Only one more day get ready for Tulsa...

[blueskies]

I've been scrambling to get my car race, er road ready. I have today and tomorrow to be packed and ready to roll on the 12th, as I will be travelling elsewhere from the 4th to the 10th.

I finally got my car in to the alignment shop after replacing the ecentric bushing in the upper A-arm. I had previously bought a complete front end rebuild kit from Kanter, but only replaced the king pins and tie rod ends. The rest seemed fine for now. But I found when I took the car in for the alignment that the eccentric bushing on the passenger side had a huge amount of play that I hadn't noticed before. Swapping the parts took about 45 minutes.

I wasn't all that happy with the new parts though, the seals that came with the kit aren't the factory design, and looked a bit wrankled once I got it back together. And, the "new" parts have way too much slop in them, almost as if they were used parts that were cleaned up for re-sale as new.

I went ahead and did the passenger side anyway, as the new parts were much better than the old ones. The drivers side is still tight, so I left it alone.

The alignment shop took the car back in without an appointment, just to try and get it done for me. Cory, the alignment manager at my local Les Schwab tire center, really likes the car, and went far out of his way to accomodate my car and my schedule. He thinks the suspension on the car is really cool, in that it is very easy to adjust and likes that Chrysler had it all figured out 57 years ago. I really like it when the guy working on my car cares...

I was a bit dissapointed in the way the car drives after running it up the highway though, it still darts now and then. I think the toe is a bit too far in, it feels like it is not sure which tire to follow. Partly due, I'm sure, to the bias ply tires. I really wish now that I'd just loaded up my credit card with new wheels and tires 6 weeks ago. I had the tire guys inspect the tires that I have, and they said they look fine. They have about 7500 miles on them, but they are 6 years old. The black rubber is not checking or cracking anywhere, so they should be good for the 3500 miles to Tulsa and back.

I'm going to see if they can get it back in on the 11th, to adjust the toe again before I leave for Tulsa.

I'm trying to decide if I want to tackle adjusting the valves or not...

And, I have not yet done anything with the oil pump. I bought another new pump, and it measures out the same way as my original. The housing is about 4-5 thousands off from the shaft. This is about the thickness of several human hairs, and I can't imagine that this would make a rats ass difference in the wobble.

I'm completely stumped on this problem, so yesterday I gave George Asche a call to see if he could shed some light on the issue. Unfortunately, he has never in his history of working on these engines encountered this problem. We chatted about all the same possibilities that have been hashed out many times here on the forum, and I still don't know what is wrong.

One thing George mentioned, is the possibility of the cam being warped after it's regrind. He asked me if it turned easily in the block when it was installed, but since I had my machine shop install it with the bearings and valves, I don't know. It would seem to me though, that if the cam were warped enough to flex the oil pump, it would bust something because the oil pump housing is cast iron and extends all the way to the gear at the end of the shaft on the pump. Not sure what to do... I don't what to spend 6 hours changing the pump again if it's not going to make a difference.

I'm half tempted to just leave it as is, and not worry about it. I've put a couple hundred miles on it as is, and I think if it was going to have a catastrophic failure, it would have done so by now.

My conversation with George was terrific, I listened to him tell stories about racing his DeSoto roadster on Daytona Beach for about an hour...

The countdown to Tulsa is very near, and lots to still do. Last night I was feeling like I should do the smart thing and just drive my Toyota to Tulsa. But this morning, I thought it over, and realised it just wouldn't be the same, and this trip has been on the radar for years as a goal for the project.

Damn the torpedos, we're driving the Plymouth. What's the worse that can happen, a rental truck and tailer? Whatever happens, it will all be part of the grand adventure for my son and me.

Tulsa or bust.

Pete

[Merle Coggins]

We're pullin' for ya Pete.

[John Reddie]

Hey Pete,

That's the spirit. A trip memory you and your boy will always remember. I drove my '67 Plymouth Fury from Massachusetts to Virginia and back, 1200 miles. The engine had 300,000 miles on it and the only thing we had to be sure to do to it was stop every 150 miles and fill it up with oil. Wishing you a safe and happy trip.

John Reddie

[Johnny S]

What a process and what a trip. Here's to good weather and good roads...

[Don Coatney]

Here's to good weather ...

Anyone heard any weather forcasts for the Tulsa dates?

[James_Douglas]

Pete,

After my little problem yesterday with the OD SOL points frying, if you have time take some contact spray cleaners and clean the points on the OD SOL. You just have to take the wires of and pull the 2 little screws to get the cover off the end of the thing.

Have a good trip. Best, James

[Don Coatney]

Pete,

After my little problem yesterday with the OD SOL points frying, if you have time take some contact spray cleaners and clean the points on the OD SOL. You just have to take the wires of and pull the 2 little screws to get the cover off the end of the thing.

Have a good trip. Best, James

James;

Will I not see you in Tulsa? You still have time to make repairs and be there! Dont wimp out now:cool:

[James_Douglas]

Don,

I really really really thought about going. I checked with 2 of my buddies to see if they could get the time and go. Both could not arrange it. The best right seater I have is Sondra, but as an ICU Nurse, she has to put her vacation time in a year in advance.

The other issue is cost. I hate to spend about $1500 in gas and lodging to just drive 3 long days out and 3 long days back talking to myself. If I had someone to go along and could take 3 weeks to do some side trips it would have been worth it.

Best, James

[Don Coatney]

Don,

I really really really thought about going. I checked with 2 of my buddies to see if they could get the time and go. Both could not arrange it. The best right seater I have is Sondra, but as an ICU Nurse, she has to put her vacation time in a year in advance.

The other issue is cost. I hate to spend about $1500 in gas and lodging to just drive 3 long days out and 3 long days back talking to myself. If I had someone to go along and could take 3 weeks to do some side trips it would have been worth it.

Best, James

James;

Understand about the cost and time. Too bad Sandra could not get the vacation time to ride shotgun. I think Lisa is going with me and I know her and Sondra would hit it off. I am sure I will be returning to SF sometime in the next year or two. Lisa has told me she wants to join me out there on the next trip so we will have to connect then.

[blueskies]

James-

I'm dissapointed that you're not making the trip, I was looking forward to checking out your car. I can understand though, lots of cash in gas and it's a long haul solo.

Hope to connect sometime in the future...

Pete

[blueskies]

My car is about as road ready as it's going to be, only a couple of things left to tidy up. My local auto parts place didn't have the air filters I use on my dual carb setup, so they had to order them. They also ordered a set of bumper bolts which they don't normally stock. This stuff should be here when I get back on the 11th, just in time to head out for Tulsa on the 12th.

I snapped this pic a few minutes ago, in front of my office...

I spent the day installing carpet pad and redoing my temporary carpet with some remnants that I had from my office. The sound levels in the car are much better now, even without the headliner.

I found a scrap of tan fabric that worked just right to do a quick re-cover of the factory arm rests, and put them on the car. Bought a new blanket and installed it as temporary upholstery for the front seat, the old one was looking a bit worse for wear. Fiddled with the radio to get it to sound better. Sealed a few firewall holes that were letting in engine noise. Scrubbed six years of dirt off of the wide whites, they had never been cleaned with anything but the hose. Washed off the bugs that were left on last fall and gave the whole thing a coat of wax.

I'm still going to try and get the car back in to the alignment shop on Monday, the 11th too. It needs a little dialing-in still, but is driveable the way it is if it doesn't work out to get back in the shop.

The anticipation of the trip is building, it's going to be a gas.

Signing out for now...

Pete