So what Winter projects ya'll got planned...

[PortDawg]

I'm replacing vacuum lines and finally gonna fix the Tachometer.

What about ya'll ?

[Entropy]

Fix my leaking power steering pump. Probably the lines as well.

Fix the brakes for a firmer pedal feel. Probably new rotors, calipers and pads. Maybe a new proportioning valve if necessary.

Try to figure out my oil consumption problem. Get a bleed down test done. Hopefully figure out the issue and get it fixed.

Get some new exhaust tips installed. Lost one a while back.

I don't have a heated garage, so most of this stuff will wait until spring. I have all winter to save up.

[77vette4s&j]

I need to replace the power window motor on the driver door, maybe put some dynamat under the seats and replace the seals on the t-tops.

But having a 13 week old son might take up a fair bit of my time this winter...:yesnod:

[Fastguy]

Fix my leaking power steering pump. Probably the lines as well.

Fix the brakes for a firmer pedal feel. Probably new rotors, calipers and pads. Maybe a new proportioning valve if necessary.

Try to figure out my oil consumption problem. Get a bleed down test done. Hopefully figure out the issue and get it fixed.

Get some new exhaust tips installed. Lost one a while back.

I don't have a heated garage, so most of this stuff will wait until spring. I have all winter to save up.

I have a brand new SB PS line in the box I don't need, PM me your address.

[thegreenman]

Fix my leaking power steering pump. Probably the lines as well.

Fix the brakes for a firmer pedal feel. Probably new rotors, calipers and pads. Maybe a new proportioning valve if necessary.

Try to figure out my oil consumption problem. Get a bleed down test done. Hopefully figure out the issue and get it fixed.

Get some new exhaust tips installed. Lost one a while back.

I don't have a heated garage, so most of this stuff will wait until spring. I have all winter to save up.

I had a stubborn PS leak, I ended up swapping out the PS pump to stop the leak.

No winter project planned, paying off bills getting ready for a possible move.

[JRD77VET]

I'll be changing my 4.11s to 3.08s and rebuilding the truck engine that's in my '77 after the original owner scatered the original. Thnks to Fastguy, I'll have headers to put on. :cheers:

While it's out, I'm going to replace the heater core and detail the engine compartment.

Jeff

[Kevin_73]

I am in the process of fixing a myriad of problems on Liz's 68.

It started out with the transmission not shifting into reverse. I confirmed that the problem was not in the linkage, so I would have to pull the transmission. Decided to go ahead and rebuild it while I had it out.
Found tons of slop in the 42 year old shifter, so I decided to replace that too.
Of course the clutch, pressure plate and throwout bearing might as well get replaced while I have it apart too.
Her engine leaked from every gasket and seal, so I decided since I was crawling around under there anyway I might as well replace gaskets and seals on the bottom end too.
Found that the last idiot that assembled the engine had boogered the shit out of the timing cover and oil pan (apparently he didn't know that you have to install the timing cover before the oil pan, and tried to pry it into place with a screwdriver). Had to replace both of those. Of course the new oil pan wasn't compatible with the oil pump pickup screen, so I had to get a new one of those too. Replaced the rear main seal while I was in there too.
Almost forgot, the pin that connects the clutch pushrod to the pedal was broken and fell out of the pedal arm when I disconnected the clutch...
Oh, and since her brakes have always sucked I decided to fix those while I was all greasy anyway. New o-ring calipers, pads, and master cylinder. And while under he car I found that the drivers side forward floorboard was broken is several pieces and the carpet was the only thing stopping her from driving around Flintstones style.

I got all that stuff installed a couple of months ago. The transmission and shifter worked like a dream. Shifting was smooth as silk, and the reverse worked perfectly... Unfortunately the speedometer did not though.
The brakes were just as bad as before (maybe worse).:banghead:
Liz's vette had standard brakes installed on it when she bought the car, and she had someone install power brakes on it after she bought it. I noticed that the pedal did not settle when the engine started like they do on my 73, so I got curious to see if she had enough vacuum from her engine to make the booster operate properly (I found that 15" is the recommended minimum) she was only getting about 8.5" of vacuum. Time to buy a electric vacuum pump...
A week later the pump was installed, and brakes were only slightly better than before. :banghead:
So now I decided to check the installation of the brake booster. It turns out that the bozo that she had install this thing didn't have a clue about C3's and he installed the booster improperly.
The brake pedal has two different holes to connect the master cylinders to. Top one for standard brakes, bottom one for power brakes. When adding a vacuum booster to non power brake car you are supposed to mount the booster through the firewall using the two existing bottom holes and drill two new holes for the top bolts, then the clevis will line up and connect to the bottom hole in the pedal. Bozo didn't do it that way though. He drilled 4 new holes 1" higher than they should be so he could connect the clevis to the upper hole. There was no way she could ever get enough travel out of this setup for her brakes to work properly. :banghead:

Since the floorboard had to be glassed back together and I needed to repair the extra holes in the firewall, and the pin for the clutch pedal needed to be repaired I decided to go ahead and pull the pedal assembly out and rebuild that too.

