72-CLASSIC_RIDE

Not much went on today! Went to storage to fire her up and battery completely depleted. Must have not shut door completely last time I fired her up. Been working on a 3 Gauge Pod Housing designed for 1st Gen Montes, Chevelles & El Caminos. Did some final checks from a template I fabricated to verify fitment. Laid the template under dash, took a couple pic's and began contemplating battery issue. Will deal with that one tomorrow. Doug

Went to the garage today Cory but wasn't able to get at all the boxes of misc. parts. The battery was totally depleted in the Monte and am not able to rectify that today. I'll tackle it tomorrow. Car is pretty well sandwiched in front to rear so getting around it without moving it further out is impossible. I'm getting a new battery tomorrow and charging the old one for a spare. Think I must have left driver door ajar last time I visited her. Could'nt find any other explanation for it! I have some pic's of that Map/Mirror assembly apart but did not think of getting a pic of the inside of mirror housing at the time. You can never have enuff pic's! As I remember it, the lead where it enters at the top of the mirror is always hot. When you slide the lower lamp switch, contact is made to that lead from the taller contact at the lamp. Is the upper lead hot? Are you sure both contacts lamp & lead meet? I had to make a minor adjustment on the taller lamp contact to get mine working a few years back. Even now it can be iffy in operation. Just a thought. I'll dig through those boxes tomorrow and take a pic if I find that piece attached to the internal mirror housing. Doug

Hey Cory, in a box somewhere in the storage garage where my Monte is stored I have a Map Light/Mirror assemby that I took apart sometime back. If I can locate that box, will attempt to find what you are inquiring about and see if I can snap a photo of it attached. Will advise tomorrow if search was successful. Doug

WOW! What a Turn Out Doug

Just an update. I had the bung braze welded into the tranny fluid pan. Guaranteed not to leak or crack. Now I can proceed so as to have my 3 gauge pod gauges working in time for the WM. Doug

My Pan has no place for a drain plug or a boss that can be drilled for one Robert. I may either elect to purchase aftermarket Pan that has a boss location that can be drilled for temp sensor or possibly look for adapter fitting and figure out how to seal it once in and do it myself. I'm still exploring having the bung Tig welded into my original pan also. Just need to ensure it won't leak and the welding doesn't warp the pan. Decisions, Decisions, Decisions!!!! Doug

I figured Tig would be the best way if welded. If they know what they are doing I guess it could be done without warping the pan. I'll have to look into a different pan with the bung already in place. Hadn't considered that option. Doug

Now that you have convinced me the ultimate location for the Temp Sensor should be located in the tranny fluid pan, it brings to mind another question as the best way to install the bung (adapter) that the temp sensor will thread into the pan. My 1st thought was to have it welded in. Of course there is the worry about heat from the weld warping the pan. I guess another alternative would be to build a adapter to compliment the bung and bolt/seal it in. Any thoughts as to the 1st thought or any additional experiences would be appreciated for those that have added this tranny sensor into the fluid pan. Once again, thank you for the input in advance. Doug

Okay, the tranny pan location it is. You guys have sold me! Appreciate the advise & thanks much. Doug

Yeah I considered that Sam. If I measured from tranny pan, I wouldn't think the operating temp would be best represented from there. Not sure if fluid is cooled prior to re entering pan and if so, how efficient is the cooling? Can't even say at what location I am considering measuring from is optimal! Since I had spent the $Bucks$ for this High End gauge (equipped with stepper motor), want to get the best functionality from it. Originally, was just looking for a 3rd gauge to fill out my 3 pod housing and at that point of purchase hadn't given much thought or consideration for location of sensor. It has since become more important for me to at least find a good sensor reading location that if tranny decided to go South, the temp reading would indicate a problem was immenent if not taken care of. Maybe next week end I can use a thermal gun where fluid enters into radiator and see if I can't get a operating temp from it. Not sure if it would be representative, but if measured going in and again going out, it might indicate something useful to me. Probably shoulda picked fuel pressure for that 3rd gauge Doug

