Author Topic: New Front Tires for the GN  (Read 4631 times)

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Offline Steve Wood

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New Front Tires for the GN
« on: July 09 2018, 02:20:41 PM »
I parked my GN back at the end of 2014 and did not drive it again.  The primary reason I parked it was due to it smoking like a mosquito fogging truck.  It was down right embarrassing.  The alky system died about the same time and I dented the hood due to personal stupidity so all the roads led to parking it.

My diagnosis on the smoking seemed to point to the valve seals or guides being gone.  I did not have any significant blowby.

William has been bugging me to let him come down and work on it but I did not want to spend the money-especially not with the local machine-shop bandits.  A couple of months ago, I decided to try to fix it and decided to buy a new set of Champion iron heads but I could not bring myself to spend $1500 for iron heads.

I talked to Billy Anderson and he had a set of ported irons in the shop with 500 miles on them with T&D rockers, and the Champion valve covers, and gaskets so I made a deal with him.  He cleaned the heads and lapped the valves.  They already had roller cam springs on them.

I started stripping it down and William came down last month and we swapped them.  The old heads had a single GM shim under them and were about 20 years old...they were still in good condition in spite of seeing 30 psi a couple of times.  He brought a replacement hood with him.

We went back with 0.040" Cometics which cost me a little compression but it runs well. 

The old heads showed the seals popped off and a bunch of shattered dampers.  I guess those times when I over revved it past 6000 rpm with a big pop did not do them any good?

At any rate, cranking it up showed we got rid of the smoke altho the turbo seems to be spitting a little oil out the exhaust every once in a while.

When I went to get it inspected, they argued with me about the drag radials being too worn to pass as they were right on the no pass line.  They finally let it go and then found out the brake lights were not working.  Turned out the switch on the pedal was stuck closed and I pulled one off the other regal and got it inspected.

The tires on the front were from the '90's and made me nervous even tho they still had some tread so that is on my list of to do's.

The drivers side window stopped working and the gear in the drive was stripped.  Put a new motor in.  Now, I need to replace the rotten window fuzzies.  They crumbled when the door panels came off.  I am staring at them laying on my work table hoping they will install themselves.

In the mean time, the converter was too tight to stall the T66 and the 911 I had put on it once grenaded so I was back to a tight converter.  Few years back, I took a chance on buying a Vigilante on FB.  Got it swapped last week.  Someone had written 3500 stall on it but it was turning the rear tires around 3000 when the boost started to come up.  I discovered that when I used the tranny lock, it would take off and head to 3500 where I lost my nerve.

It is loose enuf that the engine does not die when dropping it into gear when it's cold and is not too loose to feel sloppy when easing into the gas.

At any rate, I got back to worrying about front tires.  I have the GTA wheels and they don't offer much for 16" rims (or 15" either).    I ended up buying BFG G-Force Comp 2 A/S and got them put on Saturday.  I was going to put them on the rear as well but the car is running so well that I wonder if I should stick with DR's, but it is not much fun out here to get caught in a thunderstorm on DR's and they don't always like to stop on a dusty road in my experience.  The current DR's (Nittos) are not very sticky anymore as they are quite a few years old as well but at least, I think, they are from this century :D

« Last Edit: July 09 2018, 02:27:15 PM by Steve Wood »
Steve Wood

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Offline TexasT

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Re: New Front Tires for the GN
« Reply #1 on: July 09 2018, 02:36:14 PM »
Get the new ones and ditch them old drag radials before you blow one out and crease the quarter panel.
Rich

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Offline daveismissing

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Re: New Front Tires for the GN
« Reply #2 on: July 09 2018, 03:55:12 PM »
Not that many red light challenges between you and the diner. Put real tires on.
-Drain plug by Earl Brown, custom oil pan by Rich's Auto

Offline Steve Wood

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Re: New Front Tires for the GN
« Reply #3 on: July 09 2018, 04:45:31 PM »
yeah, Dave, I was not considering keeping the current DR's on...the question is new rears similar to the front or going with new DR's.  DR's are about $150 more than the all seasons.  I'm a bit concerned with keeping the all seasons planted at speed when jumping on the car hard.  Of course, I don't have to worry about that unless I buy a new alky kit.

