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  1. AzGeo

    Any original squares out there?

    I ordered this truck when I worked at the GM Proving Grounds Lab , back in 1978 . It's a '79 , with 3.73 gears , specifically to turbocharge the 454 . We have put 497,000 + miles on it , and it's getting up grades as we speak . Just sold my (original owner) 1972 Corvette , back in September...
  2. AzGeo

    50W in a 454?

    Not knowing what your bearing and cylinder wall clearances are, WHY would you change anything ? If you have the "motor build specs", or KNOW IN FACT that one brand and weight of oil was always used, why change it now ? I must also say that "50 wt oil in a gas work truck motor" seems way off...
  3. AzGeo

    Question for the Pros

    Fuel caps instead of doors is 77' and older . My 76' had caps, my 79' has doors . The front disc brake pads are the same C20/C30 on 2 wheel drives . There were 8200 GVW and 8600 GVW C20's , and they both used corporate rear ends . This deal looks like a complete "rebuild", and is not an actual...
  4. AzGeo

    Mobile 1 Annual oil

    Oil "breakdown" is rarely the reason for oil failures , it's usually just "full of carbon deposits" and they don't lubricate , or cool anything . I change motor oil and filters at 3000 miles, no matter what the latest "miracle" breakthrough says on TV . I do add 6 ounces of Lucas synthetic oil...
  5. AzGeo

    BBC heads casting number

    Get some "large oval port heads" (049/781) and when rebuilding them install larger (2.20/1.88) valves in them . This will keep the low end velocity up and make the cam "breath better" at mid, and top RPMs . This combo will work better than running big square ports, unless you are going with an...
  6. AzGeo

    Curb weights for 1973-1987 GMC trucks?

    We trailer towed our 1979 dually, fully loaded with stuff, with our 1995 Suburban 1500, 2 wheel drive, 350/4L60, over 235 miles, on a move from SoCal to Arizona . The trailer had NO BRAKES, so I down shifted the trans for most of the braking . The empty truck weighs 5680, and the trailer...
  7. AzGeo

    New power window relay how-to using negative trigger

    Actually, you have made the center pin of the window switch ALWAYS HOT, until you give it a ground by activating the switch . It is conceivable that if you touched one of those window switches with a "dripping wet hand" , your hand could complete the circuit to ground (or just curl your hair)...
  8. AzGeo

    How to spend $1500 on engine upgrades

    The valve springs are junk by now . The EGR intake is a bad thing, needs a "spread bore" 4 bbl, the cam is also a problem . The fact that "current engine condition" would be the FIRST thing to inspect and consider, while talking about $1500 , more power, and a roller cam . HA HA Check out...
  9. AzGeo

    Engine Choices

    I may have read the original question differently than others here, because he (IMO) was asking about "sales value of a restored/custom vehicle", and how to get the most money for it . Quality and detail will make or break any project vehicle, for sale or not . Unlike some who offered opinions...
  10. AzGeo

    FiTech Fuel Injection

    While doing my EFI/turbo conversion (still not on the road yet) I investigated the FiTech fuel pump tank/module piece . The "heat problem" with it is simple, and why you only have problems in higher ambient temps . The FiTech system is a "deadhead fuel design", in their attempt to make it...
  11. AzGeo

    Front end alignment?

    Start at the idler arm . That is the weak point on these front ends .
  12. AzGeo

    Issues with new engine

    Sounds like you need to use a shop vacuum gauge on intake vacuum source while driving down the road at part throttle . Those carbs are set up LEAN, and will run very lean with minimal vacuum . As others have said, check total spark advance using an adjustable light, and rev-ing it up . Start...
  13. AzGeo

    Anyone running a Martin Turbo kit?

    Well now that you've all had your say, please allow me to throw in my 40 years (to the month) of dealing with this brand of kit, and many others like it . First of all, is your engine internally in good condition ? If it's tired, or has "old stock valve springs", the turbo will just shorten...
  14. AzGeo

    Fuel selector valve

    When replacing my fuel tank valve (original equipment) on my 1979 dually, I opted to use "2 three port valves" , since the OEM 6 port is not available . My OEM wire harness switches the fuel tank senders at the dash mounted switch, while the newer "Pollack valve" , requires the sender wires to...
  15. AzGeo

    Anyone running old school roots type supercharger?

    Almost 40 years ago, Dale Pulde (drag racer, custom bike builder) one of my Van Nuys Blvd. "cruising buddies", father had a short bed 1974 Chevy step side . All factory red, with Ansen Sprints (bigs and littles) , with a 350, turbo 350 . As his only car, he drove that truck every day, and...
  16. AzGeo

    Tired of the screaming small block!

    Since you already have the Chevy bellhousing bolt pattern, you can easily build a 454" BB with 550 lbs of torque with under 10 to 1 compression . But if you have a "BOPC turbo 400", you will not find any better towing gas motor, than a 507 Cad, 9.4 to 1, 236/248 on 110 centers (@106), with a...
  17. AzGeo

    Ready to build some real power?

    At GM Proving Grounds (in the 70's) those were known as "ceasefires", in the Vettes, the Camero's and Firebirds . I got paid a lot of overtime, trying to get those "jewels" to pass the "ALDL smog tests", at the Van Nuys plant . GM tried that intake to "increase low and mid range torque", on a...
  18. AzGeo

    Looking to buy horses

    Horsepower is the opposite of MPG, so let's first be clear on what you WANT, will accept, and can afford . TORQUE moves the load, horsepower does that work at higher speeds . Please RATE your need for MPGs VS your need for power/speed . Note; "magic unicorns" are no longer available. Don't...
  19. AzGeo

    Worse than expected MPG

    IF the motor/EFI is ALL STOCK, I would do this before spending any real money . First off, does the "locking converter" actually LOCK UP on the highway ? The tires may be such a load on the motor that the "vacuum switch" never allows the converter to lock up . I would install a manual toggle...
  20. AzGeo

    75 454 Holley issues

    Plug the vacuum advance on the distributor, and set the base timing at 10 degrees before top dead center . Start up the engine with the Holly carb on it, and a VACUUM GAUGE connected to BASE VACUUM . Get the engine down to idle speed (650 RPMs) out of gear, and write down what the vacuum...
  21. AzGeo

    Anyone know what this is?

    That tag describes exactly what your truck came out of the factory with . Red inside and outside, fleetside, deluxe interior, gauges, 5.0 2bbl with a 350 trans, vacuum power brakes, tinted glass, 5300 GVW, power steering, AM radio, tire size, spare tire size, etc ...... The one thing I don't...
  22. AzGeo

    My new square has a miss

    After doing all the things above . Most 305's are "closed chamber" and most 350's are "open chamber heads . Take a piece of wire (like a coat hanger), bend one end into a 90 degree, small arm on the end . Small enough to slide into a spark plug hole, to "drag along the threads" . Trying to...
  23. AzGeo

    454 upgrade

    "Street car" . I had a 1968 Nova (in 1969) that I raced in "S/SSA", with a 402, 4.56's and a 3500 converter, it got hot trying to drive it on the street . I would not call it a "street car" .......
  24. AzGeo

    454 upgrade

    Sure, they are not building a "bomb", they want it to last and have no problems . They are a production shop, compromises are made to bring the power and the warranty in at that price . (it's good for the price, but not ideal IMO) But I'll again say that the cam specs listed for that motor...
  25. AzGeo

    454 upgrade

    I understand that it's a "budget crate motor", but for use on the street (IMO) it does not deliver the BIG power where a street driven vehicle could use it . Looks to me that they used a cam that worked best with their heads, which don't seem to be working all that well . A 540 with Dart...

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