Okay, well the Clipster headers didn't fit. Was lucky enough to be able to buy a set of Patriot style headers and they were fine. They've already been fitted up and the exhaust welded back on.
We tried to start the old girl last weekend but the fuel pump had died from sitting too long. Diaphragm dried out. Bought a new one and fitted her up and she fired up fine!

She is off to the brake shop tomorrow for a complete set of brake lines all through.
Thanks guys.
Looking like she is going to be on the road pretty soon, methinks!

 

That's great news Peter!

 

No worries, Joe.
Booked it in the other day and booked a towie to pick it up.
Shop rings me on my way to work (I travel 120 miles a day on the train to get to work), so, you can imagine there isn't a lot I can do when the shop says "oh, the guy that is gonna do your work has food poisoning and can't do it on that day and we already have other stuff booked out for two weeks."
I had to cancel the towie, but by the time I got onto him, he had already picked it up and delivered it.
Anyway, the shop was most apologetic. Said they would try their best to get it done within a couple of days.
It went in yesterday and I am already phoning them up asking if Dorothy is behaving or being looked after.
Guy at the shop says "no worries, mate. We've got her right out the front and I've got my eye right on her."
He also said they've had a lot more people walking through the place checking her out! I reckon I should get a discount from all the traffic that she has brought into the workshop!
Hope she is back by Friday. Dunno how I am supposed to cope!!!!

 

Brakes are done, front and rear. All new lines. Had some fun fitting connectors that suited both GM rear brakes, Jag front and GMH (Holden Commodore) Master Cylinder.
Not cheap at $900 for the whole job, but since I didn't feel confident with flaring brake lines and such, was money well spent. Some photos up later. Thanks guys.

 

I am feeling pretty despondent about the project. The last couple of weeks have really made me wonder whether I should bother trying to get it on the road and just cut loose from it.
What has really got me down is the amount of oil, power steering fluid and transmission fluid leaking from underneath it. Seems this truck has more leaks developing daily, and now I have just noticed the brakes I had done last week are leaking out the back.
And just to rub it it, I found it's leaking from the back of the sump. It was already leaking from the bottom timing chain cover, add to that significant leaks from the power steering rack and leaks around transmission cover.
And one thing I can't stand, is messing with leaks....
I dunno. Just having a bad day....

 

Hello Peter, sorry to hear that you are having troubles. You have come a long way with your project, it must be devastating now. You were so excited recently that things were starting to come together well. As some other blokes have said before, maybe just walk away for a little while, let your self get over it and when you are ready go for it again. You have done well so far, it will be great to get it on the road and cruising.

Yeah, it is a pain in the bum, but leaks can be fixed, hopefully not too much of a drama or cost, and then its "get your motor running, get out on the highway, looking for adventure or whatever comes your way" as the singer used to say (Jim Morrison?).

Good luck with it mate, all the best.

 

"get your motor running, get out on the highway, looking for adventure or whatever comes your way"


Steppenwolf




It is frustrating to have setbacks like this but like Aus56 said just walk away for a while.

 

Ta guys, I think I will do just that. Time to enjoy some sunshine and get out from under the truck. So close but so far. Be back later!
Peter

 

Still here! I am messing with a few air conditioning components (the easy stuff, that is).
Made a plate for the controls and vents but I don't think I like the look of it.
For one, I have had to remove the cowl handle, and even though I may never use it, I really wanted it to remain operational, and I like the old manual handle. Dunno why, just a part of its character I guess. So I am thinking I will probably change my plans with the plate



What do you guys think?


Other thing is, the stereo has to go somewhere. For the moment is is living on the side of a kick panel, which meant I had to relocate the speakers back inside the door.



Crappy photo, but you get the idea.

Truck came back from the shop the other day. Had to get wheel cylinders reconditioned and drums machined. Also in for some oil sump and power steering leaks. Turns out the timing cover was warped, so I got them to order a new one and replace it etc whilst they had it. Generously, I phoned the shop where I purchased the warped one (and this was over a year ago as it has been sitting on the shelf waiting to be fitted) and they were more than happy to exchange, but I told the mechanics to order one they thought was a good, known brand (rather than my ebay cheapie).
Anyway, to cut to the chase, it came back last week. First thing I noticed was the drivers' side window was wound halfway down, and when I went to wind it up (my truck has electric windows with the electric switch that makes use of the stock window handle) noticed that the handle had been pulled right off and dropped on the cabin floor.
I guess they must have thought it was a manual window handle and wound the hell out of it, twisting it right off the spindle. The thread on the spindle looks rather burred over now, and I suspect the handle will no longer sit nicely on the spindle. Anyway,
my fault I guess. I should have warned them...
Thing is, when I put it back on and wound the window up, I discovered the glass had been cracked.

