Spring has Sprung, and Grimace is RUNNING!!!

[71Satcloned2runner]

Hey gang.

Grimace the purple beast has been out a few times now, and some fishy stuff is happening. Not only that, but I wantsome suggestions on tires. I will ask your opinions on a few things here.

1. The first time I had Grimace out, the car died when starting. No big deal, I boosted it, it was brought to life and I drove it around for a while to charge it up. Later that night I went home from the gym, and it started fine again. SWEET, I figure (correctly?) that it was a dead battery and thought nothing more of it.

Well today (8 days later) I go for a spin again, and when I turn the ignition, it turns over real slow. It almost died, but came to life at the last possible second. Sweet!! But now I am thinking starter troubles instead of dead battery?? After driving for a while, I stop to get something to eat. When I come back out, the car is turning over amazingly now, but I can't catch it to fire. Almost like a broken ballast resistor.:huh: It started on the third try, and thought I should bring it home to have a look at it. Suggestions?

2. I was told as a youngster to always use the tire on all four wheels of my car. Now I want to get something a little bigger and wider in the back to improve the stance of my car. Any suggestions on combos to give it a beefier appearance--having the back look a little more jacked up that the front. Is it a matter of the same tire, but bigger and wider, or should I have other considerations? I don't want racing slicks, but the pro-street look or something close to it would be nice.

3. I am now looking for a better rear-end (Grimiace was originally a 318, so has a smaller diff). How much is a good price to pay for a rear-end from another big block car of the same era (new yorker etc) to swap? I'd then like to re-gear at 3:73. Since I live in Canada, what do you think a fair price for a decent rear-end in this circumstance?

Anyways, forgive (again) my mechanical ignorance, but your help and opinions are appreciated.

Also, let me know what kind of starter/alternator/battery combos you would suggest for the car. I imagine I'll have to swap them at some point, so I might as well order these parts at some point to have them for when I need them!:doubt:

Cheers!:bravo:

V.

 

[restoman]

I can't help on the starter issue - If it was my car, I wouldn't bother fixing it, I would just take it to my brother-in-laws place in Airdrie and leave it for him to dispose of. If you need directions, he's on Irricanna Road, heading East, just your side of Airdrie.




He'll keep it for me till I can pick it up.

 

[71Satcloned2runner]

He's a good mech? It would be great if you PM'd mr some details. I got to Calgary a lot to see my GF, so can drop it off over a weekend to get it fixed if it works out.

Thanks in advance if you can.

 

[gomopar440]

If you have to replace the starter, I'd look at using a modern Magnum type mini starter. The bolt pattern is the same and the crank over high compression engines easy enough. Plus if it ever fails, it will be a lot easier to find one for an application that is only a few years old rather that about 35 years old. Just my 2c.

 

[71ChargerRT]

Later model starter, mini type, and an Optima battery
Not sure on the alt, but the one on my buddies 89 Dak Shelby looks like it would be a direct replacement.

 

[thrashingcows]

Too me it sounds like the battery is not holding a charge...well it's not getting a deep charge from running around town all day. I personally have always removed my positive battery connection when I park my classic car and I have never really had a problem with dead batteries. How old is the battery?

As for the cranking....and not firing...I would think it may be the fuel boiling out or leaking out of the carb and flooding the cylinders...what motor are you running? Also when was the carb rebuilt or replaced? Doubt that your starter is the problem...but a mini starter from a V6 or V8 magnum motor truck or van will do the trick if you want to uprgrade...I have a V6 mini starter on my 440 and it cranks the hell out of that motor...

This could be your problem with starting after you shut the car off and then come back out in 10 minutes...happens to me sometimes too...:shifty:

As for rear end upgrade...I assume you have a 8 1/4 rear axle assembly? Factory 318/2bbl cars should have had this rear end. Does your rear end have a removeable cover on the back? If it does it's either a 7 1/4 or 8 1/4.

You will need to find a 8 3/4 rear end out of a B-body from 71-74, E-body may be the same but I would double check on that. The C-body rear end will not fit without modifications...perch and axle width will be too wide so rear end would have to be shortened, axle perches cut off and rewelded, axles cut and re-splined....more money than finding an original I'm sure.

As for tires...having two different sizes, one on the front and one on the back won't hurt anything just means you can't rotate your tires properly.

What size tires are you running right now and what rims size?

 

[71Satcloned2runner]

Too me it sounds like the battery is not holding a charge...well it's not getting a deep charge from running around town all day. I personally have always removed my positive battery connection when I park my classic car and I have never really had a problem with dead batteries. How old is the battery?

As for the cranking....and not firing...I would think it may be the fuel boiling out or leaking out of the carb and flooding the cylinders...what motor are you running? Also when was the carb rebuilt or replaced? Doubt that your starter is the problem...but a mini starter from a V6 or V8 magnum motor truck or van will do the trick if you want to uprgrade...I have a V6 mini starter on my 440 and it cranks the hell out of that motor...

This could be your problem with starting after you shut the car off and then come back out in 10 minutes...happens to me sometimes too...:shifty:

As for rear end upgrade...I assume you have a 8 1/4 rear axle assembly? Factory 318/2bbl cars should have had this rear end. Does your rear end have a removeable cover on the back? If it does it's either a 7 1/4 or 8 1/4.

You will need to find a 8 3/4 rear end out of a B-body from 71-74, E-body may be the same but I would double check on that. The C-body rear end will not fit without modifications...perch and axle width will be too wide so rear end would have to be shortened, axle perches cut off and rewelded, axles cut and re-splined....more money than finding an original I'm sure.

As for tires...having two different sizes, one on the front and one on the back won't hurt anything just means you can't rotate your tires properly.

What size tires are you running right now and what rims size?

OK......good insight here.

It was a battery from an RV, about three years old. Maybe needs to get a deeper charge, as it was stored in a heated garage............the fact that is started after the gym, but not a week later made me think different.

I assume you remove the cable when you park it for the winter.......

The carb is new (Edelbrock 750 CFM electric start series). Not a very tempermental carb, so I don't think this is the problem.

As for the starter, I don't know what kind it is, but I do have something else on the firewall with the ignitioin system that makes it a better starting system I have been told. Not really sure what it is though--it'd be nice to know.

I think it is a 7 1/4 judgung by the size.....it does have a removeable cap as well. I know the B-Bodies will work, but what about trucks too? Will they fit? Can anyone let me know about the E-Bodies fitting? Thanks

Car is at the parents, but the tires are pretty big. I will try and verify soon as to the exact size.

 

[beeper*71]

As far as rear axles are concerned you will need one from a 71-74 B-body, all others including E-body don't fit.

I'd try a new battery first for your starting problem.

275/60/15 tires fill the rear wheelwells nicely. A 235/60/15 or perhaps 215/70/15 work well on the front.