plate off the Proform carb because it has a ported vacuum hole and the standard linkage. I'd like to see if there is a difference.

[JOES66FURY]

Re: Rebeldryver's '70 Caprice project

supprise you aint ainted the valve covers ... just becasue...

[Scott Liggett]

Re: Rebeldryver's '70 Caprice project

supprise you aint ainted the valve covers ... just becasue...

I'm not doing the rattle can rebuild on engine. I did paint all the brackets and such. I have a set of chromies sitting beside the new Edelbrock intake for when I rebuild the motor.

Did you notice all the paint came of the original valve covers, but that original decal is still there?