carterb Posted February 6, 2017 Author Report Share Posted February 6, 2017 Christmas break gave me time to swap the starter and order some goodies from Summit Racing for Granny, Bruiser and Cooper - but mostly Granny! : ) I drove Granny around the neighborhood for a bit after the swap. So fun! It's been a while. She just floats on her suspension. It really does give you the feeling of driving a vintage car. Makes my think back to when I was a kid driving my grandpa Boad's various 30's cars he restored. Some of these items will (both fortunately and unfortunately) change that experience. Stay tuned! : ) Quote Link to comment
Draker Posted February 6, 2017 Report Share Posted February 6, 2017 Granny getting a elevation adjustment? Quote Link to comment
shacks510 Posted February 6, 2017 Report Share Posted February 6, 2017 You can't post a pic like that and just walk away!!! Quote Link to comment
Trophy24 Posted February 6, 2017 Report Share Posted February 6, 2017 Nice to see this car again Carter! Can't wait to see the new look Quote Link to comment
carterb Posted February 7, 2017 Author Report Share Posted February 7, 2017 You can't post a pic like that and just walk away!!! Gotta get more work done before I can post more photos! Quote Link to comment
q-tip Posted February 7, 2017 Report Share Posted February 7, 2017 Aw come on, your not gonna leave the old lady original? Quote Link to comment
carterb Posted February 7, 2017 Author Report Share Posted February 7, 2017 Just can't do it... But all the original parts will be retained in case we need to go back some day. 1 Quote Link to comment
Icehouse Posted February 7, 2017 Report Share Posted February 7, 2017 Carter your steering box looks kinda worn, I say you look into getting a back up :) Quote Link to comment
Stoney Posted February 8, 2017 Report Share Posted February 8, 2017 Carter your steering box looks kinda worn, I say you look into getting a back up :) Yeah, there's a really well designed steering rack conversion available, it would be rude not to fit it. 1 Quote Link to comment
carterb Posted February 10, 2017 Author Report Share Posted February 10, 2017 1 Quote Link to comment
carterb Posted May 6, 2017 Author Report Share Posted May 6, 2017 Yay spring!!! 3 Quote Link to comment
carterb Posted May 23, 2017 Author Report Share Posted May 23, 2017 I parked Cooper and have started driving Granny again to make sure it is roadworthy for Canby and the rest of summer (Cooper needs some work). The last couple times I drove Granny last fall, it took forever to warm up in the morning. I figured I probably had a stuck thermostat. Well, I took the top off the thermostat housing last night and that isn't *exactly* what I found... The thermostat actuator had completely broken free from the lid! The top came right off and I thought, something doesn't look right. Then I looked down in the housing and the rest of the thermostat was sitting down inside. After removing it, I could find no further signs of anything wrong or missing. Unfortunately, they sent the wrong gasket with the replacement but fortunately, I have many boxes of gaskets to pick through and I was able to find what I needed. I put everything back together last night and let it sit and then added coolant this morning, started the car, checked for leaks, and drove off to work. No problems and the temp gage made it up to M a couple minutes into the trip and then quickly settled back to E once the new thermostat opened. Now on to the rest of the pre-Canby checklist. Quote Link to comment
Icehouse Posted June 1, 2017 Report Share Posted June 1, 2017 Is lowered on the pre-canby list? Quote Link to comment
carterb Posted June 1, 2017 Author Report Share Posted June 1, 2017 I haven't given up hope yet... 1 Quote Link to comment
mattyhacks71 Posted June 1, 2017 Report Share Posted June 1, 2017 Would be cool to see this stay stock, its so mint! Although I did modify my survivor... never mind, slam this bitch Quote Link to comment
carterb Posted June 1, 2017 Author Report Share Posted June 1, 2017 I don't really want to modify it but prices in Japan have about doubled since I got this one and I can't find a decent Bluebird to replace it with in my price range so I'm left with no choice really. : ) Quote Link to comment
carterb Posted June 8, 2017 Author Report Share Posted June 8, 2017 And so it begins... Monday night before Canby weekend. 2 Quote Link to comment
carterb Posted June 8, 2017 Author Report Share Posted June 8, 2017 Tuesday morning. Baseline measurements: RR - 24 1/4" RF - 25 5/8" LR - 24 1/8" LF - 25 3/4" Rear crossmember 8 3/8" Front crossmember - 7 5/8" Front toe - 1/16" in (keep in mind this is not very accurate measuring) Front camber - as close to zero as my iphone can measure. 1 Quote Link to comment
carterb Posted June 8, 2017 Author Report Share Posted June 8, 2017 Two of the hubcaps are sub-prime. Need to keep an eye out for replacements: 1 Quote Link to comment
carterb Posted June 8, 2017 Author Report Share Posted June 8, 2017 LF strut with drum brakes Now you see it now you don't Starting a pile of all the parts I remove from the car in case I or someone else wants/needs to go back to stock some day. 1 Quote Link to comment
carterb Posted June 8, 2017 Author Report Share Posted June 8, 2017 The DX flag mirrors need to go! Lots of access to the mirror mount with the wheels and struts out of the way: Couldn't remember how they are attached so I got the replacements out to refresh my memory: The dangly bit pokes through a spring cup and the nut applies spring pressure keeping the mirror in place while providing some bump protection. Unfortunately, the old nuts did not want to come free from the rods. Both sides broke. One side in particular was pretty nasty! The whole spring cup on this side was full of dirt. I turned it over and it was like a magic trick. The dirt just kept coming! Side by side, old vs new I didn't notice this before, but the mounting plate is set up for R or L, depending on which hole the little plastic retainer bushing is in. SSSo Much better! 3 Quote Link to comment
carterb Posted June 8, 2017 Author Report Share Posted June 8, 2017 Parts for the front end rebuild: 7" 250lb springs These are the struts I just removed from Cooper the day before, with the springs above installed in place of the 8" 200lb springs that car was running. ST front sway bar: So far so good! Can't believe these bolts threaded right out no problem. With the exception of those mirror posts, this car is so incredibly rust free!!! Such a joy to work on compared to Cooper. Experimental Engineering T/C kit of course: I was going to install these nice CNC machined bump steer spacers (roll center correctors) but the hole is too small and the boss is too bug and I need to get this done so I grabbed a set of ugly cast DAMB spacers I had which dropped right in place. I chickened out on the porterfield brake pads for now. Leaving brakes as is to reduce the amount of potential issues before hitting the road. Back on the ground! Oooh, Ahhh! 2 Quote Link to comment
carterb Posted June 8, 2017 Author Report Share Posted June 8, 2017 Now to the rear! Well I've never noticed this before! What they heck kind of rear end and half shaft set up is that?! I'm planning to go to a 3.7 Subaru LSD so I have better freeway gearing with the 3spd. That should really help on the trip to Canby this year. But this old set-up has me a little worried about fitment and interchangeability. Even the mustache bar is different than what I'm used to. Fingers crossed that I don't have to stop halfway and put all this back in! 1 Quote Link to comment
carterb Posted June 8, 2017 Author Report Share Posted June 8, 2017 I pulled the rear parcel shelf to have better access to the shocks. Will you take a look back there?! Amazing condition!!! 45 years old and looks brand new. Just like me! :rofl: I love the little factory installed anti-rattle pads. 1 Quote Link to comment
carterb Posted June 8, 2017 Author Report Share Posted June 8, 2017 Okay, back underneath - shocks and springs out of the way. I forgot how much fun it is to remove stock coil springs. You really have to pry those things out of their mountings! Old rear end is now on the ground! And that's good for the day. Had to get cleaned up for my daughters nursing program graduation. 2 Quote Link to comment
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