My Project
well, It's been along time since I've updated my thread. It's been a real roller coaster around here and just didn't have the time to keep up. Long story short ...I got the first motor put in and running....then... a few weeks later I noticed a little puddle of anti-freeze on the floor and it wasn't in a place I really wanted to find one. Slid under and looked up expecting to see a header bolt leaking or worst case...head gasket. Well it wasn't any of the ones I expected. Block was cracked right at the front driver side freeze plug.#-o Luckily I had another block but that was one set back I didn't need. Decided if I was going to have to build another it was a good excuse. UPS guy knows me by first name. 440 Source Stealth heads, MSD distributor, new damper, and a few other goodies. I got the new engine put in and running. Problem number 2.....it over heated. Didn't have the problem with the first engine and nothing changed except for the heads and distributor, and wrapped the headers. Pulled the heads back off to see if I could see anything...nothing. Put it all back together and still overheated. Didn't overheat bad just hotter than I was comfortable with. I started searching for a better electric fan set up than I had. I finally came across where guys were using fans for a Cheby HHR. At this point I have nothing to loose. Went and bought the fan and came home to figure out a way to mount it without cutting up the front end like I saw some do. After about 3 days of thinking I finally decided on a plan. The pictures below will show pretty much what I did. I had the neck moved on the radiator. The guy did a great job and only charged me $45. I removed the bottom cross member of the core support. I then made a new cross member from 2"x2"x16ga box tubing that was originally a weight machine somebody trashed a while back, I scavenged and figured someday it would come in handy. I welded it in and then cut the core support opening to fit the radiator through. I cut pieces out of the core support I removed to tie the core support to the box tubing cross member. I spaced the radiator through the core support til I had about 3/4" between the fan and the water pump. It left me plenty of room to put all the grill support pieces back with room to spare. The only thing I had to do was lenghten the support that runs from the latch plate to the core support and bolt it into the new cross member. And YES the new fan keeps the temp at around 188 to 190 at idle. Now I can finish the interior and hopefully get to drive it by the end of August.
well, It's been along time since I've updated my thread. It's been a real roller coaster around here and just didn't have the time to keep up. Long story short ...I got the first motor put in and running....then... a few weeks later I noticed a little puddle of anti-freeze on the floor and it wasn't in a place I really wanted to find one. Slid under and looked up expecting to see a header bolt leaking or worst case...head gasket. Well it wasn't any of the ones I expected. Block was cracked right at the front driver side freeze plug.#-o Luckily I had another block but that was one set back I didn't need. Decided if I was going to have to build another it was a good excuse. UPS guy knows me by first name. 440 Source Stealth heads, MSD distributor, new damper, and a few other goodies. I got the new engine put in and running. Problem number 2.....it over heated. Didn't have the problem with the first engine and nothing changed except for the heads and distributor, and wrapped the headers. Pulled the heads back off to see if I could see anything...nothing. Put it all back together and still overheated. Didn't overheat bad just hotter than I was comfortable with. I started searching for a better electric fan set up than I had. I finally came across where guys were using fans for a Cheby HHR. At this point I have nothing to loose. Went and bought the fan and came home to figure out a way to mount it without cutting up the front end like I saw some do. After about 3 days of thinking I finally decided on a plan. The pictures below will show pretty much what I did. I had the neck moved on the radiator. The guy did a great job and only charged me $45. I removed the bottom cross member of the core support. I then made a new cross member from 2"x2"x16ga box tubing that was originally a weight machine somebody trashed a while back, I scavenged and figured someday it would come in handy. I welded it in and then cut the core support opening to fit the radiator through. I cut pieces out of the core support I removed to tie the core support to the box tubing cross member. I spaced the radiator through the core support til I had about 3/4" between the fan and the water pump. It left me plenty of room to put all the grill support pieces back with room to spare. The only thing I had to do was lenghten the support that runs from the latch plate to the core support and bolt it into the new cross member. And YES the new fan keeps the temp at around 188 to 190 at idle. Now I can finish the interior and hopefully get to drive it by the end of August.