1971 Firebird Build ("The Other Woman", a.k.a. Project "T.O.W.")

[carbuff]

Originally Posted by GregWeld

But my thinking is that an "eye" for food --- is also probably the same "eye" that bought this project Firebird. Ya think??

That picture actually came from the red car, the original one that I disassembled, and then sold when I moved. You'd think I would learn, after having done this 4 times now, but I bought this one from pictures only. It's amazing what a person will tell you to sell a car. :\

Sorry Bryan --- I just couldn't pass up just one more time of busting your danglers.

Yeah yeah. Love you guys!

[carbuff]

I picked up TOW today after she received from TLC from Eric. I have a list of things to do, but I also have an auto-x tomorrow, so Eric squeezed her in for a day to do some of the quicker items.

• Replace the steering rack with a 'new' unit from AGR
• Check the clutch hydraulics (the engagement has been getting higher)
• Check the brakes, they felt a little soft after my school last weekend

As you may recall, at the Fall FW GG event, I blew a seal in the steering rack I had. I replaced it with a remanufactured unit from PepBoys. While it 'worked' ok, I was never happy with the feel. I just wasn't "right". When Eric pulled it out, he noticed that the poly bushings looked like they were 'moving'. I'm not sure why, the mounting bolts were tight, but he said the bushings looked worn inside.

Today when I drove it after the swap, it was night and day difference! The old rack felt sloppy, but this rack feels like the car felt when I first drove it after all of the work. So whether it was an issue with the reman rack, the bushings, or something else, all I know is that it's MUCH more responsive now to steering input. I like it...

Eric found that the fitting on the clutch master cylinder was leaking, and when he tried to snug it up, it just spun the threads. The reservoir was almost empty, so we definitely had a leak there. He was able to drill out the threads and go 1 size larger, and that solved that problem. Clutch again feels much better, engagement is lower as it should be.

Finally, there was a slight leak at one of the brake fittings that looks like it let a little air into the system. Tightened that up and bled the brakes. Again, they felt better afterwards.

He also discovered that the rear axle was not perfectly aligned to the car, making the thrust angle be off a little. Strangely, but alignment shops the car has been to told me it was just barely off, but not enough to worry about. But the car has always had a slight pull to the right. Well, after he fixed this and did a string alignment on the front toe, the car is tracking down the road straighter than it ever has.

So round one of the little touchups are complete, and the car feels great. He gave her a bolt check also while he was down there, and things look good. We're going to try and tackle some of the exhaust clearance issues next week. I think we are going to try and use oval piping from the headers all the way past the torque arm crossmember, replacing the 3" collector on the headers with an oval one instead. It's the only way we're going to get the clearance I want.

Looking forward to the auto-x tomorrow. This is a serious group of locals, and there are 140 cars registered for the event. I'm curious to see what the cross-section of cars will be.

[gerno]

Glad to hear you got everything straightened out. Have fun tomorrow, I'm jealous I can't join you.

[68LS1]

Originally Posted by carbuff

I picked up TOW today after she received from TLC from Eric. I have a list of things to do, but I also have an auto-x tomorrow, so Eric squeezed her in for a day to do some of the quicker items.

• Replace the steering rack with a 'new' unit from AGR
• Check the clutch hydraulics (the engagement has been getting higher)
• Check the brakes, they felt a little soft after my school last weekend

As you may recall, at the Fall FW GG event, I blew a seal in the steering rack I had. I replaced it with a remanufactured unit from PepBoys. While it 'worked' ok, I was never happy with the feel. I just wasn't "right". When Eric pulled it out, he noticed that the poly bushings looked like they were 'moving'. I'm not sure why, the mounting bolts were tight, but he said the bushings looked worn inside.

Today when I drove it after the swap, it was night and day difference! The old rack felt sloppy, but this rack feels like the car felt when I first drove it after all of the work. So whether it was an issue with the reman rack, the bushings, or something else, all I know is that it's MUCH more responsive now to steering input. I like it...