Off to a flyer here, boys!
I thought, ok, I will see what they have done under the bonnet/ hood. Went to raise the hood and what do you think happened?

The hood must have been slammed so hard that it drove the locking pin through the latch and locked it solid. Had to get under there with spanners and take the latch apart. I tried using the old screwdriver trick but just couldn't get it. Fortunately, the bolts were newly replaced, and not old rusted things, so taking it apart was easy.

Ran the motor a while, couldn't spot any leaking, but won't be able to tell until I take it for a little run, which I am hoping to do next week.

The air guy is coming around this weekend to check out what needs to be done. The evaporator is already in, as is compressor. Condenser should be in by the weekend as well as bulkhead. I will let the air con guy do the rest.

You can see how low the evaporator is sitting at the moment. I don't really mind it that low. Plus, I think if I get it up any higher it messes with the wiper motor rod.

 

Fitting up the condenser to the truck. Had to find a home for the transmission cooler as well. I left a gap on one side of condenser to allow ease of fitment of hoses and connections by air conditioning guy.
Do you think this looks okay?







Not a lot of choices, I guess. I utilised the main frame of the truck for one side of the condenser and if needed can just add brackets to add stiffness to other side once plumbing has been completed. Would be curious to see how others did it?

 

Air cond is nearly done, so the installer tells me. So far he like what I have done to set it up for him to connect up. Tell you what...you can kiss your glove box goodbye!



Always some issue or other to deal with lately.
He phones me and tells me the theromostat isn't working on the unit. He says he can connect up some kind of aftermarket thermostat, but I contacted the Vintage Air agent whom I purchased it from and told him to expect a phone call from the installer. Haven't heard back yet. Better that they discuss techy stuff among themselves.

Other crummy thing that has happened is the engineer has advised he can't book me in for nearly six weeks! I was hoping to be on the road before the end of this month.
No matter... These things take time as they say.
Let you know how this air con setup came up when she comes back tomorrow.

 

Looks like a good install Peter. Usually a few complications when we add options to these trucks. Vintage Air has a fine reputation. I think you will like it once the details are sorted out. I assume you have test fit your radiator? Looks like things will be fairly tight there too.

 

Sure was a squeeze getting the condenser in there between the support braces and in front of the radiator. This radiator I am using is a GM design (as my engine is a Chevy) and it tapers off rapidly at the bottom, so I had to mount the condenser up fairly high. I think it still gets good air flow-thru. Then I had to find some space to fit the transmission cooler as I bypassed the el-cheapo inbuilt one on the budget ebay radiator.
The guy doing it seems to be a pretty decent fellow.
He advised I do everything to lessen labour costs. I have yet to receive the bill.
Should be finished today.
I think supplier might be shipping down a replacement thermostat unit.
See how we go...

 

Just drove Dorothy home from workshop.
Air con half fitted. Still have to wait for new thermostat which he will put in when it arrives.
Truck went okay. Doesn’t have much grunt, which is sad. Working its ring off to do 80k, though my wufe (who was following me) says I was speeding and she couldn’t keep up, but that isn’t saying much, heheh...
Seems to steer well and power steering is excellent. Brakes are superb! They don’t grab, but they slow the old tart down nicely.
She’s a bouncy old buggertoo, but not as bouncy as it was with the mustang front end. But she behaved quite well on the road, didn’t want to waver or go all over the place and nothing fell off. Just a lot of noise in the cabin from the engine and not much power. Shifter seemed to shift okay. It is possible it may have been stuck in second gear as I don’t think it clicked into third. I guess that would explain a lot. Dunno. Have to drive it some more. I was just concentrating on getting home and not hitting anyone or being hit by anyone. Success!

Everyone else's plumbing look like this?

 

Getting awful close to getting her on the road now, boys! Recent inspection failed brake test, so I need to get the rear drums sorted as they are locking up under heavy braking.
this thing has a jag disc brake front and GM (Buick I think) 10 bolt 8.5 rear end with drums. Just had the wheel cylinders reconditioned and now have discovered I probably need smaller cylinders to stop the lock up.
Anyway, brakes baffle the heck out of me, so I am taking it to a brake shop to see what they can come up with.

The master cylinder I am using is from a locally produced car (VT Commodore - GM vehicle) and it has an inbuilt proportioning valve, but it appears it needs something more. I would rather go the valve route than have to fork out for different wheel cylinders.

Anyway it was a nice day for a drive in the country, so I snapped this picture.

With some luck, I should have the brakes sorted by the end of next week and that will be all that the engineer requires.