Some pics of my perfumed pig - updated - with video link

[A34]

I'm very close to getting my car on the road. Thought I'd post some pics of the work I did over the weekend.  Most of the screw-ups are mine, so I don't really have anyone to blame but myself. I keep telling myself, "just put it together to drive". But, the perfectionist keeps opening his big mouth.

Anyway, here are a few shots. I'm pretty dang close. Fired it up yesterday, had a knock, looks like  the rockers are hitting the baffles in the valve covers. Nice. Guess that wasn't important for the engine builder to check.  Had some problems with the carb, had to order some parts, had some problems with the fuel pump, had to order some parts, had some problems with the shifter boot, had to order some parts, and it goes on and on. If this was easy, everybody would have an old car right?

Then, I spilled all my Green vinyl dye in the driveway and didn't have enough to get complete coverage of my armrests and upper pad. It has that 70's era "speckled" look. Hey man, smell the colors..totally  cool........

My nickname for this car in High School was Roxanne. I called her that because she was cheap and fast. :0)   This time around she is not so cheap, but she better darn well be fast.

Anyway, hope you enjoy the pics.

[PocketThunder]

Looks really good man. 

Is there enough green left for the ash tray door?

[A34]

Looks really good man. 

Is there enough green left for the ash tray door?

no..

[n9671x2]

Looks very nice, guess I missed a previous post on what you were up to, but curious, what woodgrain kit did you use, and were you happy with it?

[A34]

Looks very nice, guess I missed a previous post on what you were up to, but curious, what woodgrain kit did you use, and were you happy with it?

Well, due to long wait times (12-18 months quoted) from the people who restore original dashes, I chose to try BEA's parts. The black camera case pieces were great. The woodgrain does not have the correct gloss finish in my opinion. They are too glossy. Still a nice finish, but not quite right. The woodgrain end caps did not fit very well on the black ones. They are bowed out too much. All in all, for a driver car, it's good stuff. I'm glad BEA is at least trying to make parts we need.

But, for a show car, it would not be acceptable. Same thing on his hood mounted turn signals. Great for a driver, but where they are different, it's different enough that it wouldn't work for a show car. Of course, 99% of the cars out there (mine included) aren't true high end show cars. Hope that helps!

[tan top]

good pictures ..would love to see more    ............................

[A34]

good pictures ..would love to see more    ............................

Here's my engine on the dyno.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5H_WppVlY1E

[Daytona Guy]

good pictures ..would love to see more    ............................

Here's my engine on the dyno.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5H_WppVlY1E

400 HP - What are the guts ...bump stick (duration), pistons, compression., carb, headwork? Great run on the dyno. Give us your specs.

[A34]

1984

[Just 6T9 CHGR]

good pictures ..would love to see more    ............................

Here's my engine on the dyno.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5H_WppVlY1E

Lookin' good Randy!  You can hear the rockers hitting the VC's in that vid no?

[A34]

good pictures ..would love to see more    ............................

Here's my engine on the dyno.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5H_WppVlY1E

Lookin' good Randy!  You can hear the rockers hitting the VC's in that vid no?

You know, I didn't hear it, the engine builder didn't hear it, and neither did the dyno guy. Guess we're all deaf.........

[A34]

2007

[A34]

[

400 HP - What are the guts ...bump stick (duration), pistons, compression., carb, headwork? Great run on the dyno. Give us your specs.

It's been over a year since I had it built and I forgot most of it. Sad huh? Basically, a stock engine with .020 overbore, 10.1 Forged TRW pistons, Hughes 1928 cam (forgot specs), bigger intake valve (forgot size), simple clean up job on heads, unleaded seats, stock intake and exhaust manifolds, crane adjustable rockers & 800 cfm avs thunder series carb.

You can get the cam specs from Hughes site and I'll see about digging up the invoice for the intake valve, but it's like the standard one size bigger valve. Wish I had went one step bigger on the cam, but when she started up and idled it sure sounded good through the accurate limited exhaust.

[A34]

I was  very excited to take the my car on her maiden voyage today to a local cruise-in. There are still little things that need to be done, but I was hoping she would run well enough to log some road time. My 10 year old son and I worked on it for most of the day and around 6pm she was ready to fire up.

