Messages

16

Maintenance / Re: Starting problems

« on: October 18, 2016, 06:21:14 PM »

So it's been over a year now and the car is still starting perfectly. I still have a pretty large voltage drop in the bulhead connector even after adding silver impregnated grease to the connections but the car is starting and I'm good with it.

rich69rs - interesting document. It doesn't talk about the solenoid or the spring but changes the entire starter which includes both. I wonder if their changes affect the solenoid, the spring or the starter motor itself.

Mike.

17

Maintenance / Re: 67 stop lamp fail

« on: October 18, 2016, 03:19:28 PM »

Have you checked for voltage at both stop lamp sockets when the pedal is depressed? Have you tried jumping the switch with a wire?

Mike.

18

Maintenance / Re: Hot start, electrical issues.

« on: October 18, 2016, 03:15:10 PM »

What is probably happening is that there is not enough power getting to the starter solenoid to activate the electro-magnet and energize the starter motor. The problem is that it an be very difficult to find where the problem is.

You need to use a volt meter to trace the circuit from the battery to the starter solenoid. Your problem may be as simple as a weak battery or it can be one or more poor connections in the circuit.

You need good basic understanding of DC electrical circuits to troubleshoot this and I don't know your level of knowledge. So  before getting into the details of tracing the circuit from end to end there are a few things that you can try.

Clean the battery cables.

Try jump starting the car when the problem is occurring and see if that helps. If it does then it would suggest that your battery is weak.

Check that the negative battery cable is connected t the engine block. If it is connected to the body of the car then make sure that you have good ground straps between the body and the engine. I connected my battery cable to one of the water pump bolts and then put ground straps from the engine to the body in a couple if different spots.

Check out my link above and I hope it helps, Mike.

19

Maintenance / Re: Hot start, electrical issues.

« on: October 18, 2016, 02:55:27 PM »

I struggled with the same problem and there is no simple answer. Here is a link to my experience and a positive outcome. The car has been starting fine now in all kinds of weather for months.

http://www.camaros.org/forum/index.php?topic=13449.0

20

General Discussion / Re: 1968 overheating problems at idol

« on: July 26, 2016, 11:46:37 PM »

How do you define overheating? Do you have a temp gauge? Is it loosing coolant? It may be as simple as a bad radiator cap.

Mike.

21

Maintenance / Re: Front turn signal inoperative

« on: July 07, 2016, 05:59:33 PM »

I would begin by checking to see if there is voltage at the bulb socket. With the turn signal on, remove the bulb and connect a test lamp between the center connection in the bulb socket and a good ground, preferably the negative post of the battery. The test lamp should blink.

If it does blink then test the ground and repair. If it does not blink then start chasing the wires from the socket back to the source until you do find 12 volts with the signal on.

Mike.

22

Originality / Re: Help with steering ratios

« on: June 30, 2016, 01:42:41 PM »

For the record
the best that I can come up with word of mouth around the internet:

Power assist steering
Quick ratio = 5 7/8" ptiman arm and short steering arms
Standard ratio = 5 3/8 pitman arm long steering arms

Non power assist steering
Quick ratio = 5 3/4" ptman arm and long steering arms
Standard ratio = 5 1/4" pitman arm and long steering arms

I havn't found whether the steering box ratio is the same or different on each.

Mike.

23

General Discussion / Re: I got to drive my car!!!

« on: June 28, 2016, 01:38:57 PM »

Here's a pic of the one I saw very close to yours. Don't know where I got the pic.

Thanks Jimmy! I was told by 2 people that this color combo was only produced in Z's. Do you think there's any truth to that?

I found the build sheet in my plain Jane 68 convertible and it was cordovan maroon with deluxe parchment interior and white convertible top which is similar color combo. I repainted it Ford dark toreador red and re-upholstered deluxe parchment interior and white top almost the same as the day it was new.

24

Maintenance / Steering linkage parts

« on: June 26, 2016, 09:56:56 PM »

Who would you recommend for quality steering linkage parts - tie rods, pitman, idler?

Mike.

25

Originality / Re: Help with steering ratios

« on: June 25, 2016, 11:56:09 PM »

I should have mentioned that I have power steering.

At this point my best guess is that I should have the long 5 7/8" pitman arm (which I do) and the short steering arms (which I do not). When I installed the two long steering arms years ago the short arms were not available in repro. They are available now but I don't see how it's necessary to change them. What do you guys think?

Mike.

26

Originality / Help with steering ratios

« on: June 25, 2016, 11:01:09 PM »

I am trying to identify replacement steering parts for my 68 standard convertible and can use some help.

When I got the car it had two different length steering arms and I replaced the shorter of the two with a longer one to make a matching set. I do not know the significance of the two different steering arms....maybe different years....different ratios?? The steering arms now match and the steering wheel is now just about exactly three turns from stop to stop.

While shopping for steering linkage parts I have learned that the pitman arm is available in three lengths, 5 3/8 for the standard steering gearbox, 5 7/8 for the quick ratio steering gearbox and a 5 3/4 which I can't identify yet. My pitman arm is 5 7/8 center to center.

Now to my question - has anyone made sense of this mix of parts? I would appreciate anything that anyone can tell me about the different steering arms, pitman arms and steering boxes. Is my three turn steering quick ratio? Standard ratio? Mid ratio?

Thanks for any help, Mike.

27

General Discussion / Re: I got to drive my car!!!

« on: June 22, 2016, 12:13:20 PM »

Nice car! So how was the trip? Is the car home yet?

I would highly recommend that you change the transmission fluid for that stiff shifting and change the brake fluid too after sitting so long.

Mike.

28

Maintenance / Re: 14" tires are hard to find these days

« on: June 12, 2016, 09:09:37 PM »

That color is Ford dark toreador red that you see on a lot of late model F-150 pickup trucks. The car was originally cordovan maroon with the deluxe parchment interior and white top. The interior is now deluxe parchment and the paint is close to cordovan but it pops a lot better.

Mike.

29

Maintenance / Re: 14" tires are hard to find these days

« on: June 12, 2016, 05:04:36 PM »

I don't know why the photos all posted as rotated sideways but if you right click and choose view image they are oriented correctly.

Mike.

30

Maintenance / Re: 14" tires are hard to find these days

« on: June 12, 2016, 05:01:48 PM »

Mike-
Make sure to post some pictures with the new tires.

Here's a few pics. The tires aren't much different than what I took off which was a set of off brand rwl radials but the the old ones were 215's rather than 225's and I can't remember if they were 70 profile or 60 profile.