Feb 17 went to Minute Clinic at CVS and diagnosed with strep. Went to get penicillin and go home. Watch Pink Panther movies and sleep. So not much work going on.
Est Feb 19 had some strength and energy. Decided to try and free the brake line for driver side rear brake wheel cylinder. Sprayed it with WD40 first. Took the line wrench, put it on the fitting and clamped a vice grip around it to keep it from spreading and stripping the fitting. It worked! Just turned it a bit and snugged it back up. Ready for the swap now.
Est Feb 22. Took the battery out from apartment, installed and tried to start it. I pumped gas pedal 4 times. It would turn over but not fire. I pumped it 8x and it tried to run but very low RPM a bit then die. I took air cleaner off and saw choke plate was flat across blocking air. I unjammed it and recranked. It eventually fired. I think choke plate is the problem.
The radiator cap is still cracked open (but not off) so the coolant system won't get over pressurized. I let it warm up then drove it to the mail box .35 miles away. The brake light stays on indicating brake system failure. The brakes are still not working right but with great force will stop the truck. So on the way back I punched the gas pedal to get the RPM down right before I went up a steep pitch. It stalled out. I couldn't start it. Uh oh. I got out and took air cleaner off. Yep, choke had closed off air flow. Opened it up and got it started. Whew.
Est Feb 25 bought another rear brake wheel cylinder at O'reilly's.
Feb 28
Driver side rear brake wheel cylinder was installed, brake parts reassembled drum and wheel installed. Kristen came to help a bit to put wheel back on and we went in for supper.
Next? She may help me bleed the brakes yet again; keep flushing out the old fluid. I may need to take off the brake part that has the sensor in it. Disassemble and clean it up. The other front brake line fitting has a stuck fitting so I may end up replacing another hard line.
The brake system just keeps being the same topic over again. But it must work right and it has been so neglected for years and maybe decades! If I have to replace every component, I will. Maybe the brake pedal can stay. Oh wait the rubber cover on it is worn down too ...
Thursday, March 1, 2012
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Kristen moved the truck
Monday: Passenger side rear brake wheel cylinder was installed, brake parts reassembled drum and wheel installed. I will have Kristen help me bleed the brakes.
The drivers side rear has no evidence of leaking brake fluid, however it would not be surprising to see that begin. It would be best to replace that wheel cylinder too but I don't have one right now. Still I sprayed the bolts and brake line there to get them ready to take apart. Could not get brake line fitting loose. Will let it soak a long time.
The truck has been raised up on three wheels over the weekend so I lowered the rear then removed the jackstands at the front. It now looks normal.
I tried to start it up but it wouldn't fire up. The battery got weak so I took it inside to charge up.
Spent a few hours on it this day.
On tuesday, Kristen helped bleed the brakes but the fluid and air didn't flow like I think it should. I don't know why. It was pretty cold so I stopped for the day.
Only after using starting fluid did it start. Need to get it to start better. Kristen drove it in a small loop. The brakes barely work. Now what?
The drivers side rear has no evidence of leaking brake fluid, however it would not be surprising to see that begin. It would be best to replace that wheel cylinder too but I don't have one right now. Still I sprayed the bolts and brake line there to get them ready to take apart. Could not get brake line fitting loose. Will let it soak a long time.
The truck has been raised up on three wheels over the weekend so I lowered the rear then removed the jackstands at the front. It now looks normal.
I tried to start it up but it wouldn't fire up. The battery got weak so I took it inside to charge up.
Spent a few hours on it this day.
On tuesday, Kristen helped bleed the brakes but the fluid and air didn't flow like I think it should. I don't know why. It was pretty cold so I stopped for the day.
Only after using starting fluid did it start. Need to get it to start better. Kristen drove it in a small loop. The brakes barely work. Now what?
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Front brakes maybe done
Wednesday I atarted on the drivers side front wheel area. cleaned off clumps of mud, grease, and tar, like I did on the passenger side, for over an hour. Installed flexible brake line. Went to the passenger side and installed flexible line. Now i needed to get a new solid line for the one (36 inch) I had to ruin (rusted connection).
