Rebeldryver's '70 Caprice Granny's Luxo-Muscle-Barge

[Scott Liggett]

I replaced the plug wires today. I was still running the original Accels that I put on right after I bought the car. A couple had worn through on the suspension. I also finally used an NOS AC/Delco rotor I had lying about forever.

The car is running great with the Holley, but it pings a bit under full throttle. So, I backed off the timing to 12* initial and it's 32* total.

I took it the on ramp of the freeway and using the metering light mashed the gas with the car in first. I've never really shifted this car manually before. The car moved out pretty good, but at around 3000 rpm the tires came loose, spinning. I didn't lift, but then the drivetrain started freewheeling. I think the locker let couldn't hold. As soon as I let off the gas it, it caught and started moving again like nothing happened. Strange. It did this once before according to Carl.

I did some reading on the Powertraxx Lock Rite manual and realized I never checked the clearances. I feel there may be too much play between the couplers and drivers. In the end, I may have to go to a posi.

[Blazerteam]

Yep..i have 12 degrees too..it pings too when i have it in second gear around 40mph,and are accrelating.

[Scott Liggett]

Yep..i have 12 degrees too..it pings too when i have it in second gear around 40mph,and are accrelating.

Are you running the vacuum advance? I disconnected mine because it was adding 20* of advance.

I realized I only have 76 jets in the secondaries, which is stock for the carb. It's probably leaning out. I'll up them to 78 or 80's and see if I can bring some of the timing back. I also checked to see where all the timing is coming in. Right now, it's right at 2700 rpm. I think that is ok for now. What do you guys think?

See the new wires. I even got all anal and put the white lettering out on all of them. I pulled the manual choke off. Someone dropped the carb and the blade was bent. The rod was also sticking in the horn's holes.

[langleylad]

I noticed no fan shroud , does it run hot ? .

[Scott Liggett]

I noticed no fan shroud , does it run hot ? .

Only if I sit idling and not moving for long periods of time. The car didn't come with a fan shroud.

[Spaceman Spiff]

Green fan......like the two lane 55......

[Scott Liggett]

Yeah, the fan is vintage. Fiberglass, or plastic.

[Scott Liggett]

I keep my engine clean with Simple Green, but it doesn't like the decals on the engine. It destroyed the one on the air cleaner.



I got new ones at OPG over the weekend. I got the TurboJet 360 HP version because I wanted the engine to look like the LS5 in 1970.


I also got the valve cover Tonowanda decal. The original vlave covers had one.



Now, I just have to stop spraying Simple Green willy nilly everywhere.

[squirrel]

Did this car have painted valve covers or chrome originally?

[Scott Liggett]

painted. I may still have to use them. We'll see when I start putting the AC back in. 70 Chevelle 454 cars with AC use a slightly different bracketry that doesn't get in the way of taller valve covers.

[Scott Liggett]

I bought a B&M down shift switch a couple weeks ago and tried installing it last week. I got it installed, but had some carb issues.

The Holley 750 double pumper I had on the car had progressive linkage with no provision to connect the downshift switch. So, I changed out the base plate to the Proform one I had. It has the standard linkage setup. I also decided to see if the issues I've been having with my Proform were the metering blocks or main body. I discovered it's the main body that seems to be the problem. It wouldn't idle at all. It's acting like it had a huge vacuum leak. Switching back to the Holley main body and the car ran perfect.

I cut a TH350 downshift cable bracket I had lying around in half and mounted it to the intake.


The switch activates as soon as it is pulled. The spring allows the carb linkage to continue movement after the switch is pulled.



I needed a wire that gets juice with the ignition is on. This nice on with a plug attached wasn't doing anything but dangling by the firewall so I used it. I had a wire with a plug that fit it in my pile of spare wires.



Well, it's not working. Not sure if the switch in the trans is functioning. It's too late for me to figure out what's wrong. I'll go back at it tomorrow.

[Scott Liggett]

The other project I did today was replace the window seals. The Caprice's were hard as rock and literally falling off in bits. Not to mention, they leaked.



Most of it came out with one good tug. There is a wire that runs through the seal that made it easy to get most of it out.



After some scraping and wire brushing, I stuffed the new seal in.


It's much quieter now in the car now with the windows rolled up.

[TheSilverBuick]

Putting new seals in the Skylark was one of the best things I did between leaks and road noise.

At first glance I thought the sign in front of the Caprice said "NOT ENOUGH STREET" which would be kinda fitting for how large these cars are by today's standards

[squirrel]

ON the electric connector on the side of the transmission, is there only one terminal, or two?

[Scott Liggett]

ON the electric connector on the side of the transmission, is there only one terminal, or two?

Two. As per the instructions, I connected it to the vertical spade, the orange wire.