Hi I obtained a 58 Buick with 364 nailhead and dynaflow trans what is the normal operating temperature for this engine it was 92 degrees last week and my temperature went up to 210 on the freeway usually it's around 190 around town. After I got home I checked and the engine had too much timing so I set it to 5 degree also can someone please post a picture of the kickdown cable on the side of the carb I currently don't have a kick down Rod and planning to make one Thank you
I cant help with your temp question except to say it should only get as hot as your thermostats temp rating. As for the kickdown, its not just one rod, its part of the throttle rod/pivot set up thats bolted to the rear of the l/h head, There are 2 rods for the kickdown and 2 for the throttle. My peddle to pivot rod will be different to pretty much everyone elses because my car is r/h/d, but I think the rest is the same If you need pics, let me know, but if you dont have the pivot at the back of the head, you will need to get the whole shooting match I am pretty new to these buicks as well, and I just wondered how (or what really) the kickdown does? From what I understand, the dynaflow starts in top gear and stays there from go to whoe and its the slip in the torque converter that changes, so what does the kickdown change? Does it make the torque converter come out of lockup and slip again or does the trans go into low gear?
'55 thermostat is 165degF I would say 190degF would be the upper temp range (hot). Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
You're not hurting anything running at 210. I'll go take a picture of the 58 throttle linkage in the driveway....
As far as I know, it's essentially what you said. The kickdown (or passing gear) changes the angle or pitch of the torque converter vanes to provide more engine RPMs at the current speed in order to aid in passing another vehicle. I may have said that all wrong, but you get the idea. :grin:
Awesome I was thinking about doing a cable linkage so I can give enough slack for the full throttle I have a edelbrock carb i drove the car today and put it in L felt great off the light I think my thermostat might be 160 I did order one over the weekend for 180 I figured I would change it anyways and flush the cooling system and use 50/50 and distilled water i drove it around all day today it ran 176-184 going up a hill it reached 184 around town 180 but it was a nice cool day maybe 75
Where are you getting those temperature readings... a know good gauge? Infrared temp gun? What are the temp gun readings at the thermostat housing, lower radiator hose to water pump, front and back of cylinder heads? If your readings are correct, it is running a little hot for the conditions, but with 50-50 coolant, proper radiator cap it will go to at least 250* before boiling. But watch out, nailheads will ping more from increased cylinder head temps over 230*.
I have have a electric dash gauge I did notice little bit of pinging at 220 but my timing was too much it was set at 13 degree initial I changed to 5 and replace my thermostat and added distilled water hopefully this helps
…. A little side note of possible interest - Putting dynaflow into low prior to 1956 did help out for that kick in the pants launch. However starting in possibly late 56 but definitely for the 57 model year launch, the stator vanes pitch and associated linkage setup were modified and the linkage changed so one no longer needed to put it into low to get a kick launch as the new for 57 setup did all that with the accelerator linkage and the stators responding inside the dynaflow - In fact putting it down into low rather than allowing the new linkage setup to do the work somehow bypasses this improvement and the benefit is actually less - So says what I have read regarding this topic some time ago.
