Hoping to drive today

[Tinster]

I measure my TR6 driving experiences in 1/10s of miles
and/or minutes until break down.

As of right now, I have 45 cumulative miles driven since
last break down. I am hoping to exceed the 1 hour driven
without breakdown barrier............. in the near future.

I am really getting excited this afternoon.
Both front wheels now have 100% new suspension.
I've got Amos' refurbished radiator kick plate mounted,
both ends of the refurbished sway bar connected to new
vertical links and one front sway bar bushing installed.

One sway bar bushing to go, insert the kick plate bolts
and tighten. Lower car onto bricks, to put some weight on
new front suspension, final tighten vert links and kick out
the jack stands.

See if Amos will crank up and just maybe drive around the
block for another 0.6 miles. Professional front end alignment scheduled for this week.

[/img]

[/img]

 

[Bugeye58]

Shall I start the drum roll now, Dale? /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/grin.gif
Jeff

 

[Brosky]

Dale,

Take it slow and easy and none of the speed stunts on your last video until you feel that everything is just right.

 

[Aldwyn]

Whether it drives or not, Dale, that car LOOKS good! /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/laugh.gif

 

[Tinster]

This one's for you, Nick!!
And my Great uncle Simon Fraser
Fraser clan NEVER give up..

Here's Amos-- /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/thirsty.gif looking ya straight in the eye.

[/img]

 

[Brosky]

It now looks to be about 4-6 inches away from touch down on real pavement.

Gooooooooooo Amosssssssss!!!!!

 

[TR_Jim]

Just curious. It looks like you have red washers between the ends of the sway bar and the rubber bushings. I've never seen that before. The bushings should squeeze the end of the sway bar. Opinions?

 

[Tinster]

Houston, we have liftoff!!

1st gear only
0.6 miles driven
7 minutes drive time
4 right turns
2 left turns
3 speed bumps run over
5 manhole covers run over
nothing fell off
nothing clunked
nothing grinded
nothing squealed like a pig
nothing caught fire

returned to garage without breakdown.
Suspension much less noisy and crunchy.

Now back on jacks, pull both wheels and check
all fasteners and bushings. Approx. 140 hours
to rebuild the entire front end suspension.

A wrench I ain't!! Slow is I am.

[/img]

 

[14dna]

Dale
WHOO HOO!!!!!!!
OK Now a second gear run and maybe even a downshift. Seriously, that car is a work of art, and you should be very proud of what you've done. Don't measure time spent as this is a restoration and not a repair. In order to make everything clean, painted, and servicable, your time frame is excellent. You're not trying to make time, you're trying to make perfection. And you succeeded.
GOOD JOB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Dave

 

[Brosky]

Now what in the heck happened to your steering wheel??

Don't tell me that you're painting that too??

 

[tomshobby]

Great news Dale!! I am very happy for you!

 

[kc_doyle]

I am so da*ned impressed that you have wo much of what I lack. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif

 

[RonMacPherson]

Jim, is expressing a concern that I haven't had a chance to get back to you on after viewing the tie rod end link picture. The link should be the shaft, then starting from the bottom, nut, washer, rubber bushing, the sway bar arm, another rubber bushing washer, then the tubing above the upper washer. There should be no metal to metal contact(washer or whatever) between the link and the sway bar, if so you will experience unnecessary noise. Should be rubber bushing top and bottom of the sway bar opening with the little raised portion facing the hole in the bar.

 

[Tinster]

Ron/Jim-

The vertical link for the sway bar is new and
installed as it came out of the box from TRF.
I painted the pieces red to match my suspension.

You are NOT seeing washers. You are looking at
formed steel cups that hold the bushings. The two
middle cups are formed with a flare that fits inside
the hole in the sway bar end. It appears to me, the
formed steel cups help keep the bushings in their
proper orientation during movement of the sway bar
during cornering.

Here is the parts catalog photo and a photo of my
install - they are identical: Regards-Dale

[/img]

[/img]

 

[NickMorgan]

Fantastic. Well done, Dale. I hope that the car goes as well as it is looking. After the wheels have been aligned I am sure you will notice a stunning difference in the way the car handles.
Is that the conclusion of your transformation from Cryptie to Amso?
I can see that I will have to update the end of your story!
Nick

 

[Tinster]

Hola Nick!! Nope.............

Not nearly the end of the restoration.

All I have accomplished (I hope anyway) is that
the car is now more or less safe to drive on the
road. I don't believe any more wheels will fall
off while driving. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/driving.gif

The reality is, I have only about 3 hours actual
drive time spent with this car. Another 4 hours
or so driving to mechanic shops or Western Auto for
repairs. Small ten minute trips here and there to see
if something functions or not.

Bottom line: I don't know this car yet.

I still have only 45 miles driven without a breakdown.

So no, the story is nowhere near complete. I think I now
have a moderately safe car to drive. For sure, I do not
yet have a reliable car to drive. Too many things not yet
sorted out with the engine. I expect breakdowns will
continue but with longer drive time intervals between.

But poco a poco I am getting things accomplished.

Now, if I could just remember the name of that Canada guy
who installed the throw out bearing in the Crypt Car....
maybe I could get him back to sort out my engine problems?
He was an excellent wrench.

/bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/banana.gif

regards,

Dale

 

[swift6]

Psstt! Dale, I think it was Dave... something or rather... /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif

 

[Tinster]

By Jove, Shawn, I think the Canada guy WAS named David.

And he worked on the Crypt Car in the funeral home garage.
I kinda remember his last name had something to do with
crypts and funerals. Maybe it was Digger? Something like that.

I'll bet David could sort out the engine problems real
fast. Have you got a Canada telephone book to look him up?
We only have the British Virgin Islands book here.

He ate piles and piles of food' I do remember that much
about him. And he made his own bed and took showers.
They say that is strange behavior for Canada people.

later gator, got an old car to clean up.

d

 

[Tinster]

WHOO HOO!!!!!!!
OK Now a second gear run and maybe even a downshift.


As you please, David! Second gear it is!

Amos started on the third attempt this morning.
Warmed up to 160*F, oil pressure 60 psi. Still
a high warm idle at 1400 rpms.

A total of 1.8 miles driven in the hood.
Mostly second gear except for danged speed bumps.
The cars pulls fairly strongly to the left.
A fairly constant high pitched "whine" is heard.

I couldn't resist. Back street of the hood goes
right past DPO Pedro's abode. Banged into third
and hit 40 mph tops. Downshift back into second
before the Bayamon mayor's house.

Amos out in the street getting 5 months of dust,
volcanic ash and pollen cleaned out of him and
then a bath.

d

 

[GB1]

/bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/bow.gif

way to go Dale.

Pat