HEY, ROB LOGAN - - -

BLACKJACK · 03-14-04, 11:47 AM

WOW - - I THINK IT WORKED.

THE GT-40 HAS BEEN RUNNING FOR A WEEK AND THE TEMPERATURE APPEARS TO BE NICELY UNDER CONTROL. OF COURSE - THE FIRST NINETY DEGREE DAY THAT I'M IN TRAFFIC WILL TELL THE WHOLE TALE, BUT SO FAR - VERY GOOD.

THE SYSTEM YOU RECOMMENDED - AND DETAILED FOR ME - APPARENTLY HAS ENDED TWO YEARS OF ANGUISH IN NOT BEING ABLE TO DRIVE THE GT. I WOULD SUGGEST TO ANYONE BUILDING A GT-40 TO INSTALL THE SAME SYSTEM. (ONE HECK OF A LOT EASIER WHILE THE CAR IS BEING BUILT.

ROB, I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR HELP ON THIS - ALSO THE MATERIAL THAT YOU SENT VIA BILL T. BILL WAS A GREAT HELP IN DOING THE MACHINING AND HELPING ME (OR RATHER ME HELPING HIM). MY SINCEREST APPRECIATION TO BOTH OF YOU. HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR YOUR KIND EFFORTS AND BILLS - I WOULD HAVE SPENT ANOTHER TWO YEARS OF FRUSTRATION.

ARE YOU COMING TO CARLISLE AGAIN THIIS YEAR?? I SURE HOPE SO. THE "PRE-LAUNCH PARTY" IS AT MY HOUSE THIS YEAR.

THANKS, AGAIN - AND - Y'ALL HAVE A REALLY GREAT DAY.

BLACKJACCK

Kalun D · 03-14-04, 02:15 PM

Blackjack, please tell us what system Robert told you about or give us a link to the thread.

I searched but am not sure what specifically you're talking about.

For whatever it's worth here's another little item that may contribute to a better performing cooling system. A high performance thermostat.

Speedway T-stat

they don't show it online but in the catalog it shows a gasket that goes with it also, part number 910-28A

++++++++++

Just learned another tidbit today from reading your threads on cooling. Ron Davis makes radiators for ERA. Now I can just tell them I want something they already build and don't have to pay more for a one-of custom. This forum is great.

Robert Logan · 03-14-04, 04:42 PM

Blackjack,

It was my pleasure.

If you have a problem with hot days it is likely to be because of a lack of fan capacity or radiator size as I have not supplied these.

Put the car out in the sun and start her up, check the temperature that the fans cut in at and the time it takes for the fans to control the temperature and cut out again. This time will change slightly as the ambiant temperature increases but if the cooling system can not control the car as discribed above she will have no hope out on the road.

Yes , I hope to be at Carslile this year.

Best wishes,

Robert

JayT · 03-14-04, 07:18 PM

You and your car look great last evening Saturday on Rt. 28 (I think that is the road). Glad the over heating is history.

BLACKJACK · 03-14-04, 08:05 PM

ROBERT,

GOOD TO HEAR FROM YOU, MATE. GLAD YOU'LL BE WITH US AT CARLISLE. IF YOU AND RON AND THE GUYS CAN GET IN A DAY OR SO EARLY I'D LOVE TO HOST A "PRE-LAUNCH" PARTY HERE IN LEESBURG - JUST FIFTEEN MINUTES NORTH OF BILL'S SHOP.

I HAD THE GT-40 OUT AGAIN TODAY. IT LIKES TO STAY AROUND 175 - 180 F. EVERY NOW AND AGAIN IT WILL GRADUALLY MOVE FROM 180 TO ABOUT 200 - 205. IT WILL DO THIS IN ABOUT 20 SECONDS. AFTER ABOUT 10 SECONDS AT 200 IT WILL "DROP" TO AROUND 170 (IT DOES THIS IN ABOUT 10 SECONDS. IT WILL THEN MOVE BACK UP TO 180 IN ABOUT 5 SECONDS. IT LIKES TO MAKE THIS EXCURSION AFTER ABOUT 20 MINUTES OF DRIVING AND THEN ABOUT EVERY 15 TO 20 MINUTES THEREAFTER. IT DOESN'T SEEM TO CARE IF IT'S IN TRAFFIC. CRUISING, OR IF I'M REALLY HITTING IT. IT JUST DOES IT. (?). I'M NOT TERRIBLY CONCERNED ABOUT IT BECAUSE TWO OTHER GUYS IN THE CAPITAL AREA COBRA CLUB HAVE TOLD ME THAT THEIR COBRAS HAVE DONE THIS FOR YEARS AND NEVER REALLY OVERHEATED.

I KNOW THE SYSTEM IS WORKING GREAT. AFTER A 15 MINUTE RIDE THE LINES BETWEEN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AND THE T-STAT HOUSING ARE REALLY "HOT" AND THE LINE FROM THE RADIATOR TO THE COLLANT FILL TANK IS DEFINATELY WARM TO THE TOUCH. A VERY COMFORTING THING - TO BE SURE. I REALLY APPRECIATE ALL THE HELP YOU HAVE GIVEN ME.

THANKS - AND - Y'ALL HAVE A REALLY GREAT DAY.

BLACKJACK

BLACKJACK · 03-14-04, 08:26 PM

HI, KALUN D.

