Slow 71 Build

[Mseitz20]

Started putting my wiring harness back in, coming out much easier and cleaner this time. Wired up the ignition(starter, distributor, and alternator) headlights, and marker lights. Hoping to knock out the column, gauges, and all accessories and have all electrical done by the end of Saturday.

 

[Mseitz20]

Weekend was a little busier than I thought but I got some windshield rests(thanks beno!), put the new shift rail in my Orion, and working on the wiring more. All I have left to do for wirings is the gauges.

 

[Mseitz20]

Finally had time to work on my cruiser after a pretty hectic last two weeks. Picked up another job, the transmission in my 2013 Ford Focus with 9xxx miles s*** the bed....Finished up the wiring except reverse lights. Tomorrow I should be able to throw my case in, get the twin stick linkage set up, and start putting fluids back in, swap a new shackle in, and just maybe take a drive down the road in it tomorrow. Fingers crossed.

 

[Mseitz20]

Got everything together, just needs brake fluid, the column shifter hooked up, and the steering column shaft hooked up and then to sort out the electrical gremlins...

 

[Mseitz20]

Wouldn't start last night so I let it sit overnight to see if I could manage to do that today and when I tried today it turned over and ran beautifully and all the electrical gremlins went away without me having to do anything.

 

[Mseitz20]

Got the brakes bled, a new reverse light ordered, the orion is full of fluid, twin sticks set up. Tried to put the steering column back and it is rubbing against the frame rail. I put it together right as it came out and it didn't rub before, anyone have any ideas?

 

[Mseitz20]

Finally got everything all set up and how it was before it all came apart. Took it for a little drive around my street today and the motor developed a knock...if it isn't one thing it's another...gotta love it.

 

[JohnnyC]

Is the Knock under load?

Or at idle

Could be a timing issue....my problems are when I fix stuff I see 3 more things that need attention

I try to cluster my things I need to do lol

 

[JohnnyC]

. I put it together right as it came out and it didn't rub before, anyone have any ideas?

Was there any washers/shims before spacing it out a tad?

Was it very close before

 

[Mseitz20]

The knock was at idle, honestly if it was at higher rpm I wasn't able to hear it. The thing is that it just went away one of the times I turned it on. I had run it and probably burned 5 gallons of gas before today just idling and letting it warm up, stay lubricated and nothing happened. Then I drove it today and after a tenth of a mile I heard a slight knock so I decided to drive it back home and it was getting louder and worse on the way home. Then I turned it off and about five minutes later turned it on and it was still there. Then about an hour later I turned it on and it wasn't there, so I drove it and it got up to the 190 degrees it usually sits at and nothing, I probably ran it 10-15 minutes with nothing.

 

[Mseitz20]

Was there any washers/shims before spacing it out a tad?

Was it very close before

It was really close before and there weren't any sort of shims or spacers, all that was there was a metal hose clamp that that pulled the bottom of the steering column in a way where it was just enough. I tried every way I can and it either still rubs on the frame rail or the top u joint of the steering shaft hits the exhaust. I'm quite puzzled but I'm not giving up yet.

 

[Mseitz20]

Alright, I sorted out my electrical gremlins, all of them(knock on wood). Just need to get my steering shaft sorted out to get it to stop rubbing. This has taken much much longer than I thought or hoped it would take but it's better late than never.

 

[Mseitz20]

Finally got everything sorted out and got to take her for a long drive and wow did that feel great. The new transmission and case work great and the Orion 4:1 case in low crawls so nicely. Couldn't be happier, my 40 should stay how it is for a little while until it gets some body work and hopefully a spring over in the winter...

 

[Mseitz20]

Haven't spent nearly as much time driving my 40 as I wanted to in the past few months. The gasket between the carb and the intake manifold developed a leak somehow so that's now fixed but my carb still isn't running how I would like it, it's a Holley 670 cfm street avenger. The carb won't stay in tune and just runs pretty bad, by the stamping on it it's rather old. So I'm more or less looking for some recommendations as to what people would do. Would you rebuild the current carb and hope that fixes it, put a rebuild quadrajet on it, try to find and fit an 80s 454 tbi intake setup on it and run fuel injection that way, or the most spendy, get a new efi kit from summit or a place like that? I'm not afraid of wiring, just looking to get it running reliably and well because the carb goes out of tune every other tank of gas and it gets frustrating. Also the current carb really doesn't like anything resembling a hill or anything angled.

 

[Mseitz20]

Picked up a set of axles this morning, out of a 40. The front is spring over, cut and turned, with six shooter knuckles and high steer arms. The rear axle is spring over, comes with a btf diff cover, with everything for disc brakes. Came with a heavy duty tie rod with 80 series ends, a 4.11 third with a lockrite, a 4.11 open third, and a bunch of seals and bearings for the axles. Pretty happy with all of this.

 

[orangefj45]

Nice score! That'll save you some money, work and time!!!!

Georg @ Valley Hybrids

 

[Mseitz20]

Nice score! That'll save you some money, work and time!!!!

Georg @ Valley Hybrids

Picked up everything for $500, that leaves money for more parts.

 

[orangefj45]

That's a solid deal. Very cool!!!!!

Georg @ Valley Hybrids

 

[Mseitz20]

Got a little wheeling in today, couldn't be happier with the Orion 4:1, nice and low. Even got a nice poser shot, driver side front is sitting on the bump stop.

 

[orangefj45]

Thanks for the text Matt!!!!

Glad it's everything you hoped it would be. Having the low gear H gives you so much more control. And it's way more fun!!!!

Georg @ Valley Hybrids & Can-Am-Cruisers