Hey all, Going to add a Tranny Oil Temp gauge in near future. The location I selected for temp sensor is where you would measure the tranny oil pressure. This location is a factory theaded hole with a plug sealing off oil from escaping. I had originally thought of drilling a hole in tranny oil pan, welding in a bung and measuring the oil temp from there. But utilizing a existing hole in tranny made more sense with less work involved. The location is smaller plug in line & forward of orange cap: I guess my question is: Would this location be appropriate? (The gauge will measure up to 260 degrees. If the normal operating temp exceeds this then the gauge is essentially useless at current maximum temperature reading. It would seem measuring the temp at or near its highest normal operating temp makes most sense and the location I selected would be representative of the operating temp. If possible, would like confirmation of what would be considered normal tanny oil operating temperature. 150/220 range would be optimal. Thanks in advance for your replies and All have a GREAT day.... Doug

Valvoline VR1 Racing oil here 10-40 Wt. Doug

I haven't personally seen an additive that will prevent seepage from a main seal leak. I have seen where external sealers were tried with very limited success. If there is a path, oil will find a way out! If it's not bad, I wouldn't even mess with it until it becomes a serious problem. The 1st step is to isolate the origin so you know where/what your dealing with. Doug

My idiot oil pressure indicator sensor is located on the driver side of the engine block about midway below spark plugs. Mine is a 402 CI. Also, that oil leak can be deceiving. The rear main bearing seals are notorious for leaking and when car is moving can wash the seeping oil onto the oil pan giving the appearance it is the oil pan. Clean it up really good and intermittantly check it to see if it is wet at the front of the oil pan. If so, try and isolate it. Valve cover gaskets another source to inspect. I would wait on a oil pan until I'm sure where the leak(s) originatd from. My 2 cents Doug

Shoulda asked yesterday! I took it for a spin for the first time since I put her to bed last Fall. Today I just got a few pics taken where shes stored. This next week is going to be awesome for weather but naturally am working. Doug

If stock motor with factory radiator and thermostate you should be at 190 degress. If so and are overheating, check thermostate or for a plugged radiator. My 2 cents Doug

Yes, that is the one! Figured I would figure out how to make it work myself as he did'nt seem to have much of a interest in fashioning one for our Montes. Maybe if I do a good enough job with this one and note those modifications, he may take interest in making them. Doug

Been kicking the can down the road for several months deciding if I wanted to add additional gauges under the dash. Finally pulled the trigger & ordered a Custom Gauge Pod and 3 Autometer GM Bowtie Oil Pressure / Voltmeter / Auto Transmission Oil Temperature Gauges to install into the Gauge Pod. Well, put the Gauges in the Pod and so far thats as far as I have gotten! I still will need to modify Gauge Pod for a good fit and make it secure. As you can see in the pic's, those extended arms will either have to be removed on modified in some fashion to make them useable. The contour against the underside of the Dash will likely require some trimming as well. But I liked the fact it will blend in nicely with the Insturment Panel Burl Wood Bezel. As for the Gauges. they are similar in color & style to those in the Bezel that they won't look entirely out of place and distract with the Insturment Panel. Now to find the time to get the fit up of the Gauge Pod done! This Pod is large and deep enough I am going to add a hole so I can secure my MP3 Connector from the radio to the inside of the Pod to plug my MP3 Player into so I can listen to my own music if I choose, especially in those dead zones on the highway. Will advise with pic's once installed and operable. I have to remove Tranny Oil Pan, weld a Bung in it for the Temp reading on Tranny Oil. Hope when done, it looks as I have envisioned it! Doug

Replaced mine with Soffseal early last year & no complaints here. Doug

First step is to have it checked out by a QUALIFIED AC Tech. Tell them you would like to have it diagnosed for any/all problems and then decide course of action. Don't know about France but here in USA, they charge $100.00 US Currency & up for inspection/diagnosis. But if you are serious about finding what is required to make operational, that is your best bet. Doug

I have seen the R12 Freon on eBAY offered in 12 Oz. as well as 30 lb. And yes, is expensive! If not Concourse I suggest converting to 134A Freon. Way cheaper. Just my 2 cents..... Doug

Very Nice! Doug

Keep us posted if you do change to LED. Would be interesting to hear how much difference they made. Doug

If you are referring to the Insturment Panel lights as being dim, it may be from your headlight switch. Does anything change as you rotate the headlight knob? Left should increase lighting & activate dome light while rotating right dims lights. Just a thought! I would think if your getting lighting from the Insturment Panel and all are dim, the headlight switch would be the most probable culprit. Doug

Never say Never! Good things can Happen What a GREAT find! Congrats...... Was the beverage for celebation or for motivation? Doug