What did you do to your Mopar today?

[conv67bdere]

Wrestle-Mania tonight at the Mad Scientist shop . . . the Mad Scientist Vs. the Mopar 8 3/4 489 rear end . . . and it was a match to enjoy . . .

Dragged the rear end out to the shop ( doesn't everyone work on their rear ends in the A/C in their living rooms ? )

This is where round #2 started, as I tried to get this thing into place, without messing up all my powder coating, and get it set in place on top of the springs . . .

Mad Scientist won the battle . . . eventually - but the 8 3/4 put up one Heck of a battle . . .

First time this has been back in the car in 5 years . . . sure looks nice . . . now I get to remove it and get it out of the way . . . OH BOY . . . FUN . . .

The whole purpose of this wrestling match . . .

To find out where these emergency brake lines are going to end up so I can get the bracket mounted to the frame . . .

 

[Larrry B.]

^^^That looks great, nice work and progress.

 

[2quick]

Had some smoke on start up and when I pulled the manifold to switch out the valley plate cover I notice a lot of oil sitting on the valve. Thought maybe I screwed up the valve seal when I swapped out the spring locator. The seals were new and installed prior to me getting the motor so I just assumed they were correct and pulled them of and reinstalled them. Well looks like they were leaking cause they were the wrong size and for 3/8 valves and not 11/32 like I have. So I found the smoking gun at least. while I was in there made some baffles for my new Wagner PCV set up and fixed a leaking oil line to the head.

 

[Fran Blacker]

Been working on my Holley carbs on a crossram and screwing up! Went to start the car to see if changes I made helped. Car was fouling plugs and I tried opening secondarys a hair and change idle feed restrictors, NG idle to high. Turn on ignition switched on fuel pump and primary vent tube shot gas out. Pulled carb pulled off bowl looked in side, vent tube baffle had fallen off and jammed float open. Think I pulled bowl and gasket and baffle came off and I didn't notice the baffle, egad. Thought I shut primary plates earlier nope so when I started the car a 5000 rpm idle. So pulled carbs and went over everything. Putting them on I found 1 rod from bellcrank too carb was 2 turns to short was partly holding right carb open besides the miss adjustment before.
Started it up idled ok, leave adjustments for another day. Well after changing a couple of 8 foot bulbs today, go to start the car turned on ignition no lights on dash then notice no interior lights. Get out volt meter check battery dead, dead, dead.
Costco tomorrow maybe a free new battery 39 months old. One problem though they checked my purchases and said I bought a battery in 5/15 and 8/15. Dead battery I'm returning has a manufacture date of 9/15.

 

[5.7 hemi]

I took the Dart out of town to the land of cotton and did some testing. The 470 with Holley Terminator did very well. My buddy (CHP Officer) and I took turns driving and it’s an ANIMAL when you stomp on it. The afr’s were all over as it was pulling fuel, no pinging or detonation, but I need to add some more timing to it. This car just gets with it, will boil the tires in all 4 gears and the Dana 60 just laughed! I’m happy with how the testing went, no leaks, temp stayed between 185-190, nothing broke (except tire traction) and so it was a good day. We put about 50 miles on it so I’ve got some good data to look at and can now start making adjustments.

 

[Auggie56]

I drove it today down to the store and back. Other than to a car show she hasn't been on the road this year. Plan to do some work after the holidays.

 

[oldbee]

Been working on my Holley carbs on a crossram and screwing up! Went to start the car to see if changes I made helped. Car was fouling plugs and I tried opening secondarys a hair and change idle feed restrictors, NG idle to high. Turn on ignition switched on fuel pump and primary vent tube shot gas out. Pulled carb pulled off bowl looked in side, vent tube baffle had fallen off and jammed float open. Think I pulled bowl and gasket and baffle came off and I didn't notice the baffle, egad. Thought I shut primary plates earlier nope so when I started the car a 5000 rpm idle. So pulled carbs and went over everything. Putting them on I found 1 rod from bellcrank too carb was 2 turn to short was partly holding right carb open besides the miss adjustment before.
Started it up idled ok, leave adjustments for another day. Well after changing a couple of 8 foot bulbs today, go to start the car turned on ignition no lights on dash then notice no interior lights. Get out volt meter check battery dead, dead, dead.
Costco tomorrow maybe a free new battery 39 months old. One problem though they checked my purchases and said I bought a battery in 5/15 and 8/15. Dead battery I'm returning has a manufacture date of 9/15.

Ok, officially ; ur getting too old LOL. Thanks for “Manning up” though.

 

[Fran Blacker]

Ok, officially ; ur getting too old LOL. Thanks for “Manning up” though.

THANKS, I think?

 

[hawkeye]

I didn't do it to my Mopar but for my Mopar. Saw this picture on craigslist today in a listing for general Mopar stuff.

This afternoon I brought this home. Correct jack handle for 68 thru 70 Charger. I have the jack and base and have been keeping my eyes open for the handle. $10 and he sandblasted it.

 

[Scott Engelhardt]

Balanced the rear tires and getting car ready for Sundays road trip

 

[Cornpatch MO]

Balanced the rear tires and getting car ready for Sundays road trip

View attachment 661865

Where you going that won't be raining?...................MO

 

[PP1RT]

Where you going that won't be raining?...................MO

No kidding...

 

[Fran Blacker]

Yesterday dead battery in my 65 Dodge, I bought at Costco in 2015. $2.13 later new battery, no fuss no bother. Like that! 42 month warranty, died at 40 months.

 

[Richard Cranium]

Got the front end on the bronze Charger aligned today. Going to make an appointment for the green Charger when I pick this one up.

 

[Cornpatch MO]

Got the front end on the bronze Charger aligned today. Going to make an appointment for the green Charger when I pick this one up.


View attachment 662118

Does your alignment guy go off the rear wheels? Several folks here have had a problem getting the job done with the new fangled machines ...............MO

 

[Scott Engelhardt]

No kidding...

I just looked at the forecast and it does not look so favorable!

 

[Scott Engelhardt]

Most of the new fangled machines should have no trouble doing a thrust angle alignment on vintage cars. Where you do run into trouble is when there is a rear fender that interferes with the rear sensor or target compensation. That Charger would not be a problem

 

[oldbee]

Got the front end on the bronze Charger aligned today. Going to make an appointment for the green Charger when I pick this one up.


View attachment 662118

Any problems pointed out by alignment guy?

 

[Richard Cranium]

Any problems pointed out by alignment guy?

I found a worn idler arm over the winter & replaced that myself. The car was pulling to the right, but when he put it on the rack, the specs told him that it should have been pulling to the left which left him scratching his head. From what he told me, I guess he had a heck of a time aligning it, but it goes straight as an arrow now. Bringing in the other Charger in on Tuesday.

 

[Richard Cranium]

Does your alignment guy go off the rear wheels? Several folks here have had a problem getting the job done with the new fangled machines ...............MO

He did say that the older machines had some other features that the new machines don't (bump adjust?), but he aligned it and test drove and re-aligned it 4 times to get it right.