Author Topic: the summer project (Read 256706 times)

billcreller · « **Reply #150 on:** March 21, 2012, 07:41:44 pm »

The brakes are squared away, since I adjusted the rears. It's basically ready to drive, as far as the engine is concerned. Found & fixed a few leaks in the coolant etc. Installed some more mods to the distributor, to limit the vacuum advance, while keeping the initial up to 14 degrees etc. Can't take it for a spin down the runway yet, since the seat is apart in my basement, for re-upholstery.

Ritchie200 · « **Reply #151 on:** March 21, 2012, 08:30:23 pm »

Tweed?

Jim

Jack_Hester · « **Reply #152 on:** March 22, 2012, 04:24:12 am »

I just noticed that this project has had a long Summer (01Apr09). I've got some like this.

Jack

billcreller · « **Reply #153 on:** March 23, 2012, 01:34:46 am »

Yeah Jack, it started back then with a '77 I bought new, but found it to be too rusted to restore, and I bought a '75 body, and used all the rebuilt parts from the '77 on it. The '77, what was left of it, went to the crusher.

It's been a fairly long project, but I'm not in a big rush to get it done.

Hey Jim, tweed would be cool!!

PRR · « **Reply #154 on:** March 23, 2012, 08:02:29 pm »

> I'm not in a big rush to get it done.

When done, you can do a Ranchero, do the Chevy Versus Ford thing.

My neighbor just got a 1977 Ranchero in fairly good shape. Last inspection was 2005. The bed panel leaks so the "back seat" is damp. The rag-joint in the steering is totally gone, just banging on the safety-nubs, 3 inches of slop at the steering wheel. The 77 Ranchoo is same-as my 79 T-bird which was a beefy 1966 Galaxie. Best Ford chassis since the Model T. Designed for 390/427, easily takes a 428 429 or 460. This shape but all white.

billcreller · « **Reply #155 on:** March 26, 2012, 06:51:42 pm »

A friend had one, same year but red. Don't remember which engine his had. Those years had beefy frames, to hold those big block engines.

billcreller · « **Reply #156 on:** April 08, 2012, 10:41:30 am »

I'm currently working on the hood. It has surface rust to deal with, and some spots have some pits in the rusty areas. Did I mention that I hate body work ? Anyway, when the hood is finally ready, I can get on to finishing all the little spots on the body for the paint job.
Only thing left on the engine is adding a vacuum source on the manifold for the cruise control. The AC compressor change, and new hoses etc will have to wait. Another couple grand for tires, mufflers & tail pipes etc, and interior parts, will have it ready to burn too much gas. I have 100 octane avgas in it right now, so I don't have to deal with the ethanol spiked auto gas getting bad from sitting around..

Here's a pic with the stock air cleaner, which I intend to use in cold weather, since it will likely need carb heat. Might use an open type in summer.

PRR · « **Reply #157 on:** April 10, 2012, 07:41:05 pm »

> in cold weather, since it will likely need carb heat.

Dunno what you call "cold". When below freezing you don't need heat. You DO need heat when 38 degrees and misty rain.

You probably know this from aircraft but the symptoms are different on the ground. It's just above freezing, and a lot of fine water-mist. Engine idling or 20MPH, throttle near closed. As the air comes past the throttle plate it expands. And cools. Several degrees. After a few minutes the throttle is cooled. To freezing. Ice builds on the throttle plate and adjacent walls. Engine sucks, air cools more. (Evaporating fuel plays a part also.)

My Willys always stalled at the end of the block. If I restarted and gunned to the end of the next block, it stalled again. If I left it stalled for a couple minutes, by now there was enough heat in the manifold to warm the throttle area back above freezing. OK until the next cool damp morning.

So: no heat to start. There's no heat available, your choke gets you started. Run at damp 38 degrees, ice forms. 5 minutes out the manifold heat does the job. But in the 2 minute to 5 minute interval it will NOT run slow without icing up. That's what the wretched flex to the exhaust stove is for. (It may improve economy in the 40deg-50deg zone, but obviously you do not care.)

No trouble when air is below freezing, because there's little or no loose water in the air to ice-up.

Aircraft can get in trouble at much larger throttle and fully-warm because of more extreme air conditions and typically less manifold heat. And while I could let my Willys stand for a few minutes and thaw-out, an airplane at altitude usually can't.

> Might use an open type in summer.

Experience with a couple ~~1979 GMs says you may need snout air in summer. A Chevy Six and an Olds 350 would ping like a bucket of marbles unless the snout hose was sealed all the way to grille air. Any underhood air getting in, you thought you got a load of 69 octane gas, but fixing-up the snout and duct cleared it up.