Eric found that the fitting on the clutch master cylinder was leaking, and when he tried to snug it up, it just spun the threads. The reservoir was almost empty, so we definitely had a leak there. He was able to drill out the threads and go 1 size larger, and that solved that problem. Clutch again feels much better, engagement is lower as it should be.

Finally, there was a slight leak at one of the brake fittings that looks like it let a little air into the system. Tightened that up and bled the brakes. Again, they felt better afterwards.

He also discovered that the rear axle was not perfectly aligned to the car, making the thrust angle be off a little. Strangely, but alignment shops the car has been to told me it was just barely off, but not enough to worry about. But the car has always had a slight pull to the right. Well, after he fixed this and did a string alignment on the front toe, the car is tracking down the road straighter than it ever has.

So round one of the little touchups are complete, and the car feels great. He gave her a bolt check also while he was down there, and things look good. We're going to try and tackle some of the exhaust clearance issues next week. I think we are going to try and use oval piping from the headers all the way past the torque arm crossmember, replacing the 3" collector on the headers with an oval one instead. It's the only way we're going to get the clearance I want.

Looking forward to the auto-x tomorrow. This is a serious group of locals, and there are 140 cars registered for the event. I'm curious to see what the cross-section of cars will be.

Amazing how those small things make the car so much better. Might have to check if Eric is planning a holiday down under.

[FETorino]

Bryan

Good luck tomorrow. If you get a chance try the Salt Lick for dinner. I hear they have great BBQ.

[DOOM]

Wow just went through the whole thread! Outstanding!

[glassman]

Good luck today Bryan!!! Please post pics of others while your waiting to smash those evil cones....
Glad you have an "Eric" in your back pocket, we all know that the world needs more good mechanics...

[carbuff]

Originally Posted by glassman

Good luck today Bryan!!!

Thanx!

Please post pics of others while your waiting to smash those evil cones....

Unfortunately I didn't get any. There weren't a lot of terribly interesting cars there that this crowd would enjoy. There was a Tesla Model S there. Everyone got a kick out of that car going around the course. The only sounds coming from the tires. There were a few Miatas with LS conversions, but I never got to check them out up close.

Glad you have an "Eric" in your back pocket, we all know that the world needs more good mechanics...

Amen, although back pocket might be a stretch. He's been busy lately, which is good for him of course! He does do some great work...

[carbuff]

Originally Posted by DOOM

Wow just went through the whole thread! Outstanding!

Thanx!

[carbuff]

So as mentioned above, I made it out for the auto-x today. The morning starts out with crappy misty weather, and it was overcast most of the day. Thankfully the track dried off before I had to make a pass.

I got 4 runs. My first was a 42.7 and my best was a 39.2, so I definitely improved through the day. The fastest run I remember seeing from the day was from an open-wheel Formula Ford style car, and that was a 33.something. Lots of serious auto-crossing Miatas there running all over the place, but between mid-34's and mid 38's for the faster ones.

I wish I had a few more laps to run. I started the day with entirely too much air in the tires, and I was all over the place in my first 2 runs. I dropped a couple of pounds, and the car stuck much better. Dropped again for the last run, and again, improvement. Next time I would start much lower...

TOW did great, the steering rack replacement was a joy on the drive there and back. Not a single problem with the car during or after my runs. In addition to wanting more runs, I would have liked to have watched a session before my runs. I could tell by watching several areas that I could have improved on my line. Aw well, next time.

For anyone that came down to the Run to the Alamo event a couple of years ago, this group's next event is on that track the weekend before GG. Hopefully I will be able to get to it. Eric and I are working on scheduling the next round of work right now...

I'm beat, it was an early morning and a long day. And while I definitely prefer the driving school I did last weekend, this was still a lot of fun. A bunch of people wanted to talk about the car: it's definitely stood out in the sea of Miatas and Subarus which were there!