1978 Skyhawk

[zzip]

Very nice, and thanks for the nice pics .

Peter from Antwerp

[vegastre]

This is exactly the sound I was going for

Curious why you went with the 18" glasspack for a resonator? Did this add a deeper throaty sound? Quieter? Not quieter? Sounded really good. I'm not really looking for a muffler that has a drone to it at highway speed. My point, something relatively quiet but throaty when you 'get on it' =)

Again, beautiful Skyhawk!

[Z-type]

I chose to use a resonator because of my experience with V6's. It's very difficult to get them to sound real good, in my opinion. With the front wheel drive stuff I play with all the time, resonators really round out the sound and keep it much less harsh! I've never really heard this kind of carbureted V6 before so I was just guessing. A resonator does not quiet it down at all though, just changed the sound and eliminates the drone. The muffler quiets it down a bit and makes it sound as deep as possible. The Skyhawk is hard to hear until you open the throttle up a bit, but it really growls at all ranges.

For your L67 build though I'd get as big a resonator as you can fit under the car! Those Series II engines sound like angry bees above 2,000 RPM lol.

[vegastre]

as big a resonator as you can fit under the car!

Absolutely,
I have listened to your video numerous times and I definitely will run a resonator. Tentatively I will go 2" leads into a resonator then 3" single all the way back in the stock location muffler for the SJ, maby a Magnaflow =) My buddy has a single 3" all the way back with a Flowmaster. Nice rumble with his 231 Buick powered Vega but just not the sound I want.

Sound is a big component in a build and very personal. The resonator does let you 'taylor' the sound. Good job!

[Z-type]

Well, good news and bad news.

Took the Skyhawk for its first extended drive. Took it to get gas at a local station, and something might be wrong with the tank/filler neck. The gas gauge hasn't moved and I only got about 2.5 gallons in the car before it came shooting out of the neck.

Good news - it drives GREAT. Ride is good, steering is nice, and it handles pretty decently. The transmission is perfect and the lockup works perfectly.

Bad news - the carb really needs tuned badly. The car is so slow and bogs down a bit when you get on it at all. Possibly a fuel pressure thing, possibly not.
More bad news - the car seems to keep the RPMs high, like 3,000 in lockup at 55 MPH (the speedo doesn't work either so I'm guessing). Maybe the tach is bad, the car didn't SOUND like it was revving that high.
MORE bad news - the car got hot - quickly. The coolant was boiling by the time I limped it home from getting hot in the first place. New thermostat, but original water pump. I'm going to replace both. The heater core is not clogged.

So, a few issues, but I'm happy with it even with that short drive!

[Monza Harry]

Z did you try filling it real slow as these are famous for being hard to fill. If not there are only 3 screws and a clamp to undo and one Mother F#$%^&G hose to pull off then you could check the filler neck. Keep us posted please Harry

[Z-type]

Changed the water pump and thermostat. The water pump was horrible rusty and we did a coolant flush before installing the new one. Tried running it again, same symptoms and the coolant was boiling at 170 degrees, which I didn't understand. Our friend Bob came over with his compression tester and sure enough, one of the cylinders was WAY low.

Head gaskets it is! Tear down begins tomorrow.

[Z-type]

Heads are off and at the machine shop. There was a lot of crap in the coolant ports, I'm hoping that had something to do with it.

[Z-type]

As I suspected, the heads are fine, just dirty coolant ports. they took them apart and inspected them, cleaned them, and put them back together. they said everything was new, and the valves were nice and tightly sealed. Hopefully re-construction will begin next week. It should be back together in a day or less.

[Z-type]

Test

[bill1978v8]

Awesome build wih a very beautiful end result. Your about a half hour from me. I'd lie t see it sometime.
Bill

[Z-type]

Thank you Bill! I didn't realize you were so close. Come Spring time, we can certainly get together. Whether here or there, or somewhere in between. You have a PM.

[stage169]

I know this car! Got to see it in person too! I didn't see Andrew but got to meet his Dad Joe. Nice job, nice Hawk! Good not to be the lone bird and even better since I had the chance to meet another H body member. Brian

[mahoy78spyder]

GREAT pics of it! Where was this at, Brian?

[Z-type]

Thanks for the great pictures Brian! I was bummed I couldnt make it but Dad had fun. He said everyone was having a great time.

This was at the GS Nationals in Bowling Green, Kentucky.