- Parking brake... Update - I wasn't happy with how the parking brake was operating, so I did a little more work. I sprayed some lubricant into the spot where the cable exits the floor pan, and I also pulls both cables in the Gennie kit about 1/2" tighter, thus preloading the return springs at the calipers. This helped a LOT! If I need to, I will use the adjusting screw on the caliper to loosen the pad slightly when I get to finally test things out.
- Brakes - Ok, I've FINALLY managed to get the entire brake system on the car! The highlights of the completion of this project were: remove one bleeder valve from the driver's side caliper and plug the hole (valve hitting the shock bracker); trip to NAPA to purchase a bunch of brass fittings, and a lot of cursing! :) Bending and flaring stainless steel hardlines is a real pain! I gave up on using the flex lines I described above, and instead used the stainless hardlines from Currie, bending them up and around the axle tubes. It looks ok, not great, but it works! :) That's all I care about at this point...
- Trunk Lights - I had procrastinated wiring up the Painless Wiring harness to the trunk lights for some time. So, yesterday I pulled out the soldering iron and went to work. Took about 4 and a half hours to get it all wired up correctly, but it turned out pretty nice. I purchased new sockets for all of the bulbs and had to go a lot of soldering, including adding a ground wire for all the lights. I haven't tested them yet though, so I have my fingers crossed.
- Gas Tank - UGH! Let me say that again... UGH! I have pictures I will add soon.. The Rock Valley tank took a bit of work to get assembled before installing (sending unit has to be modified to fit, and I had to make some stainless braided fuel lines for the supply/return), but I finally got it all together. Then I went to install the stainless straps, and I have to 'modify' the floorpan to get them in place. Ok, so I do that, stick the tank up in place (by myself, mind you!), only to discover that the straps are about 6" too short! Yes, I was cursing Rock Valley by this point. For the price I paid for that damned tank, it should have gone right in place... I'll be calling them first thing tomorrow......
- Rear wheel - I received the resized passenger's side rear wheel on Friday and stuck it back on the car. Even without the 3/16" spacer, it actually fits pretty well! :) It's a little too close on the inside though, so I will use the spacer. Once it's on, the 2 sides should look just about identical from the rear, and you can't see a difference in the 2 wheels on the sides. I'm very happy with the results...
- Engine - I've done a few little things on the engine. First, I ran my oil pressure and water
temp lines from the gauges through the firewall, utilizing the already existing hole for the
speedometer cable! :) I also discovered that I can't plug the water temp bulb into the thermostat
spacer I purchased because the bulb is too long and hits the thermostat! ARGH!!!!! So, I unplugged
one of the water valley plugs on the manifold and put the bulb there. Probably a better place
anyway.
Then I was looking at my MSD Ignition box. It's big, and I have no idea where it's going to go... I'm thinking about replacing it with an Accel 300+, since it's about 1/2 the size. I think I will order one tomorrow and decide once it arrives. I'm sure I can wire it to the MSD Coil. Speaking of, I have to locate a place to mount the coil. I'm looking to make a bracket to hang off the back of the throttle body. Hope that works out ok...
- Interior - Discovered that at least one power window regulator works! :) Haven't tested the
other one yet. Unfortunately I also discovered that one power door lock cylinder DOESN'T work. :(
Damn... So, I'm just going to forego the power locks for now, and I'll worry about it later, if at
all... I'm not too worried about the door locks...
I'm about to wrap up the interior. I've decided I will have to build a custom console at some point to mount the window switches and the AC controls. I didn't want to do that, but the AC Control for the Vintage Air unit has a bulb that has to install in the Evaporator, and it's not long enough to reach the stock control location... Sigh...
- OK, that's it for now. This week I hope to mount my oil filter and relocation kit, build some battery cables for the trunk mount battery, get the correct straps for my gas tank, order a driveshaft finally, install my side windows and door panels, and finally finish up the interior by installing the seats. That's ambitious I'm sure, but hey, you have to have a goal, right? :)
