It was supposed to be in my driveway by now

I don't think either of us thought that was going to actually happen. I think that Spring is a realistic goal. But getting it done before the first snow was not going to happen while we were both beating our heads in with work and school.

I will need it to move before summer, though. I am going to need to put the 3/4 ton chevy there that will be donating its engine and 12 volt bits to the 715. I think 3 non-ops in my drive would cause Erin to beat me.

Zach

Nice picture Zach.

I think I'll stroll outside in shorts and bare feet in your honor.

IN the past 20 minutes since I took that picture, the wind has died. Everything that was bare has been coated with about 1/2 inch of snow, and building QUICK.

It really is quite amazing. If the wind come back, it will be interesting to see if it all blows away again, or if it sticks.

Ken, you should be in the middle of this here storm. You aren't getting anything?

Not in Lake Worth, Florida, I'm not!

I did think that it would be done. If it were not for the 1hr commute, the classes and you and Joe needing your cars fixed it would be done. It is damn close now. Once I get the linkage sorted out we can run it That will be a good day. Also, if I didnt waste so much time trying to figure out the tin. That was a bad idea that cost me at least a month. I was considering coming over today to work, but I may just stay in my shop and finish the last 2 gear boxes I have to ship.

Mike, stay home. It is not pleasant driving around here right now, and it is butt ass cold. Nothing has yet to be plowed, and it supposed to keep coming down unit about 2AM.

yep, got a foot or so here.....big drifts....sucks, stay inside...

It just started snowing right now. I took the 911 out for a spin earlier today. There's too much crap on the road right now to have fun.

I had the 911 out a couple of nights ago on one of my favorite roads and ran over some "anti-skid material" more commonly known as sand and dirt and did a 4 wheel slide around a turn. Scared the shit out of me.

When I went out to shovel the drive today we had 17 inches (drifts were well over 2 feet.).

By the time I got done shoveling, I looked back up the drive and there was another inch at the top. Just went inside for dinner. Soon I will be posting in the after dark drunk thread.

If you look, the snow is up to the spare tire on the bus. And the drifts are taller then the wheel arches.



Zach

Nice driveway tree Zach

Thanks Mike.

Eh, I tried to fix a customers tranz and then went for a ride to test out the suby. I was drifting into every turn using the hand brake It was fun. I dont think I would have the bus out in this weather so I dont feel bad about it not running yet. This is one of the best storms I have seen in my almost 5 years out here

Hi guys! Mike you can blame me for the small snowfall in recent years, as I was not looking forward to shoveling our long drive way. My back feels this way about shoveling snow Ended up using the neighbors snow blower. still not done yet either. Darn snow has moved the satelite dish too!

WATCH OUT FOR THE TELE POLE !!!! :

Yuck Fou

Today ROCKED in the garage! I designed and built, from scratch, with no help, a very complicated throttle linkage system that WORKS! I did not bring my camera, but I will tomorrow. This was the last major hurtle in the design phase. The rest is looking to be straight forward The linkage is the shit!

I used a section of 1/2" x 12" black pipe, some 1/2od x 3/8 id bushings, some 3/8" rolled steel rod, and some flat stock. The rods I used are 3/16" rolled steel and all ends terminate at quick release ball clevises

You'll see. Tomorrow night, hopefully

It is pretty cool. While he was doing that, I fixed my snow blower. We better get more snow, or I am going to be pissed.

Oh, and Mike has now seen the wonders of a welder. He has gone from fear to "Look! I did it myself! I'm so getting one of these..."


Zach

I tried to take pics of the linkage setup, but my lovely wife did not charge the camera battery....which I found out after I arrived at Zach's, an hour away

I worked out my frustrations by using Zach's snow blower to do the rest of his drive way and subsequently fill the back of his truck with the snow.

Good for traction ...............On a running driving vehicle

Yes. It was rock hard ice by the time I walked out there to see if he had really filled up my bed with snow. It should melt off sometime around June.

Zach

Twas necessary because the snow was between my bus and the garage where my engine is currently. plick

Zach, hows about some pics of my linkage?

If I can get out to the garage tonight, I'll get some. Spent most of today

Been too long. I love shooting in the snow.

Zach

bow chicka bow wow

How about some new year's eve engine porn? Since Scotty B has seen fit to grace us with his benevolent presence this new years eve/day, Zach and I figured that we should do something special to commemorate this momentous occasion. We will attempt to fire up the engine later today! Enough with the $.50 words. I busted my hump to get the engine ready to run tonight and I can not think of any reason not to hook up a battery, fuel and see if we can get it to make noise

What was done today:
- Installed and static timed dizzy with Fireball optic ignition
- Installed coil, ballast resistor, wires
- Set up fuel pump
- Connected electrically adjustable jet fuel harness (this ought to be interesting)
- Clamped some of the oil lines down (I need 2 more hose clamps)
- Installed auto tranny filler tube after straightening it out (had to change curve to work with engine tin location)
- Drilled hole in air cleaner bottom and installed nipple for PCV input (Zach did this)

Tomorrow to do:
- oil filter
- Hose clamps for oil lines and PCV hose
- PCV install (I need to find one that can be modified to work in my application)
- Fluids
- turn key and smile (?)

