"I'm Not a Car Guy." - A 1967.5 1600 Refurb Saga

[funkaholik]

Silly me - I thought he was asking if the radio works...

[iloveredmeat]

Silly me - I thought he was asking if the radio works...

Oh, gosh no. Tom knows better than that...

But since you ask... I honestly have no idea if the radio works.

I just needed something to work on — I don't have a speaker, I still need to clean up an antenna, and I'm absolutely terrified of blowing stuff up...

But, because this car has so many good stories, I reckon this is a good chance to say that when my brother bought the car...

viewtopic.php?p=317808#p317808

The ONLY THING the seller mentioned that actually worked??? You guessed it -- was the radio.

I suppose that was his big selling point.

With that reassurance, I prettied up the radio without actually testing it.

But... I will figure out how to test it safely and I will post the results, but y'all have to commit to cooking a steak that way.

Godspeed,
pm

[notoptoy]

Awesome, so when you turn the dial, you can hear the sizzle of the meat hitting the pan! Does it get any other stations?

[iloveredmeat]

Awesome, so when you turn the dial, you can hear the sizzle of the meat hitting the pan! Does it get any other stations?

Oh Man!!! I hope that's what happens... would be the coolest radio ever.

I borrowed a speaker (a really bad one) out of my neighbor's boat. Cleaned up the connector to my original antenna. Poured a cocktail. And so I'm about to dig in right now... very nervous.

Wish me luck that I don't fizzle anything.

Update soon. Fingers crossed. pm

[iloveredmeat]

Sizzles like a steak.

[notoptoy]

Sweet, Looks good and works too!
Congratulations!

[iloveredmeat]

Sweet, Looks good and works too!
Congratulations!

Thank you. Phew. I am so relieved.

I'm confident with steaks... not so much with old electronics, so this was an unexpected win.

Now to find something else I can work on...

[Gregs672000]

Turn that darn thing down, ya hippie!

He he he... congrats.

[iloveredmeat]

Turn that darn thing down, ya hippie!

He he he... congrats.

Ha!

Blasting talk radio like a rebel madman!

I'm officially old.

[Gregs672000]

I'm old too, but still blast out Led Zeppelin on my drums (same kit I've had since age 16!).

More on topic(s)... Regarding the recent posts on the dyno, and the discussion about how "bigger isn't always better" for induction, I found a YouTube guy (Garage 4age) who does exactly what I would love to do given a dyno in my garage and enough funding to safely play. He does nice, simple, systematic tests on the dyno and shows the results. In one session he tested different diameter intake runners on his motor, a 9000rpm 200whp Toyota 4age, starting with a baseline using the stock diameter tubes, stacks and foam filter (I think he took the filter off later). He then tried a 40mm (smaller than stock I assume) open pipe (using the same as stock trumpet) and moved through a few sizes on up to a 60mm that tapered to 51mm.

The results were interesting: This is just on this engine of course, but it may be relevant to us, as he had more torque and hp using the 40mm from 3500 clear to 7000rpm than any other set up. It severely limited top end power after 7000rpm however, so 40mm didn't make any sense on a 9000rpm motor, but for those of us with engines that redline at 7000 or lower it may have implications. The main thing he didn't control for was the likely differences in his tune, and I think the dips that show up at times vs his baseline are probably due to minor A/F ratio differences, or maybe timing that could be tuned out... he's optimized for his baseline set up and it shows in how steady his output is.

Anyway, just one example where over size this or that is not necessarily good, or really more of "it depends...". This may lead to some thought or discussion on main venturi sizing in these motors and where they are designed to run. If your redline is at 6000 or so and the cam is designed to produce power in the lower rpms ranges you may be better off with a smaller carb (40 vs a 44) or a smaller main venturi (34 vs 37?). My original 44mm late version Mikuni came with 34mm chokes, which I changed to 37 over time. I felt like I gained top end hp (makes sense) but it might have cost lower end torque and more "usable" power. A dyno would tell! What's interesting now is that, with a 40mm throttle body (going into a 44mm+ manifold) I feel like torque is increased everywhere over my 45mm Dellortos with 37mm venturi. Maybe there's a difference created between a 40mm and 44mm throttle plate? When I get on the dyno we'll see!

I'm gonna watch a few more.

[iloveredmeat]

I'm old too, but still blast out Led Zeppelin on my drums (same kit I've had since age 16!).

Good on ya, Greg!

I actually listen to all sorts of music, and loudly, but this little radio doesn't do that, all I could find on the AM was talk radio or Spanish language stations... but it was a beautiful sound coming from a 50 year old relic!

More on topic(s)... Regarding the recent posts on the dyno, and the discussion about how "bigger isn't always better" for induction, I found a YouTube guy (Garage 4age) who does exactly what I would love to do given a dyno in my garage and enough funding to safely play. He does nice, simple, systematic tests on the dyno and shows the results. In one session he tested different diameter intake runners on his motor, a 9000rpm 200whp Toyota 4age, starting with a baseline using the stock diameter tubes, stacks and foam filter (I think he took the filter off later). He then tried a 40mm (smaller than stock I assume) open pipe (using the same as stock trumpet) and moved through a few sizes on up to a 60mm that tapered to 51mm.