So don't fix that hood too much. Whack a big hole and use a Shaker intake.

billcreller · « **Reply #158 on:** April 19, 2012, 07:17:11 pm »

I don't think it's a candidate for a shaker set-up ! And hacking a hole for it doesn't sound like much fun! I did originally think about a hood mod though. I do have the original duct & air inlet from the Caddy, to get outside-cool air. When temp & dew point get close, it's ice time, which you likely know. Carb ice in an airplane can be a big problem, which has happened to me only twice, increasing the pucker factor for a bit.
The thermostatic sensor in the air cleaner snout opens at 110 degrees, to let some outside air in through the snout. The stock air cleaner is restricted enough to kill off some power of course. I figured that getting another hood to experiment with later, might be OK
Carb ice was a problem on a Chevelle I had, with an open air cleaner. No manifolds on that one, just headers. Finally made a heat muff for the left header, to get heat to a stock type air cleaner, which fixed the problem. It would ice-up some days, and I would have to pull off of the road for about 10 minutes. to let i melt from engine heat.
I'm currently working on another hood, since the first one had too many pits in the surface rust. And I don't like body work much....

billcreller · « **Reply #159 on:** May 01, 2012, 07:39:45 pm »

Just picked up another gallon of paint stripper, to finish stripping the top of the hood. When the hood is in primer and bolted on, new Borla stainless steel mufflers are next. I picked the type with the lowest decible rating, for a performance muffler. Gotta be able to hear the radio ya know.....

sluckey · « **Reply #160 on:** May 01, 2012, 10:10:27 pm »

This is a looooooong summer project. I'm reminded of an old Johnny Cash song.

johnny cash-one piece at a time

billcreller · « **Reply #161 on:** May 02, 2012, 03:46:02 pm »

Yeah Steve, I remember that tune

But remember, I didn't say which summer it would get finished !!

Hopefully this one........

billcreller · « **Reply #162 on:** May 04, 2012, 10:45:55 pm »

I finally have the bottom of the hood primed. Here's a pic of it after getting the paint & surface rust off of it, and priming it.

billcreller · « **Reply #163 on:** May 13, 2012, 12:11:05 am »

I have the top side of the hood stripped, which took longer than the work on the bottom. The finish paint slid off easy, but the black GM primer was tough to get off. Just a some primer, and then fitting it in place.....adjusting a hood and it's hinges from scratch is is a pain in the a$$.....

And I'm building another amp, similar to the Valco types I did before........with "extra" parts I have around here.....

Ritchie200 · « **Reply #164 on:** May 13, 2012, 09:45:49 am »

And in your spare time?

Jim

billcreller · « **Reply #165 on:** May 13, 2012, 03:49:10 pm »

My "spare' time this coming week is working on/inspecting two airplanes, a Cessna 177RG, and a Grumman AA5B, which has some leaking bottom plates on the fuel tanks, which I'm
waiting on parts for. Lots of fun this month...

Ritchie200 · « **Reply #166 on:** May 14, 2012, 12:56:02 am »

Wow, I've flown both of those! I don't remember which variant of the Grumman, but that was a nice little plane - and it was fast for a fixed gear. I've flown several Cardinals, but we always rented an Archer for any cross country trips - that was a comfy plane. I like the low wing planes! Post some pics!

Jim

billcreller · « **Reply #167 on:** May 15, 2012, 04:51:36 pm »

The lady that owns the Grumman loves it...I hate it. I'm not fond of glued together airplanes. And the engine is covered by "the cowling from hell" , a real PIA to remove & install. I guess it performs good, and this one is loaded with electronics, which are likely worth more than the airplane.
Th Cardinal RG is a fairly fast airplane, once the gear is up, compared the the fixed-gear version.
Also, today I was asked to do an inspection on a motor-glider. It's German built. The engine retracts into the fuselage behind the pilot. German engineering.......well built rig, but single place.
And I even have my hood primed & ready for paint today

Time to fit & adjust it to the front clip.

Ritchie200 · « **Reply #168 on:** May 16, 2012, 03:29:30 pm »

Doesn't the prop have to come off to get the cowling off? Yikes! I didn't know it was glued together.... That was 20 years ago!

Jim

billcreller · « **Reply #169 on:** May 16, 2012, 09:46:18 pm »

Yeah, they are glued together, and have some honey-comb panels in the fuselage. Prop doesn't have to come of to get the "cowl from hell" off. De-lamination is a problem sometimes, on the wings.

