Thread: Project Special K

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here is a few more train pics. Love the old hardware.

About 6 years ago my Ex GF and I took a trip to Pennsylvania and went to the Railroad Museum in Lancaster. They have lots of neat trains like you pictured, and some private cars that the rich people used to own to travel in. Really spectacular to see the beautiful old workmanship and how ornate they were.

I normally get bored with stuff like that, but I loved every minute of it. Even got to take a train ride through Pa Dutch country.

Don

Steve

Those old cars had some nice woodwork. They were a product of a bygone era when that kind of beauty mattered. Keep up the good work.

I've always been fascinated by steam trains. Shoot I like steam engine powered anything! I guess I was born 100 years to late.

When I was a kid we took a trip out west and rode the Durango to Silverton narrow guage railroad in Colorado. 50 miles of beautiful mountain scenery and a coal fired steam train, what a great time! I hope to do it again someday.

Mike

Ok with the right side left side issues resolved, I was able to finally dry fit the master cylinder today and tighten up all of the loose nuts(no pun intended) on the assembly. Here are some shots. It's raining now, so lines will have to wait until tomorrow.
If you look carefully you can see the zero tolerance for space with this conversion kit and the truck with it's own set of modifications. It feels great to finally get this done(it's only taken 6 months!)

I'm starting to bend the new brake llines in place. I got these coated lines from the local parts place. They work great when it comes to bending. I would think they'd kink and split, but they are incredibly easy to route and bend. 90 degree bends are no problem! The guys at the store swear by them. They also come in lots of size combinations, so hopefully it will look pretty clean after I'm done.
I looked into a brake line kit to fab my own, but it's pretty pricy, and this won't be a show truck, and least not in it's first debut to open road life after being a parked project for a decade!

Brake lines are in. Had to cut a new hole in floor pan to acess master cylinder. The new lines worked well. All that is left is hooking up the old brake pedal to the new linkage, it was just getting too late to do it tonoght. I tried using a vacuum bleeder on the system, but it was not working, so once the brake pedal is hooked up I'll try pushing down on that to bleed the lines. I'm wondering it it has something to do with the proportioning valve?
Anyway here are some pics of the hole for the access and my faithfull companion.

I am jealous about your access to your master cylinder. I recently realized that I will have to remove the seat or create some kind of hinge to get to my under floor master cylinder.

This thread is among my top ten. I always find something interesting here.

Thanks 37 Caddy. The round holes were there for the oringinal master cylinder, now they'll have to be covered. I'm still thinking about making a cover for the new hole.
Denny Pretzel didn't get his name for nothing!
It seems we have quite a few people here who enjoy animals!

I think I live with his brother . What a guy has to do to go for a walk in -30C.

Sean

Remarkable resemblance. We saved this guy from the animal shelter a year ago in January. He's like my right hand, always there to follow me. Nothing more than a simple walk to make his day! Your dog looks like a good companion too. Here is a more playfull photo

I got my American Autowire kit in the mail today. This is the bomb as my wife likes to say. Very well laid out, with wiring by systems packages, A=engine starting and running, includes new keyed GM style ignition switch, B= charging systems, C=Head lights and comes with dash light switch, and floor push button dimmer switch, D= turns signals, etc... So you only add what you need, connecting to their fuse box as you go, no dangling wire mess!
Also comes with 175 amp master fusable link, which you can remove, that works great as an anti theft deterant(when removed)!
I'm very happy with it. So just have to finish bleeding brakes, then start wiring, which is exciting, because once it is wired, I can start putting all of the aluminum performance parts on it to lighten the load, and increase the performance. I think, come this summer, I'll pull the engine and work on cleaning up the engine bay, having the rewelding of the motor mounts done, to the correct engine angle, and continue the rust removal process for the body. This fall I hope to have the financial reserves to purchase a good welder, and start doing little metal repair projects. But I am still on track to get it road worthy for Petaluma Salute to American Graffeti Days in May. I won't drive it more than a mile that day. But by next year, should be able to uase it when ever, where ever( all driven by finances to get things, and make it safe!)

