Re: BlueBird
Reply #123 –
I have been mildly sidetracked messing with some new to me shop equipment. I brought home a 48x48 welding table, and a 60gal air compressor. I did the welding of the seat back frame on the new table. I reassembled and installed the seat only to discover that the pedals I had put in were too close together. My foot would catch the brake pedal when actuating the clutch. PO of these pedals swapped an auto brake pedal in. I didn't catch that! I cut off the left edge of the auto pedal and installed the clutch pad on the brake pedal. I will grab another clutch pedal pad soon, but for now I trimmed the brake pedal pad to fit the clutch pedal and my feet fit as intended.
I got to put the new air compressor to work today when I found out that register hole in my stock block plate was too small for the F150 PMGR starter! This frustrated me a bit because it was the only thing I didn't test fit on the bench, and I am not sure why I overlooked it. But all is well that ends well I suppose, some work with a drum sander on an angle grinder was enough to open the hole up allowing the starter to sit flush on the block plate. I turned attention to the wiring changes required for the PMGR starter, got that done and began looking for reasons not to start the car. Mental checklist of possible negative consequences eliminated, I hooked up the battery. No smoke.... Hopped in the driver's seat, pushed in the clutch, turned the key to see the dash light up and listen to the fuel pump, then hit the start circuit.....nothing D'oh, this car doesn't know the clutch is depressed! Hop back out, disconnect the battery again, grab the pigtail off the AOD and wire up a NSS loop.
Perma-neutral engaged, I climbed in for a second attempt. I was rewarded with LOUD noises. No unexpected noises at least, but open manifolds, sheesh. Trans goes into gear with the engine running, clutch works, and the car will move both forward and rearward under its own power.
May 18th is not as far away as I would like to think it is, so it is time for a punch list to make that deadline.
In no particular order:
- Fill trans
- Check rear gear oil
- Engine oil change
- Seal shifter
- Reassemble center stack and console trim
- Rebleed brakes
- Tighten all suspension components
- Alignment
- Paint trim on TC bumper cover
- Convert red stripes to chrome for all nose trim
- Reassemble nose
- Mach1 air dam
- Check wheels for leaks and reseal as needed
- Wire up cooling fan
- Install TC sway bars
- Finish exhaust
- Fog lights?
- Reverse lights
- Speedo gear
There is plenty more to come, but that should get stg1 completed before the May 18th get together in Owensboro. I reserve the right to rearrange or add to my punch list as necessary.