Sometime before the end of the month, I have to do a condition inspection on a German built motor-glider. It's in the experimental category. Kinda neat, the engine retracts into the fuselage after shut-down at altitude, for soaring.

I finally have my hood stripped, cleaned, and primed & sealed. Seems like a lot of work for just doing a hood :Banghead

don't know why the pic disappeared, since I'm such a PC expert !

billcreller · « **Reply #170 on:** June 04, 2012, 01:13:49 am »

Not much done lately. I've been doing annual inspections on airplanes. I have new seat upholstery coming, and a new headliner ordered, and so it goes......

Ritchie200 · « **Reply #171 on:** June 04, 2012, 09:54:22 pm »

Hey, if you are allowed, I'd sure like to see pics of that German motor glider! That is one thing I've always wanted to do. Nothing but a little wind noise and searching for updrafts - that would be soooo neat! Any other time silence is the time to panic!!!!

Jim

billcreller · « **Reply #172 on:** June 05, 2012, 04:25:44 pm »

OK, I'll get some pics in the near future.
My El Camino seat upholstery was for the wrong year, so I'm dealing with the vendor to exchange it for the right stuff.
Meanwhile, I'm also working on my Luscombe restoration. It's a 1947 8-A, that I converted to an 8-E. It has a Lycoming 0235C engine in it now, which is 115 HP. Original 8-A engine was a 65 HP Continental.
This has been a back-burner project for many years, but I keep picking away at it.

billcreller · « **Reply #173 on:** June 20, 2012, 05:55:26 pm »

I did get the back-rests covered for the seat. The seat frame for the bench part has some surface rust where the foam cushion lays on it, and it's being sand blasted for me this week.
Here's the back-rests.....

billcreller · « **Reply #174 on:** June 29, 2012, 12:02:36 am »

The seat bottom (bench) is done, with the new upholstery. I forgot how heavy the seat is, so I'm not assembling the back rests to the bottom until I install it.

fdesalvo · « **Reply #175 on:** June 29, 2012, 11:19:32 am »

Quote from: billcreller on April 14, 2009, 12:13:16 am

Sounds like the T Bird was a fun car. My oldest son ( a guitar player too) has two older coupes, one is a turbo coupe, 4 banger...

BILL

Haha, my first turbo car was a '87 Tbird Turbo Coupe - intercooled 2.3l with a decent 5 spd manual tranny. Actually was a fun car that put down decent numbers after a little exhaust, intake, and boost controller work.

billcreller · « **Reply #176 on:** June 29, 2012, 10:43:13 pm »

I've been working on a Cessna 172, for a couple weeks, which hasn't been flown for 5 years, and needs to be sold. The owner is a former partner of mine in airplanes, and is in very bad health these days. Nothing really wrong with the airplane, except for some minor repairs from sitting, and needing an annual inspection. I have to get it finished, because it's in the same building as my project, which is about ready to paint.

billcreller · « **Reply #177 on:** July 09, 2012, 08:47:19 pm »

The 172 is done except that it needs a magneto. (there are two on airplane engines) The models on there are old & not built since the 70s. Looks like about $1200 bucks for a current model to replace the bad one.
Meanwhile, I believe I'll install the headliner in the El Camino project, since I can't paint yet with the airplane in the way.

Ritchie200 · « **Reply #178 on:** July 09, 2012, 09:29:59 pm »

Bill, are you seeing a lot of the old planes from the 60's having a hard time finding a home? There sure are a lot less aviators nowadays.....

Jim

billcreller · « **Reply #179 on:** July 10, 2012, 10:36:09 pm »

A lot of the old lower powered airplanes are holding their value, because of fuel prices, and the economy etc. The one I'm working on ( just ordered a new mag for it today) is a 1961 Cessna 172B. The 182 models have lost more value I think, because of the big engine, and the constant speed propeller, which can be expensive to overhaul. Hardly see any light twin engine airplane around here, because of operating costs.

I did get my seat bottom done for my El Camino project. Here's a pic....

Ritchie200 · « **Reply #180 on:** July 10, 2012, 10:48:27 pm »

Did you do that re-cover? That looks nice! Getting closer.....!

Did you ever do that motor glider?

Jim

billcreller · « **Reply #181 on:** July 17, 2012, 09:23:03 pm »

Lately I've been doing a major honey-do on the wife's Caddy. The cross-over exhaust pipe broke, and I can't locate a new one. So I bought some pipe for a repair on one side of it. Meanwhile, the oil pan had some leaks/pin-holes etc, so I bought a new pan. And, I noticed some rust holes in the floor, so spent a couple days fixing that. It's been all kinds of fun ! I may get it done this week.....

