73 Road Race Cuda

[70chall440]

Finally got a chance to do a little work on the car. A number of things/issues...

My gas gauge wasn't working and I suspected it was a ground issue so I threw on a test wire (to alligator clips) and boom, it worked (great thing).

My Silicone upper radiator hose continued to give me leaking issues but I think I might have got that sorted, you really have to crank down on the clamps on those hoses as they are very slippery.

My remote oil filter started leaking, not sure whats up with that but I need to pull it apart and see whats up. I am running 80 psi at idle when cold and it will go to almost 100 at 2000 rpm but seems to lighten up as it gets hot, problem is that I haven't had it running long enough to find out.

I seem to have a high degree of rust in the water jackets, when I just had water in it when during the first start up, it would come out rusty as I had to drain it several times. After the last time I added antifreeze but now I notice its brownish. I think I need to flush it.

After replacing the pulley on the alternator I thought it would fix my low voltage problem but no luck, its still only showing 12.2V at the alternator and 11.5 elsewhere. I am beginning to think that my brand new (purchased several years ago) alternator is bad. I replaced the VR just to check but no luck there either.

Nothing but fun...

[70chall440]

New update,

- I have been trying to deal with the alternator for awhile, it wasn't charging. I did some testing and arrived at the conclusion that the alternator was bad. Well as I was removing it I noticed my 150A circuit (which is resetable) which I thought was on, well I tested it and amazingly it was off... So, I flipped it on and BAM... I got 13.7V - 14V.

- As mentioned the gas gauge was sorted but now isn't working again. I installed a ground wire which I tested to ensure I had good continuity (and I do), but after looking at it I discovered that the stud on the sending unit is broken (just spins). So I have ordered a new one and will have to install that later.

- I have been chasing some oil leaks specifically from my remote oil filter system. There are a number of fittings which I used a teflon paste on to seal, well they all leaked so I have fixed 3 of the 4 and of course the 4th has now given up so I need to fix that, its under the alternator so that is coming out regardless.

- played with the timing some. Put a vacuum gauge on and am pulling about 12 in @ idle. I currently have it at around 23* at idle (no vacuum advance connected) and 35* around 2500 rpm.

- the engine seems to be smoothing out some. I need to go in and adjust the rocker arms as there is a slight amount of "rattle".

- I have been concerned with the hydraulic clutch bc when I first adjusted it, I had to adjust it almost in completely to get the TB to release the clutch (via the pressure plate). I removed the stop I built and the lengthen the rod from the pedal to the MC. Today, I was able to readjust it to get some play in the pivot arm which I think translates to the TB not being pressed into the pressure plate fingers. I need to remove the inspection plate and look in there and try to measure the distance.

So, it seems like 1 step forward and 2 rearward but at least there is some forward progress

[73440]

Good to hear about the alternator issue.
I read an article the other day about changing the attachment location of the rod to the clutch pedal arm to change the pivot point , not sure if that is something that would help.

[70chall440]

I think I am good, but we will see. I mounted the rod to the pedal to allow it the best movement I could (straight shot at the MC).

[70chall440]

We have a back seat!!!!

[YellowThumper]

Well at least the back seat is now done.
Good luck with the rest.

[70chall440]

Thanks, the list is getting shorter 

[70chall440]

Well its been a little while since I posted, but that is because its been a while since I worked on the car... 

For anyone following along you probably remember I was having issues with sealing my remote oil filter (along with other things). I am using a Hamburger remote oil filter adapter which has 1/2" ports. I am using -10 AN fittings and lines, however they were leaking rather badly. The instructions that came with the adapter say 1/2" to AN fittings, since the Canton racing adapter (on the oil filter plate) specified 1/2" NPT fittings I "assumed" that the filter adapter used the same thing. Well after doing some research and calling the company (now owned by someone else) I discovered that I needed ORB fittings; that is 1/2" straight cut with an O ring. The guy on the phone sounded like I should have known that... Anyway, I got some and installed them finally. I haven't started the car yet but will soon. I am going to Barrett Jackson in Scottsdale on Sunday to work and then on to Vegas the week after for work but then will return with Crash340 and we intend to get some work done on this car and hopefully drive it for the first time.

[73440]

The ORB , o ring boss , is a new term for me.

https://www.parker.com/literature/Tube%20Fittings%20Division/Pipe_Fittings_&_Port_Adapters.pdf#page21

Look forward to hearing about the road miles accumulated in the near future with this build !
Lotta work youve put into it !

[70chall440]

Was for me too. I knew and have used O ring adapters and fittings, just never heard ORB. That said, it would not have mattered as the instructions didn't indicate that. The end user is left to try and figure out which fitting to use. It seemed natural to use a NPT fitting, but that turned out to be incorrect (after dumping a quart or 2 of my expensive oil onto the floor).

[70chall440]

Hey all, I have been traveling recently and couldn't get online. I spent a week at Scottsdale at barrett jackson working; saw a lot of cars for sure. Then I went on to Vegas for the SHOT show and returned last Friday. Since then I have been working on my Cuda as I had some help from a friend. We were able to get some things done on the car, most notably I was able to run it down the road a few times. I also got my seats back and have them all but the passenger seat installed.

[jhaag]

What seats are they? Did you have to modify the floor? Sorry if this info was covered earlier, I didn't want to sift through the entire post...

[70chall440]

The seats are out of a Neon SRT-4 (same as a Neon ACR). I did not modify the floor, rather I adapted the factory adjusters to the seat. The adjusters the Neon seats come with are bolted to a bracket that in turn bolts to the seat. I removed the stock adjusters and welded the Cuda adjusters to the seat bracket. I did have to raise the back of the seat up slightly, meaning I made a block that goes between the Cuda adjusters and the seat brackets. I really like them and had them upholstered so that they match the back seat. I will try and get some more pics and post them.

[Cudaragtop]

Love how the seats turned out!   

[70chall440]

Yeah I really like them. I just got my seat belts; modern 3 pt type which I will install soon.

Here is a picture of the back seat.