I hit the ignition key mounted to it's Grand Spaulding Dodge, "Good Guys in White Hats" Key chain and she purred to life. Gone was the nasty knocking sound of the pushrod adjusters hitting the baffles in the valve covers, but there was an exhaust leak on the passenger site. I could live with it, but made a mental note to recheck all the bolts and exhaust connections. I welded the heat riser open and I'll bet it's the riser.

She sounded good out back. Like a 440 with Hemi mufflers should sound. I got in and adjusted the six-way seat. Turned on the am/fm to listen to, for the first time since being rebuilt, and out came ZZ Top. For just a brief minute, I was back in High School.  I was young again...then, DAD ! IT"S SMOKING !!!

WHAT? Sure enough smoke was pouring from the alternator area of the hood. I turned it off, got out and looked and there was NOS Mopar fan belt everywhere. My Autozone lifetime warranty alternator had locked up. I'm having Jim Ridge in SC restore one for me and was planning to run this Auzone one until it came in. I bet it doesn't have an hour total run time on it. To say I was mad is an understatement, but I didn't say any bad words in front of the kid. I was so looking forward to showing up to the cruise in my baby.

Well, after debating on swapping alternators from my other car, I decided to pull it back into the garage and try it again another day. I had pushed it out of the garage and thought I could at least pull it back into the garage under it's own power, test the clutch out and all. So, I pumped the brakes to make sure they were good. NO Pedal Pressure !! Went straight to the floor, and would not pump up. I checked the master cylinder and it was bone dry. Now that doesn't make any sense. I redid the brakes, new wheel cylinders, master cylinder, lines, DOT 5 fluid and everything worked fine when I did it. Of course, that was 2 yrs ago and it's mostly sat in the same spot since then.

I checked the firewall inside and outside, no evidence of fluid. Same for the drums, no signs of fluid leakage. Where did it all go ?? Anyway, I filled the master cylinder up and pumped it, but it did not pump up. Checked the fluid and no change, it wasn't draining. You fellas got any idea what's going on here?  It's got me baffled, guess I'll try and bench bleed the master cylinder and see if the cups are screwed up.

Anyway, I did pull it in under it's own power. I was just super careful and stopped it with the parking brake. So, now I sit in front of the computer venting to you guys. Say a prayer for me to the big guy upstairs that maybe things will go better next time. Lord knows I need all the help I can get. 

Anyway, I posted a few updated pics of the interior with the seats and console installed and the engine compartment.

 

[A34]

more engine

[Brock Samson]

sweet! so you filled it with brake fluid twice and there's nary a drop to be seen?..     

[A34]

sweet! so you filled it with brake fluid twice and there's nary a drop to be seen?..     

No, after I found it was empty, I filled it, then pumped the dickens out of it to get pressure back, but no pressure, and the fluid level was still the same. So, I guess it's not draining, which is why I was gonna try and bench bleed it.

[A34]

Got the Autzone Alternator replaced. Gravity bled the brake system initially, then did the old pump and hold bleed. I still have a brake system light on in the dash, so I'm concerned, but it does stop on it's own. Gonna go back and fiddle with it some more, but in the short term, wanted to post a link to the maiden voyage of her backing out of the garage under her own power. Video courtesy of my 10 year old son. I'm ruining him early. 

Of course, I do the burnouts for the kids.........it's for the children........

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8zsdXG8S_2Q

A34's car maintenance tips - don't do as I do...

After I did the video, the car was sitting outside when the bottom dropped out of the sky. I barely got the windows up without my new interior getting soaked. I decided it would be a good idea to wash the car in the rain (being in a drought and all), so I suited up, grabbed my bucket and out I went. Let me tell you ----- RAIN WATER IS COLD  !!!  LOL   

I stuck it out and used mother nature to rinse my baby as I washed her. It worked out ok, I guess, but don't know if I'd do it again. 

[tan top]

nice looking charger     good video   

[duo-stripe]

i like the vintage pic compared to the 2007 pic
very nice