<VV> Reading the dang manual ...

Thu Feb 8 16:05:08 EST 2007

The problem that I had was that there were absolutely NO symptoms before 
just seeming to stall like running out of gas (but it was not near empty, 
and I figured maybe a broken fuel line ?.)

Turns out the head was cracked and it broke a piston.  All in about 10 
seconds, with no noise, or any indication whatever.

Now it needs to be replaced.  All in less than 10 seconds (at 80 mph)

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Ian Harding" <harding.ian at gmail.com>
To: "Charles Lee at Proper Pro Per" <chaz at properproper.com>
Cc: <AeroNed at aol.com>; "Virtual Vairs" <VirtualVairs at corvair.org>
Sent: Thursday, February 08, 2007 11:21 AM
Subject: Re: <VV> Reading the dang manual ...

> My 76 Chevy pickup with a 350 tended to leak a bit of coolant.  No
> problem, I'd just top it up before trips.
>
> I left Corvallis on my way to Estacada (about a 2 hour trip) and got
> about 30 - 40 minutes into it before starting to ping and lose power.
> Pulled over and noticed the radiator cap was sitting on the air
> cleaner, and the engine was a bit warm.   Never got high temp
> indication, probably because there was no water left.
>
> Called my brother, asked him to bring water.  Topped it up, went on my 
> way.
>
> Started trailing steam, then KABOOM!!!
>
> Radiator had exploded.
>
> Drove with my brother to the nearest service station.  Asked if they
> had a  radiator for a Chevy.  "Hang on a minute, I think I have one at
> home."  The guy drove home, brought back a radiator.  Paid $20 and
> went back and installed, filled with water.  Went on my way.
>
> Steam started pouring out the back.  Turned off and coasted to a stop.
> Figured out that the thermostat had failed closed, not allowing
> coolant to circulate, exploding the original radiator. Removed
> thermostat, and all was well.
>
> Air is better.
>
> - Ian
>
> On 2/8/07, Charles Lee at Proper Pro Per <chaz at properproper.com> wrote:
>> This is a good point, reading the manual and all ... Wish I had thought 
>> of
>> that ...
>>
>> I think I may have fallen victim to a high ph level in my coolant causing
>> the head gasket to blow.
>>
>> The ZX-2 that  I mentioned a few threads back (re eBay) went from 80+ 
>> mph,
>> running beautifully (like it had for 130,000 miles before that (with zero
>> repairs, except timing belt) died in a bout 10 seconds, without a groan.
>> Just coasted to a stop, dead.
>>
>> One diagnosis was the coolant, and apparently somewhere in the manual (I
>> haven't found it yet) it says to change the water ?
>> What ?  Who in the world would change that ?  Oil OK, but water ?
>>
>> Apparently, the ph corrodes the gasket, which starts thing boiling (this
>> confounded thing uses water to cool it !)
>> Can you believe that ? Water ? Why ?  Air is free, and you don't have to
>> change it (do you ?)
>>
>> Here's another thing I heard about this : the water temp gauge actually
>> measures the temperature of the water.
>> OK, that seems reasonable, until you think, "Hey, what if the water leaks
>> out ?  Then what ?  There's no water to measure its temp, right ?"
>> Well, what I have heard is that that is the reason my temp gauge did not
>> register "hot" - because when the water decides to be somewhere else, the
>> temp sensor has nothing to measure and doesn't say "hot" - it just says
>> "all's well."
>>
>> Is this true ?
>>
>> Wouldn't it make more sense to measure the temp of the head ?
>> Anyone know if this is true ?
>>
>> I need to get a shop manual for this thing to find out the truth.
>>
>> Later,
>> Chaz
>>
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: <AeroNed at aol.com>
>> To: <virtualvairs at corvair.org>
>> Sent: Wednesday, February 07, 2007 9:01 PM
>> Subject: Re: <VV> Electric Fuel Pump...
>>
>>
>> >
>> > In a message dated 2/7/2007 10:34:43 P.M. Central Standard Time,
>> > FrankCB at aol.com writes:
>> >
>> > This is  another good reason to at least skim  through the owner's 
>> > manual
>> > when  you buy a new car.  I'm the only person I  know (besides son Jim)
>> > who
>> > does that.
>> >
>> >
>> > Add me to your list, but I read it intently. Must be an engineer 
>> > thing...
>> >
>> > BTW My electric fuel pump has the hot side wired through a relay that
>> > closes
>> > with ignition. The ground side goes through a Vega oil pressure switch.
>> > The
>> > reason for the Vega switch is that it has both open with pressure and
>> > closed
>> > with pressure. The closed with pressure goes to the pump and open with
>> > pressure  goes to the dash light. I want to also install a inertia 
>> > switch
>> > someday.
>> >
>> > Ned
>> > _______________________________________________
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>>
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