Trying to cool my 59 on hot summer days

[Duke W.]

Re: Trying to cool my 59 on hot summer days

What's the B-number stamped on the VAC bracket?

Did you have to rotate the distributor gear 180 degrees to get proper initial advance? How much are you running?

Duke

[Bob S.]

Re: Trying to cool my 59 on hot summer days

There is no B-number that I can see on the current bracket. I have ordered the new VAC from NAPA which should be in in the morning.

No, I did not have to rotate to get the 4* BTDC that I am currently running. When I get the new VAC I will probably start with an initial advance of 8* to see if I can get the total idle timing up to 24-26 range.

I have also ordered a new weight and spring kit. When that comes in I plan on going through everything to get all the specs where they should be and go from there.

[Pat H.]

Re: Trying to cool my 59 on hot summer days

Duke,
I just check out my parts box and found GM 1116148. It has 148 15 stamped on it. Orange and Black box. what was this one used for. My 59 PG sounds like I need the B-26 as you mentioned earlier. I current has a B-22 which you indicated was for a std shift car. I can't check the car for a few weeks as its in storage and the building owner is still in FL.

[Duke W.]

Re: Trying to cool my 59 on hot summer days

I don't have any data on the ...148 other than the stamped 15 means a maximum of 15 degrees crank advance. You can use a Mity-Vac to test the start and stop points.

I believe the OE VAC on your engine was a 201 15, which required about 15.5" Hg to pull to the limit, but I don't know if it passes the Two-Inch Rule with PG. That's why I've been asking for YEARS to get an idle vacuum measurement for a PG car (450-500 in Drive), but have never gotten a response.

Maybe when you get your car out of storage you can help out.

Duke

[Dwight F.]

Re: Trying to cool my 59 on hot summer days

Steve,
Recall my article way back in the Fall 1989 Restorer. Looks like a lot of folks are still chasing the radiator, flex fan and timing solutions to what appears to be an overheating problem when quite often the sending unit is wrong for the car. I'm responding to your statement that a lot of guys are using an inline resistor to get the gauge to read correctly. Well that works as long as the car is being cooled properly, HOWEVER, if and when the car does happen to over heat, that inline resistor will absolutely prevent the temperature gauge from showing that the engine has overheated possibly causing serious or fatal engine damage to an original block. If the sending unit, when cooled down overnight does not read at least 700 ohms, the sender is bad. I've stood at the parts counter and checked 10 sending units before I found one that is correctly calibrated.
Dwight Farmer

[Bob W.]

Re: Trying to cool my 59 on hot summer days

Can anyone tell what would be the correct vacuum advance unit for a 283/245 hp 59 ?

thanks Bob

[Leif A.]

Re: Trying to cool my 59 on hot summer days

Can anyone tell what would be the correct vacuum advance unit for a 283/245 hp 59 ?

thanks Bob

Bob,
What is your idle vacuum (700-800RPM)? Automatic or manual transmission? With that information, we can tell you the best current vac can to purchase.

[Bob W.]

Re: Trying to cool my 59 on hot summer days

Leif iam not sure what the idle vacuum should be. But it is a automatic transmission.

Thanks for your reply Bob

[Leif A.]

Re: Trying to cool my 59 on hot summer days

Leif iam not sure what the idle vacuum should be. But it is a automatic transmission.

Thanks for your reply Bob

At this point, Bob, what it "should be" is not what's important. If you have a vacuum gauge or MityVac, tee off your manifold vacuum line from your current vac can and get a reading with the car at idle in Park (note the RPM). Then have someone get in the car and put the car in Drive and get another vacuum reading (note the RPM, again)...report back.

[Bob W.]

Re: Trying to cool my 59 on hot summer days

Leif The motor is out of the car for now. Carbs are rebuilt and the motor will be done over the winter. I like having all my parts ahead of time.

Thanks for your reply Bob

[Duke W.]

Re: Trying to cool my 59 on hot summer days

If the engine is being rebuilt, what camshaft is being installed - manufacturer and part number?

The 245 HP engine originally had a dual point/no VAC distributor because the VAC interfered with the manifold or rear carb.

It has been reported that a single point VAC distributor will work, but the gear has to be installed "180 out" (dimple pointing the opposite direction or the rotor tip) in order to install the dist. and achieve correct initial timing before the VAC interferes with something.

So we need to know more about the engine configuration, especially anything that deviates from OE spec including verification of what type of dist. is installed. If it is a single point VAC type, what is the data stamped on the VAC.

Duke

[Bob W.]

Re: Trying to cool my 59 on hot summer days

Duke Thank you for the info.All my 2x4 parts are off & boxed &packed and I did not look at the distributor, I plan on using the dual point distributor with a pertronix unit.
Thanks again Bob