News: 79 Top-End Rebuild

[TMPJoe]

after milling you are up around 10:1

on 93 octane that will make you run pretty warm for the stock cooling system as well

i have a much wilder build and I had to go with a Becool radiator with twin fans.. i still fight the heat all the time

get your tune right... remember fat motors dont blow.. a few hp down on top end but they last a lifetime... ! nice work.. like the way you do your finish items

i run 10:5 to 1 and 39degrees straight .. no advance.. so I push it hard but a lot of the guys I see find the stock system in an L48 (which is what mine was) just is not up to the task at hand when you step up the power...

good luck!

 

[Vette79]

after milling you are up around 10:1

on 93 octane that will make you run pretty warm for the stock cooling system as well

i have a much wilder build and I had to go with a Becool radiator with twin fans.. i still fight the heat all the time

get your tune right... remember fat motors dont blow.. a few hp down on top end but they last a lifetime... ! nice work.. like the way you do your finish items

i run 10:5 to 1 and 39degrees straight .. no advance.. so I push it hard but a lot of the guys I see find the stock system in an L48 (which is what mine was) just is not up to the task at hand when you step up the power...

good luck!

I no longer have a stock cooling system. Radiator, Water Pump, Thermostat, and Fan Clutch all replaced.

 

[Vette79]

Break-In Video

Here is a link to the 79 Break-In Video of my Brother and I. Enjoy!!!

http://jeff.siford.com/corvette/2008_05_May/startup.wmv

 

[TMPJoe]

I no longer have a stock cooling system. Radiator, Water Pump, Thermostat, and Fan Clutch all replaced.

I run twin electric fans.. 11 inch each.. just to let you know... the radiaotr is a 1000hp rated be cool

and still in the summer its hot... 225-230 on 95 degree days until i can get the car up to speed...

I saw your radiator is new but stock and stock fan...

try some redline too... that will help... could have been air.. plus these don't work well with the cap off the radiator.. they need to be sealed at the right PSI on the cap...

great start up video.. looked like me jumping around for leaks! Don't ya just love it!

we will be doing that pretty soon on the son's car all over again!

I love the looks like fuel comment...!!!!!!!

 

[LT4man]

What's the easiest way to ensure no air in the cooling system?

The best way I have found is to go thru several run-stop cycles. Start engine, let it get up to operating temp and then shut down for 20 minutes. Check level in radiator. Fill if needed. Start it again. Do this several times in a row and you should be good to go!

SAVE THE

 

[oceangal]

Cool video

I liked the powder puff towel too.

 

[fine69]

Good job, Jeff.

 

[Crimson Thunder]

Great video.Can't wait to see how she runs.It looked scary when your brothers forearm was very close to the fan when fixing that leak.

 

[Vette79]

Well, re-installed fan and fan clutch, plugs, plug wires and looms, and coolant nipple on intake manifold. Re-torque timiung chain cover and fuel pump. Replaced fuel hose to fuel pump. Almost done and almost time to start her back up again for tuning and leak check. PICS to follow soon. Hopefully temperature will go down...

 

[WolfPlayer]

The new compression given the TRW pistons is around 9.75:1. She should run cool enough with that compression given the proper fueling and timing.

I've seen a couple situations where the actual temperature sender is wrong. I am hoping that this isn't the case at this juncture. What I am really hoping is that the combination of retarded timing, lean fuel mixture (as the plugs clearly showed), air bubbles, and not enough air through the radiator was causing the temperature. We'll see

As far as my arm being close to the fan - that is one of the things I really tried to watch carefully. You'll see some weird arm actions from me in the video (lol).

All in all, this was a fairly painless startup - a LOT easier than we thought it would be. I've done plenty of startups on other cars but they have all been fuel injected roller cam vehicles.

What I really want to do is to get my wideband oxygen sensor on there. That would be the be-all-end-all in terms of making sure the fueling is spot on. We'll see. Currently, I have this permanently mounted in my STI.

t

 

[TMPJoe]

good fun!

good luck with the cooling.. mine has been a bear... i am around 10.5 to one and its really tough.. these cars have NO surface area to draw air in! ... my headers are ceramic thank god... i cannot imagine steel ones..i would melt the fender wells!

that was an easy start up....

when we fired mine up i had a funny car crew chief and you know what five grown up guys managed to do? (Yeah let me tell you they start better with the distributor in at 1tdc!).... i think it was the last beer run and the 1am start time

you guys did a very nice job...

