So since the new cam and heads have been added to the car, I’ve put 995 miles on it. Everything seems to be going strong, I am happy to report. Edit: After a nice drive, 1020 miles Edit 2: Make sure you didn’t pop the damn starter again
We are up and running up here: http://v8buick.com/index.php?threads/new-england-dragway-streetnights.358513/#post-3089873 Should make the trip up....JIM
So I took the car out for a long cruise with my friends to my university, a 235 mile round trip with a car show in the morning. Long story short, the oil got really hot and the car was borderline overheating in the 90 degree humid weather on the highway, going about 70-75 at the time. I had to pull over one time as the oil pressure had begun to plummet. I was now seeing about 38 psi at 2500 rpm, which is just barely enough. When the car cooled down I set off again, oil stayed around 50 psi until it got hot again, then I stayed between 65-70 for the rest of the trip to keep temps down. During all 235 miles, some of which were WOT, it seems I burnt 1/8th of a quart of oil. Also to be noted, the car can’t cool itself in the summer any more, not with all this new power. I am looking for drop in replacement radiators that won’t break the bank.
The Dewitt radiator I put in my car is closer to break the bank than Id have liked but its a very nice piece and solved my temp creep problem. Even with the A/C running on a 90+ degree day doing 70+ on the interstate. I also used the Evans waterless coolant which added another 400.00 to the project. But for as much as you like to take the engine apart you may want to stay with a water based product.
John, a few of us have already given you rad options to help with your issues. Go back a few pages in your own thread and the answers you seek are there. Happy motoring!
Evan's coolant is great stuff. Doesnt actually boil like antifreeze till well over 300 degrees.........oil temps are very important to control too especially in a car that see many road miles. Wizards radiators are very nice too.......quality radiators and cheap dont go hand and hand..... The old copper core radiators actually pull more heat out the aluminum does.......the problem with copper is they can't keep the tubes stable and not falling in on itself above about 5/8" since why they do several rows..... aluminum that can go to about 1.25". Dont get fooled in triple or quad row aluminum thinking they are better......find out tube size first
Whats the dealio John? Any track runs planned? I've been re living my youth through you and following this from day one!
If the Riviera doesn't sell by October, I'll take it to the track again. That's where I'm at with the car.
Wha...wha....WHAT!!!! you're selling the Riv???? Please tell me you hit your head and not thinking clearly??
I’ve seen a turbo LS 79 Camaro making 615 at the tires, I’ve been bit with the boost bug, and I want to go faster.
Keep your Riv for a cruiser and pick up something else that's basically gutted and a shell, LS swap and boost the crap out of that for a strictly race car and have the best of both worlds?
That's the hard one to overcome! Park the Riv for the winter and save all your pesos and keep an eye out for a rust free empty shell. Find a wrecked GM for cheap and harvest the LS and start building. You may not satisfy the boost bug right away but you will in time and you wont kick yourself in the azz down the road for selling the Riv.
