Last weekend I second coated the parts and this weekend, I reassembled the pump....
but I have about 1/32" of end play in the shaft, so I have contacted Lares to verify this is OK and would disappear once the pump is full of fluid and the system bled out and ready to go.... don't want to have to pull it off a third time!!
Not much to report since last installment. My new Lares power steering pump arrived and after comparing it to my original....
I cleaned it good and got the first coat of paint on it.
The Super Clean Degreaser wasn't too kind to the paint on the reservoir, so I sand blasted it, the pulley and brackets and reshot them as well.
The replacement tailgate window channel for the wagon arrived as well, so I compared it to my old original to insure it would work...
before painting it and getting it ready to install. Need to get the window glass rubber retainer and two new rollers and then I'll get it painted and installed and put that little project to bed.
My carb guru finally showed up last Thursday to adjust the Holley and set the timing. Everything was going really smoothly.... got the carb adjusted, had great vacuum throughout the rpm ranges and as we set the timing and watching the time advance thru the engine range, suddenly something on the driver side of the engine erupted and began spraying fluid out all over the place. I immediately shut the engine down and quickly realized it was transmission fluid by the color (blue B&M Trick Shift). Seems one of the transmission rubber hoses had popped off the transmission line.
I was concerned that the transmission fluid would wick into the bare sheet metal and make final finishing a real nightmare, so Saturday I reconnect the transmission line and confirm all other connections were tight, wiped off as much of the transmission as I could....
moved the Torino to the top of the ramp...
and then drove her downstairs (the first time on the street under her own power in about a decade!!) to the wash rack.
I applied a heavy application of Super Clean Degreaser and let it soak for about 10 minutes and then hit it again. After soaking for a good half hour, I thoroughly rinsed everything for about 15 minutes to insure I flushed all the remnants of the degreaser everything and then dried her off.
Once dried off, I fired her up and let her run for a bit to get a little heat in her and under the hood to finish drying up the remaining water. After about 10 minutes of idling, I dropped into the driver's seat and returned her to the work area upstairs.
Looks like my worries were unfounded as the metal shows no evidence of the B&M Trick Shift transmission fluid.
With the carb adjusted, I now need to set the time, tighten up the alternator belt and check the rebuild of the power steering pump (I found I had NO POWER ASSIST when I drove the Tomato downstairs and back) before turning her over to the body shop once they have their new facility completed.
Been a couple weeks since I posted an update. Progress on the Tomato has been put on hold until my carb guru shows up to tweak the Holley, so I have been addressing some issues on my '64 Fairlane 500 Ranch Wagon.
I have however accomplished a couple small tasks on the Torino. I trimmed out my package shelf template and test fit it in the car...
as well as comparing it to the original panel. Fit nicely in the car and matched the original piece pretty well. Will now get a piece of tempered hardboard and have the new panel cut out at work on our computerized router.
I also dropped off the FlowMasters at the powder coaters and had them ceramic coated...
Also repositioned the Torino so I can tack weld the small flanges onto the core support for transmission cooler line clearance.
Well, some good results this weekend! First up, I reconnected the battery, removed the carb cover and fired her up to get heat into the engine and to also check one last time for any leaks...
While she was running, I had to get a shot low and behind to see how things were going in the exhaust...
Once the engine got hot, the thermostat did open up and everything began circulating and she kept everything in, so I then checked the transmission fluid and oil to insure they were where they need to be, had 20+ psi oil pressure at idle and 40+ when rev'ed so I felt pretty confident she was ready to roll. Shut her off and let her sit for about 10 minutes to see if I might have a heat soak issue getting her to refire hot (I'd guess it was almost 100 degrees upstairs since it was 90+ outside and sunny).
The moment of truth arrived and I crossed my fingers...…
She lit right off without issue, dropped her into gear was able to hold her in place holding the brake and bringing up the rpm's, so I let my foot off the brake and she began moving under her own power after 8 or 9 years! Tried the brake again as she rolled backwards and they clamped down good. Once I was back as far as she could go, I put her in drive and again foot braked her against the engine and the brakes held until the rpm's got to the point the rear brakes started to get overdriven and the rear tires began to turn over, but the front brakes held her in place so I'm confident I'll be able to safely drive her down the ramp to load onto the rollback to take her for her ride to the bodyshop!
All in all a good day, but I did discover I had a power steering issue that I need to figure out (no assist) in the days ahead.
With the leaks resolved, it was time for her to come back down to Earth. For the first time since October 2013 she is setting on all four tires.
She's setting a bit too high in the front...
but I'll wait until I get everything rehung and adjusted before trying to lower her.... besides, I'm sure once I get that 500 pound front bumper assembly back on, she'll come down a bit!!
I am happy with how she's setting in the rear...
just about the ideal rear fender clearance. Again, I'm sure she'll come down a bit more once the rear bumper is rehung.
Next weekend, I'll hook her up to the 5 gallon fuel can and really get some heat into her to insure everything is fine under pressure and get the transmission fluid up to where it's supposed to be hot, idling in Park. Once I've got the fluids topped off, it will be time to see how she goes under her own power.... but on a short leash for now! LOL
To bring you up to date since my last post, nothing major has taken place.
Weekend before last, I helped a buddy with his car, so nothing got done on the Tomato.
Last weekend, I added teflon tape to the radiator drain cock to aid in sealing...
shot some paint on the core support petcock clearance relief...
finished fabricating a filler piece for the core support transmission cooler lines clearance cutout...
and then spent some time using my borescope to try and determine if the passenger side footwell dimple could be used as a wireway for the siren/police radio wiring. Couldn't be 100% sure, so I'll just wait until the car is apart in the body shop and then I can get a really clear look.
This weekend, I got everything put back together up front.
Next weekend I need to finish routing the trans cooler lines and get them connected then refill the radiator, check the power steering and transmission fluids and the ole girl can be lit off again after a few weeks being dormant. If all stays dry, then perhaps I'll set her down on the ground for the first time!!
