Well, do I go for it and get gas on a first open road drive with the Mustang or do I chicken out and go with the Suburban and a can? I just finished fixing the tail lights with the help of you guys and the sky was blue in the 70's.
I added the driver side seat belt, grabbed the cell phone and went for it. I went around the neighborhood first and everything checked out. So I hit the road. I got one block away and noticed the tapped wires for the horn (not completed yet) had come un tapped and sparked under the circuit board. Pulled over and idled while fixing. I had a wrench and did not over tighten the center nut because I was going to be finishing this soon. I took off the wheel and re taped the wires and tied them to the steering wheel. Onward. I got to my first traffic light (country area) Temperature "check", gas gauge "fail" (make note) passing cars staring at classic car "CHECK". I forgot how much of that I was in for. Onward. Turn onto road and go...started missing...started running smooth, heart attach begin. missing ...run smooth...missing , like three cylinders, very odd sound. I pull over. She chugged and quit. I started her...she runs fine. I let it idle , she runs fine. I rev her, she revs fine... hmmm must be low on gas. The day before I emptied the tank because the gas had been in there a long time and i was glad I did because it looked yellow snotty sick (cheap gas these days) Thank goodness for the tank drain plug. I put the car id drive and wait for rubber neckers, pull out and all is good, just 1/8th mile...started missing again. I pulled over and called my wife to bring a can. I started her again and she runs fine so I called the wife and said I could make it. I pull out again and it goes fine and then chugs again, I pull over and it quits. I let it sit. I open the hood and can see the fuel filter glass bulb is boiling. Hmmm I wiggle it and it fills farther and stops bubbling. I start the car again and made it to the gas station with no problem and pull up to a pump.
Phase Two... the show car.
I pulled into the only empty spot of 8 and a man near by hauling a trailer comes over. I have problems here but it is Saturday, the weather is great, I have all day and it did run fine the rest of the way to the station.
"I have just got to look at your car" says this 60 year old man. I open the hood as he walks around the car "Wholey Cow...this car is beautiful". "Wow" as he looks at the engine. At this point I am smiling remembering what it is all about. Right then I see a newer mustang pull in off the street and it drives by looking for an open gas spot. Two girls inside and both say almost at the same time "Gosh Damn"... ok, I am now not quite prepared for all of this so quick. I used to drive the car as a daily and she looked good but not perfect. I got a lot of remarks , again, I just forgot what it was like.
So , I go inside and get a coke and call my wife and tell her i made it. She says she will meet me there anyway because the kids are getting antsy and need a ride. I go back out to the car and the old guy has left and two more guys have filled his spot. "Nice" says one of them with a spanish accent. I could here them speaking spanish and one mentions that the car has a problem. I confirm that it does but I was figuring it out.I started it up after filling it with gas and she ran beautiful. My wife got there and we chatted and the kids got out and wanted to ride and cried when I reminded them it has no rear seat belts. We leave with her following me and my plan to go to the hardware store for some trim screws since it was probably about empty from the three gallons I put in the other day and she was sucking air.
1/2 mile away same thing happened. This time I see the filter bubbling again and upon revving the car could see it quickly empty and could conclude that since it is full of gas that the bubbles must be from suction from within the filter do to clogging. I take the filter off and on the bottom I see a pile of powder sediment and the filter was clogged. I cleaned it all with the dripping gas line , put it together and that was that thank goodness. I have had a glass filter for almost 15 years and this is just another reason I love them. I could see the level of gas and deduct a flow problem. I have never had light colored powder before from old gas and that is why the screen appeared clean. My tank to my carb and engine are all brand new so gas is the only cause.
Later I drive to a Pizza shop . Before I could get our of the car the manager came out to look it over, he even bent down putting his face to the corners looking down the car telling me how perfect she looked. I told him I still had to sand and buff the new paint out, the brought on a surprise of "you painted the car yourself"? When I came out I family van was next to her with the doors pulled open, the mom said the kids loved the car and got out to look at it when I was inside. I told her it was ok and that is what restoring the car was about.
The car ran smooth the rest of the day and my worries are over. I noticed the temp stayed at 1/4 tank if you know what I mean. I remembered that my crate engine came without a thermostat. This was recommended by the manufacturer so air could work itself out of the block. I already have a thermo to go in. The car has no alignment yet but went pretty good down the road. Rebuilt box, all new parts, inch drop, roller perches and idler arm.
