Michael Todd Thorpe's Journal

Ok, ok, ok... pulled the master cylinder last week, ordered a new one off Rob Garrison's ebay.

This morning, doing more recon on the rest of the system. Hoses completely shot (I expected that), discs are rusted so I'm thinking of replacing them and the pads. Pulled the passenger side caliper and I tried to remove the hub and rotor but, after getting the castle nut off, the hub is pretty stubborn. Looked around the forum to see if there's a trick but didn't notice one. Sprayed the left side with Pyroil and also the screws on the back brakes before calling it quits... Time for lunch and a retreat from the heat. Maybe I'll pick this back up in the morning... I need to do a bit more research here, I think.

It started! Woo-hoo!!!

I stopped by Home Depot for a couple of small things, then got to work on the B this morning. Ended up just bypassing the heater core, dead-ended the heater valve (acting sticky and not closing completely) and directly connected the lower radiator hose branch to the water choke on the carb. Got myself a gallon of gas, filled the radiator with water and started her up. Third try did the trick, I think basically because it took that long to get the fuel into the dry carb. Oil pressure jumped right up immediately and at a very good level. A bit of blue smoke from the tail pipe, but considering I'd dumped a bunch of spray oil in the cylinders when I first got her, just to make sure the pistons weren't stuck, it wasn't too bad. Ran her for about ten minutes or so until she warmed up and then shut her down.

Now, on to the hydraulics, need some tires then... maybe she'll roll!

Per some suggestions from my buddies Paul and Mike, I took a hose and ran some water through the block just to be sure there was no loose crud inside. I made up some plumbing bits and bobs as an adapter from water hose to radiator hose. Everything ran clear but for some rust... then re-attached the new hoses, replaced the new thermostat, and disconnected the hose from the heater to the heater valve. Said valve doesn't seem to be working very well, I can't turn it off or on completely. I think I'll need to replace it... need to look up on the forum what options there are for this. In the meantime I'll just dead-end the hose there. Need to make up a coupling from the lower radiator hose to the the small hose from the water choke. Perhaps something brass from the plumbing aisle will suffice...

Ran around all morning yesterday looking for hoses and other bits... still came up short on emissions line... 5/16, 1/2, 5/8...

This morning: Replaced and gapped plugs, new rad cap, new water hose clamps, oil and filter change, reviewed dizzy cap and rotor, both in bad shape, ordered both from Moss...

Still need to do: lower heater pipe (purchased on ebay, awaiting arrival), some more hose replacements...

Put battery on charger...

Almost ready to try and start her...

Working on the B this morning was as good for my soul than spending the morning in church!

I spent the morning replacing the fuse block and refurbing the starter relay.

The old fuse block had become brittle and bits were breaking off when I tried to remove fuses. Replaced it with a new one from Moss. Looks almost identical. I also removed some wiring kludge the DPO had done to get a radio to work. Took some simple green to the wiring and harness in this area, looks better...

I checked the wiring from the steering column to the starter relay, all was good. The relay itself needed some work so I removed that, cleaned the exterior with the wire wheel, opened it up and found the points quite dirty. Took some fine emery paper to the points and the dremel fit with a mini wire wheel to all the contacts... Re-installed and all was good.

Another problem fixed!

The old-style bracket I ordered from ebay didn't fit right. Yesterday I opted to grind the original and the water pump ribs & shoulder, cleaned up the fan and pulleys and put them on. Also cleaned up the nuts & bolts of the whole shebang before the heat in the garage got to me...