Thread: For Don Shilady

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Hello Jerry,

I have been busy (?) watching TV in the cold months but it sure feels good to hear from you and others on the Forum and there are signs of early Spring-like days here in Virginia to the point of seeing a few convertibles with their top down, but then we alternate with the next freezing rain. Regarding nitro-methane that offers one of the curious features of theoretical calculations for what are called computer experiments "in silico". However I was fortunate to have a wet chemistry lab during my career and I taught an experimental course while my main research was computer calculations. I was repeatedly surprised when I did real experiments and made sure they worked in the lab course so the number of times I/we flirted with poisonous gases and cyanide solutions means I was lucky that I did use normal safety precautions. Thus I really appreciate your comments about the care required to use "nitro" fuel. By the way one of my last messages from you recommended the last year of LS SBC blocks that would accept most of my '76 block equipment but that message was removed somehow. Tell me again what is the last year for a junkyard LS SBC compatible with my 1976 SBC? Keep in touch and let's hear more stories about the use of "nitro". I have always been fascinated by the engine rebuilds between rounds and the risk of an error that might explode the supercharger or drop the crank on the track. You are the person with a vast experience so lets hear more stories!

Best Wishes,
Don Shillady
Retired Scientist, Teen Rodder

Hello again Techinspector1,

I am sorry not to get your cam analysis. When I have a long message I submit the first 20 lines and then use the edit command to continue. I looked up the Howard cam kit you mentioned and there is one source for only $148 but I can avoid the radiator and accessory removal on the front of the engine if I just use 1.6 ratio rockers with my present mild Crane Blue Racer A cam and get almost the same lift as the excellent Howard cam you suggest plus slightly more duration with the higher lift, so for now I am going to install the 1.6 ratio rockers but I would appreciate your comments.

Best Wishes,
Don Shillady
Retired Scientist, Teen Rodder

Originally Posted by Don Shillady

Hello "36",

Thanks for your comment, that is certainly worth checking although the wiring is from a ready made kit. If you are correct a switch to turn off the back two speakers should help leaving just the two speakers n the kick panels. Thanks.

Best Wishes,
Don Shillady
Retired Scientist, Teen Rodder

Don, no disrespect intended and JMHO, but if you have to switch components off to operate other components, there is a problem with your wiring irregardless of whose or which wiring harness you have.

Usually, stereo power amps are wired directly to the battery (through a fuse of course) and switched on/off by your receiver’s remote wire. Often with high powered stereo amps/system a larger alternator and battery capacity are needed. However even with a larger alternator and battery capacities, if the wire between the alternator and battery is not enlarged problems will often persist. An undersized wire can’t carry the current demand, as current increases the wire gets hot and resistance goes up lowering voltage and the battery does not charge. This can lead to melt downs and fires.

Please don’t misunderstand me, not trying to be a bully or anything else, just trying be sure you are safe.

power amps need their own feed right off the batt . there is no wire in a harness that can power a 400 amp power amp .

Thevanins theorem states power in equals power out.

It is not possible to continuous power 400 amp load unless you have 400A Source. I'm thinking it would take dual alternators.

A MAJOR consideration for a high power source is to address the batteries as a load. If the batteries get low, say from a difficult start or running that monster amp with engine off: then you start the car and actually feed it 400A continuous, the battery will explode. Therefore you need a bank of batteries so the combined cells can safely absorb the power.

When you are dealing with that much power the entire system must be robust.

Regarding the speakers i will have to check the wattage but they are not large boomers. I have had that system for about three years but never used it until now so one solution is not to use it much until i can figure it out. I am more interested in discussion of 1.6 ratio rockers. Here is the data on my present Blue Racer A cam:

HYDRAULIC - Smooth idle, good low end torque,
economy and throttle response. Use as stock
replacement.
BASIC RPM 1000-3200
Street CD194-11C 975213
C37-16
99277-16
C817C-16
194
204
256
262 112 .000
.000
.398
.420

The lifters I have are the simple roller type as are the present 1.5 rockers on the engine at present. They are steel so there is no gain due to lighter aluminum rockers but for intake I will get (1.6/1.5)x0.398=0.4245 and for exhaust the 1.6 rockers will produce (1.6/1.5)x0.420=0.448 lift and a small increase in duration. This looks like a worth while change at low cost to me.

Best Wishes,
Don Shillady
Retired Scientist, Teen Rodder

400 watt ... sorry .

Oh, 400 watt. Much easier. 33 amp peak, calculated as true power.

most all amps over 400 watt come with their own power lead and maxi fuse .

IF;
Your electrical system can not supply enough current to operate your stereo and wipers correctly at the same time.

IMAGINE;
What it is doing for your ignition system and motor performance.

JUST SAYING;
Besides being safer, fixing your electrical system may also allow your motor to operate better.

Sometimes the simple is overlooked, all done..............

Originally Posted by 36 sedan

IF;
Your electrical system can not supply enough current to operate your stereo and wipers correctly at the same time.

IMAGINE;
What it is doing for your ignition system and motor performance.

JUST SAYING;
Besides being safer, fixing your electrical system may also allow your motor to operate better.

Sometimes the simple is overlooked, all done..............

Truer words are rarely spoken!

Originally Posted by Don Shillady

When I have a long message I submit the first 20 lines and then use the edit command to continue.

Best Wishes,
Don Shillady
Retired Scientist, Teen Rodder

Another option when typing a long message is to first type it into a word processing program, such as Microsoft Word or Apple notes. Then copy and past it to the forum when you are ready.

That's what works for me on many forums / sites.

Originally Posted by 34_40

That's what works for me on many forums / sites.

What he said.

For Those Who May Be Interested,
The cause of demise of the wiper motor was tracked down to my mistake in connecting BOTH the radio system AND the wiper motor to the same 15 amp circuit! There are several higher amp paths in the circuit and I wanted to keep the wiper motor on the 15 amp circuit and use one of the non-used 40 amp circuits for the radio/amplifier system but no space could be found on the block connecor except a 30 amp circuit for the radio/amplifier circuit so for now playing the radio will be a $58 gamble on replacing another wiper motor, but the radio is on a separate circuit. The original intention was to allow playing the radio on the "accessory" key position when the motor is not running but that is still a foolish capability since it will run down the battery anyway! I got that idea from a "hotrod circuit" diagram without thinking through the current load. I am still not sure 30 amps is enough for the radio/amplifier system but at least the wiper motor is alone on its own 15 amp circuit. Live and learn! Since the wiper is necessary for Virginia inspection I had help from Bruce Orlandi at Performance Transmissions in Ashland Va. Now the car is inspected for the coming warm weather.
Unfortunately plans for a cam change have to be put off because Bruce also had to replace the front disk brakes and the oil seal on the transmission of my daily driver 1998 Pontiac convertible requiring a depletion of my "fun funds" for the immediate future. However I would still like to hear from the "Techinspector" regarding choice of a Howard cam.

Still Learning,
Don Shillady
Retired Scientist/Teen Rodder