Back to Berettas after 15+ years

[Rettax3]

When I dropped the 24-valve 3.4 quad-cam into it ...

I'm with you on both fronts: The LS is hard to beat. There's something way cool about old-school SBC's though, so either way can be fun. Now the DOHC swap, that is just mad-scientist level like Woody said. Definitely unique, and took a lot of ingenuity.

Thank you, it is probably more fun to HAVE and to have Built it than it is to drive it -I still can't get the clutch to hook-up during shifts with ANY throttle under boost, and the 3800SC GTU just runs so well that if I want a fast car I usually just pull the keys to it. Still haven't gotten the 'feel' for the shift points at all (especially since I have to pull throttle so hard between shifts). The GTU just hooks up and goes. Same type multi-puck ceramic clutch-plate, so clearly the Z-26 has a pressure-plate problem...

I am still resisting LS engines...because LS's are still just a little harder to find in good shape for a good price around here

So I shouldn't mention the one I just picked up for $200 with a trans?

DEFINITELY mention it! It gives me hope for a brighter tomorrow, (and I can live vicariously through your LS projects) but I thought you said "with trans" -THAT one clearly has a slush-box behind it, that is NOT a transmission, it is an anchor... Now, you should NOT mention "one of my NV3500s", that makes me very jealous...

[woody90gtz]

Now, you should NOT mention "one of my NV3500s", that makes me very jealous...

And I have two more installed in vehicles. haha
https://youtu.be/OxejxwhVNMI

[Rettax3]

Since this picture was taken, I have added another Muncie/Getrag 282 5-speed Beretta transaxle, two Nissan 300ZX 5-speeds, a Mopar NV2500 5-speed, and one of the two 'spare' BW T-5 "World Class" SBC 5-speeds (the one which has a Hurst short-throw shifter setup), PLUS my 'spare' 4.6 Northstar V-8, and a Kawasaki "J" series 1000cc Z-1 engine. In the next bay is a 350 Vortec, a 350 Corvette CFI which will become my 'built' SBC, one of my Dodge 8-liter V-10s, and a ~330 HP Infiniti VH45DE four-cam V-8, PLUS the 3800 Series 3 with all the goodies (STILL! ) waiting to go into my Pontiac GTA with ANOTHER T-5 WC 5-speed and a complete turbo setup to 'tribute' a TTA... I also have a Pontiac 349 and a Ford 351M I will never use sitting in the bay holding the floor down.
I'll call it a draw if you will...

EDIT: I forgot about the 5-speed manual sitting on the floor waiting for some time to swap into the Audi TT with the hard-shifting 6-speed automatic...

@EPfiffner, sorry for the continued hijack, I hope it doesn't offend, all just meant in fun.

[woody90gtz]

haha you're crazy! And you have a lot of room. I had three 282s, but I got rid of those when the FWD car went bye bye. Traded one to Chmura for some delicious Sparks!

I'd call it draw maybe. You have more, but I have better IMO...

[Rettax3]

I'd call it draw maybe. You have more, but I have better IMO...

To each their own on what is 'better'... Yours looks CLEANER for sure, though I only mentioned what is in the shop bays, NOT what I have in my garage... Nor what is under the hoods of the complete cars I have. But oh, so many of mine would be that much nicer if I also had what you have there... Sigh. Does drool cause the aluminum casing of a T-56 to corrode? Best I don't find out... Perhaps one day I'll be able to track down a suitable manual transmission for my IHI MV446... Or I'll just swap in one of the Dodge V-10s and look for a transmission to bolt up to that...

(That is NOT my PT Loser parked in the photo -I have a lot of cars but even I have standards)

[EPfiffner]

Now, you should NOT mention "one of my NV3500s", that makes me very jealous...

And I have two more installed in vehicles. haha
https://youtu.be/OxejxwhVNMI

Hey watch getting those grubby transmissions so close to the Mullet Camaro Woody!