The GN is just more fun to drive than the T.  I suspect the main difference is the shorter springs.
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Offline nocooler

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Re: New Front Tires for the GN
« Reply #4 on: July 09 2018, 05:09:25 PM »
I like nitto drag radials for mixed driving. They are hard enough that the rubber doesn’t ball up, which requires a burnout to clean them up and make them hook again. If your not doing rolling burnouts they last quite some time.
IhaveaV8

Offline Steve Wood

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Re: New Front Tires for the GN
« Reply #5 on: July 09 2018, 06:09:45 PM »
That is what I have found.  I think the set on the car are about ten years old but they might be a bit older.  I replaced them on both cars since I have been here.  How well they handled has always surprised me.  Stiff sidewalls may not be the best for traction but they work on the street
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Offline Forzfed

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Re: New Front Tires for the GN
« Reply #6 on: July 09 2018, 07:23:56 PM »
The new tires look good.  Post some pictures of the GN and don't forget the goat.
The Nitto's are excellent DR great for every day use!

Offline Scoobum

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Re: New Front Tires for the GN
« Reply #7 on: July 09 2018, 07:39:04 PM »
Haven't had the car plated in 3 years. I'm sure the local officials will be fine with me running 9 inch slicks on the street...
Hard work pays off, dreams come true. Bad times don't last, but BAD GUYS do!

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Offline Steve Wood

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Re: New Front Tires for the GN
« Reply #8 on: July 09 2018, 07:47:51 PM »
You probably know them all anyway
Steve Wood

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Offline Steve Wood

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Re: New Front Tires for the GN
« Reply #9 on: July 09 2018, 08:04:42 PM »
The new tires look good.  Post some pictures of the GN and don't forget the goat.
The Nitto's are excellent DR great for every day use!


Got nothing new....
Steve Wood

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Offline Forzfed

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Re: New Front Tires for the GN
« Reply #10 on: July 09 2018, 09:32:18 PM »
No goat driving? :D

Offline Steve Wood

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Re: New Front Tires for the GN
« Reply #11 on: July 09 2018, 09:43:52 PM »
None are old enuf to get a license
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Re: New Front Tires for the GN
« Reply #12 on: July 09 2018, 09:51:33 PM »
You probably know them all anyway

I have more street tires/rims than I know what to do with. I'll likely go with the stock GN rims with Cooper Cobra 235/60/15's up front. Out back I have my choice of stock GN rims shod with 255/60/15 DR's and another pair of stock GN rims with 275/60/15 DR's.
Hard work pays off, dreams come true. Bad times don't last, but BAD GUYS do!

RIP Scott Hall AKA Razor Ramon

Offline Steve Wood

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Re: New Front Tires for the GN
« Reply #13 on: July 09 2018, 10:08:07 PM »
I gave away two sets on stock wheels and tires when I left Houston.  If I had known what they would selling for now, I would have not left them behind!

that is a 245/50 in the pic.  I ran 255's on the back but they only make them in a summer tire so I guess I will put them on the back as well-245's
Steve Wood

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Offline good2win22

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Re: New Front Tires for the GN
« Reply #14 on: July 10 2018, 09:11:30 AM »
You probably know them all anyway

I have more street tires/rims than I know what to do with. I'll likely go with the stock GN rims with Cooper Cobra 235/60/15's up front. Out back I have my choice of stock GN rims shod with 255/60/15 DR's and another pair of stock GN rims with 275/60/15 DR's.
Hey Brad, is that 275/60/15 close to a 28x9 slick?  I'm looking for something I can run around on the street
Jason

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