So Tell Me What Went Wrong

chromebumpers

chromebumpers

solid fixture here in the forum
Staff member
Trying to get the Pontiac on the road this week has been a frustrating experience, but with an unexpected outcome.
About 3 years ago it ran fine other than a few items needing attention so I started working on it in 2018 and ran into some serve health issues that put the car on the back burner until this spring.
At the time I figured on a comprehensive maintenance list of repairs and a shorter list of cosmetic issues I wanted to address.
The 2 Jet Carb looked like it’s been decades since it seen any real service so I rebuilt the carb. With a good quality carb kit, I disassembled, cleaned and refinished some parts to factory fresh looking. It ran well so I maintained all the original settings and positions carefully documented turns in and out of needle valves and the float (why mess with what works mechanically?). I replaced all vacuum lines used all the correct gaskets.
Upon starting the car - It’s not running well at all, idle is bad, choke does’t work.

2nd item. The transmission. Dropped the pan changed the filter and fluid, no problems detected in smell, color or metal/foreign contamination with the old fluid. Checked the pan by laying it on a Granite countertop and checking for gaps with a business card. Perfect all around.
Smeared a light, very thin layer of RTV gasket sealer on clean pan, laid down a new rubber Felpro gasket and installed on transmission correctly torquing all 13 bolts.
What happened! It leaks like a sieve!

3rd item. The valve covers. I removed them to refinish in the correct factory Blue. Installed new rubber Felpro gaskets with a very light smear of gasket sealer to hold the gasket onto the pan while putting them into place correctly. Torqued to 11 to 12 inch lbs .
What happened? It leaks oil all over the exhaust manifolds burning away and smoking like mad!

All help will be greatly appreciated!

Rich
 
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Oh yeah, the unexpected outcome.
When I took the car out for a test drive yesterday I made it about 3 miles from home taking remote back roads along the way. I made it to the top of a hill before realizing the engine was speeding up and the car was stopping. I spotted a guy getting his mail and I called out to him. Right away a contractor stopped and asked if I could use help pushing the car off the road. Both he and the guy at the mailbox gave me a push onto his double wide driveway.
Stupid me, I left my cell phone back at my house so I asked the man if he could call my house for me so I can get help.
I wound up talking to this guy until my son came by to take me home. I was allowed to let the car sit there until I could figure out what I needed to do. This guy turns out to be a car guy in that he bought some cars brand new and stored them for a future gain. Today upon returning with more trans fluid to get my car home under its own power we talked some more and he showed me what he had. A 1970 Roadrunner, a 1972 Corvette and a 1987 IROC Camaro. I made a deal to buy the Camaro. Traded cash, some guns and some electrical work, called my wife and asked for a loan. A bit of info on the Camaro (pictures when I get the car) - it still has the plastic on the seats, floor and steering wheel. A few tags and window sticker . . . .it has 31 original miles on the OD. He did some work to it for long term storage including but not limited to, removing the valve covers and loosened all the rocker arms to relieve pressure on the valve springs, removed all wheels and the car was up on jackstands. He clear coated in matte finish all the unfinished metal under the car and under the hood. The cooling system was drained, flushed clean and had a very elaborate air circulation system to dry it out. I noticed this guy was a little on the eccentric side the more we talked.

I’m going back later today to get everything in writing and give him some paperwork. More to follow . . ..
 
What went wrong................
1) MTBE and/or ethanol in todays fuel left sitting in the carb. You will be pulling that back apart to clean the residue out of there.
2) RTV not compatible with the transmission fluid. It ate the RTV. Same with the valve covers.
I had the same problem for years with the rear diff cover on my 1995 GMC truck. The synthetic gear oil would cause the gasket to slip out of place and leak. I now use synthetic gear oil compatible RTV and no more problems.
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Mike, the carb was fresh and I put it on just hours after I put 10 gallons of Premium in an almost empty tank. I replaced the fuel lines and two filters.

I never used RTV on anything aside from a rear and even that was just once because I didn’t have a gasket. It was recommended that I use the gasket maker by a few people that know much more than I do.
I used the bolts for the valve covers and transmission pan to hold the gaskets in place.
 
chromebumpers said:
2nd item. The transmission. Dropped the pan changed the filter and fluid, no problems detected in smell, color or metal/foreign contamination with the old fluid. Checked the pan by laying it on a Granite countertop and checking for gaps with a business card. Perfect all around.
Smeared a light, very thin layer of RTV gasket sealer on clean pan, laid down a new rubber Felpro gasket and installed on transmission correctly torquing all 13 bolts.
What happened! It leaks like a sieve!
Click to expand...

