Rear Brake Caliper Adjustment

Ever since converting to four wheel disc brakes, I have never been able to lock the rears and only just lock the fronts under hard braking. The Chev has always felt like it stopped well at low to medium demands, but hit the brakes hard and it would continue on further than I would have thought it would and certainly further than I like.

Time to try this: "Right Stuff" Rear Disc Installation Support

Up on stands, rear wheels off and pull the emergency brake actuation levers apart...




The rear discs didn't look like they had seen much use. Cross-hatching still visible....




Adjusting the emergency brake actuation... the right rear was pretty good, though the left rear could be wound out a turn and still have the lever placed against the end stop...




Back together and go for a test drive. Much better!

The pulls up quicker and the brake balance is good. I managed to lock the right rear under hard braking on the way to the servo with an empty petrol tank. Once filled, the extra weight at the back meant all four tyres would be on the verge of locking under heavy braking, with a front locking preferentially.

No brake fluid escaped during the adjustment, but the pedal does get harder after one pump so a bleed wouldn't go astray.

I'll also double-check that I have adjusted the emergency brake correctly, so there is no slack in the emergency brake system when released, but the caliper actuation lever is still on the end stop.

J

Holley 302-1 Oil Pan + Suitable Dipstick

From: Holley
Date: Sat, Aug 29, 2015 at 3:52 AM
Subject: RE: HLY-000000000141427
To: J

J,

First page of the instructions had this little clip. Which means they are only designed to fit the LS3 tube unfortunately.

The Holley® LS Swap oil pans are designed to work with an LS3 dipstick and tube (if desired). Below are the part numbers:

· LS Dipstick – GM P/N 12634547

· LS tube – GM P/N 12625031

Thanks, Holley

From: J
Sent: Thursday, August 27, 2015 4:25 PM
To: Holley
Subject: Re: HLY-000000000141427

Thanks Holley,

I am using the pan on an L76. Can I use my standard dipstick, or do I need to go to an LS3 dipstick?

Best Regards, J

On Friday, August 28, 2015, Holley wrote:

Thank you for contacting Holley Performance Products.
The pan is designed to hold the 5.5 Qts.  The over all capacity with a filter is 6 Qts.  The filter hold oil as well creating the half qt extra.
Sincerely,
Holley

Your question was:
The product technical information makes the comment that the sump oil capacity = 5.5 Quarts Total Oil Capacity with stock oil filter. 6 Quarts Requires use of LS3 dipstick (GM P/N 12634547) and tube (GM P/N 12625031). My question is, what drives the decision to go to 6 quarts over 5.5 quarts?

If you have further questions, please reply directly to this email with history without altering the subject line.

Out!

One week later, the engine and gearbox was out of the VZ...






Now the fun begins...



J

A new chapter begins...

So, it has been a little while between posts. The Impala has been out and about, clocking up the miles, however that is set to change in the not too distant future; this turned up on the weekend...




Complete with this under the bonnet...




With low compression in a couple of cylinders and oil leaks everywhere, the factory original 327 has been on borrowed time since 2011.

After much umming and ahhing over rebuild/crate motor/2nd hand/conversion options, the decision was finally made to go with an LS swap from a later-model Commodore.

I was keen for a 6.0 litre for the low-down torque (over an LS1) and 4-speed auto (smaller than the VE Commodore's six speed, so a simpler fit into the Impala's transmission tunnel).

This left a very narrow Holden model range to look in, VZ Series II only... less than a year's production as VT Series 2 through to VZ Series 1 only had the LS1 and VE onwards had the 6L80E six speed.

Enter one statutory write-off VZ Series 2 SS-V Thunder ute, complete with L76 and 4L65E with less than 100k km on the clock. Perfect!

So let the fun begin!




J

Penrith Doughnuts and Cars - Feb 2015

Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, Penrith. Second Sunday of every month. 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM.

February brought a beautiful day for it and plenty of cars.






More photos here...
Penrith Krispy Kreme Doughnuts and Cars - Feb 2015

J

Coffee and Cars, Kellyville Plaza, June 2014

Random shots...

Max and Alex's Wedding

Congrats' Mat and Alex!

4-GC Idle Vent

Check it...
http://www.chevytalk.org/fusionbb/showtopic.php?tid/293265/

J

Service and Tune

Oil change (Castrol GTX 20W-50)
Oil filter change (Ryco R2124P)
Top-up auto trans
Top-up power steering
Check spark plugs
New points
Set ignition timing + idle mixture + idle speed
Bleed brakes

Last Oil + filter change = 56,936.8 "miles"
This Oil + filter change = 59,554.7 "miles"
Diff = 2,617.9 x 2.12 (conversion factor) = 5,550 km

Plugs were sooty, but noticed soot on the last half of the threads. Time for a bit of research...
How To Decode Spark Plug Part Numbers - NGK

Original Plugs: NGK BP5S
Plugs Dec 11: NGK B5ES

The original plugs have the the standard 9.5 mm (3/8") thread reach where the 2011 plugs have a 19 mm (3/4") reach.

The original plugs have a projected insulator design where the 2011 plugs don't.

From what I can gather, 1965 Chev small block heads require 0.375" reach (i.e. 3/8") = original plugs!

Thankfully I had soaked the originals in thinners after they were removed in 2011, so were pretty clean; after gapping to 0.035" they were once more put back into service.

The points were pretty badly pitted evenly across the contact faces. New points installed and the dwell set to bang-on 30 deg.

J

Thinking out loud here...

Saab braking woes got me wondering a bit about the Chev discs and not locking the brakes.

 

Can you remember if the first master…

http://www.flickr.com/photos/johnandkath/11067382964

 

Had a larger rear bowl than the installed…?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/johnandkath/11067806103

 

The DBMC05 is the disc/disc master from Right Stuff…

http://www.getdiscbrakes.com/dbmc05

 

I *think* this is what is on the car…

http://www.getdiscbrakes.com/dbmc16

 

Ref.

http://www.mbmbrakeboosters.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=7:master-cylinder-faq&catid=2:brake-boosters&Itemid=10

 

J