Just got my car back from Stage1 Automotive. I had Gessler prepped TA Performance Aluminum Stage1 SE heads and an Edelbrock Performer Intake put on. With the Cast Iron intake and heads, my car would run at 170* with a 160 stat, and Griffin Aluminum radiator. While I was driving home(temps in the 30's), the engine was running at about 150* I guess the Aluminum heads and manifold really make a difference. I may have to put in a 180* stat for the remainder of the winter to get the temps up a little. Never really thought about this. Rob Chilenski said the cooler the better. I'm not sure if I like the engine to run that cool though. :laugh:
Awesome:Brow: You gonna beat on it at Salem this year, or what?? During the Winter, my car runs excessively cool, too. It bugs me to know that it runs that cool, so I don't drive it much at all. I haven't touched it in over 2 months already. I need my power trip soon...!!
The only thing I really worry about is the original 8.2" 10 bolt rear grenading ou: That and being 500 miles from home. So I guess the answer is :grin: NO
It has some traction in low stall, and none in high stall. Still got to do some tweaking, and get a little more heat in the motor.
Winter Stat HEY LARRY I guess you have to change stat for winter driving.I read that TA cover helps some too.Looks like drag radials are your new back tires. :3gears: Is it a big difference must really pull upstairs all that air pumped in there. Have fun! Ask the Mad Man how many days till Oyster Bay
Hey Larry, Even tho i dont have aluminum heads i think that my engine running at 180 Degrees was the best operating temp..
C'mon Larry. Don't worry about Quaker or Norwalk. I live about an hour away from both and have an 8.5 sitting in the garage just waiting for you to frag that 8.2. :laugh:
It definitely feels like it pulls harder. I really need to play with it and tune it. Need some more warm weather so I can sort everything out.
We will have to sort that out on Ocean Parkway or at the track. :laugh: What order? Depends on which car the Moonman brings out. The GS, or the GrandNasty :Brow:
.....Im betting Larry is gonna need a pair of Depends on the first time the needle sweeps past 5 grand - thats where mine becomes an animal :Brow: :Brow: Congrats Buddy - its gonna be a BLAST this summer when we both repeatedly leave MoonShot about 10 car lengths in the dust !! HAHAHA !!! Too bad GranPaw aint here to defend himself :laugh: :moonu:
Larry Glad to hear you got your car back...pretty quickly too. Bringing my GS over there for a summer season check up. So set your date down for March 26 and go to Buick vs Ford Day at Atco. If there is no snow on the grounds the weather should be cool. If your worried about traction just baby the car out of the hole. I bet you would want to know what the MPH is. No doubt the top end charge should be impressive now.
Congrats Larry! I have been wanting to do the same myself. I don't have enough coin yet for another motor. I don't want to lose my #'s matching block. Are you using your original block? Can't wait to see some new times. Best of luck! Regards, John. :TU:
My block was never #'s matching anyway. Same motor, same cam, just put on heads and intake. We will see. :TU:
Id definately install at least a 180 degree thermostat. Engines operate more efficiently at higher coolant temperatures. Good ole smokey yunick stated that an engine that is properly cooled will pick up power up to around 220 degrees. I believe this is true. However water based coolants begin to create issues as you approach the boiling point of water, requiring more pressure and higher antifreeze % to maintain liquid state of the coolant in the water jackets. Hot spots form that cause detonation if things arent kept perfect. In your case with aluminum heads, iron block, etc, I would strongly suggest evans coolant, and a 195 degree thermostat, with a very low pressure radiator cap and some holes drilled in the thermostat for flow. Your car will run smoother, more efficiently, and have more power with less wear. Do this before you tune it or it will throw your tuning off. If you can afford the heads, you can afford the coolant, and you wont regret it. Too many benefits not to.