Try using "Lube Locker" gaskets for rear ends and transmission pan gaskets. You won't have to
worry about getting the torque "Just Right" to make it seal.

https://www.lubelocker.com/collections/transmission-gaskets

https://www.summitracing.com/search/brand/lubelocker?GroupBy=ProductName

upload_2021-6-3_8-53-16.png
 
For $27 I expect they are great. It’s worth it not to lose more than that in trans fluid.

I have a question I’m almost too reluctant to ask. I noticed that I have a metal tube that comes down into the transmission filter. It has tabs on it to locate it in the front corner securely and it fits snugly. There wasn’t any O ring on this current tube (like there was on a plastic tube for another TH400 I had last time) someone told me not every pick up tube needs an O ring. Is that true?
 
I think I figured it out . . . .
The torque settings publish are for standard composite gaskets, not for rubber gaskets. The rubber got distorted and leaked be cause 144 inch Lbs. was too much.
 
Thanks Rick. Just got the trans gasket from LubeLocker today, installing tonight. I’ll post about how it goes.
 
Ok, new start over now. Waiting on QJet parts to come, otherwise everything is lined up all ready to fly.
New trans gasket installed.
New valve covers and gaskets (not yet installed)
New 4 barrel intake - cleaned and painted
Intake gaskets ready
New TStat and gasket ready.

The carb is holding me up, here’s why. I don’t want to install the new valve covers and gaskets until the new intake is installed. I have to de contaminate the exhaust manifolds from the oil that leaked last time, the whole engine bay could use a good cleaning. I can’t do that in the barn, would be best if I could drive it outside. We have another day of lower humidity so I think I’ll try to contort myself under the dash and unbolt the steering column to change out. It looks easier to get at the rag joint from under the car. Did I mention I’m not looking forward to doing this job?

I’m not up to installing the new dual exhaust either. Not for any other reason but I’m just not up for any problems getting the header bolts off without breaking. One bolt on each side is easy to get to if drilling and retapping is needed, the other requires a half stick under the gas tank.
Aside from that, if those bolts do come out I just don’t have faith that the down tubes will fit so close to the starter and the other parts will be contoured correctly. I’m a bit challenged for covering all contingencies and all the proper exhaust toys that a good muffler shop has.

I’ll be busy today installing new weather stripping. I have to start at the trunk, it leaked last wash job. The convertible top rubber seal under the leading front edge where it meets the windshield chrome. It doesn’t look good and the doors need new sweeps. They look as if someone used a Slim-Jim unlocking the doors.
One major thing I have never experienced in any other full size car is the lack of room in the engine bay. Under the dashboard is tight too. You can’t get your hand in anywhere to do reach or do anything. My guess is Pontiac made it so you must take the dash down by layers one piece at a time just to get to connect a new speedo cable and work on replacing the radio and wires.
 
that makes me hurt just thinking about working under and inside the dash,
nothing in my body now seems to bend like it used to!
 
I just discovered a new situation.
I was about to pull the upper and lower radiator hoses and noticed the drain valve at the base of the radiator (drivers side) is right up to the frame. In this position It can’t be turned. Suggestions? Anyone?C93762B8-27DC-4ECB-AB7D-52A834DC7C0F.jpeg48ECB2B1-0997-4E4E-9C15-1E04572E7A71.jpeg
 
I really wanted to take out the 2V intake tonight but I don’t want to make a mess with the antifreeze. I’m really reluctant to take a pair of pliers to that valve at the base of the radiator. I would have to take off part of the valve handle to get a turn past the frame (remember the photo above?). The lower radiator hose looks a little bulged near the hose clamp so I think that should be replaced. I don’t know how much coolant is sitting in the upper hose if I just want to take that one off.
 
It helps me a little mentally if I switch off to work on the other car for a while.
I removed the seats and carpets on the Corvette so I can install Hush Mat on the floor and rear compartment.
 
Would you believe I had over 900 cans of cleaners and paints! I put an ad in CL and sold most of it to two guys. The first one came back to grab anything remaining but was too late. Then I discovered 6 more cases with a couple hundred more.
 
Too bad you guys are not nearby, I have a lot, no, not a lot, a shit-load of car stuff I’d rather give the stuff away than deal with people coming here. I gave away a couple items for practically nothing and they still want to get me down even more. I truly believe if I had $50 bills for $20 each, there would still be people asking if I’ll take $10 for them.
 
I tried soaking a few rusty items in vinegar. It works, it just takes much longer than Evapo Rust. I had to scrub the parts to remove the rust on the 3rd day. I will say, the steel looks natural after rinsing and drying off. ILl use this way when not in a hurry.
 
I’m gathering up anything not needed by me. Miscellaneous paints (hundreds new in cans), car parts (vette interior) some new mostly used tools, specialty tools, engine hoist, engine stand, two post lift, ect.
 
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