Hello Dan, I recently found your channel and it's extremely helpful while I work on my dad's 87 Chevy with a 350 TBI engine. One thing I am struggling with and can find nowhere in manuals or online is how and why "vacuum" is used in these engines. I am an engineer at Saginaw Steering Gear (now Nexteer) and love these old vehicles, but I was not working on them back then and I don't understand how the vacuum system works or why vacuum was chosen, but it seems so commonplace and normal that no one who understands it has gone over what it means, and how it works for people who don't natively know about it. For example, a vacuum leak has been described by some as causing high idle "because the vehicle thinks the butterfly has been opened", but that's where the explanation always ends. I'd really enjoy a quick overview of what "vacuum" is used for, how it's generated, and what the basic functions of it are in a vehicle engine.
I understand your question, and you are correct that the principles behind manifold vacuum are not always explained well. I'll try to address this for you in the near future.
@@bitsofwisdom460Oh and by the way, got that old harmonic balancer off and took some pictures. Did you need them for a video? All I can say is that I glad I replaced it and uhh...it was ripe, to say the least.
@@kmas8229 Yes please. Based on your experience, it would be worth it for me to put together something to explain balancers. It would help to have a bad one to use as an example. I have a gmail in the "about / more" on my home page.
I'm thinkin' maybe a G-body Buick Regal, 5.3 out of a van, truck, SUV, etc. stock rotating assembly, stock heads and a turbo, T-56 5-speed manual trans or 4L60/80, 14×7" chrome Astro Supremes, lowered suspension (front is same as S-10), Ford 8" rear end sourced from live-axle Explorer, scuff 'n shoot paintjob with some backyard graphics (scallops, stripes or something). ALTERNATIVE BUILD STYLE: lifted on 33" tires (monster truck, only it's granny's car on bigass tires, son!
Nice love the Iroc picture next to the Cadillac. As I'm working on my 1988 Iroc I would have like to put in an LS engine for more horsepower but I live in California where smog is very strict. Will be tune on this swap.
Thank you. I took that when we were out to the "Hines Drive Cruise" near Detroit. And, yes California is very strict. I expect there are ways to keep them happy, since the LS engine has better baseline emissions. I know that GM was offering emissions compliant engine / trans retrofit packages, so I would think it is possible
The challenge in these old Cadillacs is that they are quite under powered. The 307 made 140 hp. It had a lot of low end torque, but it's nice to have a little more power. I tried to convince my son that we should find a 403 or even a 455 Olds. The 403 would be externally identical and with a few tweaks can make power. The 455 is a higher deck and so a little wider, but would look similar. BUT, the LS engines are next generation and make more power with ease. The one he has came from a truck, so with a truck style cam it ought to move the caddy really well.
You're right that computer systems can have issues with age, but it's not all bad. I'll say that so far, my experience has been good. The '85 IROC (after 39 years) is still running on its original ECM and while I have replaced some sensors / actuators, the old ones were still working. My son's '87 is running on an original ECM as well.
Interesting project!!!!!! Glad to see you and your son both working on this, thats fantastic!!!!
Very nice you are going to spend some time with your son in this project Dan, can't wait for the upcoming episodes!
Yes, we've been working the project for a while. More to come soon.
Okay, definitely have my attention. Nice going with this series. Nuthin but learning!
Hope you enjoy!
You will be miles ahead to just bite the bullet and buy a Holley Terminator ecu to run the electronics, makes everything clean and easy
Hello Dan, I recently found your channel and it's extremely helpful while I work on my dad's 87 Chevy with a 350 TBI engine.
One thing I am struggling with and can find nowhere in manuals or online is how and why "vacuum" is used in these engines. I am an engineer at Saginaw Steering Gear (now Nexteer) and love these old vehicles, but I was not working on them back then and I don't understand how the vacuum system works or why vacuum was chosen, but it seems so commonplace and normal that no one who understands it has gone over what it means, and how it works for people who don't natively know about it.
For example, a vacuum leak has been described by some as causing high idle "because the vehicle thinks the butterfly has been opened", but that's where the explanation always ends.
I'd really enjoy a quick overview of what "vacuum" is used for, how it's generated, and what the basic functions of it are in a vehicle engine.
I understand your question, and you are correct that the principles behind manifold vacuum are not always explained well. I'll try to address this for you in the near future.
Try this and see if it answers your questions:
ruclips.net/video/ODszeQMQ7OA/видео.html
When I read the title of the video my heart dropped for a second. Glad you're keeping it original, phew!
Yes, I'm keeping mine original, but there is certainly a lot of interest in this swap for other people.
@@bitsofwisdom460Oh and by the way, got that old harmonic balancer off and took some pictures. Did you need them for a video?
All I can say is that I glad I replaced it and uhh...it was ripe, to say the least.
@@kmas8229 Yes please. Based on your experience, it would be worth it for me to put together something to explain balancers. It would help to have a bad one to use as an example. I have a gmail in the "about / more" on my home page.
@@bitsofwisdom460 Sent you a mail! Have a good one Dan!
Great little project! cool
Thanks!
I'm thinkin' maybe a G-body Buick Regal, 5.3 out of a van, truck, SUV, etc. stock rotating assembly, stock heads and a turbo, T-56 5-speed manual trans or 4L60/80, 14×7" chrome Astro Supremes, lowered suspension (front is same as S-10), Ford 8" rear end sourced from live-axle Explorer, scuff 'n shoot paintjob with some backyard graphics (scallops, stripes or something).
ALTERNATIVE BUILD STYLE: lifted on 33" tires (monster truck, only it's granny's car on bigass tires, son!
Sounds like a good project!
Nice love the Iroc picture next to the Cadillac. As I'm working on my 1988 Iroc I would have like to put in an LS engine for more horsepower but I live in California where smog is very strict. Will be tune on this swap.
COMMI-FORNIA IS MORE ACCURATE. YOU GUYS' TOLERANCE FOR AUTHORITISM IS OTHER WORLDLY. 🤔
Thank you. I took that when we were out to the "Hines Drive Cruise" near Detroit. And, yes California is very strict. I expect there are ways to keep them happy, since the LS engine has better baseline emissions. I know that GM was offering emissions compliant engine / trans retrofit packages, so I would think it is possible
lol oh man I was hoping to hear it was going into the Camaro. This is my future hopefully. Wow didn't even think people would put an ls into a caddy.
As I said in the video, you will see many similarities. It's not going into a Camaro, but probably 90% of the work is the same.
What’s being blurred out on the sweatshirt?
Hello?
It is a corporate logo. They aren't involved and we didn't have permission, so I thought it best to remove the prominent logo.
Thanks!
Not me! You ruin it when you do that.
The challenge in these old Cadillacs is that they are quite under powered. The 307 made 140 hp. It had a lot of low end torque, but it's nice to have a little more power. I tried to convince my son that we should find a 403 or even a 455 Olds. The 403 would be externally identical and with a few tweaks can make power. The 455 is a higher deck and so a little wider, but would look similar. BUT, the LS engines are next generation and make more power with ease. The one he has came from a truck, so with a truck style cam it ought to move the caddy really well.
Computer stuff works great when new give it 20 years lol
You're right that computer systems can have issues with age, but it's not all bad. I'll say that so far, my experience has been good. The '85 IROC (after 39 years) is still running on its original ECM and while I have replaced some sensors / actuators, the old ones were still working. My son's '87 is running on an original ECM as well.