Messages

1

Restoration / Power steering gearbox rebuild service

« on: September 07, 2017, 05:15:44 PM »

My gearbox is leaking from the input shaft (under the rag joint) and might possibly be messed up internally. I've only put 390 miles on the car since getting it back last August and the power steering went out last weekend, only to work again the next day when I was moving it around the property.
The pump is new (I wish we'd have rebuilt my original) but I'm told that shaft breakage is not uncommon. I haven't pulled the belt to check.

I found a business that rebuilds gearboxes, powersteering.com. Also read good things about west texas offroad (as far as rebuilding gearboxes). My first priority will be taking out the gearbox, then checking the pump. Anyone have recommendations on repair sources?

2

Restoration / Re: Reverse Lockout

« on: September 07, 2017, 04:56:41 PM »

Someone from the group provided this picture when I had a question; hope it helps (and I still haven't purchased mine, but Heartbeat City lists one)

3

Restoration / Re: 69 BB washer pump not pumping

« on: September 20, 2016, 06:34:27 PM »

make sure your pump "star wheel" isn't stuck like mine was. Taking the pump off the main wiper motor is easy. I think I had to take a cover off the pump and free it (and clean it) and after that  it was good. Seems the pump on mine was activated just as it was binding up, and stopped the wipers from working as well, so I was thinking I needed a whole assy but lucked out.

4

General Discussion / Re: Thanks guys!

« on: September 07, 2016, 02:03:05 PM »

Amazing job, Bill! I can never get enough of that "music"! I'd play it on my stereo if my wife would let me! Your car looks fantastic!

5

General Discussion / Re: Trying to close deal on 69 Camaro-Title Issues

« on: August 23, 2016, 06:14:23 PM »

Some states purge the vin from the system if there is no activity on them after 10 years.  Arizona is that way here.  My Z sat for 30 years with no activity and I had to pay a $25 fee to re-enter the car into the system.  Not a big deal.

Same here. No biggie, and they let me keep my old title from 1977 (I hadn't plated/registered it since '91). That was more important to me than getting the car "back in the books"

6

Restoration / Re: Starter solenoid repair

« on: August 23, 2016, 06:09:32 PM »

It's staked in place IIRC...could you re-attach it similarly? I wonder if solder would hold but it would be possible to solder since it's copper wire and a copper lug.

7

Restoration / Re: Washer/Wiper Cog

« on: August 23, 2016, 06:06:39 PM »

The gear doesn't resemble what I have always worked with. Is it a cast metal gear ? All mine are thinner nylon gears, white, and a lot closer to the gear case when installed.

I'll get a pic later this morning -

Regards,
Steve

x2, Mine is white nylon or?

8

Garage Talk / Re: Securing our cars

« on: August 11, 2016, 01:30:40 PM »

Had seen this posted on Team Camaro about the car:
http://www.wave3.com/story/32730373/mans-prized-possession-stolen-at-louisville-car-show-facebook-users-try-to-help
 I can't image the feeling he experienced when reality sank in. 
I hope the thief is caught and gets lumped up really bad. 

Mike

Yep, that's what prompted my questions. I feel for the guy. It has to be almost like losing a family member

9

Garage Talk / My Pure Speed Racing Experience

« on: August 09, 2016, 04:30:42 PM »

WOW! I'm pumped to tell you guys about the anniversary gift from my wife! Some of you may remember my post where I took her to a Richard Petty Driving Experience in Sparta Ky for a birthday surprise, and she loved it. Well, she outdid me and sent me to Indianapolis Raceway Park (now Lucas Oil Raceway) for Doug Foleys racing program. I got 3 passes (330 feet, 1/8 mile, and 1/4 mile) reaching 126+ @10.15.

I've never been on a dragstrip, altho I attended a couple U.S. National's and went to Bunker Hill (Indiana) a few times for 1/8 mile drags. I loved Pure Speed, and I highly recommend it. I purchased the video package where my runs were recorded from a dash-mounted camera along with a second camera facing down the track. It plays back as a picture-in-picture with a superimposed speedometer (standard gauges in the cockpit but no speedo). To the guys that own and race cars, I envy you!

If you're interested, check out purespeedracing.com. I'm looking forward to going back next year, only this time with my 2 sons and my brother!

