1979 Malibu

[Basement Paul]

Now that your car is super fast, and you have cool videos from inside the car, you need to replace the dash pad.

-BP

[TireSmoker]

What about this?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/192196668398

[Blue_69_malibu]

DOOOOOO IT!!

CREDIT BADGER SAYS YOU HAVE 44 BUCKS.

[Basement Paul]

It would be a definite improvement. Or just take it off altogether. The rest of the car is empty already. Does this car currently have a heating/defrosting function still?

-BP

[TireSmoker]

Ok, ok.. I ordered the dash cover. We'll see how it works.

Post-race inspection revealed an upper radiator hose that was touching the heat-wrapped crossover pipe. When I first discovered it, by feel, it felt terrible, and I was amazed it hadn't blown. However, once I got it off, it probably only got half-way through.

Chris was over and we decided to put some wood spacers under the radiator to raise it up a little, which gives quite a bit of clearance to the crossover
pipe.

I changed the oil + filter today and another minor issue has been revealed. It's tough to add oil to the engine since the turbo install. I had Steve weld AN fittings into the valve covers for the catch can. Well, there are no other opening in the valve covers. And there are baffles under that AN fitting. I had to use a funnel small enough to go into the inside fitting. And you basically need to take the coil bracket off to get a wrench onto the AN fitting. Yay for my 2-piece coil brackets that at least make that part easier.

Improvement is needed here.

[Blue_69_malibu]

The Empire had similar issues with Death Star V1....but they got it figured out.

[TireSmoker]

Now that your car is super fast, and you have cool videos from inside the car, you need to replace the dash pad.

-BP

Among those who've seen it, the consensus seems to be that it is an improvement. Not awesome, but less sucky. That's just sitting in place after about 30 seconds of effort.

[TireSmoker]

I need some input here.. so I'm going to replace the front tires because they're old, and frankly pretty small. Current tires are 185-65-15, which is 24.5"

Mickey Thompson makes some front-runner style .. I could get 26/27/28" tall. Sooo, which one?

https://www.summitracing.com/search/par ... pson+s%2fr

[MostMint]

What width are the rims?

And what width tire did you want?

[TireSmoker]

I've discovered from driving the Chevelle around on my 'skinnies' that it's not really a big deal. I thought it might feel sketchy, but it doesn't. I don't corner aggressively, at all -- in this car. This is the one I'm thinking about. https://www.summitracing.com/parts/mtt-6658

I did some real test driving today. Went down to East Hill, across to Mulberry, then down to Fowlers Mills, and back. (that was the 2nd loop) Even with the hood off, it runs hot. 200, goes up quick if I lean into it. I definitely need to address this further. My phone's weather says it is 80* today.

But I did 2 rounds of log analysis with the Megasquirt. It was pretty fat on the 10.55 run, so that will be better the next time out.

I also am 99% certain I need to get the converter tightened up. Tire/RPM/gear calc says a 28" tire with a 3.55 final drive @ 6000 rpm should be good for 140. I went 126. The good news is that taking the trans out is about as easy as one of these gets. There's nothing in the way. I called Abruzzi's and I was told a 2-3 week turnaround to re-do the converter.

While I had it up in the air, the trans mount that I used doesn't seem up to the task. It's a rubber mount, that is mostly hollow! I didn't get a pic, but I think I'm going to order a polyurethane mount. Maybe that's related to my noise under load?

[Basement Paul]

How convinced are you that your tach is completely accurate too
-BP

[Basement Paul]

I like the taller front tire. And a good driving tread pattern too.

-BP

[TireSmoker]

How convinced are you that your tach is completely accurate too
-BP

I read The Matrix encoded. I just see blond, brunette, rpm, boost.. all in the datalog. Its accurate.

[Basement Paul]

Where did the converter that's in it come from?

-BP

[TireSmoker]

It came with the trans, from Abruzzi over in Warren.