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Post date: Feb 28, 2019 8:52:42 PM
Just running down the last few cleanup items at this point. I even got '72 Texas plates and flipped the car to an Antique registration.
Biggest thing left is the front seat covers. I talked to a couple of shops - one a nationally known guy with award winning work, one a mom and pop shop. The national guy was less than half the price and said he would track down the material, while the mom and pop said they'd work with whatever I brought to them! So hopefully I'll get the seats done in March/April.
Otherwise, I got the console painted, painted the aluminum trim with a sparkly black, just got the vacuum gauge mounted, and got the other steering wheel completed. I even flocked the console box (console and liners!), velcro'd the amp sub remote out of the way, put in a switch for the auto headlights and a recessed USB port. The interior is basically complete!
Shaun also masterminded modifying a new auto-dim, compass and homelink mirror to hang on the original rearview mirror mount. Pulled the mount mechanism out of a busted old mirror, chopped off the mounting stud on the new one, some magic, and poof.
Snagged a set of floor mats from StockInteriors.com. Turns out they're the manufacturer for Legendary's carpet, so the color is a perfect match and I got the rocket emblem stitched into them.
After the adventure in December I decided to switch to the SPC lower control arms and stock springs. It still settled to the same height as the lowering springs with spacers, so I'll be putting spacers in there. The SPC arms are much nicer. I even made sure the new poly bump stop would actually stop the car in time. The old progressive stops did make full contact, but because of the tall lower balljoint they were able to completely squish and let the car bottom out. These arms use the stock sway bar end links, and, again, with the tall lower balljoint, the sway bar hit the steering tie rods. Luckily the hardware store has 8" long 3/8" bolts and 1" spacers so I could move the bar up. I expect to switch to the adjustable Spohn stuff later.
Shaun and I also got the headers repaired and all the marman flanges installed. As usual, most welds took about three tries.
And we finally got to install the exhaust trumpets! More work to do there (they rattle on the bumper) because I wanted them really tight, but still looking good.
And, finally, some tire comparisons.
Yes, I can still easily break these loose. Oddly, they don't squeal.
Almost forgot! Shaun also modified a set of R&M wire holders. They are designed to be bolted to the bottom rail of the valve cover and held up on 3" of spacers. Which works great on a race engine, but impossible if you run, I dunno, brackets. So he moved the tabs so they'll bolt to the top rail and I lopped off the front bit to clear the A/C bracket. Some more work and new Taylor wires, and it's downright pretty.
The engine now has a (deep) Canton oil pan, and the 200-4r has the "stock depth" PML pan. I know, super smart. But that Canton pan is built like a tank and even has proper trap doors.
I moved down the 5w30 oil and pressure is still super high. Something like 40psi idle hot. I guess 0w20 is in my future.
Also finally did the auto-calibration on the stereo. Had to buy another one of Pioneer's special microphones because, of course, I lost the original one after three years. Sounds quite good now. It won't show what the timing adjustment is or EQ levels, but it turned on low pass and high pass filters, set the rear speaker levels to -11 and the sub to +6. I had to pull the sub down some.
Todos:
Modify parking brake pedal to move it over *more*
Seat covers
Seat heating/cooling system (leatherseats.com)
Wish list: (Someday, oh someday)
3.23:1 rear
C6 Z51 brakes
EFI
Billet sill pates
Coilovers
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