'66 Pontiac Resto-Mod Update

[wmhjr]

Jim, the fluid wasn't too hot at all. I had only been running the car for maybe 15-20 minutes, on the street. I stayed in a lower gear for longer than normal to keep rpms up (trying to heat the engine and oil) but other than that, the steering was actually not pushed whatsoever. No hard driving, hard cornering - nothing. For the relatively few numbers of time that the car gets tracked per year, I don't plan to add a PS temp gauge. But, you never know. If I do, I will likely add it on the external reservoir and not in the interior of the car. Too much work to redo the dash to figure out how to integrate yet another gauge. I'd have to essentially start from scratch.

The car wasn't terrible to turn. To be honest, I was about 4 miles from home, and I really babied it because I didn't want to damage the pump. With a serpentine system, no way to disengage the pump. It's very strange.

For the fittings, they're darned tight. I was actually worried that they're too tight. I'm going to disassemble them again and look for marks inside to see where they are seated (or not). I also have a set of Earls aluminum "seals" (for lack of a better term) that are intended to be used on damaged -AN fittings enroute. If nothing else works, I may try them.

I didn't see the video on Heidts. I'll have to take a look.

[Jim Nilsen]

I was thinking the same on just puting the gauge on the reseviour, kind if like the temp gauges on top of the radiator caps. that's weird that it wasn't that hot, but I can tell you from my experience with the gauge in my car that it only takes five or six turns to bring the temp up higher than you would think. The funny thing about the ps temp is that it is usually close to my trans temp in normal driving but when I start to do turns it goes up quickly.

those seals are priceless for what they do, I have had to use any of them yet but I was so close to getting some that I was looking for a supplier to get them in a day.

If you go to the Heidt's "video" thread there is a link to the video's .

[wmhjr]

Jim, saw the video. I think we were at the autox course at that time. Not sure.

Got the steering box out of the car tonight. Also worked on the oil lines (again) and put the front bumper back on. Talked to Gail over at Lee, and confirmed the box will arrive tomorrow along with getting the tracking number. Great people over at Lee. How many companies out there would send you a replacement steering box and a return shipping label immediately to get you back on the road within 2 days - no questions asked?

Anyway, I'm working from home tomorrow, hoping to take the car out tomorrow night. So, I'll be anxiously awaiting UPS, not taking a lunch break or anything so I can try to break free for an hour to get the replacement steering box back in. Keeping my fingers crossed.

[wmhjr]

Getting ready to pack up for RTTH. Still fighting small oil leaks in the plumbing. Driving me absolutely friggin crazy. I've never run into a stupid problem as frustrating as this. I think I've made the same lines now at least 5 times in some cases.

I did spend some time with some front suspension tweaks, looking forward to playing with it on the AutoX. Roll bar and racing seats are back in the car. Have some final issues to mess with tonight, and then pack the trailer and load the car and tools Wednesday night. Work on Thursday will keep me from getting down to RTTH at any sort of reasonable time. I may not get there until mid morning Friday, and if so I'll be trashed with no sleep whatsoever.

[wmhjr]

So, kind of an "after action review" of RTTH. First of all, friggin great event. Run exceptionally well. For the events that were run, you really couldn't ask for more (except just maybe better track conditions at 411 dragway).

Ended up having to work on Thursday, which resulted in being pretty sure I would not be able to arrive early enough on Friday for the Autox school, so I gave up my spot in advance. However, we did get there soon enough that we thought we were OK for the "Dragon Cruise".

The idea for the "Scavenger hunt" was pretty cool - though it probably resulted in making what was about to be a difficult situation a bit more difficult. The weather was crappy, and I had a good friend and my son in the car - we kept having to turn around and backtrack to get pics of items on the list, which delayed us quite a bit. After about an hour, I noticed that my voltmeter showed some kind of funky conditions. Sometimes it would drop down to 10. We decided to keep watching it but continue. Ooops.

My son was the navigator, and when we got to the end of the Dragon on US129 (at the store) we mistakenly turned left rather than turning around. We went about 2 miles. And then the voltmeter dropped to 8, causing us to try and turn around - which is when I lost even enough juice to power the MSD ignition. No tools, no cell signal, no battery power, car can't run, and we're no longer on the correct "route".

Pushed the car off the road and flagged down a guy who ran up to the store (he was supposed to get a cop that was parked there but who had left since we passed) and he ran into a few guys from the cruise. They came back and we thought "maybe" after playing around and jumping the car with jumper cables, I was charging again "slightly", so we started back. The voltmeter stayed at around 11 - for about 2 miles. Then dropped to nothing and the car died. I drifted off onto a pull-off (now we're back on the Dragon), and my buddy and I got a ride back with a couple guys to the hotel, leaving my poor son in my car. That was at around 3pm. We got my rig (Dodge Diesel w/big enclosed trailer), stopped enroute to pick up a replacement 1 wire alternator, and got back to my car at around 9pm. Yes, we took the rig through the Dragon. Got the car loaded back up, drove the remainder of the dragon to turn around at the store, and then drove back - stopping for food. Then went to the Toy Box where at around midnight I replaced the alternator. All is well.