I can say it has no resemblance to what she used to feel like. It is going to be a fun car. It is almost time to look up some of you locally
I added the driver side seat belt, grabbed the cell phone and went for it. I went around the neighborhood first and everything checked out. So I hit the road. I got one block away and noticed the tapped wires for the horn (not completed yet) had come un tapped and sparked under the circuit board. Pulled over and idled while fixing. I had a wrench and did not over tighten the center nut because I was going to be finishing this soon. I took off the wheel and re taped the wires and tied them to the steering wheel. Onward. I got to my first traffic light (country area) Temperature "check", gas gauge "fail" (make note) passing cars staring at classic car "CHECK". I forgot how much of that I was in for. Onward. Turn onto road and go...started missing...started running smooth, heart attach begin. missing ...run smooth...missing , like three cylinders, very odd sound. I pull over. She chugged and quit. I started her...she runs fine. I let it idle , she runs fine. I rev her, she revs fine... hmmm must be low on gas. The day before I emptied the tank because the gas had been in there a long time and i was glad I did because it looked yellow snotty sick (cheap gas these days) Thank goodness for the tank drain plug. I put the car id drive and wait for rubber neckers, pull out and all is good, just 1/8th mile...started missing again. I pulled over and called my wife to bring a can. I started her again and she runs fine so I called the wife and said I could make it. I pull out again and it goes fine and then chugs again, I pull over and it quits. I let it sit. I open the hood and can see the fuel filter glass bulb is boiling. Hmmm I wiggle it and it fills farther and stops bubbling. I start the car again and made it to the gas station with no problem and pull up to a pump.
Phase Two... the show car.
I pulled into the only empty spot of 8 and a man near by hauling a trailer comes over. I have problems here but it is Saturday, the weather is great, I have all day and it did run fine the rest of the way to the station.
"I have just got to look at your car" says this 60 year old man. I open the hood as he walks around the car "Wholey Cow...this car is beautiful". "Wow" as he looks at the engine. At this point I am smiling remembering what it is all about. Right then I see a newer mustang pull in off the street and it drives by looking for an open gas spot. Two girls inside and both say almost at the same time "Gosh Damn"... ok, I am now not quite prepared for all of this so quick. I used to drive the car as a daily and she looked good but not perfect. I got a lot of remarks , again, I just forgot what it was like.
So , I go inside and get a coke and call my wife and tell her i made it. She says she will meet me there anyway because the kids are getting antsy and need a ride. I go back out to the car and the old guy has left and two more guys have filled his spot. "Nice" says one of them with a spanish accent. I could here them speaking spanish and one mentions that the car has a problem. I confirm that it does but I was figuring it out.I started it up after filling it with gas and she ran beautiful. My wife got there and we chatted and the kids got out and wanted to ride and cried when I reminded them it has no rear seat belts. We leave with her following me and my plan to go to the hardware store for some trim screws since it was probably about empty from the three gallons I put in the other day and she was sucking air.
1/2 mile away same thing happened. This time I see the filter bubbling again and upon revving the car could see it quickly empty and could conclude that since it is full of gas that the bubbles must be from suction from within the filter do to clogging. I take the filter off and on the bottom I see a pile of powder sediment and the filter was clogged. I cleaned it all with the dripping gas line , put it together and that was that thank goodness. I have had a glass filter for almost 15 years and this is just another reason I love them. I could see the level of gas and deduct a flow problem. I have never had light colored powder before from old gas and that is why the screen appeared clean. My tank to my carb and engine are all brand new so gas is the only cause.
Later I drive to a Pizza shop . Before I could get our of the car the manager came out to look it over, he even bent down putting his face to the corners looking down the car telling me how perfect she looked. I told him I still had to sand and buff the new paint out, the brought on a surprise of "you painted the car yourself"? When I came out I family van was next to her with the doors pulled open, the mom said the kids loved the car and got out to look at it when I was inside. I told her it was ok and that is what restoring the car was about.
The car ran smooth the rest of the day and my worries are over. I noticed the temp stayed at 1/4 tank if you know what I mean. I remembered that my crate engine came without a thermostat. This was recommended by the manufacturer so air could work itself out of the block. I already have a thermo to go in. The car has no alignment yet but went pretty good down the road. Rebuilt box, all new parts, inch drop, roller perches and idler arm.
I can say it has no resemblance to what she used to feel like. It is going to be a fun car. It is almost time to look up some of you locally
