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Hey -you guys think I got enough solder on these connections? Big blob = great job, right? At least if this does not fix the gauge issues, it's definitely something else. Fuel gauge was also acting funny, so went here first (got a new voltage thingy). New radiator and calipers installed -hoses all around, too -messed up a brake line so had to bend one -didn't do too bad -no kinks or nothin'.
Grinder..... heh -that's actually how I messed up the brake line (Bad idea, I know -but I was really mad at it) Fitting would not budge for nothin' -was almost completely round -used a cutting wheel to remove the caliper hose and cause lots of heat at the fitting -but got weeeeee bit too close and ruined the flare.
Welp.... apparently need a $20 piece of plastic to bleed the brakes correctly -hopefully don't mess something else up in the process.
Those two huge bottles of brake fluid I ran through there bleeding it three times cleaned up the lines nicely, though!
Trans pan began leaking (changed filter, fluid and adjusted bands) -snugged it up -will hopefully be ok.
Temp gauge reads 120 still when I know it's 180 -the wire inside the connector for the sender seems like it's got 2 or 3 strands still connected, so will see to that -or maybe it's just that much out of kilter. Least of my concerns.
Sealing all the leaks I found when it rained -then gonna go custom with the interior.
Sounds reeeeeally nice when I run it, though.
Man, I sure would like to drive this thing.
Got my brake bleeder tool -bled the brakes again -still spongy -then I realized the yard under my shade tree isn't level at all.
I'm hoping that is the problem -trapped air somewhere with fluid going right by it -otherwise I'm out of wild guesses.
My mom used to say I knew just enough to be dangerous. I think she was right.
I posted this is general discussion -thought I'd put it here in case you all did not get there often.
Road Runner Superbird -14k ORIGINAL for sale! (link takes you to facebook marketplace page where I saw it)
Bleeder screws on wheel cylinders have way loose threads -literally jiggle when you loosen them just a bit -horrible for a one man bleed job -gonna teflon tape 'em and ordered a check valve bleeder thingy.
So I bled the brakes every which way -I know there is no air in there! However, brakes still feel soft. Read somewhere to check that the parking brake is not too tight -I think it is, anyway, after changing shoes -will check tomorrow.
I have an aftermarket booster and master cylinder as close to original as I could get -bought assembled as a pair -some say to check the rod clearance to the master, but thought they would have done that -will check, anyway.
Otherwise, perhaps the booster is just way strong? The pedal is very stiff with engine off. With engine running and in drive, it will keep the van from moving and does not fade -it just feels squishy. Going a bit bonkers over this.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHH WAIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I almost forgot! I dropped a nut from around near the battery. I looked everywhere I thought it could possibly have gone in the engine compartment -on the ground.
I EVEN MADE A DIRT SIFTER AND SIFTED ALL THE DIRT IN THE AREA UNDER THE ENGINE AS I LAUGHED MANIACALLY!
Finally, I crawled under the van behind the tire and looked forward. If you look at the picture, you will notice a square thing welded to the frame for apparently no other reason than to mess with my head!
IT.... DOES.... NOTHING! The nut somehow ended up smack dab in the middle of it-where the arrow is pointing!
WELLLL............ I GOT IT INSPECTED -AND IT PASSED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I drove it around the neighborhood -and the brakes worked fine (after making horrible noises at first due to rust buildup as it has been so long since I installed everything).
They don't feel any less squishy -I think it's just a very strong booster -big -double diaphragm, etc.. Stops -stays stopped -pedal doesn't keep sinking. Inspector had no issues. All is cool.
Had to take a pic. Still ugly, but had to take one of it in its natural habitat! Gotta make it comfy and purdy now!!!!!
You have put a lot of hard work in on this project... The fight is not over catching up on all it might need, but now you can at least enjoy driving it while fixing some of the other items..... Mopar On Man !!!! Cheers and Great Job !!!!!!!!
THANK YOU GUYS -FOR ALL YOUR HELP AND ENCOURAGEMENT!
It is actually quite nice -especially for a '74
I will likely always be doing something to it -but now I don't HAVE TO -and it's so much better now that I can drive it -and think about stuff like a stereo -and pina colada air freshener.
My big dog has been howling at me to take her out for a spin since she saw it outside the yard -she knows what's up -they both know it's mostly for them -gotta head to the park with them soon.
