Today I... "Redux Edition"

[roadking77]

I am a few miles from the Conowingo dam. I cant imagine how many Eagles are there, I would bet a hundred! Its cool to drive over during feeding time and see them in action. The pic I took of the nest is adjacent to the North East river.

As for the dump trucks, I give them space. Its a law that all loads need to be tarped and most do. It irritates me when I see one without and that is just pure lazy. Most if not all of them are motorized now. When I drove I had to physically get up on the bed of the truck and unroll the tarp by hand, go around the back, take a couple of straps and tie the back end down. Def a pain in the..... and it took about 5 minutes or so. But I always had it on! The ones that really irritate me are the guys that wont even get out of the cab, but will put the tarp down, only the rear pan is still covered with dirt or stone as well as the top of the gate.

[79GoldnTan]

So, Saturday I went to my local Napa store to get new battery for my zero turn, so I figured let's get oil and filter also, no problem, so let's get oil and filter for others as well, no problem, 65 Chevy no problem, 79 ta......, wait .... no stock, need to order it in, really?? Yep, two days out. Wow

[roadking77]

I was surprised with the availability of parts that NAPA carried for the trans am. I would always use Ames or the like no matter what it was I needed. Then, I found that NAPA had a lot of the stuff for general maintenance. A couple of years ago I could walk in and out with the part I needed. During my 79 restoration as of late it has been a different story. It seems the last couple of parts I needed were either out of stock or not available. I have 2 of their stores within a 20 min. drive in either direction, a lot of times if one store doesnt have it the other will. AND there is a very large distribution warehouse 40 min away. So there have been times I place an order in the morning and the store will have it in the afternoon.

[79GoldnTan]

Sure, I could see that for major parts, but an oil filter. Unfortunately the next closest parts store would be in Binghamton by, a good forty mile drive one way. I guess I'll stick to the internet next time

[roadking77]

Yes, one would think an oil filter would be a pretty easy find!

[b_hill_86]

Today (Sunday technically) I…. Had beautiful weather and went for a drive. Decided to stop and take a few pics of the car for no reason so…here are my shameless pictures

[5th T/A]

Good for you and your car. It looks sharp. Black sure looks good when it’s spotless!

[79GoldnTan]

Very nice! Pearl is still hiding from the elements.

[FormTA]

Nice! I was out in mine as well! Did you have the louvers on the last time I saw it? The car looks mean!

[b_hill_86]

I’m not sure to be honest. I think so though. Thanks!

And yea it does look good when it’s clean but man, it’s a pain to keep clean. And to keep from scratching!

[FormTA]

I really thought it was just me. My car collects dust like horder at a free garage sale. The day after I get it spotless it's covered in dust again.  And I really thought the scratches were because my car is a single stage paint. It seems to scratch (Like micro scratches) just by looking at it.  I really need to just forget perfect flares and just paint these dang things and put them on. I could call may car finished then....

[roadking77]

Your car looks great! Glad you were able to get some seat time this weekend. I try to get to a cars n coffee on sunday mornings with my son but he had an oil switch problem with his GTO and didnt want to drive until he got it fixed (yesterday). My honey do list had accumulated over the last few weekends so unfortunately with just about as perfect weather as one could have asked for my car sat in the garage. And now theyre calling for rain on Sat and Sun.

[b_hill_86]

I really thought it was just me. My car collects dust like horder at a free garage sale. The day after I get it spotless it's covered in dust again.  And I really thought the scratches were because my car is a single stage paint. It seems to scratch (Like micro scratches) just by looking at it.  I really need to just forget perfect flares and just paint these dang things and put them on. I could call may car finished then....

Nah man it’s definitely not just you lol. I almost texted you Sunday to see if you might be out actually.

Your car looks great! Glad you were able to get some seat time this weekend. I try to get to a cars n coffee on sunday mornings with my son but he had an oil switch problem with his GTO and didnt want to drive until he got it fixed (yesterday). My honey do list had accumulated over the last few weekends so unfortunately with just about as perfect weather as one could have asked for my car sat in the garage. And now theyre calling for rain on Sat and Sun.

