New year, time for some updates!
1.) The 383 transplant from Mathilda saved this car. I MUST get a decent pair of cylinder heads on THIS 383, or better yet, get another FRESH engine. The valve guides or at least the valve stem seals need replacing.* I don't mind killing mosquitos during the summer, but prefer doing so using proper pesticide and NOT my engine oil! At the very least, I reckon I can do the valve stem seals without breaking the seal of any cylinder head gasket. Just will need a little time to do that. I have Felpro umbrella seals on hand too.
2.) Brakes. Ditching the defective brake booster in favor of good old manual brakes sure helped, BUT, NOW I need to address WHY the nice clean brake fluid I poured into the nice clean master cylinder now comes up FILTHY! I suspect the wheel cylinders are ORIGINAL, likely with ORIGINAL RUBBER still crumbling in them. I bled the rear cylinders easily and properly, closing the bleeder valve which that Texas cracker flipper left half open, and at least stopped a nasty leak, but the FRONT drivers side cylinder isn't bleeding well. Time to check it out. TODAY
3.) Electrical. In addition to a nice heavy gauge wire run supplying the dash, bypassing the ammeter and safely handling the 95 amp capability of the shiny new alternator, I've restored reverse lights, rebuilt the map light switch, repaired a circuit board for the right turn signal indicator and other idjit lights, and have replaced many incandescent bulbs with LEDs, though NOT the turn signal indicators and NOT the headlights. Eventually WILL install headlamp relays, and I already have a nice 6 circuit fuse box up by the battery for several such auxillary circuits, leaving the intrinsic headlight breaker in the switch just the 16 AWG wires which will switch the RELAYs instead of the high wattage LOADs.
4. Suspension. ALL the suspension on this car MUST be replaced ASAP. Already have 95% or more of the required partsm and tools, just need TIME, WITHOUT MY LONG WEEKENDS GETTING SABOTAGED WITH FOOL APPOINTMENTS MADE BEFORE I CAN CHECK WHETHER ITS A GOOD IDEA! GRRR!
5. Muffler, What's on there still works VERY well, but I see its busted the seam on the left side. Will want a replacement sooner or later. Low priority. The rest of the pipe still very solid.
6. Seats. MUST REPLACE ASAP!
Seats are nothing but vinyl over springs now. The old foam rubber crumbles to bits every time anyone sits on it. VERY LITTLE LEFT. Probably will transplant the front bench from Mathilda for now, given that I have a nice cover over still good seating there. The back will need attention when the brats outgrow their legally coerced kiddy seats. DAMN ALL DO-GOODER FREEDOM HATERS! (Google tried to auto-correct that exclamation.)
7. Ragtop. Again, need to find time AND competent upholsterer to get the vinyl stitched, glued and stapled on competently. I PRAY I don't have to do this particular job.... or drive to Phx.
8. Rear end. Noticed how Gertrude had more low end SNAP, taking off from stops, and how the gas gauge went down a bit more rapidly than Mathilda. So, I counted revolutions, seeing how the drive shaft needed ~ 3.25 revolutions per tire revolution. I then scrubbed a half inch of grime off the pumpkin, found the tag, and sure enough: Its a 3:23 rear end! Good to know for sure. I thought for a LONG time Tilly had a 2:76, but it turns out she got a 2.93. Oh well, if Trudi's rear end starts leaking oil, making racket or such that tightening the axles won't easily resolve, then I can swap rear ends. Both are 742s.