The results were interesting: This is just on this engine of course, but it may be relevant to us, as he had more torque and hp using the 40mm from 3500 clear to 7000rpm than any other set up. It severely limited top end power after 7000rpm however, so 40mm didn't make any sense on a 9000rpm motor, but for those of us with engines that redline at 7000 or lower it may have implications. The main thing he didn't control for was the likely differences in his tune, and I think the dips that show up at times vs his baseline are probably due to minor A/F ratio differences, or maybe timing that could be tuned out... he's optimized for his baseline set up and it shows in how steady his output is.

Anyway, just one example where over size this or that is not necessarily good, or really more of "it depends...". This may lead to some thought or discussion on main venturi sizing in these motors and where they are designed to run. If your redline is at 6000 or so and the cam is designed to produce power in the lower rpms ranges you may be better off with a smaller carb (40 vs a 44) or a smaller main venturi (34 vs 37?). My original 44mm late version Mikuni came with 34mm chokes, which I changed to 37 over time. I felt like I gained top end hp (makes sense) but it might have cost lower end torque and more "usable" power. A dyno would tell! What's interesting now is that, with a 40mm throttle body (going into a 44mm+ manifold) I feel like torque is increased everywhere over my 45mm Dellortos with 37mm venturi. Maybe there's a difference created between a 40mm and 44mm throttle plate? When I get on the dyno we'll see!

I'm gonna watch a few more.

I admit that I had to google more than a few terms here... I still have a LOT to learn. But, I'm beginning to understand a bit more and your points are really interesting and I hope some of you experienced guys garner some info from this stuff... so many factors, eh? I reckon that's where the 'art' comes in to play.

I'm going back to the google to edumacate myself over coffee.

Thanks!

[Gregs672000]

I have enjoyed watching some more of this guy's videos... look him up. He did one on different header tube diameters as well as the effect of a different, more gradual merge collector. Differences can be subtle, but he does a good job of pointing out areas where it clearly showed improvement or loss, or unexpected results (as in significant dips or peaks). In one video, a step up in individual exhaust tubing size in the header cost power until 7000rpm... again, in this case bigger was NOT better unless you live at 9000rpm. In another, the more gradual merge collector significantly improved power... you wouldn't think it would make all that much difference. Of course, as he points out this is on a 4AGE, and on his motor. There could be combinations that don't work well separately but do work well together, like matching up a particular intake runner length/diameter with a particular header or exhaust that otherwise didn't work well separately, but he doesn't cover ALL the different combinations during these tests and tries to keep it to one change at a time, with some adjustments.

Fun stuff and he has a sense of humor... Australian I think...

[iloveredmeat]

I have enjoyed watching some more of this guy's videos... look him up. He did one on different header tube diameters as well as the effect of a different, more gradual merge collector. Differences can be subtle, but he does a good job of pointing out areas where it clearly showed improvement or loss, or unexpected results (as in significant dips or peaks). In one video, a step up in individual exhaust tubing size in the header cost power until 7000rpm... again, in this case bigger was NOT better unless you live at 9000rpm. In another, the more gradual merge collector significantly improved power... you wouldn't think it would make all that much difference. Of course, as he points out this is on a 4AGE, and on his motor. There could be combinations that don't work well separately but do work well together, like matching up a particular intake runner length/diameter with a particular header or exhaust that otherwise didn't work well separately, but he doesn't cover ALL the different combinations during these tests and tries to keep it to one change at a time, with some adjustments.

Fun stuff and he has a sense of humor... Australian I think...

He is awesome. And his 4-wheeling looks so fun! Good find.

[iloveredmeat]

Finally visited my car again!

It's been over 4 months since I saw my car, and that trip was almost entirely turkey hunting and uncovering a parts car.

Considering that over the past couple of years, I've bought a bunch of stuff that I just thought I might need – much of it simply shipped up to my car, sight unseen.

And because of that, I only had a loose grip on what I actually owned.

So part of the plan was to take inventory and organize and asses parts and needs.

Day One: I went to my brother's shop and this photo shows just a portion of the parts stored at my his shop... and at least an equal amount stored at his house.

Frankly this was overwhelming and almost depressing. It made me realize just how far away I am and much work I have ahead of me...



Ummm... okay, now what? How does this thing get back together?

I snapped my fingers. Nothing happened.

Crossed my arms, blinked 3 times. Nothing.

Sigh.

Long road ahead.

[funkaholik]

Reunited! Nice. That is a lot of parts, and boxes of parts. At least your car is in good company, even when you're not there. I see a '69 Buick Sport Wagon and what looks like an A body convertible - maybe an Oldsmobile?

Sweet.