guess Johnny is close to perfectionist...he`s married to a German woman!

Well thanks Tom, this car just might drive me to the poor house, but we'll look dam good pulling in!

I give life everything I got Bjorn. You only go around once, why spend it with a boring woman?

Looking real nice J Mac I just may cruise up that way some day and park the Blackbird next to it

Kel

Johnny, I try too, ...lol

my first wife was German, a Berliner...
my second was Swedish, a southerner...
my third is native Houstonian, American in other words...and another "southerner"

as you said "You only go around once.." but I decided to do it 3 times......

Hopefully tomorrow I'll have a serpentine system photo, but tonight it's the waterpump pressed wrong

kel, beer is on me.. where is that route 66 cruise thread?

Bjorn, ever have them all the same night?

JM,
Looks like you forgot to use the bolt that 'draws' the intake towards the timing cover.?? It may leak, eek!

D'oh!!

Bjorn, ever have them all the same night?

nope Johnny , not even in the same year! :rolleyes:

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif"> JM,
Looks like you forgot to use the bolt that 'draws' the intake towards the timing cover.?? It may leak, eek! </font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Nice catch Jim! .....He's right JMac, need to "loosen" intake blots, install front bolt thru water pump, then retorque intake bolts......better to find it now than later, again, WTG Jim!

Kel

HMMMMMMMMM I think you guys may have found my water leak. The guy that built my engine said it was just a bad manifold....... That bolt goes all the way through the water pump to the intake????

Now I'm impressed... good eyes everyone...

Actually, that passthru has been plugged off and the thermostat has been modified.. I believe they'll still stick a bolt there to make it look nice.

Waiting on a power steering pump now, but still have a friday date with the dyno!

Hoy, now it get´s hefty!!

It´s like an advent calendar: you get a new sweet surprise every day
But you have to stop this now, you can´t boost it any further!

Next is the fancy high dollar hoses.

Oh man, and he has a license to omit factory bolts. Let me know what else is 'optional' JM. After all these years I thought you needed that bolt! Good thing you got a good sense of humour. LOL Puddles aren't that funny under my cars.

JM,
I don't think you understood which bolt. Pardon my artistry LOL I drew in a bolt with the special washer in red.

Jim... I did recognize the missing bolt, but thanks for taking the time to stay on this, what a great bunch of guys here.

The intake and the water pump have been plugged at that point. The thermostat flange has been drilled. He commented it was an old corvette trick. I'll pin the builder down for his exact words and logic tomorrow. Frankly it was already done when he told me.

Bob, I'd love the fancy hoses, but I'm told the best I can do is steele braided sleeves that go around the rubber hoses. Which I will do.

Thanks!!

That's very interesting. Can't wait to hear more about it.

I'm keen to hear about this Corvette trick too. Sharp eyesight there Jim. My hat's off to you for noticing this, even if there is a special mod. Leftover parts have never treated me well. My 400 has a bolt through the pump into the manifold and I can't think of any advantage for leaving it off, Corvette trick or not.

Bolts gotta go in before the bling. I hope all the mains are installed right and tight.

it's thee Jim Hands personal machine shop..

Johnny ,looks like you`re going the way of my friend Andy....might ask him for pics of his engine set up....but keep your sun glasses on! if you ask him ,be sure to tell him I said the thing about sunglasses! :p

I could be lost (happens often for me) but I think the empty bolt hole in question is what I circled here.

Exactly! What's up with the errant arrow, JM?
Are you pointing at where it's going to leak?

Here is the bolt in question in my engine. Maybe your intake is blind tapped not through or it's been plugged as you say. I have to wonder about the extra compression on the gaskets you're missing though.

A longer bolt would pass through your alternator brace into the manifold. I feel like a short cut has been taken. Maybe it's okay, maybe not.

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif"> Actually, that passthru has been plugged off and the thermostat has been modified.. I believe they'll still stick a bolt there to make it look nice.