[EPfiffner]

IMAG0401.jpg

Since this picture was taken, I have added another Muncie/Getrag 282 5-speed Beretta transaxle, two Nissan 300ZX 5-speeds, a Mopar NV2500 5-speed, and one of the two 'spare' BW T-5 "World Class" SBC 5-speeds (the one which has a Hurst short-throw shifter setup), PLUS my 'spare' 4.6 Northstar V-8, and a Kawasaki "J" series 1000cc Z-1 engine. In the next bay is a 350 Vortec, a 350 Corvette CFI which will become my 'built' SBC, one of my Dodge 8-liter V-10s, and a ~330 HP Infiniti VH45DE four-cam V-8, PLUS the 3800 Series 3 with all the goodies (STILL! ) waiting to go into my Pontiac GTA with ANOTHER T-5 WC 5-speed and a complete turbo setup to 'tribute' a TTA... I also have a Pontiac 349 and a Ford 351M I will never use sitting in the bay holding the floor down.
I'll call it a draw if you will...

EDIT: I forgot about the 5-speed manual sitting on the floor waiting for some time to swap into the Audi TT with the hard-shifting 6-speed automatic...

@EPfiffner, sorry for the continued hijack, I hope it doesn't offend, all just meant in fun.

Keep it up, it's all good. I enjoy reading it all! I see you have everything i need x5 to get rid of my TH125C! lol

[EPfiffner]

I found this at the local PaP, has a nice "Doral" tire (I thought those were cigarettes) with a '19 date code. $21.50 I think it was after I returned my bent rim as a core. I lost a decent tire on the core, but having it removed wouldve cost as much as the core, so hell with it. I'm motorin' again and the diameter of the cavy wheel/tire combo is pretty much the same as the 225-45-17's.

I wouldve been happy to switch to a set of 4, but the other front wheel on the cavy was puffed up with corrosion around the center cap, and the rears had bald tires so...oh well.

I'd love to strip the car down and lay a nice paint job like I did on my MG, but I wouldn't get that lucky twice! Too much other crap to do, I don't know how you guys find the time!

On Monday Dad helped me top up the A/C with a can of ebay R12, theres a couple hot days coming so i'm excited to try it out.

[EPfiffner]

My A/C quit back in the summer and I noticed that the fan wasn't kicking on when I engaged the A/C. I was sitting in the car with the scan tool watching the coolant temp and fan commands, and I noticed some steam coming from up front.

What luck! of all the places the radiator tank could split wide open, it does it at home.

It looked like the original radiator, so I definitely got my use out of it. RA had a radiator and hoses (the upper still said GM on it!) so back on the road in no time.
The A/C must have a leak because shortly after my fan troubleshooting/radiator blowout the compressor stopped kicking in. Initially the compressor was running but the fan wasn't, so that's what had me checking the fan circuit. The fan kicks in when the coolant is hot enough so probably just low on freon. My Dad has gauges and a vacuum pump so I'll check it for leaks in the spring maybe.

Nothing exciting to report, just changed oil and it will be due again at 190k. The interior is getting pretty rough from age and sun, but it's not like everyone on here isn't familiar with that. It's parked in the garage now that I don't currently have any major resto going on since my MG is put together, and since I started working at the University I park in a deck, so much less sun exposure.

I keep the car out of the salt, but days like today when everything is dry I get it out once in a while.

[Rettax3]

Enviable luck, a break-down in the driveway when you aren't in a rush to get somewhere else...
Regarding the A/C, would I be correct in guessing it is time to convert over to 134a? Easy to do, the fitting kit is available and inexpensive, just be sure to use the correct oil with it (134a's "PAG" oil is different from the ester-oil used in R-12 systems, so you use the oil that is compatible with the ester since you will never clear it out 100%, but works with R134a, let me know if I can help with any of the details, I can pull my charts on fill-weights and such, sounds like you might have it covered though).
Good to hear she still gets out on sunny days, I go for months at a time now not seeing another Beretta, aside from mine. Pretty sad. I still really like these cars -the "allure", as GM marketed them with, has not worn off for me. I still wish I had a GTZ to round-out the collection, but with three of mine down now, I wouldn't invite the trouble for myself.
Happy New Year!

[woody90gtz]

Yeah, there's just something about Berettas...they feel like "home" to me. But...I'm on #4 with only a 3 month gap in ownership over a 20-yr period. I haven't street driven a Beretta in over a year, though, and it's really weird. I miss it.