[Guest]

Hi all,
I took my first trip in the wagon this past weekend. I had to drop my daughter off at camp Sunday (both my boys went to camp last Friday), so my wife and I decided to take a short roadtrip. We started in Dallas, drove to south central OK, across OK (and over the Talimena scenic drive in OK), then to Hot Springs, Arkansas for a day, then back home. Here's the stats:

Mpg:
1st tank: 17 (mixed driving)
2nd tank: 20 (even with some mountain driving)
3rd tank: 15 (lots of mountain driving, some gravel roads, etc..)
4th tank: 20 (all highway, 75 mph)

Good points:
Car drove great.....damn, it has alot of power. Got to pass a few cars on two lane roads....scared my wife with the acceleration (our other vehicles are a Ford E150 and Mazda MPV....both don't have the same power). The IMCO turbo mufflers I put on sound perfect....really sound cool with the foot down, but no drone on the highway.

Bad points:

AC Drip: didn't know I had this problem until the second day. I was putting something on the passenger floor and realized it was wet under the floor mat. Lifted the mat up and it was soaked underneath. Did research when I got home and noticed the mod for this (my elbow is gone...hence the problem). I fixed the problem with a Home Depot hose, but I'm currently drying the carpet (the passenger side rear floor had an inch of water under the carpet....felt like a waterbed....darn).

Windshield: a truck tossed a rock on my windshield on I-30 back to Dallas Monday night.....instantly caused a 4 inch crack, which proceeded to become a 15 inch crack by the next morning (and is now about 25 inches.....there goes $200 deductable for a new windshield).

Cooling: not sure if this is a problem or not. I noticed when I am idling in traffic, especially when I was going through the mountains, that the temp gauge would go way above the mid point (almost to red). I have the tow package, so I would think it should not get above mid-point...ever. The heater core was replaced by the previous owner about 6 months ago, along with the thermostat. Does this sound normal? The mechanical and electrical fans seem to work (I've seen/heard them both).

Good trip overall. Drove almost 900 miles in 2 days.

Cheers, Mike

 

[Guest]

Originally posted by mike_tx:
Cooling: not sure if this is a problem or not. I noticed when I am idling in traffic, especially when I was going through the mountains, that the temp gauge would go way above the mid point (almost to red). I have the tow package, so I would think it should not get above mid-point...ever. The heater core was replaced by the previous owner about 6 months ago, along with the thermostat. Does this sound normal? The mechanical and electrical fans seem to work (I've seen/heard them both).

You need to look into the cooling. My RMW with the two package also, never gets over halfway up the guage, and that's only on the hottest days, A/C running in slow traffic. Highest I've ever seen the actual temperature is 207°.

When I last had the SS cooling system flushed, I had it reverse flushed which got lots of crap out of the system. My mechanic was able to do it without problems so I'd imagine any knowledeable shop should be able to handle it. As long as they understand that the LT1 is a REVERSE COOLING engine. I.e. the coolant flows backwards from that of a 'traditional' small block GM engine.

Sounds like a great first road trip!

 

[Guest]

Windshield: a truck tossed a rock on my windshield on I-30 back to Dallas Monday night.....instantly caused a 4 inch crack, which proceeded to become a 15 inch crack by the next morning (and is now about 25 inches.....there goes $200 deductable for a new windshield).

Glass should cost you total $150.00. Don't turn it in. Windshields are relatively cheap.

As far as your temp gauge. Mine did that also. Would run right up to the red sitting in traffic. I installed a 160 stat when I had PCMforless do my PCM (also for gear swap 17's etc) and it now never goes even half way.

 

[Guest]

$150 for a windshield, installed? Prices I have been getting are closer to $260.

I was going to get the cooling system flushed last week, but my mechanic said he saw a weep drip on the water pump (warning warning) and was afraid it would be a waste to do it right now. I couldn't see the weep drip he was talking about, so I drove it anyway. 900 miles later, zero loss of coolant. I'm trying to wait and do the pump, flush, plugs, wires, and possibly Opti (mechanic wants to do the Opti while working on the pump....will only charge for the pump labor).

Normally I would do all of this myself, but work is killing my time lately.

