El Camino project car

[hotrodalex]

Found a pair of ceramic coated headers for like $150, but they're medium length instead of long tube. Says that they might get in the way of the clutch linkage. Hmmm.

Hydraulic clutch kits can be had for $580 (maybe cheaper, that's just one of the first ones I've found).

Nothing is ever simple.

[280Z Turbo]

What is the advantage of a Hydraulic clutch?

[hotrodalex]

Well it would get rid of the mechanical linkage. Might also be a bit smoother, dunno.

I think I'm just gonna skip the headers and keep the rusty ones. Less money, don't have to go through the annoyance and installing headers again.

[280Z Turbo]

You don't know why you want to spend $580? Send some of that money my way, I'll use it for disc brakes on the Corvette.

[hotrodalex]

You don't know why you want to spend $580?

Because racecar.

I'm not gonna buy it. Just had to make the decision now, since I might do my clutch by the end of August. Right now I'm planning my next ~10 upgrades to figure out which order they need to be done in.

[280Z Turbo]

Racecar eh? What class? Where's your suit? Where's your cage?

[hotrodalex]

The streets ain't got no class, bruh.

[Secret Chimp]

You don't know why you want to spend $580? Send some of that money my way, I'll use it for disc brakes on the Corvette.

Wait why are you now throwing money at this thing when the frame is rusted out?

[hotrodalex]

Well technically that'd be throwing someone else's money at it, which is never a bad idea.

[hotrodalex]

I've cleaned and greased the speedometer cable three times now and it still wiggles. Thinking maybe the gear in the transmission is wrecked. Ugh.

[280Z Turbo]

That's not that hard to pull out. Replacements are cheap too.

The tachometer on the Corvette is a bouncy SOB, but I think that's due to the sharp angle of the cable. They sell a right angle adapter for tachometer and speedometer cables to reduce the angularity.

[hotrodalex]

I mean the one in the tailshaft, not the plastic one. I wish it was that one.

[280Z Turbo]

Uh, in the battle between hardened steel and plastic, I think hardened steel wins.

Is it even possible to screw up those teeth?

[hotrodalex]

The plastic one was chewed up when I replaced it the other day. But what would cause that? Original thought was the cable was getting caught up and thus greasing it would solve the problem (along with a new gear), but obviously not. Not surprising, since the cable was never an issue before and the speedo just quit working altogether while driving to Columbus last week, not bouncing or wiggling noticed. So my best guess now would be something inside the transmission is goofed up.

[280Z Turbo]

What about the speedo itself?

[hotrodalex]

Spins fine.

[280Z Turbo]

Try a new cable first. Pulling the trans would not be easy and I just don't see how those teeth on the shaft could be chewed up.

[hotrodalex]

Got rid of the eye-shadow on one side. Should I do the rest?

[hotrodalex]

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/pof-101-10017/overview/year/1969/make/chevrolet/model/chevelle

Gonna order these. Should increase spindle height 0.9" and change the camber curve to give me negative camber as suspension is compressed. Obvious cornering benefits to that, plus might help the rubbing issue over bumps.

[280Z Turbo]

They're not available for the Vette. Dang.

Your tailshaft may have a plastic gear on it.



If so, consider yourself fucked.

[hotrodalex]

Yep I'm pretty sure it's plastic in the tail shaft as well. Yay engineering.

[280Z Turbo]

Yay Borg Warner! Ours is metal.

[hotrodalex]

Relay panel for electric fans and headlights.

Put in the new alternator with internal regulator today. It's mostly in, just a few more wiring things to do.

[hotrodalex]

All in, car starts.

Headlights are brighter woohoo. Have more voltage woohoo. Have less hot wires woohoo.

[hotrodalex]

The back end is uneven, with the passenger side lower than the driver's. Figured it was the frame, but measured the shock lengths today and the passenger side was 1" shorter. Switched the springs and it didn't seem to help. Ideas???

That side came out a bit heavier, but not enough for a 1" difference.

[FoMoJo]

The back end is uneven, with the passenger side lower than the driver's. Figured it was the frame, but measured the shock lengths today and the passenger side was 1" shorter. Switched the springs and it didn't seem to help. Ideas???

That side came out a bit heavier, but not enough for a 1" difference.

Is this something new or you just noticed it?

[hotrodalex]

I've known about it for years, but like I said I figured it was a twisted frame and wasn't gonna worry about it (already took it to the frame shop and got it fixes as good as possible). So this is actually fantastic news since suspension is an easy fix.

[MrH]

The back end is uneven, with the passenger side lower than the driver's. Figured it was the frame, but measured the shock lengths today and the passenger side was 1" shorter. Switched the springs and it didn't seem to help. Ideas???

That side came out a bit heavier, but not enough for a 1" difference.

You took the shocks off, and the extended length were an inch off? Are these twin tubes or monotubes?

Either way, one inch difference in extended length shouldn't affect your ride height.

[hotrodalex]

No the compressed length is an inch different. Extended is the same.

Unloaded spring height seemed a bit different, with the passenger side being slightly higher, but obviously wasn't a problem since I swapped them and didn't see a difference.

I also unbolted the sway bar just in case is was preloaded and pulling the one side down, but that also didn't seem to do anything.

Would a bent trailing arm affect it?

[MrH]

How did you measure compressed length on the shocks?