Exhausting... part 1

Fairly productive Saturday. My flex pipes arrived from Summit Racing this week, so I mocked up the cutouts to the collectors to see what style hanger I was going to need to get things hung properly.

While I was under the car I noticed the underside of the floor was covered with soot from the engine running so rich, so I'll need to get that all cleaned off once I get the carb adjusted just right.

I also finished lubing all the new front suspension parts as well as the front and rear polyurethane sway bar bushings. Put the battery charger on the battery to get it fully charged up for next week and also discovered a source for a very minute coolant leak. An unused bolt hole in the water pump was ever so slightly seeping coolant, so I ran a bolt into it to see if that would stem the flow. I think I'm finally getting all the coolant leaks sealed up!

Next weekend, I do a bit more measuring to determine exactly which hangers to order from Summit and then turn my attention back to the engine. I think I'll pull the plugs and clean them since she has been running so rich and tweaking the carb a bit to dial back the fuel and getting her timed a bit more accurately.

Still haven't locked in a body shop to wrap up her bodywork and paint just yet so that drama continues as well.

Until next time.....

ZEBRA 3 OUT

Details 118....

A wee bit of progress today on the Torino, I got the power steering system filled with fluid and I also policed the area a bit in preparation for setting her down on all fours for her pending trip to the bodyshop.

Also found I'm getting about 15 minutes to the gallon idling..... LOL. I could tell when she was about to run out of gas because she started increasing in rpm's and running smoother as she leaned out prior to dying.

Aaron from Adkins Body Shop in Proctorville, OH stopped by for a look at the Tomato today. He will be back next weekend with his primary bodyman for his input and then Aaron will give me some numbers on them doing the project.

Fingers crossed!!!!

ZEBRA 3 OUT

Details 117....

Well the sheet metal is now all rehung...

and now the quest begins to find a craftsman who can finesse the body and get her into her final colors. A few more minor tasks to complete, but she's basically ready to go!

Until next time....

ZEBRA 3 OUT

Details 116....

A bit more progress today... got the radiator hose sealed, ran the transmission thru the gears and installed the headlight bucket brackets.

I also finished blueing the deck lid springs. Next weekend I'll fill the power steering system and then get things ready to set the ole girl back down on terra-firma. Now to find a quality body shop.

Stay tuned....

ZEBRA 3 OUT

Details 115...

My first post of 2019! Last weekend I was in Cleveland for a Neurologist appointment at the Cleveland Clinic so nothing was done on the Tomato, but I did pop in the Parma, OH Eastwood store to pick up some supplies and then stopped at Summit in Tallmadge to look around on my way back to our Aunt's house who was hosting us for the weekend.

The weekend prior, I did get a few things done, but not much. My plan was to tweak the engine to try and determine the cause of the flash from the driver side header, but ran out of gas before I could make any progress. Man that two gallons of real premium unleaded did not last long.... this engine is crazy thirsty! LOL, but I did finish bluing the decklid springs, so I'll need to clear coat them and they'll be ready to install.

A bit more progress this weekend.... turns out the issue with the engine was a vacuum leak. While adjusting the hood I noticed that when I hooked up the and the power brake booster vacuum lines to the firewall vacuum manifold, I had neglected to cap off the unused ports. DUH.... major vacuum leak!

With them capped, the miss is gone and she still starts and runs easily with excellent throttle response. She's still running rich because the exhaust fumes will make your eyes water really quick!

Today's major project was to get the hood on. I first installed the coolant overflow bottle....

and once I got the hood hung with the help of my buddy Jim,

I changed out the 3 gallon gas can I was using for a fuel tank with a one gallon can so I could just put it on the driver side wheelhouse under the hood and the have the car drivable to a certain degree.

Once I got the hood semi adjusted......

I had a few minutes until it was time to leave, so I tacked the interior surfaces of both doors and hit them with a coat of chassis black so all the interior surfaces matched.

Next weekend I'll install the decklid and springs and try once again to get the lower radiator hose to seal.

Until next installment...

ZEBRA 3 OUT

Details 114.....

A bit more headway today.... finished installing the core support to grill/header brace...

attached the vacuum line from the engine to the firewall vacuum block and ran the vacuum line on over to the power brake booster...

and increased the idle speed about an 1/8th of a turn to get the RPM's up and some heat in the engine to open the thermostat so I could finish topping off the radiator. Had a little leak on the thermostat housing and the upper radiator hose to housing clamp which I tightened up and stopped the flow.

While I was under the car wiping up the coolant, I noticed I had a little light show going on under the car...

Think I need to check the timing next weekend and perhaps get a carb guru to come adjust the holley a little.... I think she's running a bit rich and a tad outta time. Also need to check the plug wires (Ford Racing 9mm) to make sure I don't have a crossfire happening on the driver's bank. She starts instantly and the throttle response couldn't be any better, so I really hate to mess with her but gotta get the problem resolved.......

More to come next Saturday.

ZEBRA 3 OUT

Details 113....

More progress this weekend. I got the hood hinges mounted...

the AC condenser mounting brackets installed...

a temporary fuel tank set in place (many need a slightly smaller one to get the hood to close)...

and the nose sheetmetal assembled and hung.

Starting to look like an actual car again! More playtime on Monday.

STAY TUNED

ZEBRA 3 OUT