SWERVE - 1978 Ute (HellPatrol)

[Swerve]

Sat Oct 17, 2009 12:04 pm

Well update time, now 12:35pm Saturday.

Had a big night at my mates house with the boys and got really really drunk. Hence real hard getting out of bed this morning. Wife is interstate until Tuesday so also good

Anyhow dragged myself out of bed at 9:30am, triple S (Shit, Shower, Shave) blah blah.

OK, so started by reinstalling the grill/ radiator. I swear that is a bitch to get the side bolts lined up as all the weight on the side guards changes everything. Anyhow finally succeeded with a piece of wood for leverage

Then installed the wiring loom through the grill and connected up the electrics. Finished the exhaust manifold bolts, heater hoses, radiator hoses, swapped out the distributor from the OLD hp engine and swapped as it had the electronic ignition installed, took it from the base as not to mess the timing up. Had to look online on how to reconnect the Pertronix Kit.

So the engine is all done except for some water leaks and modifying the connectors for the alternator, so started her !! and she runs GREAT

So HAPPY, even with the exhaust clamp Off, she is quiet, easy to start and just cant wait to drive her. Have to take Winston to dog school, so will clean up and finish the gearbox linkages tomorrow or this evening . and tailshaft, clutch, exhaust clamp.

Then I can drive her. Guessing tomorrow she will be finished




EDIT.............

Well after dog school, went back to HP.

Installed front tailshaft (MWB rear shaft) into front, providing the limiters are left in, the shaft does not hit the crossmember. Used the hoist to lift the front and no problems

Installed the clutch slave and gearstick, completed the headers etc. Then I drove her out on the street Just need to finish a few things

1- Remove rear tailshaft
2- Install transfer linkages

And then I can go for a drive around the street with 5 gears and syncro

[Swerve]

Sun Oct 18, 2009 7:52 pm

Well took HP for a short drive to air the tyres and see Ed. About 5km in total. Hmmmmm a few problems

1- Gearbox might have worn syncros ? When you change mainly into 3rd or 4th at a faster speed she has a grind sound? feel like it wasa bit off and touching the next cog ? ideas people ?

2- Engine is spluttering and I just need to tune, so next job is to remove all my needs plugs and leads from the old engine, install and tune.

3- Have a water leak between the lower thermostat housingand head. Just need to redo the gasket. (I used gasket goo at the time, have a gasket laying around now)

4- Still need to connect the alternator and oil & water pump sensors



ALSO - the marks 1st gear is bloody BLOODY LOW. I can see why people start in 2nd gear. This is one of the rumours I heard in why so many boxes fail as everyone uses 2nd to start. In low the crawl is GREAT

[Swerve]

Mon Oct 19, 2009 3:04 pm

Well might have solved the grinding issue. The selector was not tightened all the way down as old burrs on the thread were jamming it. After removing, cleaning, spraying, installing several times I finally have it all the way down. Went for another small drive when it was 80% down and a lot better. I’m certain it can’t go any more now and can’t get any slop (pulling up) from the gearstick. Hopefully I can give her a quick tune this afternoon and go for a small drive to confirm.

[Swerve]

Tue Oct 20, 2009 7:10 am

Yesterday afternoon I swapped the plugs and leads from original HP engine which were brand new, tuned her up and she still ran bad. Went for a small drive and 5 speed still a little grindy ? need to drive some more. 1st 2nd 4rd all seem good, only a issue when selecting 3 or 4th and keeping it steady to avoid a grind.

Anyhow laying in bed last night thinking about the running rough I’m certain I know the issue !!!!!

VACUM LEAK.

On the 78 there is a vacuum line to a valve which blocks the air vent line to the fuel tank. When pulling this line out we were lazy and cut it, hence I didn’t re-install it !!! So by memory this vacuum line ISNT blocked and I BET it is causing my running ROUGH issue. Just itching to go home and test. If I can fix the running rough I can really drive her and test this box as right now really hard to drive.

Just want to go home !!!

[Swerve]

Tue Oct 20, 2009 7:14 pm

Well I did plug the vacum leak I was hoping to find unplugged.

Checked the timing again and had already done the valve clearances. Hmmmm so what next !!!!!!


Wound out the carbie mixture and HEY PRESTO. Three whole turns, still rough but 100% better and could actually drive her. Syncro into 4th is dead, if your gentle it won't grind, double shift your OK. So we have a goer !!!!!!!!!!!!

