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Author Topic: The New Life of the 3800 "Formula"  (Read 40659 times)

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TopNotch

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Re: The New Life of the 3800 "Formula"
« Reply #300 on: May 01, 2021, 12:28:31 pm »
I took "White Lightening" for a test drive today. The "new" transmission shifts smoothly, but when I got home, there was much steam rising from the drive side engine vent, and a dribble path behind me. So I have a coolant issue to deal with now.
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GTRS Fiero

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Re: The New Life of the 3800 "Formula"
« Reply #301 on: May 01, 2021, 12:47:07 pm »
Crossover pipe to coolant tube?
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TopNotch

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Re: The New Life of the 3800 "Formula"
« Reply #302 on: May 01, 2021, 01:05:11 pm »
Well, I'm a dummy. See the radiator cap in this picture? It was loose.

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GTRS Fiero

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Re: The New Life of the 3800 "Formula"
« Reply #303 on: May 01, 2021, 01:26:32 pm »
At least it was an easy fix.
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Fierofool

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Re: The New Life of the 3800 "Formula"
« Reply #304 on: May 01, 2021, 01:51:13 pm »
Drive it around this weekend.  Come out my way, then up toward Roger so you're staying close to someone who can come help you in the event of a problem.  You want to make sure everything's proper before taking it out on the expressway next weekend to attend the meeting. 

Congratulations. 
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GTRS Fiero

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Re: The New Life of the 3800 "Formula"
« Reply #305 on: May 01, 2021, 03:19:53 pm »
That loom in the back of the picture looks really nice.

Good job.
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TopNotch

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Re: The New Life of the 3800 "Formula"
« Reply #306 on: May 01, 2021, 04:24:07 pm »
Took it on another test drive, a bit longer this time. No steam or dribble this time. But now I have to charge my AC and see if it works before I do any longer test drives. It's getting hot out there.
And I have been working on the car so much, I've neglected my yard work. Got to git 'er done.
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Re: The New Life of the 3800 "Formula"
« Reply #307 on: May 01, 2021, 09:33:09 pm »
Remember when I mentioned that my transmission mounts were missing bolts? Well, in the case of one of them, the mounting boss on the transmission case was broken off. The "new" transmission still has that mounting boss, so I was able to attach the mount properly.
The reason I am mentioning this is that I was originally thinking of rebuilding the old transmission to have a backup, but that mounting boss would somehow need to be rebuilt.
So maybe I won't rebuild it. Someone mentioned needing the oil pan for one of these transmissions. I'm not in any hurry to do anything with it right now, though, because I'm tired of smelling old trans fluid.
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GTRS Fiero

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Re: The New Life of the 3800 "Formula"
« Reply #308 on: May 01, 2021, 09:48:06 pm »
Probably me, but I found a pan.
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TopNotch

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Re: The New Life of the 3800 "Formula"
« Reply #309 on: May 02, 2021, 03:32:02 pm »
Well,my AC works, but i need to fine a good HVAC fan motor. Mine makes bad bearing noises at times. Come to think of it, the one in my yellow car is also noisy at times. I'll see what I can find in the barn.
The engine has trouble idling in park, but is OK in neutral or drive. I think it's because of that bad PRNDL switch (also called a Neutral Safety Switch). It's not giving the PCM proper info when the transmission is in park. I've got one coming from Rock Auto, but I think I'll try to clean the one I have. The switch has a cover on it held on with torx screws, so I can take it apart for cleaning.
I used the car to go to the store today, and it did just fine.
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GTRS Fiero

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Re: The New Life of the 3800 "Formula"
« Reply #310 on: May 02, 2021, 04:42:58 pm »
Fortunately, the HVAC motor is easy to replace.  It sticks right out there.  While mine was out, I cleaned up the squirrel cage, and cleaned out the ductwork.  I also wiped the ductwork down with some of that juice that pests don't like.
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TopNotch

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Re: The New Life of the 3800 "Formula"
« Reply #311 on: May 02, 2021, 05:33:15 pm »
i cleaned mine out when I changed the eater core a while back.
Unfortunately, cleaning the switch didn't help. But at least, I saw how it works. The "cover" is actually part of the switch, and has curved circuit tracks on it. The other part of the switch has contacts that move as the gear selector moves.
The new switch should be here in a few days, and then we'll see what happens.

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Fierofool

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Re: The New Life of the 3800 "Formula"
« Reply #312 on: May 02, 2021, 10:32:47 pm »
There are several HVAC motors with squirrel cages in the parts barn.  Your parts car probably still has one too?
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2.    The few who learn by observation.
3.    The rest of them have to pee on the electric fence and find out for themselves.    Will Rogers

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Re: The New Life of the 3800 "Formula"
« Reply #313 on: May 03, 2021, 11:02:05 am »
I'll look for a HVAC motor when the storms are over.
There are different things that seem to control the idle speed on this system. One is the PRNDL switch. In neutral, the idle speed is constant. When you switch into drive, the idle speed briefly speeds up a little, because the PCM knows that there will be additional drag from the torque converter. If you let the car idle in park, the PCM doesn't got good info from the switch, and the idle speed gradually slows down, and after a few minutes, the engine may stall.
But the AC also seems to control idle speed. If the AC is on, and the car is in park, the idle speed doesn't slow down. The AC compressor is a V5 "always on" compressor, and the PCM knows that there will be additional drag on the system, and so keeps the idle speed up.
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GTRS Fiero

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Re: The New Life of the 3800 "Formula"
« Reply #314 on: May 03, 2021, 06:49:58 pm »
Mine does increase the idle when the SC is dngaged.  Not when going from N to D, though.
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