Ken G's Journal

OK I'll try again I had it almost all typed in and then lost the entry.. ;-(

The bearings are in, I was worried about installing the races but that was the easy part of the process. Where I had trouble was getting the hubs onto the spindle. On the passenger side the bearing was so tight that if I didn't have it perfectly lined up it would bind and I would have to remove the whole hub and try again. That happened many times and I ruined on rear seal doing this. I'm glad I ordered extra so I had a spare.
On the Drivers side I had problems getting the correct spacers installed, on the 5th try I final get those lined up and then realized I had installed the old bearing!!!! Terrible mistake but I'm glad I caught it will I was still working on it, SO I pulled it apart, installed the new bearing and got that all set up. I was quite happy to get that all in and allow me to start on the next bits, tie rods and front brakes.

I go to put the tie rods on and find that I have received the wrong size, ugh so those are shipped back, therefore I turn to the brake calipers.

When I pulled off the calipers I just removed them and bagged them and didn't evaluate them. That was a mistake. I had to pry the old pads out as they were rusted to the cylinders. I took the calipers apart to see about rebuilding but based on the condition and the recommendation from the forum I am buying new. So waiting for those parts too. hmmm

Right now about all I can do is install the new oil into the steering rack, so I may get a chance to do that tonight. I'm hoping I get my parts in before this weekend. Getting excited as I feel like I'm getting close.

This weekend I was able to get some things off the list:
* New Tie rods are on
* New Brake calipers are installed, with new brake pads and hoses
- I did brake a star washer so I have to pick one of those up for the driver side.
* New cotter keys installed on the rotors and caps put back on
* Filled up steering rack and sealed with new gasket
* Clean up front sway bar
-Removed old bushings
-Installed new bushings (what a pain)

And then I just ran out of energy. But this leaves me in good shape to:
Install the brake line, install the sway bar, put the tires back on and bleed the brakes.

So brakes are hooked up, sway bar is installed, tires are back on and she is sitting on her own 4 wheels. Pretty happy day.
If I'm not too busy I hope to bleed the brakes and try to get it running yet this week. Maybe .. :-)

The summer is always busy and I seem to be making slow progress bit with a series of minor set backs. After 3 or 4 tries I was finally able to get the brakes to bled. My back passenger brake wouldn't pass the fluid, but after I did the others and waited a couple of days it freed up and they seem to be working ok for now.
Then the the emergency cable was ultra tight and it took a bit of work to get that to function properly.

I reinstalled the charged up battery, added some gas and tried to get it to start, no luck. So I cleaned up the plugs and tried again and after a few fits and coughs she started up. I was very happy. I got in and gave her some gas and well she immediately died. Restarted and tried again, same thing. Started up again and slowly threw her in first gear and she creeped forward and then in reverse, but when I went to add gas dead again.

So I played around in the drive way starting it and letting it warm up and trying to up the reves and every time I touched the accelerator it would just shut off.

So I'm at a loss, as I did nothing to the engine while I was working on the other stuff and I do not remember it doing this before I started working on the suspension. I'm not sure if it is flooding or it isn't advanced enough. I have the DOCE that was on the car when I go it and a 25D distributor. There is no vacuum advance to the distributor from the carb, and I suspect that maybe part of the issue but I wouldn't have guessed that it would have this big of an impact. Maybe the carb is flooding the engine? Guess I need to start and the beginning and verify everything is in the right place. A bit of a bummer ad I was hoping to drive it around the block this week.
Oh yes and of course the new rubber boot I installed on the steering rack developed a leak and poured gear oil all over the garage floor. yuck.

Any suggestions would be great. Thanks

So in the last post I just made I talked about the issue I was having with the car just crapping out whenever I hit the accelerator. I went into the garage tonight a bit dejected but determined. I mucked around with a few things, checked the fuel lines and floats, and I still wasn't getting anywhere, SO I decide start it up and advance the timing and that brought the car to life.

While it was idling fine I guess it was too retarded to allow the DCOE to function, and moving it forward made a huge difference. I was able to back the car out and back into the garage multiple times under it's own power.

So it ended up being a good day. I've got a replacement steering boot on order, and with continued good luck I'll have t on the road this weekend.

So with the car driving in and out of the garage, I thought about Working on some other issues and playing around with it running in the driveway. Well it is 95 degrees and just to hot for that so I decided switch gears and see how the electrical system is working.

I played with all the switches on the dash and column and have a mixed bag, for one thing the front bumper is off and so those lights are not connected.
- Hazard lights work fine in back, and light up on dash
- Horn works
- Left turn signal doesn't work
- Right Turn signal doesn't work

- Running lights and license plate work on passenger side rear not front
- Running lights and license plate do not work on drivers side
- Headlights work, very dim
- High beam switch on column works
- Dash lights for Ignition, Brake and Hazard work but high beam do not.
- Fan switch doesn't work

I didn't test the brake lights as I will need a helper for that one.

Looking at my electrical diagram I think I have a issue with the flasher unit for the turn signal and maybe a ground issue for the rear lights. Time to get the tester out and start tracing. Not sure where the flasher unit is stashed, is it under the dash?

I have relays for the headlights that I need to get installed so that may be the next project but I just don't see myself driving at night anytime soon.