I know how that goes. I don’t think we’ve really had much start up around here yet. I have a lot of local cruise ins and cars and coffee events I’d like to try but life always seems to get in the way with a 1 1/2 year old and another coming in July. There’s one show I try to make a few times a year and the first is this Friday. Naturally I ended up picking up overtime at work not thinking. O well

[Nexus]

Today I stopped by to say hello, so Hello everyone!

School is now done, as I managed to graduate from the Electrical Technician program at the local college, and just as that happened, my wife requested that I finish the kitchen cupboard project I started before school!

She's been patient, so that's what I'm currently doing. After that, my hope is that I am able to plan at least once a week to getting the firebird back together and driving under her own power. Hopefully before the second coming of Christ!!

I also intend to tinker away at my bike project again once a week but that is not a priority although I wouldn't mind seeing if I can get to run this summer.

What else is going on here.............My dojo is doing pretty good! I have enough students to pay the bills but not enough to get rich but I'm ok with that!!

This year I want to try and rethink and scale down some of the projects, and learn that, although I can do everything myself, I don't necessarily have to do every thing myself!!

Cheers

[roadking77]

Glad to hear from you. Sounds like things have been taking a positive course of action. I bet youre glad to be done with school at this point.

[72projectbird]

Been busy with the Humvee. I completely did the interior in bedliner, recovered the seats in black, and painted it BC/CC Jet black. I then had the original USAF markings remade and installed them as a nod to the trucks previous life. I also scored a deal on used 37" Coopers, so I picked up some new 17" rims and mounted those up.

20240419_143007 by Argo Noneya, on Flickr

20240427_164630 by Argo Noneya, on Flickr

20240427_165338 by Argo Noneya, on Flickr

[b_hill_86]

That thing is cool man. Thanks for posting the pics

[roadking77]

What a beast! I can see my wife driving that thing to work every day, all other drivers beware

[FormTA]

Man that thing looks awesome! I have been cruising the military auctions too.

[5th T/A]

Very nicely done. Something Arnold Schwarzenegger would be proud of and look right at home behind the wheel.

[Nexus]

That rig looks sweet!!



So today marks the 5th anniversary of Shizuna and I getting married in Okinawa Japan (or at least the ceremony part) so what better way than to make it legal!!

That's exactly what we did this morning!!

5 years ago we sorta joked about waiting but we always figured we'd get around to it sooner or later.

With a 30 min process, exchange of vows again, rings, and the signing of paper work, we are officially more than common law in the eyes of the Canadian government, and are now considered husband and wife!!

Now off to karate!!!

lol

[roadking77]

Happy Anniversary and Congratulations on your marriage.

[Nexus]

Today I continued my arduous journey of making a base cabinet for my kitchen. It would likely get done quicker, if I knew what I was doing and didn't have to fix so many mistakes!!

ahh well, it's all learning

I'll post up a picture or two when I get it done!!!

[FormTA]

Found my fuel line leaking at the tank again.  Little back story here. With the LS swap I installed a efi tank with an internal fuel pump. This tank has an odd fitting choice for the pressure line, it was a flare fitting with a supplied barb swivel to connect rubber line to. The other problem is it faces the rear of the car... Dumb, the engine is in the front... Anyway I originally used a rubber efi hose clamped to this and then curled around heading to the front where the fuel filter/regulator are. When I was having trouble with the engine running poorly when I first installed it I thought it might be the kink in this rubber line so I replaced it with a steel line. Problem it the weird fitting on the tank. I had to have a short piece of hose and then a bunch of fittings to get to the double flare 3/8 line and then back to the rubber line going to the filter. You follow all this?

Well the dang brass fittings would crack and leaking after 8 months to a year and sprat fuel on my exhaust.... not good.

Anyway it started leaking again the other day so I did some research and found out that welded on flare fitting is a 45° sae flare, like what is used on propane lines in houses. There is no fitting out there (that I or others can find) that thread onto it other than a single flared line.

I got to thinking. The metal line I used to make the 180° turn is 3/8 double flare, maybe I can cut off the double flare and nut and re flare it with the right nut and eliminate a bunch of fittings.  I went to the hardware store and found the nut and it was what I thought, a standard 3/8 flare nut generally used for propane lines. I cut and flared the line with my eastwood flaring tool which took 3 tries as there is no instructions for making single flares on it but it is advertised as being capable of them. Long story short, I just used op 2 and had to guess at the amount of tub stick out.








