Ka-blooey, new tunes

Post date: Jun 17, 2017 5:53:35 PM

Every time I start to write one of these I think "wow, it's been X weeks and nothing has really happened." Then I write down everything that happened and thing "Wow, how did that much stuff happen in X weeks?"

I forcefully discovered the PS leak. It looked like the hydroboost accumulator had gotten dislodged so the stored fluid sprayed out. I just so happen to have a spare o-ring, so take the hydro off (after confirming I couldn't get the accumulator removed while on the car), R&R the accumulator, all good.

About two weeks later I'm sitting at a red light when it sounds like a grenade goes off under the hood, starts smoking and bucking and squealing. It's running OK, so I limped out of traffic and into a parking lot. The accumulator completely let go. Get a tow home (thanks, AAA) and start investigating. Looks like the housing somehow got chipped, so the retainer clip doesn't seat -quite- right, so it's a little weak. A little weak + 1,500 PSI = ka-blooey.

All it took was a new hydroboost from the guy in Denton. It has a nicer mount that holds it closer to the firewall, but makes the angle on the rod worse with the manual hole. So definitely need to drill a hydroboost hole. Amazingly, the PS pump didn't get hurt, and the accumulator only bent the brake lines on its way out the door. No damage to the hood or anything else.

So while I'm just sitting around waiting for something to do, I decided to go ahead and install the stereo. Why? I don't really know. Seemed like a good idea (the woodgrain on the dash was coming off, this should be the last time removing the dash - ever - and got it done before paint). Head unit is top of the line Pioneer, speakers are Infinity Kappa, 12" subwoofer, and Pioneer amp, all recommended by 1LoudLS on LvC. The system works quite well - I'm happy. Shaun helped me make and install mounting plates on the package tray and doors. I'm hoping the doors work - I don't particularly like the kick panel approach - but the speaker grills are very tall and interfere with the window cranks. That just gives me the opportunity to install electric windows! Why not!

I did learn some things here:

*) drop the column, use a short socket on the ratchet for the dash speed nut right next to the column

*) cutting the H&H woodgrain with a dremel cutoff wheel makes enough heat to bake the woodgrain. I'm considering it a custom design touch at this point.

Oh, and sport mirrors.

So I got replacement glass a while back for the sport mirrors I picked up off ebay. I had already replaced the passenger glass, but hadn't done the driver. I couldn't remember why, so pulled the driver mirror off, broke off the glass, then remembered why. The replacement glass was the wrong shape. Whoops. Get ahold of the vendor, send back the glass and a template, they say "dunno man, don't have anything that shape!". Thinking "Ah-ha! I can fix this!" I just bought repop mirrors. They're terrible. Didn't mount right, the cables were attached to the adjuster wrong, and folks report that the pot metal expands too much and pops paint. Great. And I had already modified/busted these things, so can't return them. Double great. Found a vendor on eBay with a bunch of mirror options, have a back and forth, they say "We got it!" and send two glasses. Large rectangular ones for the Chevelle. So I send them some templates, wait, they say "Ah-hah! We found matches." Wait some more, show up in the mail, and they fit! Turns out these mirrors are actually early 70's Camaro mirrors. The RH is supposedly the same as the Cutlass, but the LH is smaller than the Cutlass. So I'm back to the old mirrors with new glass and some repops that I need to do something with. Also, one of the glasses from Parts Place was heavily warped. I tried to install it anyway and, of course, it broke.

I did get one bodywork/paint estimate, and it was only double what I had budgeted. So I'm going to get some more estimates and see if I can't get some of the work done myself. I did snag a pair of NOS GM replacement fenders. Fingers crossed they are worth it!

Picked up a R143a tank and scale. Charging with that is much easier - it'll push 3lbs into the system without even starting the car. Cools just the same as before, but I got some oil out. I think it got way over oiled earlier. High sides are getting really high and the compressor complained some, but it's working within spec.

Driving home today (92deg, 60%hum) the A/C kept blowing 60deg, but the engine temp kept climbing in traffic. Not sure where it ended up - reading on the Arduino was 310 (on a 0..1024 scale, ~1.54V) - but I'm guessing about 220. I turned off the A/C at that point and it cooled off to 200. I guess I need more fan? Not sure that's really possible. So is the BeCool radiator worthwhile? Eh, I'm not convinced. The 403 just runs hot.

Replaced the tranny lines and re-ended the oil cooler engine side lines. The oil lines look like they still weep just a little. One of them didn't seem to grab the fitting quite right. Even when it got really hot today, oil temp got to 180 but pressure stayed good. Also tossed a pair of relays in the trunk to drive the brake lights. Removes load from the front power rails, and adds a nice loud clicking in addition to the flasher. I did have to switch to a "no load" flasher - the FF552NLF. The standard 552 worked, but the flash wasn't steady.

Haven't heard that clicking on the passenger side recently, so I'll just say that fixed itself.

Errata:

Drill a "Hydroboost" hole in the brake pedal. hah!

Chase weeping on oil cooler lines

Finish whatever lead work and sanding I'm going to do

Paint!