I now have the floorboard all glassed back together. the Bubba holes in the firewall are glassed back in, the pedals and steering column are installed, the vacuum booster is now installed in the correct location, and the master cylinder is back on.

Now I just have to pull the transmission back out so I can fix the speedometer gear (apparently I managed to press it off of it's boss on the output shaft as I was installing the tailhousing on the tranny :banghead:)

Oh, and I replaced all of her parking brake hardware at some point in there too. :willy::willy::willy:

[JRD77VET]

Holy crap, so what did you do after lunch ?
:leaving:


Good to hear you're getting all the problems taken care of. I have a feeling it'll be the same when I start on my '77. :willy:

:seeya: Jeff

[oyealiz]

All Liz asked for her 68 vette was that reverse be fixed.

That is all.

:leaving:

[Dave]

I am in the process of fixing a myriad of problems on Liz's 68.

It started out with the transmission not shifting into reverse.

I think you should have just replaced all of those parts directly, or indirectly attached to the oil pan drain plug.

[Kevin_73]

I think you should have just replaced all of those parts directly, or indirectly attached to the oil pan drain plug.

I seem to be working toward that goal. :willy:

[Aflac]

Liz, you know better.. he isn't gonna do it half assed.

[Aflac]

I have another 700r4 to put in my car.. been wrestling this damn thing for years.

FWIW, if anyone needs a 200r4, let me know. got one of those too...

[PortDawg]

Started changing out the e-brake components. Won't pass inspection as it was...wouldn't hold at all.

Going to put on new rotors also. Had to replace a leaky caliper. If I can stay healthy I should get done soon.

[Kevin_73]

I got the 68 back together today and drove it. :hurray:

Floorboard is glassed back together. Parking brake hardware is installed. Brake booster is now mounted in the proper place and rigged to the pedal properly, and installed a new rag joint.
I pulled the transmission out again last night, removed the tailhousing, pressed the speedometer gear into the correct position on the output shaft, and removed the broken bolt for the speedometer gear hold down.

Re-installed the tranny this morning, found a couple of loose nuts in the steering couplers (PS control valve to the pitman arm, and PS piston the the steering arm) and tightened them, bled the brakes, and got it back on the ground.

Steering is now excellent. Speedometer works again. Parking brakes work, but could use a little more adjustment. Brakes work slightly better, they will lock up but still require a lot of pedal pressure.

The only part of the brake system I haven't replaced is the vacuum booster. I suspect it is a big part of the problem since it is not the correct part for a corvette. I have one ordered and will install it as soon as it arrives.

Once I get these last few ongoing issues worked out I will be ready to pull the intake manifold so I can try to stop the rest of the oil leaks from the engine. :willy:

[oyealiz]

Liz, you know better.. he isn't gonna do it half assed.

Evidently not. The good news is....reverse now works! :lol:

Started changing out the e-brake components. Won't pass inspection as it was...wouldn't hold at all.


Kevin has Hooters emergency brake ready to pass inspection!



Once I get these last few ongoing issues worked out I will be ready to pull the intake manifold so I can try to stop the rest of the oil leaks from the engine. :willy:

See, Aflac....it never stops! :lol:

She felt soooo good yesterday! Took a ride, top down! It was soooo fun! The brake pedal is hard to push in, and has hardly any travel at all, but the brakes do stop the car, so all is well. :)

[Kevin_73]

The brown truck brought the new booster today. I got it installed this evening. I adjusted the clutch, shifter too.

I'm happy to report that the brakes now work perfectly! :hurray:
(they damn well should since I have replaced almost every part of the system)

The parking brake works well enough to keep the car from rolling down the sloped driveway. The clutch and the shifter work perfectly, the bottom of the engine seems to be leak free, the power steering system seems to be mostly leak free, and the steering is nice and tight. :hurray:

Now to seal the leaks in the top of the engine, get the new alternator bracket installed (to stop the belt that has been squealing for years), install the original temp gauge, and a new (proper) temp sensor. :dance:

Just glad I'm done crawling under the dash.

Time for a :beer:

[bradc6]

Good job Kevin, sounds like it will be much better (and safer) to drive now.

[LATB]

Kevin...I am impressed.

Liz is one lucky lady.