Centurion Update: Racing & Towing

[centurion 455 ragtop]

Well I got back home from attending the BPG Event in Columbus Ohio. First off I had replaced my radiator fan with a factory clutch fan but used a heavy duty Chevy truck clutch for the 454 engine. You need to trim the shaft from the water pump about an 1/8 of an inch with a grinder to make it fit. Well the verdict....... Towing (trailer 1,350 lbs, racecar 2,850 lbs, tools misc items 300 lbs.) at 65-70 mph with the ac running the entire 600 miles (EACH WAY) the temps hit a max of 210-215 and stayed there the entire trip during the daytime hours when the outside temps were in the mid to high 80's! Towing back at night....water temp was at 195 to 200. PERFECTO!!!!!:xyxthumbs:

Now the fun part. I decided to take one pass down the track. Emptied the trunk except for the spare. Ran a 16.67 at 82.42 mph (rear gears in the car is 2.73, non posi) Now off to the scales.....without me in the car 4,950 pounds!!!! Of course that includes the trailer hitch and receiver.

Bottom line: weight 4805 (trailer, racecar, tools, 2 people) plus my Centurion 4950. Total weight 9,755 pounds she pulled some 1200 miles and ran flawless! With the ice cold R12 ac blasting away in 85 degree weather cruising aound 65-70 mph, water temp never going over 215. Only down side was the gas mileage, but hell it beats getting to where your going looking like a sweaty dishrag.

Now the funny oh sh1t. When I was at the track ready to leave for home I threw my keys up onto the dash and it slid to the windshield and promptly dropped into the defroster vent and down into the defroster box behind the dash. :eek: Now that was fun but we managed to get the keys out with no damage after taking apart the dash and defroster.:D

Shot below as we were assessing the way to go in.

[Smartin]

:Dou::Dou::Dou::Dou:

[centurion 455 ragtop]

Punch line was that I was asked if I had a spare set. Oh sure I said, the extra set is at home:bawl::eek:. So I won the Jack Ass Award that day:laugh:

[Smartin]

I always carry an extra set in my dop kit...never had to use them, but good to have..

[Robroy]

Gosh Rick, we never know what challenges we need to go through when we’re out exercising our land yachts do we ..:D
Did you try fishing them up with a magnet? Maybe you didn’t have any available…
I recently purchased the kind on the pict below, it has come to use a few times already.

When I bought my car it had a Hide-A-Key box (little metal box with a strong magnet) inside one of the bumpers containing a spare set. I haven’t had the nerve to keep it there though

Speaking of engine temps; I have almost the same temp as you WITHOUT towing or having the AC ON on a hot day (80F*), so yours is really good!

During spring and fall when temps here is 50-60F* my gauge stays around 180F*.
On hot summer days like this past weekend (80F*) the gauge goes up to 194F* and can also reach up to 206F* periodically but then returns to 195 after a while.

My AC needs charging so that’s why I don’t have it on in case you’re wondering

[centurion 455 ragtop]

At the event a fellow Buick racer, "Yardley" spoke to the 455 engine designer, Dennis Manner on the water temps for the 455's. He mentioned that 210 degrees is not to be considered running hot. The engine should run in the 195 to 210 range. So it would be on the high side of the average scale but not to be worried about.

As for the magnetic tool, we tried it. Couldn't get it all the way inside the vent. So we split open the plastic vent box under the dash, it is stapled together by the factory. Once the staples were popped it split open we retrieved the keys. It snapped back together without the staples so nothing was broken getting them. I will though get one of those magnetic key holders.

I will dig out that clutch part number and post the procedure keeping things cool on the 455

[Robroy]

At the event a fellow Buick racer, "Yardley" spoke to the 455 engine designer, Dennis Manner on the water temps for the 455's. He mentioned that 210 degrees is not to be considered running hot. The engine should run in the 195 to 210 range. So it would be on the high side of the average scale but not to be worried about.

That was very interesting info on the subject and from the most trustable source too! Thanks for sharing it

[dewbers]

Great story Rick! Sounds like a fun time. And I am sure you got alot of "attention" from your buddies! That will be a good story for you guys talk about for years to come!!

[Eric B]

That's an interesting story Rick, thanks for sharing. I tried the RV style clutch fan on my Centurion and the fan was so loud on the freeway I had to take it off. I got an aluminum radiator since and that seems to work really nice. Looks good too.

[centurion 455 ragtop]

Have to agree that the HD clutch can be noisier, but in a convertible, well their already noisy, from the wind and all the roof squeaks. I used to tow with a 73 Riviera GS, and the cabin noise level was extremely quiet compared to the ragtop.