As I worked on the truck I noticed a guy nearby working on a car. I was kind of anticipating him coming over and asking to borrow a tool. Well he did come over and ask if I was going to the APS soon and I said yes in an hour. Anyhow I went to APS ( Went to Autozone )with him. He is a young black guy named Mark and is a friend of a neighbor. He was dropped off at this neighbors so he didn't have a car of his own. He is from Gaffney. Make sense? He is working on a Buick Roadmaster with the A/C compressor froze up.
I got a solid brake line and two rear brake wheel cylinders. Also temp bought a tubing bender.
We left and he wanted me to stop so he could buy a case of beer. I waited about 5 minutes on him.
I installed the solid tubing which was 40 inches long so it was difficult to fit into the old spot right and would have been even if it was 36 inches. Tubing bender wasn't really necessary. Had to remove radiator fan to ease access. Took an hour. And it was dusk, getting colder. Put on extra shirt. Then later another and put on sockhat. Later yet drank pot of hot coffee and put on a jacket with hood. I bled the brake lines and found loose fittings (darn!). Continued til I seemed to get no more air bubbles come out. Lot of walking involved. So front brakes may be done if calipers are not messed up and frozen. They probably are, darn it. Spent from 1:30 to 9 pm working on it.
Thursday I started to put on rear brake wheel cylinder and found it was the wrong type. Had to go to APS for exchange. They found the right one (I took old one in to match). They only had one so they had to have 1 shipped over from another store.
Had to work on Saturn (parked at Wade Hampton HS) and so not much got done on the truck. Also I needed to get in some kind of workout so I went to the Y to swim.
As I worked on the truck I noticed a guy nearby working on a car. I was kind of anticipating him coming over and asking to borrow a tool. Well he did come over and ask if I was going to the APS soon and I said yes in an hour. Anyhow I went to APS ( Went to Autozone )with him. He is a young black guy named Mark and is a friend of a neighbor. He was dropped off at this neighbors so he didn't have a car of his own. He is from Gaffney. Make sense? He is working on a Buick Roadmaster with the A/C compressor froze up.
I got a solid brake line and two rear brake wheel cylinders. Also temp bought a tubing bender.
We left and he wanted me to stop so he could buy a case of beer. I waited about 5 minutes on him.
I installed the solid tubing which was 40 inches long so it was difficult to fit into the old spot right and would have been even if it was 36 inches. Tubing bender wasn't really necessary. Had to remove radiator fan to ease access. Took an hour. And it was dusk, getting colder. Put on extra shirt. Then later another and put on sockhat. Later yet drank pot of hot coffee and put on a jacket with hood. I bled the brake lines and found loose fittings (darn!). Continued til I seemed to get no more air bubbles come out. Lot of walking involved. So front brakes may be done if calipers are not messed up and frozen. They probably are, darn it. Spent from 1:30 to 9 pm working on it.
Thursday I started to put on rear brake wheel cylinder and found it was the wrong type. Had to go to APS for exchange. They found the right one (I took old one in to match). They only had one so they had to have 1 shipped over from another store.
Had to work on Saturn (parked at Wade Hampton HS) and so not much got done on the truck. Also I needed to get in some kind of workout so I went to the Y to swim.
Sunday, February 5, 2012
All weekend work
I have worked all three days on the truck. Friday I took it for another short drive in parking lot and the brakes sure are totally gone. The steering is no good either. I replaced the V belt and now the steering is just fine.
Took the brake master cylinder off to drain it out and inspect. I took it apart and the cleaned it up. Put it back on and filled it up with new fluid. The brakes still don't work.
Saturday I took off the master cylinder and took it to to APS (Auto Parts Store) and bought a new (remanufactured) one for $16. A rebuild kit was like $45! Makes no sense. After doing a bench bleed, I installed the master cylinder. Brakes wil not bleed right. I always remember helping brother Andy when I was maybe 13 to bleed brakes. All I remember is sitting in drivers seat and pushing the brake pedal when he yelled. It was a mystery to me then.
After an hour or more trying to remove the pressure differential /regulator and combo switch I gave up on that. Some nuts were frozen with rust. I need a 3/8" line wrench! Later I discover a leak from the front passenger flexible brake hose. It is only 40 years old and already needs replaced. Ha. The rain started up, it was late and I called it a day.
