I got my car just about ready to start again. I got everything installed including the new water pump and radiator. I will verify the firing order tomorrow and go for the fire in hole. I have it filled up with distilled water tonight with no leaks.

 

Just a little update on my project. The bigger radiator is a great plus. Last weekend I made it to the Saturday night meet and back. I ran a little past halfway on the temp guage which I would say is 180-190 degrees. That was in a balmy 95 degrees. Much better than the tiny radiator.

I still have that little stumble off idle and with a Holley tech (Ricky R) I have figured it out. This ultra 570 Street Avenger carb comes with an 8.5 powervalve. That means I would need to produce 17" of vacuum at idle. He also told me any cam more than stock would have a hard time producing 17". Well tonight I put the vacuum guage on it and when all warmed up and at 750-800 rpm I produce 15" of vacuum. Tonight off comes the carb for a 7.5 power valve. Details to follow.

 

Well the 7.5 power valve must of been faulty because the car would not start unless I poured gas down the car so I threw that one in the trash. The 6.5 power valve worked but I still had a stumble if I hit the gas pedal hard. Next suggestion was to test the accelerator pump and shooter. Pushing the throttle back showed no fuel coming out of the shooter. The is a bullet shaped check weight underneath the shooter that I was told would stick. 10% ethanol gas causes this problem if you don't start your car frequently I was told. I took the shooter off, squirted some carb cleaner in there and moved it around with a pick. Put it back together and the problem is solved. As I rev the motor now it is nice and smooth. Going to look at an additive Eastwood sells to put in your gas and keep this from happening.

 

I scored a rusty Tuff wheel adapter off of eggbay for 85 bucks. I stuck it in the rust bucket last night and we will see how well the Evaporust takes care of it. This is how it was before it went in the bucket.

 

do you have a tuff wheel to put on?

 

Yep.

 

I also scored this NOS battery thermo guard from Silke Auto parts which was another option for these cars. I got the $219.00 green top battery coming for it.

 

I took my visor off last night and took it to the PPG paint store near me. I got a half of pint of DBI interior paint for 33 bucks. I want the steering adapter to match the steering column color. It came out of the rust bucket nice and rust free. I used paint stripper to get the rest of the paint off then wiped it down with laquer thinner. It has some flash rust on it which will be sanded off with some 600 grit before primer.

 

Awesome! Repro or nos?

Looks great! I would suggest using an epoxy primer sealer before painting it. It will keep any and all moisture that it may or may not come into contact with from getting to the bare steel. PPG DP90 is what i would use, its black in color so in turn you'll use less paint.

 

I broke the Tuff wheel adapter rules and painted it to match the steering column color.

 

 

Okay first of all I visited my M-Body at the storage and the M-Body battery strut is the same. So next time I go junk yarding I see if I can snag a few.

On a previous junk yard visit I got this and painted it this weekend.



Then I did paint the battery strut rod but did it in white instead of black. It contrasts good against the black of the wiring harness and air intake hose. I also placed it underneath the brace instead of on top of the brace. This would have wrecked the white paint underneath the bolt.

 

I have had the Aspen out many times this spring but forgot to take any pictures. I picked up a rack of baby back ribs at Krogers today and then stopped by my friend's James house. He had a leak from the mortor of the bricks if you look close.

 

so much to do and so little time.

 

The most I could do is drop off my seats for the RR to the upholstery shop. Yep it will be like riding in style this summer.

 

I got it installed but won't do it shame with anymore nightime photos. I had to shim the bottom of the Firm Feel brackets with one inside washer on the outer bottom and two inside washers on the inside bottom. I did it by myself and scratched it a little. No harm cause you can only see some of the gray powder coating underneath. So hear goes some moring pics and will drive it on Saturday in 72 degree weather.

 

How much was the kit?? also did you already have the brakets on the lower shock mounts for the endlinks or did you have to put them on?

 

The cop car bar and upper shock/leaf spring mounts cost me 200.00 used but gray powder coated. The sway bar endlinks were from Energy Suspension and the sway bar frame brackets came from Firm Feel. I think they were 100.00 bucks. I have my old upper brackets and weld on sway bar brackets for 40.00 bucks plus shipping.

 

Your car looks fantastic the way it is. I like the colors and engine combo.

 

That is a really nice car. Thank you for posting

 

Here are some recent pictures

 

Looks great.... Glad Houston is still on the map and not washed way...