Another Build Thread - My '32

[firebird77clone]

They might not. But they sure are purdy!

[J. Robinson]

Heh, heh! Probably not too much, Jerry, but maybe if the local constabulary ask me if I have mufflers I can show them that I do.

These Ebay specials are glasspacks that you can look straight through. I'm anxious to hear this thing run. Anyway, I finally got it to go together. I don't know how I made it fit before; I had to do 4 kerf-cuts in the left pipe (pic below) and 5 in the right pipe to make everything go together correctly (second pic). Anyway it's done so I can move on to other things.

[J. Robinson]

Well, Turkey Day is behind us. Went to the Turkey Run on Friday and picked up a new transmission pan, a gas pedal, and a transmission dipstick. Sunday I finally got around to removing the stock cast iron intake in preparation of installing the aluminum hi-rise intake I bought at the Turkey Run last year. Then I hit a major snag... With everything all cleaned up and ready, I set the new manifold in place and.. IT DOESN'T FIT!! This sucker is for a tall-deck block! It would have been nice if the idiot I bought it from had said it was for a tall-deck. CRAP!! Now I wonder if he even knew what he had.

OK, so I ordered a different one on Ebay, but I'm "dead in the water" until it arrives. The only good news is the new one is polished which looks better and is easier to take care of. Meantime I'll give somebody a good deal on a no-name copy of an Edelbrock manifold for a tall-deck big block...

[34_40]

Isn't that known as Murphy's Law?

[J. Robinson]

Ahh... Murphy's Law: Nothing is as easy as it looks, everything takes longer than you expect, and if anything can go wrong it likely will at the worst possible moment. I could swear sometimes that Murphy has been following me all my life... and then there will be periods when sunshine breaks through and things fall into place...

OK, so I moved on to fitting brake lines. I mounted the master cylinder and then had to find a place for the metering valve. This is a drum rear/ disc front system, so I'm using the master cylinder from a mid-'80s Mustang and the metering valve from an early '80s Thunderbird. I mounted the valve close to the master cylinder with a button-head bolt through the top of the frame rail. Since the master cylinder is mounted backwards (in relation to how it was in a Mustang), I had to cross the primary lines.

With those done I moved on to the rear line. In order to keep the line far enough away from the exhaust pipe, I had to hole-saw through the rear part of the X-member. Then, in order to get the line through, I had to build it in two pieces. That's why it has the dog-leg bend with the splice fittings. I made a right angle bracket from a piece of bed rail angle iron to mount the flexible line to the rear axle housing. I bolted it to the panhard bar bracket.

All that sounds like it was a few minutes and easy going, but it actually took me a couple hours Friday, a few more on Sunday, and a couple more today. I've been working it in between "honey-do's" (making preparations for Christmas, etc.). The good news is my new intake and my A/C kit both arrived late today.

[J. Robinson]

I found time to bolt on the new intake today. Then I temporarily bolted on the old Edelbrock carb so I could get a look at the big Cadillac air cleaner. Hmmm... Not sure I like it.., looks kind of doofy... Maybe when I get the distributor in and the top-mounted alternator and A/C compressor mounted it will look more in proportion. I do love those finned valve covers, though; good choice if I do say so myself.

[Mike P]

Finally got a chance to catch up on a few posts. That is looking good Jim!

I do see what you mean on the air cleaner, but I think by the time you get the alternator and AC compressor on it will look right at home.



"......You really don't think those little bright and shiny things are going to quiet a BBC do you???????......."


"..........Heh, heh! Probably not too much, Jerry, but maybe if the local constabulary ask me if I have mufflers I can show them that I do.........."


Kind of reminds me of a time I was stationed at Ft Sill Oklahoma back in the mid 70s. I was driving a 71 Pinto with a 351W I'd built. When I put the exhaust together for it I used a pair of the little resonator mufflers off an old Buick. Well one night I was cruising around Lawton when I got pulled over by one of the local police officers. When he asked me if I knew why he stopped me my response of course was that I had no idea

He told me he thought my car was a bit loud and asked me if I had mufflers it. I told him of course I have mufflers, "2 of them......one on each side". Well, he took out his flashlight and actually looked under the car. After a quick look he stood up and kind of chuckled a bit and said " son those aren't mufflers they're spark arrestors". He then suggested I should probably not drive off post until I put something a little larger and quieter on it.



.

[34_40]

HAH, I had almost the exact experience Mike P.! Got pulled over and the cop knew they were only resonators, said as much too!
So this time I paid a premium and got a pair of "real" resonators.. no no, they are mufflers.. well kinda... Hushpower, they are nothing more than a fancy shaped glass packed resonator. But if you're looking at the outside you'd say they are a muffler.

They don't sound all that bad either! LOL .. And when the car got inspected by the "official" he didn't even mention the noise. And it is kinda loud!

[J. Robinson]

Haven't made great progress with the holidays pressing on us, but I did manage to assemble some of the stuff on the engine Saturday afternoon. That big air cleaner doesn't look quite as doofy with the alternator and A/C compressor in place. I'm beginning to like it...

[figure8]

Been awhile. Any updates?

[J. Robinson]

Unfortunately, nothing noteworthy. I have acquired the ignition and light switches and measured the fanbelts, but that's all. I have been completely sidetracked with my Electrathon racing. Soon, though, very soon!

[johnboy]

Looking forward to them.
I make a point of reading your posts.

[Dave Severson]

Unfortunately, nothing noteworthy. I have acquired the ignition and light switches and measured the fanbelts, but that's all. I have been completely sidetracked with my Electrathon racing. Soon, though, very soon!

What's the schedule for the E-Racer this year? Any updates or new cars over the winter?

[J. Robinson]

Hi, Dave. You can get the updates on my Electrathon racing on my other thread: Electrathon - A Different Kind of Hotrod Electrathon - A Different Kind of "Hotrod"

I have a race tomorrow (Saturday 3-7-2020). I'll be posting the results on the other thread. After that we have just one more race this season, April 25th at the Solar Energy Center in Cocoa, Florida.

[J. Robinson]

I'm baaaack! Well, I haven't done a lot, but every bit counts, right?
I painted my dashboard so I can assemble the gauges into it. It's candy red over a silver base. I did something I haven't done in years, an old paint trick from the '70s. I smoked it... No, I didn't put it in a hash pipe and inhale it; I used my acetylene torch to add some smoke effect to the center panel. Anyway, here it is.