</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif"> </font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif"> The intake and the water pump have been plugged at that point. The thermostat flange has been drilled. He commented it was an old corvette trick. I'll pin the builder down for his exact words and logic tomorrow. Frankly it was already done when he told me.
</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Yeah, the bolt is missing, I know.

The opening between the waterpump and intake manifold has been plugged off, sealed, closed, there won't be any leak there.

Thanks for everyones concern, can't believe nobody noticed there is no distributor, plugs and wires. It's another one of those clever Corvette tricks I'm paying big bucks for.

Can't wait till friday, I'll post the dyno results!

It circulates the water even with the thermostat closed. That prevents pressure build-up behind the t-stat and keeps the pump from cavitating. Takes longer to warm up, though.

I hope you remembered to also plug the hole in the timing cover. It's impossible to tell with the two put together like that.

Don't worry. I'm sure they must have remembered to do that. Right? I mean ... they are professionals, right?

Q, thanks for the explanation of the Corvette mod. I suppose a new billet timing cover could/would be made without any hole to plug up if that's what one wanted.

Johnny, I hope you didn't feel I was harassing you. I just don't see any other bolts nearby holding the top of the timing cover to the block on my '68 so I was wondering what's up. And if I don't ask questions about things, I won't learn new stuff.

On the Hot Rod shows, they pray the car will start. They usually find the missing rotor, loose wires and other stuff they left out for the drama. As soon as it starts, they fix the leaks which I don't think were part of the script.

You've already found your missing distributor, showing you're a pro!

Thanks, Q.. that sounds exactly like what I was told.. I think he also referenced helping a temp difference at the head? I'll check tomorrow.

No sweat 68bigbird, I was initially replying to Jim's question, but your reply posted between ours.

Thanks again guys, we aren't really leaving the distributor off, I was just seeing if anyone reads the articles or just looked at the pics.

Seriously, what performance gains do you get by plugging the hole?

When you post Mrs Goodwench, we always look at the photos first.

And we do not post our added artwork.

man i need to find myself an FGF... those pics are making me jealous.

JM,
What did your brainchild builder say the purpose of plugging that coolant passage was? All I've read so far is what the factory purpose for it was.

If I followed his explanation correctly... it forces the hot water through the radiator first, and helps elimate a higher temp at the head when the thermostat actually thinks it's less.

Dyno at noon!!

Hmmmm. This explanation is describing exactly what the factory passage does when NOT plugged. It seems your builder is BSing you??? Maybe he left out the bolt and just doesn't want to fess up? LOL

Ok Guys, I dont have a clue as to why the mechanic called it a corvette modification. The idea is simple, the rubber washer that goes between the intake manifold and the water pump is prone to leak. so you put a softplug in the intake and the manifold and no you dont need the bolt. Issue now becomes how do you get water into the mainfold. rather simple, you drill a hole thru the edge of the thermostat. useing a 1/8th" drill bit. We did this on bb block chevys for years and did away with the hose from water pump to the intake. Drilling the hole is the key to susccess.
Kevin

Now that makes sense. Although, I have not ever had one leak there when the parts are installed correctly. I guess I'm either lucky or good! Thanks Kevin.

I have had to do this a couple times with the offenhouser manifolds, I tried the steel washer with silicone on both sides and the rubber washer and still had them leak. This is a great help with the problem of Electrolysis, eating away the metal. The main thing to remember folks is never put tap water in your radiator, always add antifreeze in a 50/50 solution and bottled water, because of the chemicals, and minerals in tap water. Different parts of the country have different minerals so all cant be covered. On Johnny Macs Motor, I would put the bolt there for show.
Kevin

i'd change the valve cover breathers just to forwarn you it blows oil all over motor and motor compartment if you what it to stay as pretty as it looks i had the same kind and it a mess

I use the same valve cover breathers and have never had a mess, James. Wonder what caused that to happen for you?

crankcase pressurization...non-functioning PCV is the usual cause.