Recent content by zombezoo

I think 135-degree boots are essentially the same as 45-degree boots (different mfgs use different terms, Pertronix uses 45-degree term). I have all 90-degree boots now that I was able to make work with the exception of the two drivers rear plugs that keep burning. 45/135 boots would be better...

Its WAY harder. I just always wanted a 440 big block car so I made one. No regrets. They do make 90 degree ceramic boots. I figured I would try here first in case someone knew where I might find 45 degree shorties.

Does anyone know a source for short 45 degree ceramic plug wire boots? (8mm). I have the pertronix ones but they are too long for many of the locations, they hit the steering components on the driver's side and the fender on the passenger. The back two drivers plug locations on a 440 with the...

That helps, so after a system refresh, you think you're running in the 185 range (no AC) no matter what your driving condition is? This is the core of my concern; I think I have a system that is just on the edge of its capacity. Around town the temps are locked in at 194-195, getting on the...

New cap, of course new parts dont necessarily = working... But let's see if I understand how this works... The cap raises pressure which would raise the boiling point of the liquid but what does that mean for temperature? Assuming everything else remains the same except the pressure in the...

Ok, so to recap why I'm asking: I have read countless posts where people talk about running hot and people referencing specific temps. I have read many posts with people saying their vehicle runs cool essentially never gets hotter than the thermostat rating. Perhaps this is all completely...

Maybe I'm overthinking this and its fine. It's never gone more than 1/2 gauge but once I saw how hot in degrees 1/2 gauge was I started getting worried.

So having the CTS brought some actual numbers to the game. I have an IR temp gun too. Temp gun pointed at the water pump housing (where the CTS is mounted) shows roughly the same temp. 195-205 on the CTS has the gauge needle either on the left or right side of the first line above cold. I...

Update: It finally cooled off here (mid 70s) enough to work on the car. I made two changes: 1) I swapped back to my recurved distributor. Before the head swap, I had trouble fouling plugs and poor running and the engine seemed to like the factory RV distributor better. Now with the fresh heads...

See Post 111 and 114. The 1.5 ohm coil is too much for the HEI module, the 0.32 coil was too little. I needed a coil that was between 0.5 and 0.7. It's been working fine since for more than 1000 miles. My backfire was unrelated. I have since put new heads on, and the car runs great. The...

I just read something that the radiator hose wire was a factory piece due to the assembly process using vacuum to do the initial fill of coolant on the assembly line. It was apparently not needed to prevent collapse during operation because the radiator cap should have the system under pressure...

As an update to the original hightway temp topic, I finally got the chance to put a FlowKooler 180 degree high flow thermostat in to replace the parts store replacement I had installed. Unfortunately the same issue persists. It runs cool at idle and around town as long as I keep it under 50mph...

I bought directly from 440 source. They were assembled heads. Car runs much better. The engine had what were presumably the factory steel shim type gaskets. Between leaky valve seals and presumably bad valve sealing the car did not want to idle very well with the original heads. Its much...

I believe this was my problem, no meaningful pressure increase until more than 1/2 throttle which caused all sorts of part throttle drivability issues. The thing would shift to 3rd by 20 mph and would never kick down

So my quest to understand this led me to an incorrect assumption: --The ratio was 1:1 where closed throttle meant kickdown lever on the trans fully forward and WOT meant kickdown lever fully rearward. This turned out not to work for me, I actually spent a bunch of time measuring everything out...