I did take a few pics of the motor glider, but they were not very good, so I'll take some more.
The El Camino seat upholstery is pre-made stuff, and goes on just like the original stuff was.

billcreller · « **Reply #182 on:** July 30, 2012, 09:05:59 pm »

All the work on the Caddy was a waste of time it turned out. After finishing what I was doing to it, I drove it home from the airport shop, to get the wife to bring me back to the airport to get my truck. On the way back, while waiting to make a left turn, we were rear-ended big time, by a young man who wasn't paying attention (or maybe texting on his phone )
Anyway the Caddy was really wrecked. Took the wife to get checked out at the local hospital, xrays, scans etc . She is OK. I didn't have any problems I'm aware of (too dumb to get injured)

So I had to look around for another car for her, and found a really nice Buick for her. (she needs a big heavy car to absorb all the crashes !)
The Buick is a '93 Park Avenue Ultra, with the little 3800 supercharged engine, with 85K miles. It should do the job for a few years.
I was quite surprised by it when I drove it. Any more than a light touch on the gas pedal makes the tires light up !

And I finished the airplane also , so maybe I can get back to the project at hand......

Ritchie200 · « **Reply #183 on:** July 30, 2012, 11:03:21 pm »

Glad to hear you are both OK! Holy crap, you just never know....

Hey, I thought the plane WAS the project!

Jim

billcreller · « **Reply #184 on:** August 17, 2012, 03:45:26 pm »

I have a prospective buyer for the friend's airplane, and hopefully he will get it out of my way soon. The El Camino project keeps getting side stepped because of other stuff.
I found a real nice Buick Park Avenue Ultra for the wife to drive. It's the supercharged 3800 Buick engine. I didn't realize how much power that little V6 has with a supercharger on it.

billcreller · « **Reply #185 on:** August 17, 2012, 03:47:45 pm »

And here's the engine bay. Quite clean...

DummyLoad · « **Reply #186 on:** August 17, 2012, 09:30:40 pm »

i had a 92 thunderbird SC - had 3.8L FI SC w/ intercooler & 5 spd. M/T - high fun factor.

the buick is a fun car as well, good brakes, power, decent handling, and a solid chassis. if the other GM divisions made cars with the same quality and dependability as buick they'd be on top again.

--DL

billcreller · « **Reply #187 on:** September 28, 2012, 06:16:46 pm »

Well, I finally have the Cessna 172 sold, ( two days ago ) and another friend is the buyer, a retired corporate pilot. He is also an instructor, and we did some flying to re-new my bi-annual flight review.
So I have a big empty ( almost) hangar to myself now. Nothing holding up the El Camino project now, except money !

billcreller · « **Reply #188 on:** November 07, 2012, 10:12:15 pm »

Too many irons in the fire here. I removed all the masking form my project, before the tape became difficult to remove. The paint job is on hold until next spring.
I've been doing some installs & mods on the airplane I just sold for a friend, plus some annual inspections for others.
I may get the headliner installed if I can get fired up without being bothered for a few days..........

billcreller · « **Reply #189 on:** February 17, 2013, 02:25:30 am »

It's been a while since I got anything visibly done on my "summer" project, but I did get started on the interior, since it's way too cold to think about paint, in the old hangar I'm working in.
I just installed the headliner, and have new carpet & door sill scuff plates to install. Then all the plastic trim pieces can be put back on in there, along with the steering wheel, which I didn't install yet, for more room to work.
I'll get some pics when I get it all in.

billcreller · « **Reply #190 on:** March 02, 2013, 12:48:22 am »

Interior is mostly done now. Next item is installing the weather strip on the doors and the roof rail, which is the top of the door way.
The interior door panels will likely come along soon too, as I freeze my way through this !

billcreller · « **Reply #191 on:** March 17, 2013, 11:22:50 pm »

I now have the weather strips installed, and the door windows adjusted for up & down stops, & tilt in & out for contact with the weather strips in the correct place. And the new door sill scuff plates just arrived, and are screwed in place. Have to buy a pair of 4 X 6 speakers, likely from Crutchfield, for the inside of the rear doorway edge trim covers, where they are supposed to be mounted.

Meanwhile I'm making a new chassis for an old Gretch amp, which was likely sitting in someone's garage for a long time. The inside/bottom of the chassis is rusty & crusty, even though the amp still works ! I'm using some .050" aluminum sheet stock for a new chassis.