I'M SORRY THAT I HAVE NO PICTURES AT THIS TIME - I HOPE TO HAVE THEM SOON.

THE "SYSTEM" THAT ROB WAS KIND ENOUGH TO EXPLAIN TO ME IS THIS. FIRST: WE DRILLED AND TAPPED TWO 3/8" PIPE THREADED HOLES IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AT THE REARMOST PORTION, ON THE SIDES. THERE IS A WATER CHAMBER THERE JUST UNDER THE MANIFOLD. WE RAN A 90 DEGREE FITTING FROM ONE HOLE TO A TEE FITTING AT THE SECOND HOLE THEN RAN THAT LINE TO A POINT ON THE THERMOSTAT HOUSING DOWNSTREAM OF THE T-STAT. SINCE THE TWO REARMOST CYLINDERS ARE THE HOTTEST POINTS ON THE ENGINE THIS CONTINUALLY BLEEDS COOLANT/AIR/STEAM FROM THE HOTTEST POINTS TO A MUCH COOLER POINT. THIS PREVENTS STEAM FROM FORMING AT THE REAR CYLINDERS AND HEADS. IF IT GETS HOT ENOUGH TO FORM STEAM - THAT STEAM WILL ACT AS A THERMAL BARRIER AND PREVENT THE COOLANT FROM SUFFICIENTLY CONTACTING THE BLOCK AND HEADS. (THAT'S THE POINT AT WHICH ALL HELL BREAKS LOOSE). SECOND: WE RAN A 1/4" HOSE FROM THE TOP LEFT SIDE OF THE RADIATOR BACK TO THE COOLANT FILL TANK. WE WELDED A BUNG ON THE TOP OF THE COOLANT TANK AND PLUMBED THE HOSE INTO IT. THIS ALLOWS A CONSTANT PURGING OF AIR FROM THE SYSTEM/RADIATOR TO THE COOLANT TANK. SO FAR IT SEEMS TO BE WORKING GREAT. WE USED AEROQUIP FITTINGS AND BRAIDED HOSES OR ALL THE PLUMBING. I WAS GOING "NUCKING FUTS" WITH THIS THING. FOR TWO YEARS I DIDN'T DARE DRIVE IT ANY DISTANCE AT ALL BECAUSE ONCE THE COOLANT TEMP REACHED 200 - 205 F IT WAS GOING TO SHOOT UP TO 250 AND BLOW OVER. NOTHING I COULD DO WOULD STOP IT. I PLAN TO DRIVE IT TO CARLISE, PA IN MAY AND TO THE DVSF SPRING FLING IN OHIO IN JUNE.

I HOPE THIS HELPS. IF YOU HAVE ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS E-MAIL ME OR IF YOU'D LIKE - CALL ME. 703-777-7442.

Y'ALL HAVE A REALLY GREAT DAY.

BLACKJACK

jimbo · 03-14-04, 08:41 PM

Jack, what induction setup are you running...do you have Webers or what? I would like to see photos of this rig as well, I am sure I will encounter similar problems with my engine, although I am not running a 4x48IDA setup like most folks are...

BuzzClarke · 03-14-04, 09:35 PM

Kalund D & Blackjack:

After two hours and help from Rick Merz here is my first attempt at a picture. It hopefully shows the rear water jacket plumbing that my engine builder did to avoid the steam pockets on the engine I'm running in the Cannonball.

BuzzClarke · 03-14-04, 09:51 PM

Kalund D, Blackjack & Jim:

Another view.

BLACKJACK · 03-15-04, 08:55 AM

HEY, BUZZ - - - -

AAHHHH - - - THAT'S SHWEEET. THANKS FOR GETTING MY HEART STARTED THIS MORNING.

Y'ALL HAVE A REALLY GREAT DAY.

BLACKJACK

BLACKJACK · 03-15-04, 09:04 AM

HI, JIM - - -

I'M RUNNING A SINGLE HOLLEY 750 DOUBLE PUMPER. AFTER I GET ALL THE "GLITCHES" WORKED OUT AND I "HOLD-UP A LIQUOR STORE OR TWO" I INTEND TO GO WITH WEBERS.

YOU COULD SAY I HAVE "STACKS ENVY". EVERY TIME I PARK THE GT-40 I THROW A BLANKET OVER THE REAR PLEXIGLAS WINDOW SO NO ONE CAN SEE MY SINGLE LITTLE CHROME AIR CLEANER.

Y'ALL HAVE A REALLY GREAT DAY.

BLACKJACK

snakeeyes · 03-15-04, 10:54 AM

Jack,

Great to hear you finally have your cooling woes solved (I'm knocking on wood as I type that!). I've followed your difficulties for the last couple of years and they've always mystified me. It's made me feel extremely grateful that I've been one of the lucky ones as far as my car's cooling system--it never goes over 185, even on the hottest day in rush-hour traffic. I know you rarely talk about your GT and I'm sure it's because it's been the "toy you can't play with" for so long. I suspect that will all change now! Enjoy it, my friend, you deserve many happy miles after all you've been through--

BLACKJACK · 03-15-04, 12:48 PM

HEY, BOB - -

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR KIND THOUGHTS. I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO ADDING THOSE MILES ONTO THE GT-40. I PLAN ON DRIVING IT TO cARLISE IN MAY AND SPING FLING IN JUNE.

THANKS - AND - Y'ALL HAVE A REALY GREAT DAY.

BLACKJACK