like most of us, I get considerable enjoyment out of working on my hot rod, I have even been known to call it entertainment, almost as much as I enjoy driving it.
Recently I encountered a slight smell of gas the last time I parked, I decide to check the fuel system, working from the gas cap back to the motor checking for leaks. After starting and running the motor for a few minutes I noticed the smell of gas returning, and upon further examination I could see fuel seeping slightly at the top gaskets of both my carbs. A bit unusual for both carb’s needle and seats to wear out at the same time, I suspected I might have a fuel pressure problem, testing proved this to be the case. Although a bit unusual for a mechanical pump, mine was putting out slightly over 6lbs at idle and over 8lbs when accelerated.
Time to installed a pressure regulator.
Sounds easy enough, just find a place to mount the regulator and plumb it up. Except things are seldom that easy (we’ll at least not for me). Now I'll admit I might be a little picky (aka anal, so I’m told), but I like things to look a certain way (ok, it is anal). In my defense though I don't have an over abundance of room under my hood and not wanting the regulator to be the first thing seen when the hood is up, I decided to mount the regulator down on the inner fender plate of my 36 ford just in front of the motor where less heat exposure would be (or so I convinced myself for not being able to see it).
All easy enough right, drill a couple holes mount it, plumb it and on my way.
Except, there is not enough room to fit a drill in to drill the holes, not even with my small right angle drill and a shorty bit? No problem, just remove the inner fender plate and drill it on the bench. Problem solved, NOT! Seems the inner fender plate has two nuts at the bottom inside the frame rails that are boxed in, need an open end wrench about a foot and a half long with a couple of bends to get at them? A little wrench fabricating, then some contortioning in ways I didn’t think I could any longer (and later wishing I hadn’t), about four hours later the fender plate is back in place ready for the regulator to bolt on. Another 30 minutes making new braided fuel lines and I'm ready to go. Well not quite, my new bottom fuel line is leaking, and tightening the fittings doesn't help. Off with the fuel line for a closer inspection and low and behold the hose is deformed inside at one of the fittings. Thinking I probably damaged the hose as I installed the fitting, I cut a new piece of hose, blow it out with air to get the residue out and for some reason this time I take a peak inside the hose to make sure it is clean, the new hose is pitted about an inch long inside? Pays to check inside the hoses! Anyway, fuel leak is fixed, regulator adjusted, needle and seats in the carbs replaced, and everything is looking and running good!
Of course, you know the story doesn't end here, lol!
Out for a short cruise to be sure everything is ok, you know make sure the carbs are getting enough fuel and blow some carbon out of the motor. About five miles down the road one of my cooling fans stops working, probably just a fuse and I have two fans, temperatures are cool not a big worry. I turn around and head back to the man cave. Once parked, I smell burning plastic? Yep, fan had a melt down (of course it wasn’t a fuse). Well, it's not the end of the world just change the fan, after all it is less than a year old and still warrantied. Except (and there’s always an exception isn’t there), to get to the fans I need to disassemble the front grill housing. About five hours and a few expletive deleted’s later, fans are back in business.
Ahh, back on the road. But wait! (this is starting to sound like a Ronco commercial), lol!
I'm cruising down the road enjoying myself, when over the radio I hear a noise from the left front? Thinking I may have thrown a rock up from a tire, but no, the steering wheel shimmy is telling me otherwise. Back to the man cave!
Did I mention the entertainment value? LOL!
