My bad. I turned off the phone before I got in. If we take it tomorrow I promise to video us moving forward....ppat
Well today I joined the fan club... changed back to the altered 455 clutch fan, tossed the chinaman T stat to nothing, added heater hoses and a gallon of juice plus changed the really stiff advance springs to a moderately light pair and the performance improved 10 fold; in the shop at least. Without driving it, a half hour garnered 170F. That clutch fan blows a ton of air. Tomorrow is the hillbilly exhaust system day. Thats a 6 mile drive to the shop... nice and easy. ws
Nice Bill! Are you planning to add a fan shroud later? I'm using a fan clutch on my 350 in my '64. My original fan shroud worked out fine around the fan. But the fan wasn't quite centered half in/ half out. So I put some 3/4" spacers between the fan and the clutch mounting surfaces and used grade 8 longer bolts. Brought the fan blades a little closer to the engine. Sets real close to center now. Like you, I did my own engineering haha! Been enjoying following along on your build thread, keep up the good work!
By the way Bill, good thinking taking Pat with you on the first test run so you have someone to push you back home just incase of a breakdown. Good job getting a basket case back on the road so quickly!
Thanks guys for posting! WHEW.. made it to the shop yesterday and was almost fun to drive. Still dealing with a little fuel starvation problem. Im gonna blame this on crud in the tank, so its gonna come down tomorrow for an inspection/cleaning AT THE LEAST. There was an unknown quantity of 39 year old gas plus 7 gallons of fresh on top and a bottle of Berryman's B-12 cleaner. Going down the road at 45 mph for a mile or two, she begins to stumble. Actually was damn near DOA once or twice. Pulled over and it idled, and refilled the carb, and was able to continue on. That happened 2-3 times yesterday. Probably a gas sock, but acts like a failing pump (its pedigree is unknown) or a plugged in-line filter. I wouldve done the tank job last winter but there was no room against the garage door. Could also even be a plugged vented cap. Now Im gonna man up and drop the tank. Maybe a new one from rot-auto for 112.00 plus the FIST. LOL. A new pump wont hurt either "while Im in there". This one has a return nipple thats capped off ca.1975. 1964's didnt use a return line. Anyone NOT have fitment issues with a Spectre 1964 vintage tank? So after the 7 mile "in town" run, the fresh motor (on the IR gun) barely made 150F at the T stat housing and about 375F at the EGT's. The T stat is the SECOND chinaman failure in a row. Is a quality USA made (even western hemisphere where the Roman alphabet is used) available? Like a DOLE or an AC Delco unit?? The one pic shows the 1-1/2" clearance from the fan clutch to the core. The new aluminum radiator delta is about 60*+ so a shroud isnt necessary right now. Keep those fingers clear Eugene! With chinaman stuff, "with two you get eggroll, but not maybe get what you pay for" is the norm on this crap. Even the "new" Duralast master cylinder is dripping brake fluid onto the frame rail. Close yer ears and eyes bunnyhuggers... godamnitohellanyway. I really felt that needed to be said since everyone else is afraid to. At least the counterfeit AC Delco one wire alternator is making 14.2 volts. OK... beat me up on the output. Theres nothing that can be done about it anyway. Some evil incarnation is waving the magic wand with stars over my corner of the universe causing all this stupid crap to happen to only me... Po,Po, Me! Whew! Now I feel better. Mickey is probably really a reincarnated chink now too. THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS PATENTS OR COPYRIGHTS WITH chinaman STUFF. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED! Sorry for the eastern bashing, its nothing personal, but as a modus operandi it sucks. Pats getting packed up for a 15 offspring trip in two cars to Cape Coral for a week, and then returning home being followed the next day by a spinal cord stimulator implant with a walkman power unit implanted in her right asscheek. Its all about doctors and neurosurgeons this week. NINE days with no driving for her, so thats where I'll be around June 4th. She comes first. ya see... I take that out on Won Fun Tung. ws
OK... so I am off to pick up the 64 at the pipe shop. Hope she makes it home. Get to inspect it on the rack, thats a ++++ Picked up a new T stat today, a high end unit and it aint from chinaman; Kinky Friedman got me this time; hecho in Israel. Its got a jiggle valve to help bleed air past the unit. We'll see how this one plays out. Now for your consideration...(adults only)!! This guy played with David Alan Coe. ws
Bill, what I had always used in the past was a Stant Superstat. They are stainless, reasonable cost, never had a problem. Could be made in North Korea now who knows? But check them out. There was a weird looking hi/po thermostat before that Robertshaw and Mr.Gasket made. Same deal...don't know where they are made now.
Hey Bill, your car probably has a 5/16" fuel line which is to small to keep your float bowl filled for the fuel needs of a BBB. You should probably swap an at least 3/8" fuel line in there which is what the factory used to supply the BBB cars.(if you haven't done that yet?)
This says made in the US, Bill. I didn't check the number for fitment, but this is a "performance" thermostat. These used to be Robertshaw, I don't know much about them.......