Will change the gearbox oil with a heavier grade oil and see how we go. Hopefully it's just rust and it will improve

[Swerve]

Tue Oct 20, 2009 7:57 pm

New box oil to blow those cob webs out might be just what it needs..

Thanks mate, John (67L60) also thinks new oil will help and the rust issue etc.

Just been out looking at installing my 2 barrel carbie back on. Just need to work out the linkages which will be EASY. My setup has a cable onto the cam which is mounted on the intake manifold.

Just fabed up a bracket using the MQ braket, got to love a vice and will bolt onto the standard G60 manifold, will brace it once tested. This dual barrel carb was working well (In the garage) when reving, also hoping this will fix my carbie issue etc. Just going to swap intake manifold over. Will be much easier then seperating from the manifold itself.

Same time I'm doimg this I can change my cooling hoses, alternator, remove thermstat bottom housing and chnge gasket, thermostat while there.

Main thing is she is coming together and ironing these bugs out !!!

[Swerve]

Thu Oct 22, 2009 1:32 pm

Last night I put new oil in the Marks 5 Speed, did Imentioned when i drained it NONE came out

After backing off the micture screw she is running better and following the manual tune up instructions. Alternator charging is now working and still a number of other small issues to work through

Looks like I have a oil weep out the side valve rod cover. Only noticed it when I out my hand through from the clutch to feel how warm the engine was

Other faults for next week.

1- Clutch squeal (see shop)
2- Valve rod oil weep
3- Thermostat water leak
4- New top/ bottom hoses
5- modify electrics for oil temp/ water temp
6- change transfer rear output oil seal
7- Change transfer oil
8- Lengthen tailshaft
9- extended handbrake rod and install handbrake
10- Lengthen a MWB rear shaft for rear (old LWB rear is spare)
11- Install new 2BBL Carbie and manifold

[Swerve]

Thu Nov 05, 2009 6:15 pm

Well after spending the last week working on tuning HP I couldn't work out what was wrong.

So after talkig outloud in http://www.rmp-o.com/phpbb/viewtopic.ph ... 9&start=20 I had already swapped out the engine, tuned carbie and timing, coil, disy leads, plugs, disy cap and she was still crap. Swapped the EI for points and fixed !!! she hammers now with the headers and 5 speed

Just wish I had done this before I pulled the engine to see how bad she really was !! Also shitty with my mechanic who never picked up the EI was F'ed. That bill was $400 for doing crap as well. Ah well , Live and learn, the plan is to put this back into the 72 anyway

[Swerve]

Sat Nov 07, 2009 6:27 pm

Well good few productive hours on HP today.
Fixed my water leak from the bottom thermostat housing onto the head, new radiator hose, all good.

Then fully installed the floor hump and bolts, changed gearstick levers as the old Marks lever would hit the HI/LO lever, all fixed. Installed all bolts I have some then the mat and the interior looks normal again

Also have backed the mixture screw back to only 2 turns out and my low rev's stutter has gone and she is feeling good. Then just found excuses to drive around the neighbourhood visting people and enjoying driving.

Have got my double clutch fine tuned and can now shift into 4th without any crunching. Key is the speed of the DC.

Hipefully tomorrow afternnon I can get some electrics sorted, ie,, Oil temp and water temp. After that then onto rear transfer seal, handbrake and tailshaft. None of this will or can be done untill I get a tailshaft lengthened. Only have one ute rear shaft for a 3 speed, so will lengthen a MWB rear for the LWB with Marks, The Marks is 135mm longer then a 3 speed.

Still now is a fun car to drive Also the amount of looks at the old girl was alot, or was it my noisy exhuast Also took her for a quick freeway run and at 100k she needs a wheel balance and wheel alignment. So will need that done soon before I can so any distance trips, i.e Sussex Inlet

[Swerve]

Tue Nov 17, 2009 5:56 pm

Well been driving her around and the five speed is OK, Getting used to it and always have to double clutch into 4th gear. I can live with that ! except when you forget

Hooked up the water and oil temp gauages today, swapped out a leaking fuel pump, swaped a dead alternator which the reg had gone. Was fun watching the multimeter go -14, 0 , +14 and back again really really fast

All going well only fix up a gearbox mount , handbrake and rear tailshaft and shes done !!! Well untill I pull the engine out to install back in the 72

Steve