Sunday tried to get flex hose off and got kinda sidetracked on removing heavy amounts of dirt and grease and such caked all over the left front suspension and brakes. It needed done. I felt like an archeologist unearthing something. Really bad.
By the way the rain had moved away and it was a pleasant 55 to 60 degrees. Rusty bolts are always the big pain. So frustrating. Plus don't have the right wrench. Been working on the brakes. I decide to go to APS and talk and maybe buy.
It is 7:30 pm and I am listening to game (but I'm not even paying attention). I just went to two auto parts stores. Got some sandwiches from Wendy's. Got parts at Advance Auto then went to Autozone and bought same parts for $6 less and they had the right flare nut wrench. Went back to return items at Advance. Maybe now I'll have some luck.
Took the brake master cylinder off to drain it out and inspect. I took it apart and the cleaned it up. Put it back on and filled it up with new fluid. The brakes still don't work.
Saturday I took off the master cylinder and took it to to APS (Auto Parts Store) and bought a new (remanufactured) one for $16. A rebuild kit was like $45! Makes no sense. After doing a bench bleed, I installed the master cylinder. Brakes wil not bleed right. I always remember helping brother Andy when I was maybe 13 to bleed brakes. All I remember is sitting in drivers seat and pushing the brake pedal when he yelled. It was a mystery to me then.
After an hour or more trying to remove the pressure differential /regulator and combo switch I gave up on that. Some nuts were frozen with rust. I need a 3/8" line wrench! Later I discover a leak from the front passenger flexible brake hose. It is only 40 years old and already needs replaced. Ha. The rain started up, it was late and I called it a day.
Sunday tried to get flex hose off and got kinda sidetracked on removing heavy amounts of dirt and grease and such caked all over the left front suspension and brakes. It needed done. I felt like an archeologist unearthing something. Really bad.
By the way the rain had moved away and it was a pleasant 55 to 60 degrees. Rusty bolts are always the big pain. So frustrating. Plus don't have the right wrench. Been working on the brakes. I decide to go to APS and talk and maybe buy.
It is 7:30 pm and I am listening to game (but I'm not even paying attention). I just went to two auto parts stores. Got some sandwiches from Wendy's. Got parts at Advance Auto then went to Autozone and bought same parts for $6 less and they had the right flare nut wrench. Went back to return items at Advance. Maybe now I'll have some luck.
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Movement
Tried to start it up and it idled very rough at maybe 500 rpm then died several times. Added 4 gallons of new gas. The old gas has been in it for maybe 7 years! Had to take out battery and charge it up a few hours.
Meanwhile I found a set of new spark plug wires that I bought for it 10 years ago. I thought might as well install. Also covered up a few vacuum leaks with electrical tape. So many old rotten rubber parts. So after an hour or more of sitting in the engine compartment, I changed out the wires. The cap over the distributor was a pain.
Hooked up the speakers to the radio and replaced the fuse. For an unknown reason many of the fuses have the glass broken. Did old age crack them? High heat? So the crummy old pushbutton type AM radio with a separate FM converter is working.
Got the battery and reinstalled. This time it started real well but with tons of oil smoke. Huge cloud. I felt embarrassed. Oh yea I had noticed the radiator was full of fluid so I let it run about 5 minutes. I put it in drive and went around a bit of the parking lot. Smoke billowed out. The power steering was without power. I know the V belt is worn out and very loose. Need to replace. Also the brakes didn't want to stop it right. They also became locked up on at least one wheel. I was lucky to get the truck back to the parking spot. Actually the one next to where it was. The debris of where it was had accumulated.
To do next is determine what brake parts need worked on; replace power steering V belt.
Meanwhile I found a set of new spark plug wires that I bought for it 10 years ago. I thought might as well install. Also covered up a few vacuum leaks with electrical tape. So many old rotten rubber parts. So after an hour or more of sitting in the engine compartment, I changed out the wires. The cap over the distributor was a pain.
Hooked up the speakers to the radio and replaced the fuse. For an unknown reason many of the fuses have the glass broken. Did old age crack them? High heat? So the crummy old pushbutton type AM radio with a separate FM converter is working.