 

[WolfPlayer]

I contribute some of the easy startup to a little trick I learned quite some time ago. I recommend this to everybody I know. I'll let Jeff post the picture when he gets a chance. However, long story short, find yourself an old distributor cap that you would normally throw away. Cut a huge window in the side where #1 terminal is. Drop the distributor in and then line up number one Tighten the distributor down and then replace your cap. Simple as that No more guess-work.

t

 

[Vette79]

Here's the trick...

 

[TMPJoe]

less beer and an earlier start would have helped me !

 

[Vette79]

We actually started around 10:30 but had to do a quick modification with the heater hose first. Triple checked our work and then decided we should eat first. That was a good call. Beer would of been nice but that really would of made the day drag on and probably would of got less work done. All in All it was a good day. Now I'm just trying to address what issues we encountered and put everything back together. Can't wait to see what she can do.

 

[Vette79]

All Done!

Well, 79 Top-End Rebuild Project done! Thought I would post a couple of final pics. Just as soon as we dial her in we will take another video of her in motion...:cool Thanks to many of you for help and input.

 

[uufta]

Always late
Very interesting documentation of a birth your baby, I wish I would have done that several times,
I noticed that you have a L82 style air cleaner, is that what an L48 comes with in 79? My L82 has a temp sensor in the right head that runs a second electric fan that is attached to the radiator in front of the regular belt driven large fan, I cant remember what temp sets it off but you can see it dramatically work on the temp gage, and there is a air volume demand driven flap on the bottom of the radiator, that acts as a drop down air scoop. I was just wondering with aftermarket heads and headers, none of those systems are working, you might be better off going with a set of electric fans,might be worth the price to save on hot spots and your AC.

I have a lot to learn in the diff between the two 79 engine setups, there are a few odd little diff in the cooling, carburation and forced air volume. of course you know tons more than I on this, since you have been down to your elbows in it and I have just had time to look and read.

Edit: Ok , I did some homework and the assembly manual shows both models with the dual snorkels, since we only drive our toys in warmer weather your header heat will probably be just fine for opening the doors in the air cleaner, but i was right about the auxillary fan in the L82 and it has its own sensor in the right head and the circuit runs through the air cond controls besides being functional on its own..
I got a new book recently "How to rebuild a Corvette rolling chassis" since we are diving slowly into this 62, anyhow, the author says on pg 209, very late 79 and 80 L82's have this aux fan setup, and all 81-82's...
And, pg 210 he says a double fan is the best type to mount if you have gone and kicked your car up a few notches,Flez-a-lite #230, dual 12" dia electric pusher fans mount in front of the radiator and they clear the hood and all, $225 includes adj thermostat and air cond relay...cheap enough for some piece of mind, before my 77 gets back on the road I think I will get those, that stroker puts out mega-heat with alum heads/manifold, this looks like a good fix
My guess you get to keep the big fan also since your are pushing with these, that alone will make me try it, cause I have never trusted a 15k engine with little office fans..LOL (you can get that book at Motorbooks.com)

over and out
Greg

 

[Cruzen]

Very nice clean workmanship and well documented. My knuckles hurt with every picture. Memories of similar endevours. 32 vehicles over the years with 4 of them being Vettes.

Denny

 

[Vette79]

Very nice clean workmanship and well documented. My knuckles hurt with every picture. Memories of similar endevours. 32 vehicles over the years with 4 of them being Vettes.

Denny

Thank you Denny. The fun never ends as I am in the process of installing full Roller Rockers and BB Studs. Maybe after that I can slow down a little...lol.

 

[Vette79]

UPDATE

1.6 Full Roller Rockers are now installed. My brother and I were able to install a bung on the passenger side exhaust pipe and use a Wide Band to check Air Fuel Ratio. Next is the DYNO for true results.

This past winter new tires, new valve covers, new PCV, new interior trim and new half shafts with spicer u-joints were installed. Amazing how I am still able to financially manage this...