The Catbox files...

[Kev]

Looking good Peter!  Be sure to bring that progressive webber tonight, I am going to get it from Mark...

[slammed67]

Wow Peter, the carbs look great!!!  So when do you think you will get it running?  I am looking forward to seeing them in person.

Randy

[CatBox]

i am going to bring one to the meeting tonight  to show youse guys.

I talked to mark yesterday and i will definatly bring the progressive to you.

as for getting it all back toghter i am not quite sure but it will be in the next couple of weeks as i am still not back at work due to the car accident.  i also need to go and buy some new MSD super condutor plug wires and it will be complete.

i still need to mount the box and wire it, install the distributor, pick a timing curve for the stock engine, install the carbs and manifolds, clean the plugs, open up the plug gaps to .45 or .50, grind the ground strap back on the plugs, redo some of the ugly stock wiring to get it where it is harder to see, finish cleaning, painting, and regreaseing the carb linkage, adjusting the carbs,  well ithink thats about all the kinds of ssrimp 'der is.

[buspilot]

i am going to bring one to the meeting tonight  to show youse guys.

I talked to mark yesterday and i will definatly bring the progressive to you.

as for getting it all back toghter i am not quite sure but it will be in the next couple of weeks as i am still not back at work due to the car accident.  i also need to go and buy some new MSD super condutor plug wires and it will be complete.

i still need to mount the box and wire it, install the distributor, pick a timing curve for the stock engine, install the carbs and manifolds, clean the plugs, open up the plug gaps to .45 or .50, grind the ground strap back on the plugs, redo some of the ugly stock wiring to get it where it is harder to see, finish cleaning, painting, and regreaseing the carb linkage, adjusting the carbs,  well ithink thats about all the kinds of ssrimp 'der is.

There is honestly no better person in the world to consult about timing curves than John at aircooled.net.

[CatBox]

thanks the man.   the distributor i have came with a tech sheet full of choices and sproing combos.  i should be able to dial it in pretty close to where i should be for the stock set up with those.  but it is a good thing to know.

[buspilot]

Here's a good resource for more distributor info too.

http://www.oldvolkshome.com/ignition.htm#A4954

[CatBox]

well since it is christmas time i havent been able to get as mucho done as i had hoped to but i still have got things done.

i rebuilt the wiring harness in the engine compartment so that it does not run across the top of the fan shroud to the alternator.  i cut and spliced all of the wires so they are long enough to run from the drivers side over the head tin where it is held in place and it splits for the oil sender and two coil wires.  these wires were chopped up by the previous owner and in need of repair to begin with and thats what sparked off this little job.  the other wires were then routed to under the alternator to another clamp and then wrap up from under the alternator to the stud and plug.



you can also see that i had to put a loverly custom bend in the fuel pump inlet tube to clear the new distributor.  i couldnt get the distributor in the hole at all untill i bent it.  i also rebent the fuel tube coming from the fire wall to where the rubber line starts for the pump.  it is not in the pics but it runs along under the new harness and is clamped in place in front of the intake manifold so it wont rub od be all wiggly causing bad stuff to happen.



i picked up the plug wires for it yesterday from Baxters and really need to get the distributor in it the right way not just stuck in the hole for looks.  i cant today as i am on kid watch.

i also took out the plugs, one is fouled like usual the other carb was a rich little devil.  i cleaned them off and then ground the ground strap off to about halfway over the top of the center electrode.  this puts the spark in easier view of the intake charge, so it is no longer under the strap it is on the edge of it.  racers would sometimes "index" the plugs so that they would all be in the same orientation in the combustion chamber.  this is the best way to achieve a somewhat similar position without removing the heads and taking the time to index every plug.  i also opened them up to .045" gap from the stock .025".  the new ignition system should prove to be massive overkill on the stock motor, but ahen i make the move to a larger engine it will be already on it ready to go.

now i just need to mount the box under the rear seat, run its two wires to the dist, hook up its power wires, install the carbs, repaint the fuel pump, install new fuel lines to the pump and carbs with hose clamps at all fittings, install the dist correctly, put on the new plug wires, install the carb linkage, and finally see if it all works.

even though i removed stuff from the list of things to do it hasnt gotten any shorter.  i guess i just forgot the other things on the first list, oh well.

[CatBox]

weel i have not got a whole lot accomplished since last visit.  

i do have the spark plug wires in place and i need to cut one down so it doest look all piled up in there.  

i have the carbs in place and found that the filters are to close to the body while it sits still, my motor looks like it has parkinsons so those wouldnt work and i went a purchased some smaller clamp ons for now.  when i break the engine and tranny ill deal with the motor mounts and tranny mounts then.  that is a whole other story as i will be putting in a kaffer bar(?) at that time to stiffen up the frame horns and rear end suspension.  

the other thing i am having a swell time with is the carb linkage mount.  what a cluster $%@& !  i kind of have it where i was told it goes and it so doesnt look correct at all.  so i will wait untill i have help with that one.

[RyanB]

Lookin really clean there Peter!  Very nice!

[CatBox]

Lookin really clean there Peter!  Very nice!

thanks.  it is now much busier looking now it has the plug wires and the carb linkage bracket on it.  it still looks better than it did from when i got it all the way up untill the dual carbs portion.  

i have been kinda taken it easy on workin on it due to the stupid injury i have has been kinda flared up.  so for the first time in i dont know how long im reading a book, and its a book thats not car realated.  its a bout the communications of serial killers and how they are a very big part of the need to be recognized by the press.

[corradojeff]

looking good. keep it up

[CatBox]

well this whole ordeal with the bout of whiplash has taken me down for a while and doesnt looklike its going to go away any time soon.  i just started phyisical therapy again and that nice lady hurt me something fierce.  she had to ask if she could perform this technique on me and if i said yes then i couldnt sue her for hurting me.  

well she hurt me and for the first time in a very long time i yelped out in pain, trying to pick up my little girl.  i go back tomorrow for more lucky me.

well you are not here to listen to me whine so here goes.  to get my kads bolted to the manifolds i needed a wrench.  i dont like to spend money on something i can make or do myself.  so they have one at discount that goes for $9.  i thought i have lots of wrenshes and a torch, i"ll give it a go.  oh and while i was at D&M picking up my carbs the Todd showed me his fancy wrench he bought from his supplier, nifty.  

here is my new tool next to a standard one

[Smug]

I want one!
Oh wait I would sit need to cut hole through the wheel well to adjust the carbs or change the plugs.

But for installing and removing the carbs... Nice.

[CatBox]

ok im back.  had to be a dad for a while.

...soo  where was i... oh the do-dad

and thanks senior smug. i have been assured that the hole cutting is not nessacito so im will hold off on that bit of fun.

back to the pics
in this one it is easier to see the discoloration on the wrench where i had to heat and bend in two places.




tomorrow i will get a pic of how it works on the car.

this next shot is how the car will be for the most part.  it is just lacking the fuel lines and some plug wire clamps.  i reinstalled the rear tin and air tubes.  somehow i cant find the fan belt and i also lost the alternator nut but got a spare generator nut from a friend.  there is still a list of about 10 things to be done before its done and ready to be started.




well thats about all till after i feel better from the physical therapizing, again.  El Presidente' has penciled me in to give the crippled follower a helping hand.  thanks in advanced.

[CatBox]

does anybody know how much of a pain it is to eliminate the factory diagnostic plug?

ya know the ugly thing in the upper left hand corner in the picture above.