7/20/05

There has been little to talk about regarding the Monster Regal in the year and a half I've owned it. I have done some repairs and upgrades, and other than some weird stalling and mass-air-flow meter failures, it has been pretty much no big deal. Not nothing, but not much. I was not pleased with the cooling situations and early on replaced the perfectly fine 3-core radiator with a 4-core, to no avail. The fan as positioned does not seal well to the radiator core, and I suspect this may be a large part of it. The fix will not be too difficult, and this 100+ weather will give it a great test. The car runs OK, then tends to go into heat soak if run too long with the AC on in this weather, though not on the freeway. It never exceeds 220, which is about where new cars run from the factory, but I just don't like those temps, and strive to keep it at 160-180, which it usually does in all but the most stupendous heat situations.

However, lately it has been doing the stall and weirdness thing to a major degree. I have replaced TWO MAS in the last 6 weeks, a battery (did that 4 months ago), and it runs like CRAP. Sal at ACT has been mystified as well, even after putting in a 2800 stall converter and changing the MAS sensor twice.

In several discussions with Kenny Duttweiler it was suggested that the odd configuration of the fuel pumps, in series, should be addressed. It was not known whether both worked simultaneously or not, or whether the bigger one outside the tank was only for nitrous operation. Gil disconnected one and tried to power it up alone, and it did not work. This starts to sound correct as the fuel pump relay was running VERY hot, even when I replaced it two weeks ago in an attempt to get the car running. At that time it had died in front of a client's house in Chatsworth. I had adjusted the fuel pressure as it showed zero, and the car ran, although terribly, but enough to stumble back the 4 miles to Sal's shop. Sal discovered the fuel pressure meter on the engine was faulty, and the pressure was really at 100 PSI!!!! Yikes! I replaced the gauge, he adjusted it to 60, and it still ran lousy. I came back and had him lower it to 40. Again, terrible.

Gil checked it today and bypassed the one pump, and the car apparently runs WAY better. I will test drive it a little later today.

LATER

Oh my f----------- God!!!

The second fuel pump was bad (2 were in line, a dumb system). They removed it and now it's running on just the stock in-tank pump. I'm stunned!!!!!!!! I have the old pump in a box.

NOW, they are going to tune it up with new plugs and wires!

Whoever drives this will crap in their pants.....

7/27/05

It runs just nicely, thank you. I wouldn't say it is significantly faster than when I first got it, but it is FAST! John thinks it lays down more rubber into second gear now. It does spool up better with the 2800 stall converter. It does not appear to be bringing any real # on ebay, so I may have to try again, or call Barrett-Jackson.

Brett has expressed deep interest in the car, and I hope he sells several loans quickly so he can jump on it.

8/14/05

Well, I dynoed the car at Jeff Price's DYNO STORE, and it made (HOLD ONTO YOUR HATS) a whopping 379 HP at the rear wheels and a mind-boggling 531 pounds of torque!!! Holy friggin' beejeesus! No wonder it feels fast! It kicks the crap out of the 430 HP 392 cubic inch (6.4 L) Ford Windsor in the Condor, which made a disappointing 293 RWHP, despite a perfect air-fuel mixture. So folks, this is a monster, as I have said, and it is now certified.

8/28/05

What is also certified is that this kills batteries. The brand new AutoZone battery is TOTALLY dead, and won't even take a charge! I borrowed one of the dually batteries to go to Bob's last night. No serious offers on the car, although one trade was suggested. Nope, sell it or keep it, but no trades.

I am going to put a battery disconnect switch to keep this from happening again.

9/25/05

The brand new battery lasted about two weeks, then just went dead. I smelled a kind of electrical burn smell in the car. I charged it up and it appears good now. I WILL put a master electrical shutoff on it and will attempt to do some tracing done the road with Brett on just what is drawing the juice.

I took it to a car show and found two minor door dings in the left door. I don't know how it is possible, as I have not parked it ANYWHERE. Frustrating to say the least.

4/9/06

Brett has returned full-time to work with me (whew!!!). He corrected the battery drain. It turned out the 4 under-dash gauges were hot all the time. No more battery problems.

The car continues to amaze. However, I am out of room, money, time, and energy. I must sell it to allow me the energy and funds and space to work on the TWO major projects: the 58 Impala, and the KiloKub 3-engined pickup. I HATE the idea of selling the Regal, just hate it. But I just have got to lighten the load, so the 47 Champion, the Tbird, and the Regal must go.

9/24/06

Took the Regal to Frankie at Creative Automotive (Joe Montalto's old shop), and had him correct the tiny and numerous little dings on the car. How the HELL they get there is a complete mystery. Short story: FULL repaint. Looks gorgeous and he cut me a KILLER price of $1400 to do the whole thing including repairs. It also has new front filler panels between the bumper and body (supplied by me). So at this point the Regal, Tbird, 06 Duramax, and 03 Duramax truck, and the red dually all sport new paint.

I took the freshly painted Regal to Bob's and it presented very well. Come on, someone buy it! I also put BF Goodrich G-force radials on it. Handles nicely, more cushy, and nice ride improvement.

There is precious little else I can do to refine it.

Let's see: get the matching center caps for the rear wheels, correct a tiny split in the dash cover, correct some very minor dings in the window mouldings, and change out the window rubber on the right side, which I have in a box.

11/26/06

I had Brett pull EVERYTHING out of the car, including the rear carpet and seat, to investigate the “tinkling” sound in the rollbar. In the process we discovered some exhaust leaks, and I'm have the X-pipe replaced tomorrow at Kenny's.

I had Brett put in some sound deadener, as I did in the dually, and foam up the gaps in the floor pan around the rollbar penetrations. This helped with sound. There remains a VERY slight “tinkling” from time to time.

We are entering some rain time, and I HATE keeping the car outside. I have been hounding Marie in Montrose (where I keep the Dodge) for an extra space. I will take the Regal there if it opens up. The Tbird sits outside awaiting its motor (and no way tow it in there), so it would be the Impala or Regal for that spot.