Well, it's done...sorta.

I started 3 weeks ago to get my '85 back up & runnin. It needed a set of fuel infectors, and some other piddly stuff. So...I get it torn down, order the infectors, and work on it a little at a time in the evenings as I can, and when it ain't RAININ!
I went ahead and removed the intake base, cause it were purdy nasty, and cleaned all of the stuff in the parts washer/cooker at da shop. Painted the manifold base with aluminuminum paint, the runners with stainless steel paint, and the plenum with cast blast. May sound funky, but it looks really kewl! I also painted the cover for the throttle body red, and sanded off the letters, so it looks "custom".

Anywho, I'm ready to start putting it all back together yestiddy...no problem, eh? Not a chance...
Mama comes back from da bank yesterday, and says the Cadidillac is spittin water, and the "STOP ENGINE'" light came on.
I checks it out, and sure enough, the water pump is pukin. I spent most of the day yesterday gettin the dang thing off, only to find out no-one has the friggin special gaskets I need to put the new one back in!(NorthStar) I'll have to get them from the dealer tomorrow, I guess.

So, I turns me attention back to the '85, and finishin it. I get up EARLY this mornin(7am...that's early fer me on da w-end)....and...IT'S FRIGGNIN RAININ!!!!
I gotta get one of the cars runnin, but I ain't gots no parts fer da Cad, so it's gotta be da Vette. I dug out my 10' X 12' canopy, and spent an hour tryin to remember how to put it up...did I mention it was RAININ?
I finally get the durn thing up, and coverin the Vette so I can werk. Got it all back together around 5pm, and fired it up...you know what happened next, don't cha? Yup...water leaks!
Off comes the upper radiator hose, and cut 2" off it, and the coolant bypass hose that runs thru the throttle body, as it were peein too. Dang...all over the kewl new paint, and the chrome valve covers I jest put on.
After fixin da leaks, and checkin fer any others, I sets da timing...it still ain't runnin just right, but it am better. I still need to replace the pluggin wires...I fergot to order them! They are the originals, and at least two of them are completely dead...no good at all. So...I steal a couple of new wires off my truck. The one that's still waiting fer me to pull da heads off it...again.
Now, the Vette is purrin purdy gud, even with the so-so wires, and the old sparkle plugs. I took it fer a spin down da hiway, came back and checked fer leaks, and gave up fer the nite. "IT'S ALIVE!!!!"
Hopefully, it'll make it to werk tomorrow(and BACK!). Then, we can start drivin the turd again!

Of course, I still gots tuh put the wp back on the Caderack...

Dang...I fergot to put the link to the pics in!

                                                         Click!Adams' Apple2007-06-17 20:06:12

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Joel Adams
C3VR Lifetime Member #56    
My Link


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"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"

That '85 is looking awfully good now, Professor! Really nice paint job on the intake items; and the chrome valve covers bring some bling to the thing.

Sure is different under that hood than the '74 though...all them there fancy infectors...

Wow looking sharp Joel  I really wish I had the knowledge to do that kinda work myself.

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MARK
LIFETIME MEMBER #117

Click here to see my new friend P-Racer
"Keep up the Pace"

Yas dun reel gut,the beginin pics reelly skart me,but looked really gut at the end,gut work ,Bro.after seein all dem wires ,hoses ,and tubes,I'm glad I gots a 78

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C3VR Lifetime Member #93
 

What a freakin' mess under there!!!  Did Uncle Ralphie Nader crawl under that hood and Die!???

Geez, I'm glad you're a brave soul.  That plum skeert me and I ain't afraid a nothin'!

Great Job, man!  Lookin' good!

I Should send photos of the underhood of the '58 'Pache 6. I think there might be 2 wires under there and you can just git in there and and close the lid to work on IT in the rain. 71Shark2007-06-18 07:44:14

Tim, if ya look, you should find at least 3 wires under the garage door on the '58. One for the ignition, and a couple for the starter...

Ya'll a bunch-o-sissies!!! Try werking on the dadgum starter on the Northstar(Cadderack)...it's under the friggin INTAKE manifold!...

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Joel Adams
C3VR Lifetime Member #56    
My Link


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"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"

Dear Dr. Adams:

I lie awake at night, unable to sleep for worrying about when that Optispark distributor on our '96 might take an unwelcome bath. Which it most certainly will, if and when the water pump ever fails.

Because--as you, an eminent Corvettitologist, no doubt knows--the General, in his Infinite Wisdom (!@#%*!*!) carefully and deliberately placed the electronic distributor on these C4's directly right below said H20 squirter.

Is there any medication you can prescribe that can provide relief from this terrible living nightmare, and will allow me to get some much-needed shut-eye?

Nice work Joel. It looks awesome. You are definitely an inspiration to us all. Thanks for the pics.

