Played video at work when I got in, our EA sits outside my office, nice girl about 25...She picked up her head and looked in my door "Sounds Dangerous" she said calmly, LOL.
Sounds good Ray, think you'll be "GREEN & ROSS" tire stores best customer!!!!!! Think that may qualify for Ont. "stunt driving" law that "Mc GOOFY brought in!!!!!!
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Some times I wake up GRUMPY, but today I let her sleep in !!!!!!!!BLACKSTOCK Ont.
I enjoyed the video and your timeline photos of the swap. There's an advertiser in the Smoke Signals that has Pertronix kits (page 64 of the November issue). I know Summit and Jegs also carry them if you can't find them up north.
Once the car settles out, you'll know if you have front suspension issues if the control arms bottom out when hit bumps or dips in the road. I changed my LeMans and GTO springs after doing some research with a Moog spring chart to find the right height and spring rates. If you have the 1973 AMA Specifications Form for LeMans and Grand Am, they list the front and rear weights with different engines and accessories added. They also show correct ride heights. I did the calcs, even talked to a tech guy at Federal Mogul (who owns Moog) to help me select the spring combo. I can email you all the stuff if you want to get into the technical side of it.
My LeMans has the same 2.73 ratio open rearend as yours. With that big motor and all the torque, I would leave the 2.73 and add a limited slip unit or look for a posi 3.08 rear. If you plan to drive it, the low numerical gear ratio will be like having an overdrive with 3.42 gears. I have a 3.08 from a '73 GTO I stripped a long time ago that I may go thru for my LeMans when I do the 455 swap if I don't like the 2.73.
The only issue you have now is it's almost time to put it away for the winter.
Thanks Bill for that post and kind offers. I took a drive today to Newmarket and back this morning, thats about 35 minutes from my place so about 25 miles one way, we used HWY 404 so it was a good run at high speeds. I know you know that road. I liked the 2.73 gears out on the highway. Fuel consumption was shocking to me, $125 so far this week for the Rat so any lower gearing would be very harsh on fuel consumption. Engine ran well, no major issues to report during shake down runs.
I mentioned I would post a photo of the car regarding front springs and ride hieght so here they are. By the way I do have te AMA specs from GM Canada on the car.
One matter needing attention on my 454 swap was a new throttle cable. I sepent time over the winter off and on searching for one, figured a 1973-75 Chevelle 454 cable would do. Easier said than done, as we all know a 454 in a Chevelle in those years was one rare beast. Last week a parcel showed up at my door and of course inside was a 1974 Malibu 454 cable, go figure. I don't need to tell you who sent it
With the help of two nieghbours 65Camino and Captain Caravelle it got installed on the LeMans. Seems that the carb can now go to Wide Open Throttle and the kick down works good now too. I do have some minor concerns. It seems that when you are travelling along and floor it the kick down sort of snaps your neck back, then when the transmission shifts to second gear the rear tire starts spinning and burning rubber for a few seconds, not a chirp mind you real spinning and squealling. I quess I'll have to get used to that.
I decided I had better get a new appraisal mostly to document the engine upgrade. I used the same gentleman I have been using for all my cars since 2004. I have always found him fair if not a bit on the conservative side. He was very impressed with swap. He did his regular routine, went all over the car and under the car. Besides the Big Block the only difference from my last appraisal was a proper exhaust system with Bill Markowski's reprodcution chrome exhaust extensions.
I was pretty shocked to get a new appraisal at 211% higher than the last one in 2008. 427Carl said the Big Block would double the value.
-- Edited by 73SC on Sunday 1st of April 2012 08:09:20 PM
Last week I was doing some spring upgrades on the old car to use up some of my TD drivers reward points.
New master cylinder,new flex lines in front and one new caliper. I saw that my left side spring has a coil cracked off and the right side has 1/2 a coil gone. I just ordered new 6450 moog springs and ball joints from HSA auto in Stratford.
What is the stock ride height for a 77? They seemed to change the springs and rates for 76-77.
Thanks for the Moog chart. I went with HD in the rear from napa 277-3195 that I gleened was the best from the comparison of parts stuff specs(no longer listed) and printouts from napa( I still have them for various spring rates) They sent me the wrong springs first.....a la jacked up malibu......back they went!
What is the stock ride height front and back for 1977 SC?
Just a note....if you buy the ncp springs from Napa give them two good coats of Tremclad spray paint before you put them in. Mine are two years old and there is no black to be seen!