And now some pics

This is the linkage on the transmission. I changed the direction of the bend and made it a specific length to convert the 1 1/8" of cable pull into the 2 3/8" of throttle lever play at the carb.
Click to view attachment

The second link. I used a 1/2" ID x 12" section of black pipe and some brass bushings for the pulley housing.
Click to view attachment

Links 1 and 2 connected and full open.

Links 2-3 closed.

Link 2-3 full open.
Click to view attachment

An enthusiastic and frozen Zach looks at the newly installed air cleaner

Click to view attachment

Some close ups of the electrically controlled fuel jet system, Dial a Mile from Holley.

And finally, the engine almost ready to run on the dolly

I am about to go and remove this morning's snow in anticipation of getting this bitch started.

Zach

video will be required

Congrats!!!

Mike

Drive is cleared. Trucks have been down the roads, so they are cleared too. Just need mike and Scott to get here. Vroom vroom!

Zach

Be sure to add some transmission fluid. Don't run it dry. You could burn up the pump.

We were defeated by a crapped out (but freshly rebuilt) starter.

It turned, but only just when the starter was removed. Mike was able to stop it from spinning with his fingers... I shot video, but won't post it as it is not the victorious ending that we require.

Zach

That is a very common GM starter. If you can't fix it, check the local flats. I bet you can either get one or get one close enough to swap the starter nose and get it going.

Q.) Did you connect a battery with proper cables or are you trying to use a jump box or booster charger?

We want a new year victory!

There is a big corvair yard near us that we are going to check out Saturday for the starter. Revised go-time will be Saturday.

Zach

Really? Maybe there's a Vanagon yard near-by too...

It coughed. It sputtered. It ate a starter and a fuel pump. It shot a foot of flames out the top of the carb.

BUT IT RAN!

Video inbound, sometime tonight. I am getting it off the camera now.

Zach

Brief list of the days events.
- Wake up
- Drive with Scotty B 1hr to Zach's house
- Pick up Zach and drive 1hr to Corvair Ranch to pick up new (rebuilt) starter
- Given tour of the ranch by Jeff, the owner
- Drive back 1hr to Zach's

Engine specific:
- tested starter on the ground and it worked MUCH better
- Removed spark plugs
- Cranked engine for a few cycles to get oil through it
- Re-installed plugs and attempt to fire up
- Get frustrated
- Scratch heads
- Starter slows down
- Ugh, no fuel in bowl. Damnit, new FP is dead now.
- Get new FP
- Start up, run, flood

Now I have the primary bowl with me so I can double check the float and adjustment. The adjustment still looks spot on, but the bowl was flooding out of the vent which eventually caught on fire (YAY! ).

Alternator, also a new part, but one that I modified, was making an eerie Weeeeeeee noise at any appreciable RPM. The shaft is not binding in any way so I took it off to investigate. Maybe the brushes are wearing in?

You can REALLY hear the alt. whine on the video.

Speaking of which...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_uG6JLvVZg



Windows Movie Maker is WAY easier to use then Adobe Premiere! Too bad WMM does not handle importing from my "real" video camera. But it worked just fine for the video shot from Erin's point and shoot.

Zach

Way to go guys! Congrats on getting the engine started!
You looked f'ing cold! I wonder if the bearings on the alternator are toast. I had a '63 Pontiac whose alternator died making a similar noise - ended up replacing the bearings and it worked fine. We all curiously await your diagnosis!

Great job guys. Didn't have time to stop by today. Plus it was waaaay too f*** cold out we did go ice skating for a few hours. (first time for all 4 of us)

That video looks great!

Minus 40 here over night. Great job guys! Way to stay at it. Shove that beast into the van and go for it!

IIRC, I put the old bearing from the original alt into the new one due to better fitment as I had to make a alt from the new and the old. I will look into that.

A consideration about the starter is that the corvair starter turns opposite of all other starters (other than 4cyl Hondas)

Is your alty spinning the correct direction or is the reverse rotation spinning it acks backwards?

Alts dont care what direction they spin. I bought a 100A alt that was supposed to be for a corvair. The front housing was wrong (mounting ears on opposite sides) so I was told I could swap the stock housing onto it. It did not fit exactly correctly so I mixed and matched parts as they fit (bearing assemblies, etc). It was still not perfect, but I thought that it was workable. The stock alt was 37A and way to weak. I found last night that I can buy an alt from a 74 Nova 350 w/ AC at any local FLAPS for $25 and swap the front housing onto it without issue. That alt is 65A and to buy an already converted one is stupid expensive for no reason. 65A is perfectly fine for my application. I bought the 100A because is was cheaper than the 65A converted and had higher amps, but it is more strain on the belt so the 65A seems like a good idea and is what I am going to do today.

The Hi-torque starter is anywhere from $180-250 and may not be necessary once I solve the float bowl adjustment. I am not sure the HT starter would fit in the small space the current one does.

We should be able to start it and keep it running today. Then I will install it (in the next few days). I have an interview Mon-Tues, a transmission to finish up, one to start, one incoming, visit to Grandmas on the 9-10, and, and, and.....