Scott

[QUOTE=SFVette] Dear Dr. Adams:

I lie awake at night, unable to sleep for worrying about when that Optispark distributor on our '96 might take an unwelcome bath. Which it most certainly will, if and when the water pump ever fails.

Because--as you, an eminent Corvettitologist, no doubt knows--the General, in his Infinite Wisdom (!@#%*!*!) carefully and deliberately placed the electronic distributor on these C4's directly right below said H20 squirter.

Is there any medication you can prescribe that can provide relief from this terrible living nightmare, and will allow me to get some much-needed shut-eye?[/QUOTE]



T, the 96 optionspark is the best of all of them. The cap was modified, and runs vacuum thru it, to help keep the moisture down. They do last MUCH longer than the earlier oopsy-spark. Your's should be good for a while, yet. btw...it's not just the water pump dripping that can cause moisture in them. Just severe high humidity can do it, as well as washing the engine, or, horrors, driving thru a water poodle.

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Joel Adams
C3VR Lifetime Member #56    
My Link


(click for Texas-sized view!)             NCRS

"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"

Well, the turd made it to werk & back yestiddy, and here today, so I guess it's gettin closer! Still has a slight miss in it, but nuttin like it was wid da bad infectors. Now, I just needs to replace da sparkle-plugs and wars, and hopefully take it and the '74 for inspection sticker Saturday.

I put the water pump back on Cadzilla last nite...started putting H2O in, and... one of da dadgum gaskets fell out without me noticing...yup...sob is leakin. Now I got to tear the B@$#%h back apart tonite....

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Joel Adams
C3VR Lifetime Member #56    
My Link


(click for Texas-sized view!)             NCRS

"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"

Wow Joel.  A project like that (if I ever dared undertake it) would take me weeks!  And then, I'd lose motivation.

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I wanted a Corvette my whole life, but I never dreamed of all the wonderful people I would meet because of it!

looking great joel. all the little stuff sometimes is the worst part. hate that when them gaskets jump out so fast you don't see them. at least this time it should go faster as you had practice taking it apart already. hate doing work twice so i know how you feel. 

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LIFETIME MEMBER #97
THE DYNAMIC DUO

Yah Joel,after the 3rd or 4th time y'all will be able ta do it witch yo eyes closed,I've had projects like that  I feel your pain

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C3VR Lifetime Member #93
 

Well, if ya'll have ever seen the set-up for the water pump/coolant cross-over on a Northstar, you'll know it ain't the brightest idea Dave ever had...
Dave Hill, that is...yup...same engineer that did the C5!!!
The water pump itself screws into the cross-over, similar to the fuel sending unit retainer on our cars. Problem is, it takes a special tool to do it with it in the car....I ain't got that tool, ain't gonna buy one either.

I had the thing apart and back together last nite in an hour and a half, and driving it shortly afterwards. Mama is happy now...at least about Cadzilla, anyway!
She stills wants to get the '85 finished, too.

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Joel Adams
C3VR Lifetime Member #56    
My Link


(click for Texas-sized view!)             NCRS

"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"

Wow, the '85 looks very sharp! Great job taking car of it.

      

I finally got the turd running on all 8 holes!!

New infectors, plugs, and pluggin wires. It stopped rainin long enough this evening to get the wires and sparkle plugs in, and she's purrin like a kitty again!
Woo Hoo!! Time to shred the new tars off of it!


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Joel Adams
C3VR Lifetime Member #56    
My Link


(click for Texas-sized view!)             NCRS

"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"

She shore do look a durn site better now Uncle Jed! Now ditch that thar accordian style coupler an go smooth fer some easy HP...

Fer ya guyz that er skeered o that Optispark I gotz a machinist made shadetree puller fer rent when y'all getz ready ta pull that rascal outta thar. (Unless y'all wanna pay some big ol bucks ta da GM boyz... I jest done one in May on a 94 an she weren't no fun. But hit shore is better in driven a while an da car stoppin. Then gettin the trailer ta go getz da car!!!


[QUOTE=Adams' Apple] [QUOTE=SFVette] Dear Dr. Adams:

I lie awake at night, unable to sleep for worrying about when that Optispark distributor on our '96 might take an unwelcome bath. Which it most certainly will, if and when the water pump ever fails.

Because--as you, an eminent Corvettitologist, no doubt knows--the General, in his Infinite Wisdom (!@#%*!*!) carefully and deliberately placed the electronic distributor on these C4's directly right below said H20 squirter.

Is there any medication you can prescribe that can provide relief from this terrible living nightmare, and will allow me to get some much-needed shut-eye?[/QUOTE]



T, the 96 optionspark is the best of all of them. The cap was modified, and runs vacuum thru it, to help keep the moisture down. They do last MUCH longer than the earlier oopsy-spark. Your's should be good for a while, yet. btw...it's not just the water pump dripping that can cause moisture in them. Just severe high humidity can do it, as well as washing the engine, or, horrors, driving thru a water poodle. [/QUOTE]   

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