Hey Bill, your car probably has a 5/16" fuel line which is to small to keep your float bowl filled for the fuel needs of a BBB. You should probably swap an at least 3/8" fuel line in there which is what the factory used to supply the BBB cars.(if you haven't done that yet?) Interesting thought there Derek... I did change the hose at the pump supply side off the frame rail and swear that was 3/8. It was a good snug fit as it should be plus the OEM 3 ear spring clamp on it. If the main pipe is in fact smaller than 3/8 and anywhere near as ruff as the brake line was, its a gonner. A crack in that line can syphon a whole tank full of gas onto the shop floor overnight. NOT a good thing at all! If I need a new pump, all the BBB units have a return nipple. Mine is now capped off. Is this a problem? See pics. My kingdom for a rack! Yo Frank... Robert Shaw still make T stats for industrial diesel apps and boiler (heating) controls. A big name in that field for sure. Ive only found STANTZ and DOLE units on ebay and are generally sold as NOS parts. The parts store owner had an "A" and a "B" unit from the same mfgr. One was 1/2 the price of the other. The higher end part is what the local dealers spec out as needed. Never had a recall. This is the R-S unit... Bill
Yeah, that one...I forgot the link https://www.ebay.com/itm/Mr-Gasket-...800520&hash=item2cb12e71a0:g:Kv8AAOSw7PpctOqF It says US made, but I didn't check this number for fitment, it looks the same.
My wife has had a Medtronics spinal cord stimulator for about 3 years now due to her Transverse Myelitis. It has helped her quite a bit, reducing her pain level by about 50-60%. She still takes some meds for pain but not as much as before. Good luck to Pat with her surgery. It's actually a fairly easy one.
Making headway Bill! I noticed no tailpipes, are you getting a lot of echo under the car? Another place you might find fuel blockage is in the filter in the front of the carb, at least on Quadrajets. I've had my car shut down on me a few times because of it. I've since purchased a new tank and sending unit. Pretty sure I have rust issues inside the tank and no sock on the existing sending unit. I've noticed this problem when the tank gets pretty low. I've heard 350 and BBB cars had 3/8 fuel lines too. Haven't changed mine, but thinking I might though. I got my t-stat from Auto Zone, and so far it's been good. It's their store brand (can't think of it) Anyway, keep up the progress, happy to see you are actually driving it!
Hey Bill... Pat wanted me to thank you about the Medtronics' bit. She's done her due diligence on this one for sure! A few weeks ago she went through a trial unit where she could adjust it her self. The trial was about 3 days with an external walkman. Of course she over stimmed it and was uncomfortable until the last day when she turned it way down and could all of a sudden turn her head and feel her toes that had been numb for 10 years. She's more worried about the general anaesthesia than anything else. She doesnt do well with a general and intubation. Thats a whole separate deal in itself. Nine days of no driving, THEN they turn it on. She adjusts hers by putting the crack phone in her back pocket and then grabs the MT app for an adjustment. The entire unt is buried in flesh at that point. Sounds like fun to me. WOW! Yo Mike... The buggy is so quiet that its weird. My 72 with headers and full 3" to the bumper pipes has a drone so that you cant hear the radio without blasting it. Hooker headers are overkill VS. stock 455 manifold. They look cool, but for the street only supposedly give an extra 5%. And that aint worth it in my book. Bertha has a stiff yet smooth clutch and you can just barely hear 1st and 2nd gear whine just a bit. Just like it should. It really feels good to drive until it stumbles. Its probably more fear of a total fuel shutdown than anything. It hasnt failed to restart yet. A few times she started bucking in 4th gear and by the time I curbed itit was DOA. Just dump the clutch in 2nd or 3rd and she'd relight and idle until she was ready to go another mile or so. Just a little frustrating. It honestly "drives" like gramma put 33,ooo on it though. A little "pull" to the left due to front tire wear. The T/A's came off the front of my 72 (replaced) and repurposed here. Brakes are smooth and even the big springs for a bit-o-lift are OK. I like the stance! I am done with advance auto (crack auto( and the chinaman junk they sell. I question every part now. The BRAND NEW duralast master cyliner has a piston seal lean and is dripping down the booster to the frame rail. Thats gonna be #3 in 15 miles. Bad performance I'd say, but hat happens when you try to be budget minded. Penny wise and dollar fuelish LOL. Loren at 65GS sent me a link for a new tank for 72.00 INCLUDING delivery. It looks like a spectra from rot-auto which is 115.00 plus the truck. Waiting for details today. All the guy sells is tanks and sound deadening stuff. Thats one side of the company, and the other is specialized resto trim stuff from Lebanon Ohio. So now the tank job is gonna lead to some floor patching in the trunk from leaking rear glass. Nows the time to trim out the junk and make my own floor stuff and spot MIG it in with some sealer. More to follow on that! Bill Heres a few links for the tank stuff. Id appreciate any feedback on this stuff. Seems like a vendor wholesaler... https://www.ebay.com/itm/1964-1965-Buick-Buick-Skylark-GS-Special-Fuel-Tank-with-1-Vent-in-Front/173909663833?fits=Year:1965|Model:Skylark|Make:Buick&hash=item287dd2e059:g:6FMAAOSw77Jc5ASQ http://rpui.com/?page_id=65 http://rpui.com/?page_id=15 http://rpui.com/?page_id=51 https://www.getdiscbrakes.com/parts/1964-Buick-Special/fuel-tanks/ DBA: https://www.trimparts.com/
So I called Ohio just now. Ebay deal stands, however, it is a taiwan knock off with a 30 day return against fit and damage. Its a galvanized steel tank with a sender gasket. No more, no less. For 72.00 including the truck I cant go wrong. Ha! Ive said that before, but these guys seem reputable. The next best thing is from CARID in Tampa at 109.00 plus 75.00 for the shipping. Rot-Auto is probably 125.00 for the truck; heir spectra tanks are 112.00. Should be here Friday and Ill have the KY next to the microwave to warm it up LOL... ws https://www.ebay.com/itm/For-Buick-Skylark-1964-1965-Replace-FTK010275-Fuel-Tank/232477526241?_trkparms=aid=555018&algo=PL.SIM&ao=1&asc=20131003132420&meid=9840559aa67c460eb92b2472d838be2e&pid=100005&rk=8&rkt=12&sd=173909663833&itm=232477526241&_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851
