Project: AeroTank

[Xist]

Yes. Powder coating is always necessary.

What have you powder-coated that was not on a car?

Way back when I wanted to take my computer to a body shop and have it painted to match my car.

That was back when they still made desktop PCs.

[svt98t]

The first item I did for a customer was a boat anchor in satin black.
I've done an exhaust manifold for a 1939 Allis Chamlers Type B tractor.
The next project is restoring a 1890's fire truck cart hand pump. To make it look pretty AND operational!!!

-ryan s.

[Bruce]

Any updates?

[svt98t]

Well, I haven't had much time to work on it.
So, I've dedicated next weekend to getting it back on the road.
I really do miss the 24/28 mileage as compared to the 15/18 the Town Car is getting. It becomes very noticeable as gas prices rise over $4 a gallon here.
So, I am going to do the PI intake manifold swap which requires a newer engine wiring harness, intake plenum, throttle body, intake, fuel rail, throttle cable and a bunch of other hardware.
I finished modding the harness. I needed to solder stuff and wrap it in this sweet nylon flex conduit.
I need to get it up and running, then I can add the gauges. The A-pillar with the 3 gauge pods just needs paint. I needed to make a "custom" piece because they do not make 3 gauge pillar pods for my car.
I also miss the Limited Slip Differential and the snow tires in all this snow. Poop.
Look for updates next weekend!!

-ryan s.

[svt98t]

I'm sure I had a blown intake manifold gasket on the drivers side. All the white smoke was coming out the drivers side tail pipe. And it's had a history of issues centering around the #8 cylinder.
I used this opportunity to swap out intake manifolds and a few other things in preparation for the the PI motor swap.
Here is the blown gasket:

No bueno.

And went from this:



To this:



Side:



Other side:



In weight reduction news, I removed 34 lbs from the vehicle.
The old manifold weighed 30 lbs; the new one, 17 lbs, for a 13 lbs savings.
I also weighed the old A/C compressor versus the A/C delete kit: 13.6 lbs savings.
I removed the A/C dryer and some A/C lines: 7 lbs savings.

Next is to remove the A/C condenser from the header panel. That will be worth some more savings as well.
I'm trying to get my aluminum engine block by the end of the month. I found an even lighter version (73 lbs) and want to use that.
Yeah! Back on the road!

-ryan s.

[svt98t]

They just installed a drive on vehicle scale at work.
Time to go weigh it before the block swap!!

-ryan s.

[Big Dave]

Been watching this one with interest.

I've looked at the other side of the coin (although that would not in the least foreclose what you are doing) in doing an engine swap.

A Panther (with aero improvements) and the old-fashioned hot rodders technique of an engine swap.

How about a Mercedes-Benz OM606 and a manual swapped into the Panther? With an auto Benzes of the same vintage as your Vic get low thirties with a loose automatic. While not easy to find, there are mid-90s Benzs that are wrecked or rusting.

The OM606 is undoubtedly lighter and quieter than a Cummins 4BT3.9 which we've seen swapped into a Vic.

[svt98t]

Benz motor? Hmmm. I'll look around at that possibility.
I think for right now, the block swap is the next step along with the aero mods.
As much as the aero mods need to be done, the engine needs to be addressed.
Because, aero mods don't work very well if the car can't move!!
Also, as soon as i finish these sets of rims, I'm delivering them to PA. That will let me test the absolute limits of my mileage and establish a baseline(for highway mpg) for future mods.
Thanks Big Dave.

-ryan s.

[Bruce]

Ryan - A 5-speed would really let you take full advantage of those aero mods.

This guy has one in progress:
going on my third manual swap

BTW, what did the AeroTank weigh?

Thanks.

[svt98t]

I'm a member on that forum as well. I've been following, and was supposed to go to one of the meets they had over the weekend, but ran out of time.
Results on weigh in, tomorrow.

-ryan s.