Dad,
We should be about done with the "Building" at this point. Snapped the missing bail onto the transmission governor and went for about a 60 mile ride today. Looks like its all tuning and adjustments from here onward. Notes from our two hour jaunt this morning.
Hot......Just like she always was, no matter how much insulation, that firewall is a giant cooking griddle!
Gas pedal sucks.....very uncomfortable and needs to come out to be cut and bent up or worst case, replaced with a spoon. The giant transmission hump really limits options.
Steering good, alignment rough but she rolls straight (incidentally, my favorite tire shop wont align her so will have to try the speed shop about an hour and a half from here.).
No fuel leaks (but she's thirsty. I'll free up the air flow first and if that dosn't help, we'll jet her down a bit.).
Tune seems good (bit hard to start cold with the restrictive air cleaner on it, took it off and she fired right up.), no ping that i can hear.
Right front hood handle rattles to beat the band, Its a lot more worn than the left front side.
Draging noise from the rear, sounds like a brake shoe on a drum (probably right side as that one felt a touch warmer after the ride). I don't think its gear but if it is, I'll have to pull the differential for a rebuild.
exhaust is quiet.
cooling system is leak free and working well (she stays 185F on the road, under 200F in traffic)
brake leak is fixed.
right rear inner door handle needs a new spring (it won't stay locked and rattles like a second band in the back seat).
I'll likely rewire the electric fan. Working great but I don't like all the noise it makes blowing after shutting down the engine. Probably hook the fan controler to switched power and/or via a relay.
Might need 3 or 4 degree pinion shims but the roads are so rough here that i can't really tell if the vibrations are shitty roads or due to ujoint operating angles.
So, call Ol Bessy 98% Mechanically Completed. The last 2% is always the most work/takes the longest but we got this.
She's ready for you to drive. Get yer ass down here and drive her.
PS....Stopped off at Oreilly's today to show her off to the manager and staff who set us up with the
engine. They were pleased.