2005
- WINTER
Now i own a garage worthy of the name, i can work in better condition to remove the A/C for several reasons. First, accessibility of mechanical right side of the engine is difficult. It is difficult to access the spark plugs in less than half an hour. Two, the big condenser obstructs the passage of air to water cooler. Three, air conditioning isn't regulated, it is cold all the time and can be ill even in the hot summer! Four, it's steals some horses and increases fuel consumption. Five, the weight of the air conditioning is about 70 pounds! Can't find better reasons to remove it!? I much prefer driving with the window open and hear the V8 sound as a cold busted, don't you? So I removed it properly (with the idea to possibly put it back one day) the air conditioning compressor, condenser, hoses, brackets to the engine.
Other modification, installation of a set of 8.5mm Ignition MSD Super conductor wires. This is one of the best on the market. After measuring i can say that the MSD is really much better quality. For comparison, i took a one meter ACCEL wire and a MSD of the same length, i measured 20,000 ohms of resistance for the ACCEL while the MSD is only 190 Ohms! This combined with my high voltage 45,000 volts ACCEL coil provides a better spark and therefore a better combustion. The air filter is also replaced by a K&N 14x3".
I changed my spark plugs for R45TSX, that have a lower heat index, which should corresponds better to my use. This allowed me to see that the former were in perfect condition (not oily).
- SPRING
First small operation: setting my front shock absorbers. A half turn more to get them firmer and that's it. Compared to the original setting "0", i now have one clock turn, the maximum is 2 turns. Second intervention: drain the rear end.
I made a small change by painting the surroundings of my rear taillights in black. I split two new belts drive. My battery as been replaced by an Optima 44Ah and 730Amp.
Since I have my PONTIAC, my oil pressure gauge don't work properly. The needle shows 80PSI and it would stick to the horizontal indicating more than 100PSI when i put pedal to the floor. The failure could only come from mano panel sensor or engine oil pressure which is at the oil filter. Having diagnosed the sensor was out of order, i replaced and it works great. Now, pressure gauge indicates 35-30PSi at idle and 60PSI from 2500 to 5000tr/min with 10W40 oil.
I went in CANADA for more than two weeks, i took the opportunity to do all the car accessory shops and buy lots of little things that do not necessarily think a change such as fuel filter, fuel cap fitted with a lock, radiator cap, alternator repair kit, PCV valve, special fuses ... Of course, i installed all the pieces upon my return!
The rods of the front sway bar gave great signs of wear (cracked rubber). So I replaced these with a kit of polyurethane mounts from Energy Suspension. Now the car handle better significantly.
- SUMMER
That's it, the summer is finally here! This is not a reason for inaction on the car! So here i am left in the maintenance and improvements.
I wanted to know the performance of my bird. To do this, nothing better than to run a 1/4mile, but the permanent track don't exist in France, I waited for the annual gathering of Lurcy-Levis to make runs safely and legaly. Here are two of my six runs.
On my fourth run, i feel more comfortable and allows me a little burn ... Despite that, I made a turtle run from remaining stuck on the line. The 203 V8 was at my door yet, because throughout the run, the gap remained the same. Roll on next year I redo ...
I can't expect much than my best run : 16,943sec@136km/h.
Big SUMMIT order arrive. It only remains to install all my parts, namely: MILODON water pump, alu radiator, electric fan, sender, double oil cooler, Edelbrock Performer intake. A whole program but necessary to the health of the engine as with the high heat, hard to keep engine temperatures below 220°F. Note that simply replacing the intake manifold save weight: more than 21kg for stock cast against just over 7kg for the aluminum one! After installing all this equipment, the temperature of the engine does not exceed 180°F!
- AUTUMN
The summer is over and the meetings too. I take this opportunity to continue my improvement. Program, a good engine drain with 15W40 instead of 10W40. With valve stem seals very tired, I hope to consume a little less oil this way. Then i install a B&M Megashifter instead of stock worn shifter.
After over 30 years of loyal service, i decided to replace my U-joint. one was from the factory (the next box) but not the other. Apparently a previous owner was a little "nag" using the car would have exploded and the cross behind, witnessed the impact marks in the floor just above the U joint...
Year in Review: a car that runs better, which don't heats up more and consuming less fuel.
Synthesis of new parts:
- MSD wires
- coil
- spark plugs
- K&N air filter
- belt drive
- OPTIMA battery
- oil pressure sender
- PCV valve
- radiator cap
- gas tank locking cap
- polyurethane bushing
- water pump
- radiator
- oil cooler
- electric fan
- EDELBROCK intake
- shifter
- U jointsTotal miles traveled for 2005: 5000km. (3100miles)
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