73 Road Race Cuda

[70chall440]

Thanks, I have looked at those and like them but I wanted to use a 90 degree housing. I had purchased this aluminum 90 housing a while back for another build but never used it. I made the mistake of using a silicone infused gasket which as it turns out didn't seal. I have replaced the silicone gasket with a conventional paper gasket and sealant. I "think" I am good at this point with the thermostat housing.

The larger issue for me is the oil leak. I am using a canton remote oil filter adapter, but that isnt what I think is leaking, it is the plate behind it. That said,  need to dig into it and make sure.

[70chall440]

I am still working on getting the car running on its own; I fixed the oil leak, the remote filter adapter wasn't sealing on the plate, I think there was a bur on the plate. I replaced the plate with a Canton SBM filter plate which is a billet aluminum plate with an O ring.

I had a deal with the distributor where I could not advance it enough because there was a boss on the MSD distributor that was hitting the intake. I removed the distributor and removed the offending boss and replaced it. This allowed me to get the engine running where I could attempt to set the timing. I was successful in this attempt and have it set at about 35 deg @ 3500 RPM where the engine appears pretty happy.

It was then that I experienced the next issue, the water pump spit out a gasket on the right side which must not have slipped when I was installing the pump. Good thing I had only water in it  So now I have to fix this issue before I can continue.

[YellowThumper]

At least the AP issue is minor in the grand scheme of things

[70chall440]

True. Ive got a rattle coming out of the right bank, I have to pull the valve cover and see what is going on there.

[70chall440]

So, I worked on the car today, pulled the water pump and replaced the gasket, then pulled the right valve cover to see what was going on there. I discovered that the lock nut on the exhaust valve of the #2 cylinder had backed off. I reset that and prepared to fire up the car. Unfortunately I discovered that the WP wasn't sealing as it began to leak as soon as I added water to the radiator. I am using a PRW high flow pump and either that or the timing chain cover are not flat so I am going to have to figure that out.

I did get the car started and played some more with the timing; it sounds AWESOME!!! It revs nice and crisp as well.

One step at a time....

[70chall440]

So the war continues....  I finally got around to pulling the front of the engine apart to get the cam cover off which I believed wasn't sealing on the water pump. Well, as I got it apart I realized that the WP was sealing and one of the bolts that hold the timing chain cover on which goes into the water jacket wasn't sealing because I didn't put any sealer on it 

Anyway and since I bout a new cover, I will be installing that. Unfortunately, I believe a little water got into the oil so I will have to drop then when I am done. I did get some very nice superperformance gaskets from Mancini, they are really nice; much better than the normal gaskets you get at your local auto parts store. I highly recommend that anyone needing gaskets check them out.

I am still waiting on my seats, they've been at the shot since June 6th and previously I wasn't too concerned because I still have a lot to do, but now I am starting t get close so I will have to start pushing him.

[tony 73]

Good work , nobody likes problems but great when there is a easy solution.

[70chall440]

Well I don't know about an "easy" solution, but at least its a solution 

[70chall440]

I finally got the front of the motor back together, haven't filled it with water yet and pressure checked it, perhaps tomorrow. My seat guy says he has my back seat and wants to come over and fit it. I need to cut my new rear interior panels to fit the mini tub; since they were like $500 I have been reluctant but I have to do it.

I still need to figure out my clutch situation, I don't have enough movement of my slave cylinders so while I can release the pressure plate, the TB is riding on it presently. I need to adjust the pedal to MC rod and my pedal stop and see what that gives me.

[YellowThumper]

Step by step by step by step by step

[70chall440]

You sure got that right... Lately I have lost my motivation, partly due to the weather I need to get back on it but there are so many reasons daily not to. It will pass as it always does 

[YellowThumper]

Same here on the motivation.
Family and kids sports have been priority for years. That now is winding down as she just committed and accepted scholarship. Basically a full ride :dancing:
Started new job that will work out to around a 35% increase...
All planets are in alignment so motivation should hit. Right?

[70chall440]

I have found that its a cyclic thing; if I don't work on my car/s and do other things I will eventually come around to a point where I miss it and then get back to it. I also find that if I work on them when I am not motivated, its more frustration than anything else, nothing goes well and there is a high probability that I am going to mess something up and make things worse in the end. While I would love to have it done, I want it done to my standard without regrets.

I have found that all things have their time/place and if I don't force it, it will come and usually works out. I have to remind myself that its a hobby and is supposed to be enjoyable. Unfortunately (or fortunately depending on the point of view) I inherited a very robust interest in many things from my mother; at any given time she would have 3, 4 or 5 hobbies ongoing simultaneously (sewing, refinishing furniture, painting pictures, needle point, etc). For me, I have several car projects going on, several firearms projects, at least one knife building project, playing with my mill/lathe, at least one household construction project, probably a business deal or two being developed, etc.

I will get back to it eventually, the temps have dropped here and despite growing up in ND, I hate the cold. I do have a space heater in the shop, I just have to get off my butt and start it up. I am currently researching putting a 5.7 into my 68 Cuda, so that is my excuse at the moment...

[70chall440]

Finally found some motivation to get some things done on the Cuda. To be honest, the motivation was a result of my seat guy telling me he was bringing my rear seats by to test fit, so it forced me to install the rear panels and while I was at it I installed the rear window interior trim. I had to modify the rear panels due to the mini tubs.

So, its moving forward albeit at glacier speed. 

[70chall440]

Thought I would offer an update. Finally filled it with water to check for leaks, none initially and then my fabricated upper radiator hose experienced a failure. This was due to my poor assembly, got it fixed now.

I had noticed earlier that the tach wasn't working. Since I have a lot going on here (MSD and ECU) I wasn't sure where to connect the tach, so I went to the negative side of the coil with it which didn't work. After some research (by Crash340) it was discovered that I had to split the gray "tach" lead that was/is going to the ECU. That worked out and now the tach is working 

Got it started, runs pretty good IMO. Gas gauge isn't registering but that might be because I dont have enough in it.

I still have to figure out the clutch, I am running a hydraulic system but with a mechanical throw out bearing,  am not getting enough moment of the slave cylinder to allow me to move the TB off the pressure plate.