PRR · « **Reply #192 on:** May 15, 2013, 11:48:31 am »

You guys working on vintage planes should note this:

http://www.boston.com/news/local/maine/2013/05/15/ntsb-aging-part-caused-fatal-maine-plane-crash/ELoJOzvjpocF02lxAU7wlJ/story.html

Quote

CAPE ELIZABETH, Maine (AP) � Federal investigators say an aging part fractured and caused a vintage plane to crash into the ocean off Portland Head Light last summer, killing the doctor piloting the aircraft.

The National Transportation Safety Board says in its report released earlier this month that the 1946 Stinson Voyager suffered ��a fatigue failure of the No. 3 piston skirt,�� causing a total loss of engine power.

The Sun Journal (http://bit.ly/12zYqoi ) reports the NTSB says although the piston was overhauled about five years before the accident, the part was more than 65 years old.

I'm not sure why a piston skirt should have fatigue failure.

DummyLoad · « **Reply #193 on:** May 15, 2013, 04:39:35 pm »

Quote from: PRR on May 15, 2013, 11:48:31 am

You guys working on vintage planes should note this:

http://www.boston.com/news/local/maine/2013/05/15/ntsb-aging-part-caused-fatal-maine-plane-crash/ELoJOzvjpocF02lxAU7wlJ/story.html

Quote
CAPE ELIZABETH, Maine (AP) � Federal investigators say an aging part fractured and caused a vintage plane to crash into the ocean off Portland Head Light last summer, killing the doctor piloting the aircraft.

The National Transportation Safety Board says in its report released earlier this month that the 1946 Stinson Voyager suffered ��a fatigue failure of the No. 3 piston skirt,�� causing a total loss of engine power.

The Sun Journal (http://bit.ly/12zYqoi ) reports the NTSB says although the piston was overhauled about five years before the accident, the part was more than 65 years old.

I'm not sure why a piston skirt should have fatigue failure.

bad boring job; bad honing job; improper clearances; causes skirt slap. skirt wears abnormally, fatigues, then cracks, then breaks. piston disintegrates, rod/wrist pin demolish block. engine seizes. crash.

--pete

billcreller · « **Reply #194 on:** June 23, 2013, 12:04:04 am »

The engine in that old Stinson was likely a Franklin 6A4 type, if the airplane was the 108 model. The piston cracking could happen to any aircraft engine, but likely a piston that old has a different alloy than the modern variety, which are mostly made in Brazil these days.
Not only that, there are many new-old-stock parts around that are as old as that airplane, and no new manufactured parts available.
Of course one of the wing struts could be rusted from the inside and fail in flight, on an airplane that old.
The general aviation fleet of airplanes is OLD on an average...

Anyway....I finally have the stainless steel exhaust system finished on the El Camino project. Everything is stainless...and I made stainless steel brackets for all the hangers for the pipes, and I'm using band type clamps instead of the U-type, which will allow the system to be removable, like for removing the transmission etc. I have an H-pipe ahead of the mufflers, which are the Borla brand. Here's a pic of the front of the mufflers & the H pipe cross-over.

Ritchie200 · « **Reply #195 on:** June 24, 2013, 01:14:55 am »

Bill,

Did you know Jane Wicker and Charlie Schwenker? Gosh, I've seen them a bunch. What a terrible loss.

Jim

billcreller · « **Reply #196 on:** June 24, 2013, 09:23:36 pm »

I didn't know those folks, but have friends who knew them. I haven't heard what actually happened. Lots of blood running to the head when flying inverted for a long period of time in that act. Kinda make me wonder....

billcreller · « **Reply #197 on:** July 14, 2013, 11:33:56 am »

Finally got some help to get the seat in. Bottom part ( bench) first, then the back rests. Heavy & awkward to handle.

Willabe · « **Reply #198 on:** July 23, 2013, 11:55:43 pm »

Bill that looks really good!

I went to Volo (Ill) antique auto museum last month with a good friend of mine who was in town visiting after moving to Cali last year. I had never been to it before even though I only live ~5 miles away from it for a good 8 years.

We saw a good number of cars from very early up to the 60's+ muscle cars. Prices where all over the place.

What I loved the best were the oldest BIG touring cars. Man they were something!

Your cars that you have posted are as good or better than anything we saw that day.

Brad

Ritchie200 · « **Reply #199 on:** July 24, 2013, 11:00:28 pm »

Where's the tweed?!?!?!?

Jim

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Author Topic: the summer project (Read 256706 times)