I had to pull my floor board on the drivers side to work on the brake linkage today. It turns out, my conversion kit came with too long of a linkage, so tomorrow, I'll get a shorter threaded rod or cut the one that came with the kit. I read this as a email today and thought the dog and cat lovers would like this as well as anyone with a soft heart in life. This is a salute to my last dog Sierra who we put to sleep a year ago when she delveloped brain cancer.
A Dog's Purpose (from a 6-year-old).

Being a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old
Irish Wolfhound named Belker. The dog's owners, Ron, his wife, Lisa,
And their little boy, Shane, were all very attached to Belker, and
They were hoping for a miracle.

I examined Belker and found he was dying of cancer. I told the family
We couldn't do anything for Belker, and offered to perform the
Euthanasia procedure for the old dog in their home.

As we made arrangements, Ron and Lisa told me they thought it would
Be good for six-year-old Shane to observe the procedure. They felt as
Though Shane might learn something from the experience.

The next day, I felt the familiar catch in my throat as Belker's
Family surrounded him Shane seemed so calm, petting the old dog for
The last time, that I wondered i f he understood what was going on.

Within a few minutes, Belker slipped peacefully away.

The little boy seemed to accept Belker's transition without any
Difficulty or
confusion. We sat together for a while after Belker's
Death, wondering aloud about the sad fact that animal lives are
Shorter than human lives. Shane, who had been listening quietly,
Piped up, 'I know why.'

Startled, we all turned to him. What came out of his mouth next
Stunned me. I'd never heard a more comforting explanation.

He said, 'People are born so that they can learn how to live a good
Life -- like loving everybody all the time and being nice, right?'
The Six-year-old continued, 'Well, dogs already know how to do that,
So they don't have to stay as long.'

So Remember:

Live simply.

Love generously.

Care deeply.

Speak kindly.

Remember, if a dog was the teacher you would learn things like:

When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.

Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.

Take naps.

Stretch before rising.

Run, romp, and play
daily.

Thrive on attention and let people touch you.

Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.

On warm days, stop to lie on your back on the grass.

On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree.

When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.

Delight in the simple joy of a long walk

Be loyal.

Never pretend to be something you're not.

If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.

When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by and nuzzle
Them gently.

Stovens,we got that about 2-3 days back from Golly Adams,and yes it touches raw nerves,I lost my shepherd many years back about ten days before Christmas,what a bitch of a Christmas that was for me.All too true,but do try to live up to the ideals in the message.

I found two solutions to the engine angle issue.
Option A
Classic Performance parts, makes a cross bar with motor mounts for my truck that is a bolt in application. They make it for several different motor applications as well. It looks fairly straight foward from the directions they emailed me yesterday. The also make a similar cross member for the tranny. The engine one is about 109.00 and the tranny is 49.00. All in all, not bad, just have to get a cherry picker that will clear the truck with the engine. Option B
A friend who is a car mechanic said he could do it( not sure for how much, but I'll have him take a look at it when he gets back from vacation.

I like plan A because it gives me access to the engine compartment without anything in my way to clean it up and repaint the fire walls. Plan B is appealing, since I don't have to buy anything, tools or otherwise, and Randy does good work.
Shop space is at a premium, so not buying a cherry picker is a good thing. Unlike a lot of you guys, this will be my last car project(I think )
So extra tools that won't get much use are always decissions to be weighed!
Anyway, I'm off to work on the brake linkage to see if I can get a smaller piece of theaded rod for the linkage, or I will have to cut it shorter.Steve.

Gotta love my wife. She helped bleed the brakes with me today, after I got the linkage in. I had a few leaks here and there, but got most of them stopped. On the new brake calibers for the disc front brakes, they seem to seep a little fluid. Maybe I'm missing something. They came with new hoses, two copper washers for each hose, I'm assuming for either side of the hose where it connects to the caliber. Let me know if you have experienced similar things and might know what to do. I also for the first time drove it into the garage and was able to stop it with the brake pedal! Great feeling!
Next the wiring kit!