10

Garage Talk / Re: Securing our cars

« on: August 09, 2016, 04:14:56 PM »

All great suggestions, with more probably coming. Thanks! I guess I was so focused on "recovery" I hadn't even considered "prevention"

11

Garage Talk / Securing our cars

« on: August 08, 2016, 01:51:44 PM »

Guys, I was startled and disturbed last night reading a facebook post of a fellow that lost his Camaro to thieves while attending the Street Rod Nationals in Louisville over the weekend. I really got me to thinking. These old cars are relatively easy to snag, so I wanted opinions on what security measures other take while going away from home.
My idea would to tuck a smart phone away somewhere inconspicuous and wiring an "always on" charger to keep it alive. Then (heaven forbid) the car disappears, you could use the "Find your phone" app and track it.

12

General Discussion / Re: 4-Speed Neutral Safety Wiring

« on: August 08, 2016, 01:45:13 PM »

When I first bought my car, the PO had installed headers and disconnected (and removed, darn it!) the reverse linkage from the trans to the bellcrank. For awhile I didn't have backup lights until I realized he'd removed them since they were on all the time. So then I had to remember to rotate the collar on the sterring column to turn them off while driving. I started a trend of "flashing" my back-up lights to "wink" at girls while cruising. I was later told several guys were blowing fuses, trying to figure out how to do this!

13

General Discussion / Re: Thanks guys!

« on: July 22, 2016, 05:52:42 PM »

You may have that if timing isn't tweaked.

Mine was the same way, even with the stock 30-30 cam.  Plus living at 5,000 ft where the engine doesn't make quite as much vacuum compounds the problem.   The fix is to run more initial timing, limit the centrifugal, and run your vacuum advance to manifold vacuum source for a bit extra timing at idle, then adjust the carb accordingly.   Once setup properly the engine will produce 3-6 inches more vacuum.

For example on mine, up here at this elevation with stockish timing settings and the vacuum advance hooked to ported on the carb, my engine only made 5 inches.  Not enough for brakes.  One good stop was all it had.
   I ended up soldering the centrifugal advance slot to limit that to 16 degrees.  I set my initial timing at 20 degrees (together 36 total)   I then dialed in vacuum advance with a limiter screwed down to the rear arm on the breaker plate made out of a penny.  Old trick as they don't sell the limiter plates anymore that I can find.  Making one out of a penny takes 2 minutes.   I limit the vacuum advance to about 12 degrees this way and then run it directly to a manifold source to add 10-12 degrees to idle timing.   So technically the idle timing is about 30-32 degrees (initial plus vacuum together)   This added timing goes away however as soon as you step on the gas and vacuum drops, and you centrifugal takes over when under load.  At light throttle cruising with everything together you end up with 45-47ish timing give or take while cruising, which works perfectly, good drivability and better gas mileage.  Works fine at 11:1 with the 30-30 cam on pump gas.
   This is how I set up most distributors for customers that have large overlap camshafts, as it tends to smooth the idle a bit, makes carb tuning a bit easier, and helps the engine produce vacuum.  With a 140 cam in a little 302 it's going to need tweaks like this for best drivability.
  With these tricks my engine is now making about 12 inches of vacuum up here at 5,000 ft which is plenty for power brakes.  It stops just fine now.

Hope that helps.

Thanks! You offered these tips to me before I had my car back and was relating "how it used to be" back in the day. I will investigate and probably have more questions.

I didn't intend to hijack Bill's thread, but maybe since he and I have similar problems, we may need similar solutions!

14

Originality / Re: 68 Camaro Rear Spoiler

« on: July 21, 2016, 01:26:43 PM »

We made these at General Tire and Rubber back in the day. I'll have to look at the one I got from there to see if those parts numbers jive with yours (my old boss was kind enough to write me a scrap pass to get mine). It was a "short" spoiler, and I've since learned that my car would've had one (if it were a true D80 car) since it's an 02D build. But I've already got the "long" spoiler painted and mounted to appear "dealer installed"

15

Original Cars and Details / Re: JohnZ's '69 Z/28

« on: July 21, 2016, 01:20:33 PM »

<<Wow! Great find, beautiful car! Ours were 530 apart on the line, and our brithdays are a day apart, too. Would love a couple pics of the lap belts (as bolted to the floor next to the console). Mine now have a twist (when worn) that I don't believe was there pre-restoration.>>

Photo below is the driver's side lap belt stack, which has never been touched - I haven't noted any "twist"

Thank you! I need to pull the bolts and do some rearranging to get mine straight. I think my assembly guy wanted to put the tags toward each other so they weren't standing out.