engine bay pictures need help, new rims too

[eightysixwinter]

1) can anyone tell me why there is no washer fluid resovoir, and why it is used as a coolant resovoir?

2)is it ok for my spark plug wires to be touching metal and be where they are?

3)whats up with the big open space on the left side of the engine? im assuming thats where the a/c stuff was?

4)i finally put new tires, rims, rotors, calipers, and pads on today, 18x8 torqlites. thanks for all the help you guys.

[P72Ford]

Thats a smooth top GMQ?

Who makes those wheels? That looks sweet.

[eightysixwinter]

previous owner ripped the rag off and painted it.

american racing.

[Nathan in MI]

1) can anyone tell me why there is no washer fluid resovoir, and why it is used as a coolant resovoir?

Sounds as if someone modified it to have a bigger overflow tank. The reasons why are beyond me...

2)is it ok for my spark plug wires to be touching metal and be where they are?

Looks like some of them are hanging down by the exhaust manifolds, and that's a big no-no. They'll get burned/melted down there. Do yourself a favor and buy some plug wire looms so that you can string them neatly through the engine bay.

3)whats up with the big open space on the left side of the engine? im assuming thats where the a/c stuff was?

If by "the left side" you mean the passenger side, yes. Apparently someone removed all the air conditioning components.

4)i finally put new tires, rims, rotors, calipers, and pads on today, 18x8 torqlites. thanks for all the help you guys.

Looks good!

[85crownHPP]

looks like you bought it from a tinkerer!! Nice wheels there too...

If you want a better washer/overflow setup, you can replace that big plastic and eveidently broken one with a fan shroud/coolant bottle combo from a 1990 towncar, and a washer bottle from a 90's vic/gm. This will also let you put the airfilter in a better spot too.

[eightysixwinter]

the looks dont bother me. but since there is no temperature gauge on the car, i dont know how im supposed to tell its over heating unless its smoking from under the hood. i dont know if this was a coolant resovoir or washer fluid resovoir, so im not sure if the low-high levels apply. the fluid level hasnt gone down or anything, but i dont know how much to fill it up if i ever have to.

[85crownHPP]

its originally for both fluids - the far end is for the washer fluid, and the end closer to the radiator with the rubber hose stuck in it has a rubber plug that pops out to fill it with coolant.
Worst case, as long as you check to make sure the radiator is mostly full after its cooled down you'll be fine. Any leak big enough to make you loose coolant over short trips should be very noticable.

Installing a temperature gauge is pretty easy - there's a stickie in the electronics section with good info on it.

[eightysixwinter]

oh nice does anyone have any temperature gauge recommendations for these cars?

[85crownHPP]

sunpro is cheap and has worked great for me

[LTDMan83]

You don't see Slicktop GM's very often at all.

Very Nice!

[91LTDProject]

Consider yourself lucky the ac crap is gone, it makes working on that side of the engine about 1000% easier, and makes it looks like an engine bay again. I used the stock wire looms off a KA24DE Nissan 240sx, needed a bit of modification, but they will bolt to your valve covers and loom up the wires very nicely, avoiding the badness that is spark plug wires touching exhaust manifolds. I see they've allrady done a coil re-locate, looks like some wiring cleanups been done in the engine bay too. I cant find any pic of my wire looms, but you should be able to grab em no prob at a pick n pull. Gotta get rid of the warm air intake. Slicktop Merc looks effing awesome...

[1987cp]

Neato pics! Odd to think that someone would eliminate the washer reservoir, though ... I need to have another look at the tank in my '81 to check how it's done.

[gadget73]

1) overflow tank is from a Ford truck. Its not the original overflow/wash bottle that should be there.


2) if the wires are in good shape and there are no sharp metal edges, its Ok though you should try and keep the wires away from other metal parts as much as possible, especially anything that might chafe against the wires or burn them.

3) Yep, someone gutted the AC.

[86bbub]

overflow tank/washer tank was removed from my 79 prior to being sold to 86winter, it is just a combo tank that didnt leak between the sides when i had it.
yep AC is gone along with the smog shit.
Glad BBUB went to someone that is taking care of it!

[eightysixwinter]

haha yeah i just dont know if its worth it to fix the side swipeage or not. new axle seals, and new complete rear brakes went in today though.