Got the battery and reinstalled. This time it started real well but with tons of oil smoke. Huge cloud. I felt embarrassed. Oh yea I had noticed the radiator was full of fluid so I let it run about 5 minutes. I put it in drive and went around a bit of the parking lot. Smoke billowed out. The power steering was without power. I know the V belt is worn out and very loose. Need to replace. Also the brakes didn't want to stop it right. They also became locked up on at least one wheel. I was lucky to get the truck back to the parking spot. Actually the one next to where it was. The debris of where it was had accumulated.
To do next is determine what brake parts need worked on; replace power steering V belt.
Saturday, January 7, 2012
it started and it got cleaner
today Saturday I finally got back to trying to start the engine. Last time it would not turn over. The battery was charged up I thought but i took it back inside and recharged it before today. I then today took out all the spark plugs and squirted some light oil into the cylinders. Went inside and got the battery. With the plugs out we turned the key for a half a second a couple times and it turned over. Then we turned the ignition on for a few seconds to maybe get the oil into all the right places. Since the thing hasn't been started in years I was relieved.
The gas in it is maybe 6 years old - who knows. It might present a problem for the next step of actually starting. There is not much gas in the tank so I could easily dilute the old gas.
Interesting to work on the old beast. I climbed into the engine compartment to work on the plugs. Sit on the front metal that goes over the radiator. So anyway I reinstalled the plugs and then hooked up the battery. Kristen had got to cleaning out the front and wanted me to get her the canister vacuum so she could suck out all the little crap from the rust bucket. plastic bags had rot in the sun over the years and pieces were all over. All kinds of junk to throw away. It now looks pretty good inside.
So back to the engine. I got in the drivers seat and Kristen in the passenger seat. I turned the key and it turned over pretty well but did not start. I pumped the gas pedal many times trying to prime it and get a lot of gas into it but no luck. The ignition clicked a few times so that was not good.
During her cleaning, Kristen had found a can of starting fluid. I got out and took off the air cleaner top and sprayed into the carb. Then I had Kristen crank it and it started! We let it run a few minutes and I thought it would sputter and die but it did not. I had to shut it down since there is no water or coolant in it.
I'm going to change the coolant in the 1997 truck and put the old fluid into the 73. Then we can try and restart and maybe drive it around the parking lot.
The gas in it is maybe 6 years old - who knows. It might present a problem for the next step of actually starting. There is not much gas in the tank so I could easily dilute the old gas.
Interesting to work on the old beast. I climbed into the engine compartment to work on the plugs. Sit on the front metal that goes over the radiator. So anyway I reinstalled the plugs and then hooked up the battery. Kristen had got to cleaning out the front and wanted me to get her the canister vacuum so she could suck out all the little crap from the rust bucket. plastic bags had rot in the sun over the years and pieces were all over. All kinds of junk to throw away. It now looks pretty good inside.
So back to the engine. I got in the drivers seat and Kristen in the passenger seat. I turned the key and it turned over pretty well but did not start. I pumped the gas pedal many times trying to prime it and get a lot of gas into it but no luck. The ignition clicked a few times so that was not good.
During her cleaning, Kristen had found a can of starting fluid. I got out and took off the air cleaner top and sprayed into the carb. Then I had Kristen crank it and it started! We let it run a few minutes and I thought it would sputter and die but it did not. I had to shut it down since there is no water or coolant in it.
I'm going to change the coolant in the 1997 truck and put the old fluid into the 73. Then we can try and restart and maybe drive it around the parking lot.
Friday, December 30, 2011
Attempt to start
Kristen wanted to work on the truck. I was reluctant but I decided to. I thought we should try to start it. Took the battery out to it, hooked it up and it only made a clicking noise. The battery must be low on power. Then we tried jumping it with the other truck and no battery. It started to turn but would not properly crank. Will try again some day with charged battery and jumping.
A guy at work (that has built a lot of engines) suggested spraying WD-40 into each cylinder to make it turn over easier. It has been sitting so long everything is dry. So with that we should at least get it to turn a few revolutions. If it starts it will be a minor miracle.
A guy at work (that has built a lot of engines) suggested spraying WD-40 into each cylinder to make it turn over easier. It has been sitting so long everything is dry. So with that we should at least get it to turn a few revolutions. If it starts it will be a minor miracle.
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