This is a test fitting I found that is the same as what is welded to the tank feed line.



I eliminated like 5 fittings and this rubber line.



I hooked it all up and what a surprise,  no leaks! I feel a lot better that I won't be burned alive in my car anymore.

[roadking77]

Luke do you have the paper instruction sheet? I think you did it correct though as the op 1 and op 2 are used to make a double flare. Having just gone through the nonsense of trying to find and mate up the correct fittings for my brake lines I feel your pain. The whole time I kept thinking, why cant they just make one type of fitting

[FormTA]

Kerry, yes I read the little instruction sheet that came with it like 10 times. It never mentions anything about single flare, only double and bubble flares. It would have been so much easier if they would have used a 37° fitting.  That way I could have just screwed on an AN hose and been done...

Anyways,  it's been two trips and two days now and still dry. I actually drove it to work today so it's sitting outside (getting more dirty) and baking in the 90+ heat.  Going to be a hot ride home.

[Nexus]

Getting that solved is a huge relief indeed!!

Although not today, I did graduate from College on Monday from the Electrical Engineering Technician program!! Now I have to find a company that will set me up with an apprenticeship!!
Ironically, my first day of college, I injured me knee so fittingly I graduated with an injured knee after it being ok for about 1.5 years....well ok-ish. There is something floating around in it (likely cartilage) and I have a badly tattered anterior meniscus. First I was told I require a partial knee replacement, then I was informed that I just needed to lose weight through intensive HIT training.....yeah right!!

Anyway, just a small venting session

Cheers everyone, It is a beautiful day today in Sudbury Ontario!!

[roadking77]

Congrats Charlie. Hope your knee works itself better. My brother (he also lives in Canada) only had to wait for 3 years to get his knees rebuilt.

[FormTA]

I always thought Canada had great health care. I didn't realize they slow it was. Here you need something you schedule it it gets done. We just scheduled the removal of the rods and screws from my sons back. We picked the end of July so he could enjoy most of the summer but we could have scheduled anytime.

[b_hill_86]

Well, yesterday I was supposed to drive the car about 2 hours north into Michigan to a Cars and Coffee another forum owner puts on at his house. I went last year and really enjoyed it. This year though I’ve been having trouble with my clutch pedal. It’s felt as if it were binding until you almost get it to the floor when it pops for lack of a better description. It’s gotten progressively worse over the last couple weeks so I took a look underneath and found that the clutch fork was actually making contact with the bellhousing when the pedal is fully pressed. The fork was rocking forward on the pivot then the pop was the fork hitting the bell causing it to straighten up. I suspected at least a worn pivot ball and possibly the fork which was allegedly an original piece from a 76 when I did my trans swap.

Friday I opted to forgo the trip and instead decided to pull the transmission. Some quick googling led me to a new fork and new pivot both on Amazon with overnight delivery an option for prime members and I just happen to have a few days of a prime trial left so I went for it. Both are Dorman products but I was worried about the fork being correct with the correct geometry.

I got the trans out Friday evening. After several times pulling it I have to down to about 2 hours to get it out including getting the car in the air (which is a pain) and not including the 45min I spent looking for my spare yolk to keep the gear oil from running out the back.

Yesterday morning came around and my new parts were on my porch. I compared the forks (which I should’ve taken pictures of) and saw few if any obvious differences aside from the pivot location on the new fork seemed to be shallower effectively moving the fork forward which would be a benefit to me. The new pivot however was more mushroom shaped than round like the original and since my original had minimal wear I opted to reuse it. Got every thing back together including clean up in about 2.5 hours and the feel of the pedal was instantly better.

Last night I got to test drive it and wow, what a difference. This drives like a totally different car now. It shifts smoother (which I didn’t realize it needed to be or could be smoother) the pedal feels great, is easier to press and release, there’s a noise that was present that’s no longer and most surprising, I’d been chasing a clutch chatter issue which I’d gotten to a point that I could live with it. It’s nearly all gone now. There is just the tiniest amount and only under the right circumstances. I didn’t expect that which is why I decided to post this in case it helps someone else. Also, the fork part number for Dorman is 14550 if anyone wonders if this fork will work or not. As for now, I’m saying yes.

[5th T/A]

Brian, sorry you missed your cars and coffee event.

