Archive for the ‘Drivetrain’ Category
New valve springs
Received my new valve springs better matched for my installed cam from http://alexsparts.com. Fabricated a tool to compress the spring using compressed air in the cylinder. All springs and seals replaced. Ran them thru a heat/cool cycle and took it for a test drive. The car runs pretty good, still a little valve rap, but I’m thinking timing now.
Valve springs
At 2500 RPMs, seem to experience some valve floating. I will be replacing the stock valve springs with some performance springs supplied by Alexs Parts at http://alexsparts.com/. Alex will also be supplying new seals as well as multiple sizes of hardened shims to establish the correct installed height. Used compressed air and a home made valve spring depressor tool to unspring cylinder #1.
Fabricated a power steering bracket
I wish I would have taken more photos of this process, but really only have the finished product. The jist of this is that I originally had a TRW power steering pump with TRW brackets. The TRW brackets don’t really fit the new replacement Federal pump. I have been trying to find a replacement TRW style pump, without any luck. So the workaround was to cut up the TRW brackets and make them work for the Federal pump. This image shows the minor differences between the 2 pumps… although minor, they presented a challenge.
The TRW bracket didn’t fit the Federal pump in the notched areas. Needed to modify the bracket to work… Lot’s of cutting, welding and grinding and the finished product looks like this:
The bottom bracket was the one that was cut, welded, ground and painted… you’d never know.
Walk around
Getting closer. Need to do some bodywork/paint… put some seats in (interior will be done later)…
“You wanna lay a little tire?”
More progress
Replaced the aftermarket leaf spring shackles with factory style from SummitRacing, adjusted the z-bar and clutch, removed the carb spacer. Still have issues with idle, but I was able to pull it out of the garage under its own power and… well, the sure-grip works
Exhaust, sure-grip and thermostat…
Replaced the thermostat housing gasket, installed the 3.23 sure-grip rear and bolted up the full exhaust system.
More tuning
Did some clutch adjusting and carb tuning. Still runs a little too rich and cannot get a good idle under 1400-1500RPM.