Mike

 

[Guest]

Mike, almost all the waterpumps with some miles will show some evidence of drip from the weep hole. On my 96 Impala with 48K miles it comes and goes so I took a short section (approx 1') of 1/4" clear tubing that you can get from any hardware store (big box or small) and inserted one end into the weep hole to direct any drips away from the Opti. Works real well and no special tools required.

The weep hole is right under the center of the water pump. You can use a small mirror to see or reach your hand under and feel (make sure engine is COLD or cool).

The 1/4" tubing is a tight fit into the weep hole and will stay there with no extra glue. I routed the tubing between a couple of sparkplug wires on the drivers side of the Opti to keep it out of the belt and help secure it.

On your overheating; I had the same issue last year and it turned out to be a bad thermostat. I picked up a stock temp replacement from AutoZone (their brand has an automatic bleed feature that really works)and mine now stays below half even on the hottest day in heavy traffic.

Unless you're getting water pump noise or having ignition problems, don't mess with either until you've tried the new thermostat. The hose trick is cheap insurance on keeping water/antifreeze away from the Opti. I do this on all my LT-1 cars.

 

[Guest]

You need to check around on the windshield.

I paid $150 installed. Others also.

link

 

[Guest]

Good idea about the 1/4 inch tube on the weep hole. I might have to try that. The thermostat was supposedly replaced along with heater core by GM back in December '05.

I called around a bit more on the windshields....you're right; I've got it as low as $165 installed, so I'll continue to look around. No need to file on insurance if I can avoid it.

Thanks, Mike

 

[Guest]

Sometimes the seal between the pieces that cover the heater core do not seal and cause a leak. I had this problem on my 9C1. I lowered the bottom piece, RTVed the lip all the way around, re-installed it with no more leaking. In fact, one time I way on the way to a car show and the heater core blew at a stoplight. I knew instantly because I could smell it through the vents and saw the puddle when I moved the car, but none got on the carpet! I bypassed the heater core and continued to the show.

Steve

 

[Guest]

Yep, I've seen a number of posts about sealing the core bottom cover. I'll see how things go with the hose added first. Right now I'm waiting for the carpet to dry (or at least partially dry). I don't plan to let it totally dry...I would need to remove the passenger seat to do that. I'm planning to replace the carpet in the next month or two anyway. I may just yank the carpet in a month, drive it for a week without it to check for leaks, then install the new carpet.

Oh yeah, forgot to add that wheels are on the list of "to do" mods also...still shopping for those plus I plan to add a Class III hitch. My list is way too long.....

Mike

 

[Guest]

Also, often the screw(s) closest to the firewall get neglected/omitted because they are so difficult to get to. Make sure yours are there.

 

[Guest]

Damn, I have dual electric fan on the 'Matress and sits right at 1/2 temperature during normal operation or cruising. At idle and/or slow traffic it creeps up to 3/4 as well. With the a/c on it tends to creep back down again. Maybe I should get a flush too?

 

[Guest]

Originally posted by tigeraid:
Damn, I have dual electric fan on the 'Matress and sits right at 1/2 temperature during normal operation or cruising. At idle and/or slow traffic it creeps up to 3/4 as well. With the a/c on it tends to creep back down again. Maybe I should get a flush too?

Same here. Goes to about 3/4 then drops down. I have an all stock 95 LT1 wagon.

 

[Guest]

I picked up a stock temp replacement from AutoZone (their brand has an automatic bleed feature that really works)and mine now stays below half even on the hottest day in heavy traffic.

Autozone has been known in the past for selling the wrong thermostat for LT1s, one that does not work for reverse cooling.

What brand/part number was it because I've never heard about a tstat which autobleeds.

Thanks

 

[Guest]

Correct on the thermostat. They will sell the wrong one. You need to make sure that it has springs on both sides, top and bottom.

 

[Guest]

Originally posted by Palamino:

The hose trick is cheap insurance on keeping water/antifreeze away from the Opti. I do this on all my LT-1 cars.

you know,. i,ve never been able to understand this,. the opti is a sealed unit,.(hence the two vacuum lines to draw fresh air thru it to remove the ozone etc,.) its down behind the front balancer,. have you ever wondered whats going on down there when you're driving your car in a wicked rain storm? potholes with water?? antifreeze has anti corrosion additives,. i throw my head bolts pushrods timing chain,. and pistons and rods in a bucket of antifreeze if they are going to be sitting a long time,.stops any surface rust,..try doing that with a bucket of clear water,...
Nick
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