BDR 1178 has arrived! and a couple questions

chicagocat · #1 (**permalink**) 02-06-2013, 11:22 AM

All,
Have a look at BDR 1178. I'll post engine and trunk, etc in a bit.
I drove her from BDR in Boynton Beach to my place in Punta Gorda, FL a couple weeks ago. It was a perfect day and a perfect drive.

I've been lurking here for about a year, learning a lot, but just soaking up knowledge instead of yacking.

A couple questions:
First, I have the canvas soft top. For the life of me I can't get it to fit in the trunk. The fiberglass bar that fits the top of the windshield is the limiting factor. Anyone with atop have any ideas?

Second, the car seems to run very hot. The engine is the 427 from Speed Fanatix in Florida that BDR sources. The fan is almost always on, even at highway speeds. It's never gone over 100C, but it's at about 95 a lot of the time. Is this normal, or should I think about the high efficiency radiator?

Thanks,
Brendan

GBowman · #2 (**permalink**) 02-06-2013, 11:52 AM

C Cat

Congrats on the new ride. I bought both the soft top and cockpit cover, The top will never go back on the car and I live in the Northeast. The cockpit cover is nice for hot days (keep sun out of the cockpit) & storage to keep dust out. The top does not fit in the trunk and without 2 people you don't want to risk scratching the paint putting it on or taking it off-thoce little holes behind each door jamb are a PIA.

If I were you, I would go over every nut/bolt on the car as I had a few QC issues with my car (which I bought down there as well last year). Tie rod end was loose, t stat housing leaked, brake line (hard lines) cut screws not seated, trailing arm bolted ass'y came loose, Tach fell out of the dash etc, all easy fixes but if not taken care of can pose a safety concern. As most will tell you, all of these cars require a period to "sort out"...IMO the fan should not come on when you are cruising, you could be air bound or something. Mine runs right around 80C in the summer cruising 5th. Check the temp settings on the fan switch too-that was another thing I had to replace early on.

Good luck and enjoy.

GBowman · #3 (**permalink**) 02-06-2013, 11:56 AM

I just noticed your car has a pusher fan on front of rad, Mine is mounted on the inside. They must have changed this, Jay from Vintage Motorsports (BDR dealer in Conn) is top notch on these cars and knows more than anyone so Im sure he can chime in.

rpatton3 · #4 (**permalink**) 02-06-2013, 01:22 PM

I got chassis #874 from Jay at Vintage and it has single fan behind radiator. Engine is 427Roush with 515 HP. It never overheats and if you turn everything back on and don't fire engine, the fan might run 15-20 seconds after engine is off.

I got a remote oil cooler but that was mainly a cosmetic decision on my part. Everybody says it ws not necesary.

Enjoy your new ride.

rpatton3 · #5 (**permalink**) 02-06-2013, 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GBowman

I just noticed your car has a pusher fan on front of rad, Mine is mounted on the inside. They must have changed this, Jay from Vintage Motorsports (BDR dealer in Conn) is top notch on these cars and knows more than anyone so Im sure he can chime in.

Jay should know. He has always been straight up with me.

chicagocat · #6 (**permalink**) 02-06-2013, 01:53 PM

Thanks guys,
Mine has a pusher and puller fan. This is because of the wife acceptance unit mounted in the trunk (the air conditioner). I've sometimes felt that the pusher fan can be more of a hindrance than a help with regard to air flow, but I'm not sure. I haven't run the A/C at all other than to test it.

Thanks Gary, for the advice on a thorough check over.

Also, if the cover won't fit in the trunk it seems pretty useless to me. BDR said it would, so I don't imagine they'll have any problem with me sending it back for a refund.

Brendan

Cashburn · #7 (**permalink**) 02-06-2013, 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chicagocat

Thanks guys,
Mine has a pusher and puller fan. This is because of the wife acceptance unit mounted in the trunk (the air conditioner). I've sometimes felt that the pusher fan can be more of a hindrance than a help with regard to air flow, but I'm not sure. I haven't run the A/C at all other than to test it.

Thanks Gary, for the advice on a thorough check over.

Also, if the cover won't fit in the trunk it seems pretty useless to me. BDR said it would, so I don't imagine they'll have any problem with me sending it back for a refund.

Brendan

Good luck with that. The top fits in the trunk if you don't have an air conditioner mounted back there. It's further complicated by a second roll bar but will fit.

chicagocat · #8 (**permalink**) 02-06-2013, 04:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cashburn

Good luck with that. The top fits in the trunk if you don't have an air conditioner mounted back there. It's further complicated by a second roll bar but will fit.

Right, but BDR built the whole car, including the AC, and said the top would fit in the trunk. Anyway, I'll work some more on it tomorrow and see what I can figure out.

Also, I spoke to Craig from BDR today about the top and he wasn't sure, but said if I wasn't happy that they'd take it back. So no problem there.

I'll also bleed the cooling system and see how that effects running temp.

Thanks again

jolsen42 · #9 (**permalink**) 02-06-2013, 04:58 PM

Check your timing. It may be a little retarded.

John O

Cashburn · #10 (**permalink**) 02-06-2013, 06:11 PM

I've gotten tops to fit in the trunk with AC and dual roll bars.... Vintage Motorsports Gallery :: Backdraft #531

chicagocat · #11 (**permalink**) 02-06-2013, 06:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cashburn

I've gotten tops to fit in the trunk with AC and dual roll bars.... Vintage Motorsports Gallery :: Backdraft #531

Thanks, My AC unit is a bit different. But, if anything, a bit smaller. I'll try every possible twist and turn tomorrow and report back.

Barnsnake · #12 (**permalink**) 02-06-2013, 09:49 PM

Make sure your puller fan is running the right direction. Don't just put your hand down there to feel the flow. Watch the blades as it comes to a stop. You wouldn't believe how much air will "bounce" backward when the fan is actually blowing forward.

chicagocat · #13 (**permalink**) 02-07-2013, 06:33 AM

Thanks.

Jay, I'll wrestle with it tomorrow and see if I can't find just the right twist and turn to get it in there. My AC unit is actually a bit smaller than the one you pictured, so here's hoping....

I'll also check the fan polarity....

Thanks again

chicagocat · #14 (**permalink**) 02-07-2013, 11:18 AM

OK. I have more info, all good.

I was able to get the top in the trunk. I had to cut the tie strap holding one of the A/C hoses on and re-route it to the other side of the passenger roll bar. Then I obviously reattached it. After having done that, the top will fit (barely).

Next, I burped the coolant. After running for 10 minutes, she burped enough to allow almost a half gallon of 50/50 in the reservoir, which seems like quite a bit for this car. After that, she seemed to run considerably cooler.
I'll test her out this afternoon.

Thanks again to all for the help.