Marks 64C

[M Penta]

Made the trip to Limerock and up to Adams gathering with no problems, about a 700 mile trip. My friend drove my van and camper, and then his girlfriend showed up later in her 55 Buick which was a pretty adventurous move. It ran well but you need to put some tires on that thing Jen! This event is always a great time, weather was good except for pouring rain on Sunday (concourse/auction day) We were soaked but we got through it.

I was able to take a few spirited parade laps around the track with it which was fun. The guy in front of me was stopping to let traffic clear so we could really get after it in places.




[/URL]

[Charles H Jacobus]

Great job, Mark!!!!

ChuckJ

[John Standish]

Need pix of the '55 Buick. Special? Century? Super? Roadmaster?
264 or 322 CID V-8? Synchromesh or Dynaflow?

[M Penta]

Thanks Charles, I appreciate it. Driving it around the track was a real milestone for us, as was the trouble free road trip.

Hi John,

I will have to get the details, but I believe it is a 322 nail head/dynaflow. That car was dragged out of a barn as you see it. Fluids changed, tuned up and lots of miles put on it since.

It is far from perfect, but a solid original car with a very nice original interior!

'EDIT' It is a Roadmaster special, saw the car in town today. I love the interior in that thing! If it were mine I would buff it out and clear coat it, it appears to be original paint. BTW, it has all 4 hubcaps but they were removed for dirt road duties.

[John Standish]

Thanks for Buick spec, Mark.
Yes, four fender portholes indicates Roadmaster, top of the Buick line, three portholes Special or Super.

[Bob Guerin]

Very well done Mark, reading this process over time has been both encouraging and motivating. Be safe and thanks, Bob

[M Penta]

Thanks Bob!



I think I finally have the Weber 40IDF jetting sorted out. Since I do not know exact specs for this engine, I had to experiment with a few different combo's since the recommended set up did not work well.

I started with 28 venturis, 50 idle, 200AC, 115 main, F11. Could not get rid of the flat spot and seemed a bit lean at cruise. Plugs looked OK, maybe a bit light.

The combo I arrived at using jets from a borrowed jet kit:

28 Venturi, 55 idle, 200AC, 125 main, F11. No more flat spot and pulls strong/linear up to redline, it is running fantastic and power is good. Maybe a touch rich at idle, but run so much better I want to leave it for now and will check plugs in a 100 miles and go from there.

The jet kit I borrowed from a friend did not have E tubes or venturi's so I had to stick with the F11's/28 venturi's. I would have tried 120 mains but none in kit, had to step up from 115's to 125's. The 55 idles are a small step up from the 50's, seems reasonable. Idle screws are about 3/4 turn out. the 125's are bigger then recommended 4x venturi, but it sure runs well so for now I consider it a win.

Now I need to turn my old wideband set up from another car into a portable kit so I can see where I am at. In the meantime I will continue to monitor CHT.

I read every discusion on the IDF jetting topic, people here have provided excellent info as usual and really helped me understand how these carbs work. Thanks again for the education!

[Brad Ripley]

Mark,
Great multi-year story of your restoration and adventures with your 356C. Looks to be an early C from the smooth front hood latch panel. Great first photo of the engine with the original oil hang tag. I see a black small voltage regulator -- original to the car?

What Chassis Number is it?

[M Penta]

Thanks Brad,

You already noticed the smooth striker plate and inquired back on pg4. Car was built in 63, vin 217330. All other numbers back on pg 4. I have since obtained the COA and the car is entirely numbers matching (except for temporary 912 engine).

It is a very original, seemingly low mileage car, but does it really have only 15K or is it 115K?

Lady I purchased it from: "He hardly ever drove it".

Her kids: "I only remember it sitting under that green car cover".

Little use could still mean 114K from new in 1964 to 1986 (when it was last parked), he did use it for occasional commuting to GE electric boat where he was an engineer, from nearby Old Saybrook CT. He was a big guy, and the original seat is in OK shape, can't image it is 114K.

So I am not sure but the pics from when I bought it and the work performed should provide some insight.

Thanks,

Mark

[ryan base]

mark what fun!! congradulations on job well done.

[M Penta]

Thanks Ryan!

So what is the story with yours? I hope you get that T1 in there and drive it soon!

[M Penta]

Today I dropped everything and went on a long Fall drive. No plan, just take back roads and try to get lost, ended up in NH on some very remote roads.

Last night I was out in the shop until 2:00 AM finally getting my throttle set up correctly and added a pedal stop. I also made some new cork gaskets for aircleaner bases (tedious) and cleaned idle jets (pain). In doing so I dropped an airlcleaner bolt down the carb which did not pass the venturi, but the washer I foolishly used did make it down to the butterfly. I was careful not to open the throttle and finally managed to get it out with a long hook tool. I thought I was going to have to pull the carb. I started down that road and the back carb bolt was virtually impossible to remove, so went back to removing it from the top. Really glad it did not drop past the butterfly!

Getting the throttle linkage from pedal to carbs set up correctly was quite a process. Now that it is right I can open her up with out worrying about linkage popping apart, and throttle feels good with everything lubed and different return spring set up.

I had alot of fun zipping through those roads today, it is running and driving great and I am really enjoying how it handles and am really getting used to it. It does feel a little twitchy in the back, but settles into corners well. It can probably use engine mounts and maybe some new rear bushings as they are probably original to the car. It does currently have 5mm spacers on rear and none on front, this Winter I plan on longer studs and 10MM spacers all around.

Very tempting to enter it in this weekends hillclimb at mt Philo just for fun!

[ryan base]

marc every day I am home I go to my as41 case to fathom my next move. I believe I must send it out for an align bore touch up. so thats on the list.

[M Penta]

I parked it for the winter today. Before parking it I took it out on some icy roads and had some fun (maybe a little too much fun). This winter I would like to start on the original engine refurbish/rebuild, but have some other competing projects so not sure yet. It is not getting any easier to find time/money for car projects these days!

[M Penta]

Pulled the 356 out of the shed last weekend. Checked oil, filled it with gas and took it to straight to my kids baseball game 1hr away, nice back road drive. On Sunday hopped in and took it to my older Sons Basketball game across the lake in NY, about 1.5 hr away. Did not even wash it yet and it is pretty filthy, but it is making all of the driving to my kids games much more enjoyable. This weekend I will change oil, check valve adjust and give it a good cleaning. I took it to work today, already put over a few hundred miles on it. It is running well and nice to be driving it again. I have not touched the 356 in like 7 mo's, focused on some big projects with the van (king pins/front end, disc brake swap and soon V8 swap). Just plan on driving the 356 as is this Summer. I would like a new exhaust and some Vredsteins, but not in the cards right now.

Hope everyone is running well and having fun. The long off season here makes it that much more special to drive them again!