Gremlin got loose when I was driving. First time I drove with lights on -looked down and saw the oil pressure about half what it should be. Felt a tad sick. Actually felt better when I noticed the other gauges acting weird, too. Bouncing all over the place. Will be grounding the **** out of all that tomorrow. I'm really liking all the looks it's getting driving that thing -reminds me of Steve Martin's old "What the hell is that?" skit on SNL. Found it real easy in the wallyworld parking lot!
Well, I think the temp gauge just hadn't been used in a long time and needed to realize it was supposed to do something -reading more accurately now. I literally made a grounding clip to go on the lower part of the sender to make sure it wasn't a grounding issue there, but the change has been gradual.
Took it on the highway officially for the first time -smooth as butta -at night -lights on -no issues with anything.
Stopped next to a big rumble-y dodge truck at a stop light. Took off normally at green -he kept trying to accelerate past me, but I just kept nudging the gas a little more. Let him pass at 30mph. Nice little low speed race.
Don't think the timing or carb are just right -I literally just put everything back where it was with new distributor and carb rebuild. Will check it later.
I like your rig, a van is a great versatile vehicle, you can haul whatever out of the weather and pull a trailer to boot.
get the timing correct and make sure theres no problem with the wiring. Then drive the wheels off it.
I will say on my Plymouth the fist year I had it running I had a high rpm miss that drove me crazy. It turned out the voltage at the coil dropped of to about 5v at 5000 or so. Turned out the wiring harness had been repaired with a peice of resistance wire which drop the voltage, I only found this after pulling the tape back and looking.
Versatile is right! Doors in back are just wide enough to slide 4' x 8' sheets of whatever in -AND I still had 4' to spare to the back of the front seat for other goodies.
I plan to camp in it, so I'm actually putting a nice Sealy twin bed in it now -sideways! Just have to trim an inch or two off one set of body side supports -leaving just enough room to insulate, also!
In other news... I just found out the 8 3/4 489 diff has an overfill indicator! It slings oil all over the underside until it's back to normal!
Some said leave it below the fill hole -others said fill 'til it runs out. First set were right. It kept gear oil in it and was not leaking until I topped it off, so I don't think the seal is bad, necessarily -just to much pressure when it got warm when too full. I hope.
That Volare is niiiiice! Never seen one that wasn't stock. They have a good body style -definitely does it justice.
Maaaaaaaan, you are living my dream! Always wanted an old van that was either converted totally or could get to camp ready status in a hurry. Easier on gas than an RV and way more useful when not camping and, of course, much cheaper to register and maintain. Super cool! Mmmmm, making me want to camp, it has been a while.
Welllllllll.... now I'm thinking that first trip at highways speeds made the pinion seal feel its age.
It's really slingin' it now. A good part of the underside is festooned with gear oil. No worries about that part of the floor rusting for a while.
Might as well do a readi sleeve and seal before i get out on the road..... and cause an oil slick.
Better douse the nut with penetrant every day until the parts get here.
I hope the differancil does need overhauling now? From the way you discribed it, sounds like it might have knocked the bearings out of it? Or is it just a ring and pinion noise?
I hope the differancil does need overhauling now? From the way you discribed it, sounds like it might have knocked the bearings out of it? Or is it just a ring and pinion noise?
There is no noise -actually sounds quiet, and everything had no play -just started slinging oil from the yoke splash guard after I topped it off and got on the highway.
Listened to the wrong advice and didn't leave it half an inch below the hole.
I don't think there is anything wrong bearing-wise -definitely hope not.
I bought the "loose" non-tapered bearing upgrade and inner axle seals to do later if necessary (and equipment to do it out in the middle of nowhere if necessary), but anything else would not be cool right now.
Reminds me.... I better get the outer/ flange/ seal stuff...
Even got some oil on the back doors somehow -reminds me of my old VW bus.
They put a lot of thought into this van. The engine is not centered because they figured there is usually only a driver. The distance between the front wheels is greater than in the back -I guess for stability.
01-23-2020, 08:49 PM
Big blob = great job, right? At least if this does not fix the gauge issues, it's definitely something else. Fuel gauge was also acting funny, so went here first (got a new voltage thingy). New radiator and calipers installed -hoses all around, too -messed up a brake line so had to bend one -didn't do too bad -no kinks or nothin'.
(Bad idea, I know -but I was really mad at it) Fitting would not budge for nothin' -was almost completely round -used a cutting wheel to remove the caliper hose and cause lots of heat at the fitting -but got weeeeee bit too close and ruined the flare. 
