Thread: Another Pontiac for the firebird

Tweet

Success.

The next larger hose was 3/4" so I tried a trick I was told this morning: I heated the hose end with a torch, and it slipped on much easier.

A celebratory trip to town (2 miles) for tacos and a margarita confirmed no leaks. Now, just waiting for the louvers in the mail.

Tomorrow wiper motor.

No wiper motor, I'm fighting a cold, so lazing around the house.

This morning I gave the heater a test run, Holy cow does it put out heat! Couldn't run the fan past low.

Originally Posted by firebird77clone

Couldn't run the fan past low.

Curious, did you put in a control valve to adjust coolant flow rate?

Not yet. I have a nice brass control valve and actuator cable, getting heat was priority.

Originally Posted by firebird77clone

Not yet. I have a nice brass control valve and actuator cable, getting heat was priority.

LOL while heat is a priority, being able to control the heat is a bigger priority for me! I'd pipe in that valve and worry about mounting the actuator cable later if it were me. Heat is nice, but too much heat isn't so nice.

A friend once put his control valve in the return line to the water pump, and wondered why his heater core was always hot, even in the summer when his valve was closed.....

Ah, good point. Which is the source hose? The block rear corner or the water pump? Olds 403.

Originally Posted by firebird77clone

Ah, good point. Which is the source hose? The block rear corner or the water pump? Olds 403.

depends on which pump and rotation. old school was from the radiator and into the block then the heads and then back into the radiator. I'd take a guess that one side of the core goes to the pump and the other side goes to the block.

Originally Posted by firebird77clone

Ah, good point. Which is the source hose? The block rear corner or the water pump? Olds 403.

This vacuum diagram shows the water outlet at the top front, so the pump pulls suction from the radiator, pushing through the block.
-
olds-403-vacuum-diagram.png
-
Since the main hose flows back to the radiator from the top of the block/intake I think I'd put the valve in the line from the rear corner of the block, with the heater core return to the water pump, and I'd leave enough hose to be able to swap them at the core (if they're both same size), but I think you'll be good.

I've been sick for going on three weeks now, but getting better. Just a bit of congestion at this point. Today I washed the S.S.(silver streak) the continuous rain had it molding. I'm pretty sure that can damage the paint. Holy cow, this car is huge! I'm gonna drive it to work tomorrow just for kicks. Last work day before Christmas break.

Still dealing with congestion but otherwise much better, going into week five of this (probably covid) cold.

Today I made huge progress. The heater box is complete, louver vents were installed in the front cover and the cover installed. The defrost vents are plumbed in, and the AC duct reinstalled.

I got the atv wiper motor installed. It took some time. I made a mounting bracket from angle iron, and shortened the output shaft. I made a new crank arm using a uni bit to simulate the coned hole, then cut splines with a file.

The motor doesn't articulate as far as the original, so i Don't get full sweep. I might someday experiment with a longer crank arm.

Plan A will always be to avoid rain and rain x is my friend but at least I have some wiper action now.

The rear vacuum motor drives the arm directly. To modify the output shaft of this specific electric motor would be quite the challenge to get the splines good enough so the original arm would fit, but perhaps in the future I'll order another and get the rear wiper working.

The radio was mounted in the glove box, with the radio install sleeve welded to a mounting plate. I cut the old sleeve off, prepped the plate, then welded the spacers in place, then welded the old install sleeve back on. I caught the mistake, cut the sleeve back off, and welded the new sleeve on. The mounting bracket is now ready to install.

Tomorrow I should be able to mount the dash and finish the wiring.

Oh, hey, also: more testing necessary but it looks like the SS gets over 20MPG when I keep my foot out of it. Closer to ten if I fully floor the loud pedal.

Did I miss something? You have an SS now? As in Camaro? Chevelle? Or??

48 pontiac silver streak. I've taken to calling it the SS

So last night I woke at about one, couldn't sleep well afterwards. When I managed to snooze, I dreamed about re-working the actuator arm. So, today I tackled it. Added length, offset, and two hole sets. Much adjusting later, and I think I have the wipers working as well as they can with this motor. Meanwhile rain, rain.

Interesting story:

My great friend Scott borrowed the kitchen the other night, and brought his son Andrew. (His wife was ill and queasy stomach, sensitive to both aroma and odor).

Ok so the SS (Silver streak) has custom aluminum panels in place of factory apholstry, and is in dire need of polishing. I was considering paying Andrew to do it, but I figured I would test him first.

I tasked him with cleaning the chrome heat vent on the dash, which is still sitting on the work bench. Specifically in between the fins. He put in a good effort.

The next day, he asked to come over and finish. So ok.

I was trying to finish the second volume of The Count of Monte Cristo, had to put it down and take a nap. When I woke, I went to check on Andrew. He had finished the fins, and was working on the upper chrome. The upper chrome is accented with grey paint , which he mistook for corrosion.

How proudly he announced that he had managed to polish it off, it was difficult! Oh, the look on his face when I told him it was factory finish, he crumpled!

Totally my fault, and the paint was a bit beat up anyway. I wasn't at all upset, the chrome gleams, probably as good as when it left the assembly line.