I guess it beats sitting on the side of the road with a breakdown. You definitely made the right decision. This is a good reminder for all of us to give our cars a good once over before going out on a long cruise.

[wheels78ta]

Glad you got it worked out.  And yes.....this will help someone, including me, when I get it all put together and can come back here for reference.

[5th T/A]

Yesterday morning I attended Gary's Hot Rod Reunion, in Union grove Wisconsin. Big show lots of cars on display, Unfortunately I could only spend about three hours because of afternoon plans. Big swap meet with parts and memorabilia. probably hundreds of cars on display.

IMG_3582 by Lawrence Alexander, on Flickr

Someday if I can find one of these cheap, it would make great art hanging on my garage wall.

 IMG_3584 by Lawrence Alexander, on Flickr

They had a section with cars for sale, I did not see a price for this 1974 Formula.

IMG_3585 by Lawrence Alexander, on Flickr

1977 GP in nice condition for 12K, I don't see a lot, would make a nice cruiser.

IMG_3587 by Lawrence Alexander, on Flickr

1976 TA, repainted and looked like paint was peeling, 27K I thought seemed high but what do I know.

IMG_3588 by Lawrence Alexander, on Flickr

[b_hill_86]

Brian, sorry you missed your cars and coffee event.

I guess it beats sitting on the side of the road with a breakdown. You definitely made the right decision. This is a good reminder for all of us to give our cars a good once over before going out on a long cruise.

Thanks. There’s always next year of course. Speaking of a once over, I forgot to meantion I found 3 trans crossmember bolts loose and one missing. That one is on me from last time for sure. Best believe I double checked everything this time lol.

Glad you got it worked out.  And yes.....this will help someone, including me, when I get it all put together and can come back here for reference.

Glad it will help

[FormTA]

Brian, glad you got her all fixed up! I may have to order that fork for may trans swap. I'll have to see what the one I have looks like.

It's cool that improved the whole system too.

[b_hill_86]

Brian, glad you got her all fixed up! I may have to order that fork for may trans swap. I'll have to see what the one I have looks like.

It's cool that improved the whole system too.

You are welcome to compare yours to the one I pulled out. Otherwise it’s going in the trash.

[Jack]

I have a lot of catching up to do... and need to catch you all up with what I have been doing.

[FormTA]

So my son (15) picked up this barn find (but I knew it was there).








This was originally my uncles truck that I road around in when I was like 8 or 9. About 10 years later my younger brother bought it 1995. He drove the heck out of it all through college. It was a straight 6 with 3 on the tree but someone swapped a 302 out of a early mustang and dropped a cam, headers , intake and a carb on it. My uncle was in an accident years before and couldn't deal with the clutch so he swapped it to an auto including the steering column. He also wanted better fuel mileage so the intake and carb came off and a 2 barrel setup went on. My brother ran the trans out of fluid as it leaked and we put another trans in but the started doesn't work with the flywheel or something and that is why it was parked back in 2001. I actually had it at my place years ago because I was going to fix it buy all I was able to do was vice grip the starter in place enough to get it to start and I drove it into his barn where it has sat for thw last 12 or so years.

My son wants all sorts of cars and my brother said he could have this truck if he really had the desire to get it back on the road but he can never sell it. My brother is great at building stuff with wood and stuff but not with mechanical things and he knows I and my son are extremely mechanical so he decided to let us do something with it as he knows he never will even though he loves this truck.

As soon as we got home Logan cleaned out the bed and  started pulling the interior as it is mice piss soaked.  He was going to powerwash it but in came a torrential down pour so he grabbed a scrub brush and went to town.



It seems like it's still a very solid truck.  Frame, bed and most body panels are pretty good.

[Nexus]

Woah...that's cool!!

Tell him Congratulations on the new toy

[Nexus]

"Today I continued my arduous journey of making a base cabinet for my kitchen. It would likely get done quicker, if I knew what I was doing and didn't have to fix so many mistakes!!

ahh well, it's all learning

I'll post up a picture or two when I get it done!!!"

This is the almost final cabinet so now I just have the temporary counter top to make and a face for the pull out

Island Cabinet by Charles Marson, on Flickr

Island Cabinet by Charles Marson, on Flickr

Island Cabinet by Charles Marson, on Flickr