Well over a year ago I got a set of Beehive springs and Rhoads Lifters for the T-bird, been kind of lazy and they just sat on the bench.
Well today at about 2 pm I decided to pull the T-bird in the shop and get busy. My adapter plate I made for the Chevy valve spring tool worked fine and the springs installed right in. I used the 135 pound seat pressure beehives (if I had to do it over again I might have went to the lighter ones) and plus .050 keepers. This put them slightly over the recommended installed height.
The Rhoads lifters were a direct replacement and easy to adjust. You adjust them just like a solid lifter at .020. I kind of like this because I know it right, but they do make a bit of noise, sounds like a solid cam.
Idle is better than before, holds 800 very nice in park (would go much less) and about 650 in gear. No longer does it rock and roll at idle and makes you worry that it going to die. But it still has a nice rumble and with the solid lifter sound I think it sounds kind of cool. I think I could let someone else drive it now without worrying.
I did something that I wanted to do on father's day. Now I just need to install the new fuel pump.
They are going to open up the local airport for 1/4 mile in mid July and I would like to be there. The only other time I took it to the strip it ran the best of 13.8 at 99mph. It was cutting out about 4k and not running good. I'm sure I can beat that time now.
TED
Cool, now we want to see the 12 sec ET...
My best on motor is 13.11 and will go 13.3s all day long... You want to have to live with the fact a full weight(working A/C etc) TC with a puny lil 302 is faster than 500cu in??? :D
It's still cool ;)
You have a very impressive car TurboCoupe50. How much faster do I have to be due to the fact that I don't have AC? Is your car all motor or do you run some NOS? I would never bad mouth a 302, they are great engines.
I just don't see this car doing 12's right now but we will see. It sure does spin those Nittos 275's, at least until I warm them up.
TED
I'll let you slide on the A/C--weight, I just want to see that 12... (Hey I could be yellin' for a 11)... :D Even if it only goes 13,x its still a cool car... And I like it... Just raggin' on you a bit... I really believe a 12 should be no problem with a good launch...
I've gone 12.23@112 on roughly a 85hp shot of the juice... Tried a 150hp kick but tires couldn't hold it... Guessing 11.7 had I got it hooked up, spinning it's ass off went 12.48@115...
Most likely what the car needs is a better driver... and maybe some Juice.
I will let you know.
TED
Here's a Cadillac Powered Mustang that he got in the high nines. Stock bottom end and lots of juice. Listing to how high he revs it on the launch, just over idle; this is with a 2000 stall and 3.08 gears. This is the car that got me to put a 500 in the T-bird.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJxrmnDunGY
When I'm feeling down this clip always picks me up.
TED
Wow, that's a quick stang. I'm glad you're posting more Ted, for a while it seemed like you fell off the earth.
Bring it down to Portland if really want the better driver mod ;)
I can also help you tune it really nice at the track. We average 15 passes in one night so a lot can be accomplished.
Ted there you go, sounds like a good plan if you could make it... It's always kinda daunting to go to the strip the first few times especially till you get the feel for the car and track... Also need to be aware of track rules and just what is expected of the partints... Always helps to have a veteran give you a few pointers...
They are serious about Tech at PIR, but I go soooo much they know I have it down. Plus I have a SFI/SA2005 helmet for legality. ;)
I'll bring Layla and we can have a mini-meet!
Sounds very temping I will have to see what I can do. It is 120 miles one-way to Portland, twice as far as Bremerton but I would good to have the help. But the two times I went to Bremerton I only got 3 runs in once and 6 on the 2nd time. Everyone and their dog was there.
Down in North Bend Oregon for work tonight and will be in Wilsonville Tomorrow; going home on Thursday.
TED
PIR is $23 for Fri or Sat night TNT. Open from 6-12. So you can go 2 nights in a row for less then $50 and expect ~30 runs. I have the track record of 30 runs in one night. I usually get 20 in on Fridays even when it's busy.
Good to talk with you tonight Mike; have to do this real soon.
TED
AHHH here I go again... 120 miles???? Duck Soop... I've driven mine 320+ miles to All Ford Carlisle, raced at South Mountain Dragway and drove home again... Before I started racing at the 1/8 mi strip in NC(about 45 miles), I was going to VMP in Petersburg couple times a month(93 mi.)... Only "drag it back home" was when the POS Carter fuel pump quit turning into VMP... I drove it back home in 2nd when the AOD input shaft broke the first time at the track in '00... Raced once at Richmond Dragway that's about 110 miles...BTW all mileages are one way... With the 3.08 gear that big ole 500 will be loafin' down the highway...
I've driven to Canada to race :hick:
It's an addiction. Ted has a tow vehicle though...
I drove it to Bremerton and back no problem but going to Portland I think I will put it on the trailer. I have a 94 Dodge diesel truck that get better mileage pulling a car and trailer than the T-bird gets. The truck will get about 17 and the T-bird about 13.
I think the T-bird will do just fine but it just peace of mind if it does not. I purchased the trailer to haul Eldorados and the T-bird will look nice and small up there. I can also haul more tools and parts.
I'm starting to get excited, lets say Friday the 29th?
TED
Sounds good to me ;)
My Truck and trailer. Shop too.
Sounds like a plan, can't wait.
TED
The Pimproller needs some rims:D
One of the bad things about the Eldos is that no rims are available. But one time I got one with factory mags, very rare, and they sold for $1,000 plus shipping costs to Norway. Stock caps also sell very well and you don't see any at my house with the caps still on them.
I buy Eldo hardtops, 71-78, and sell the parts to people who restore the converts. I now have 19 of these "pimprollers" in my field for parts. Most of them run and most have the 500 engines, two of them have the 425.
If you know of any for sale in Western Washington let me know, 71 to 78 only.
TED