Saturday I installed the DSE shims to push negative camber a bit more and change the toe to slightly out (had been experimenting with this setup at home), but got to the track too late to do the walk through. Went off course on my 1st 2 laps. Doh. The course was very safe, but very challengine. I had particular trouble with the last third of the course. Though I got faster as the day progressed, I didn't fully recognize the impact of gravity (the course was not level) until I thought more thoroughly at the end of the day. Too aggressive into some sections, making me slower than I should have been. Never even checked a single lap time and had no idea where I was until the times were published on this site. During the 1st session, I was loading up in the turns (fuel) so I adjusted my float levels before the second session, which helped dramatically. Turned out that the times weren't quite as bad as I had thought, but I should have been faster. Just bad driving on my part. Like has been said elsewhere - seat time, seat time, seat time. Kyle Tucker in particular rode a lap with me and was very helpful - I just should have concentrated more on his advice.

Sunday for drag racing, I was concentrating so much on how to control my launches that my reaction times were horrible, and I never could get comfortable. The left lane was like a construction zone, with the entire car shaking as it was spinning. Felt like the strip had rumble strips across it. The right lane was much better, but still very very hard to hook. I checked at the conclusion of the event (after awards) and found out that I would have finished 10th but at the VERY last minute somebody bumped me. Funny thing was that I think that's exactly what I did to Bob Bertelson just before I got bumped. Speed stop was very tough. At Heidts I did well, finishing 4th. Here, the surface was tough, and for the first 3 runs (of 4) I was far too conservative. My last run would have been far better, but the front tip of my bumper went through the box, so it was a DNF. Oh well.

Overall, other than the dumb alternator issue, the car did very well. Bill Howell puts on a great event, nothing really "damaged", car performed pretty well considering, and it was a great experience. I really think I should have taking at least a half second off of my autox times without any question. It's courses like this that really show how driving skill and experience mean so much.

[wmhjr]

Oh, I also forgot to mention....

The floating rear brakes combined with the tapered bearings and the heavy Currie retaining plates worked wonders. I never experienced the serious "knock back" that happened during both Heidts and Motor State. It was nice coming out of a turn, hitting the brakes and having pedal!

Also, the oil cooler and thermostat seemed to work very well also. I never had high oil temps at all. I still have some minor pesky leaks to deal with but they were very minor, and in general I was quite happy.

Biggest thing I wished I had (other than more driving skill) was wider tires. Unfortunately, no way to do that without significant modifications which just are not going to happen. 245s up front and 275s in back on such a big heavy car are definitely a disadvantage.

[Payton King]

Great meeting you and I absolutley love your car. Look forward to seeing you and your crew at future events.

The "working on the car at the event" part sucks, seems like I do it every year.

[ccracin]

leaving my poor son in my car. That was at around 3pm. We got my rig (Dodge Diesel w/big enclosed trailer), stopped enroute to pick up a replacement 1 wire alternator, and got back to my car at around 9pm.

I'll have to talk to your son, that should cost yah!

[wmhjr]

Great meeting you and I absolutley love your car. Look forward to seeing you and your crew at future events.

The "working on the car at the event" part sucks, seems like I do it every year.

Payton, the feeling is mutual. Great meeting you as well. So far this year, I've learned that working on the car at the event seems to be part of the fun. Hopefully I'll have less of that kind of fun in the future!

[wmhjr]

I'll have to talk to your son, that should cost yah!

No doubt whatsoever..... I really felt bad about him being stuck there. Though when we arrived at the car at 9pm with the truck and trailer, we initially told him we were late because we stopped at the cookout for dinner first, and they were saving a plate for him He didn't fall for it.

[64Chevelle383]

Great build. How does it handle as compared to modern 3 series BMW or corvette?

[wmhjr]

Great build. How does it handle as compared to modern 3 series BMW or corvette?

That's tough to answer. I've owned BMWs including an M-roadster and an M3. Clearly they are far more refined and better engineered. I've never owned a newer vette. I've been faster than some newer corvettes on the road course, autos, and speed stop but my guess is they've been pretty stock and I'm not. I'd guess my higher HP is helping to make up for chassis disadvantages. I also have a vert, which makes it even harder. My car is far larger, heavier, older, a (flexible) perimeter frame. I'm happy to even have a comparison made. It would be a lot to ask to really compare favorable to those cars.