Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[Ricky426]

Thanks a lot. I am really proud of what I'm doing, expecially because I am working alone.
I am not an expert but I think the secret is reading a lot before doing anything! And have a lot of patience, hurry don't help. If today you cannot understand what you're doing, take a rest, read here and there, and next week you can understand easily what the week before seemed a mystere!

[Rick]

I agree, when you hit a problem, sometimes you just have to shut the garage door and walk away for a while, then start again when you've calmed down a little!!

R
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Home:https://www.oldclassiccar.co.uk
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[Ricky426]

Update! New SSBC front disc brakes with 4 piston calipers and 1" Addco sway bar:













And now waiting for the new engine...

[Uncle Joe]

Every time I see new pictures, I get more and more impressed by your work. Its a real credit to you, a real credit.

I am disappointed though that you are not getting encouragement for your efforts from other forum members! Just to have to import every single piece from the US is an achievment in itself!

[Uncle Joe]

Ricky, this link will probably frighten everyone else to death, but I think you might like it....germans are mad!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9a979v3f6jE&feature=related

[Ricky426]

[Ricky426]

Hi everybody!

Maybe someone is asking how is my resto-mod process is going on.
The progresses are not too many. I finished detailing some small things...

But now the car has brand new Billet Specialties Street Lite forged aluminium wheels.
To fit them, I had to make 4 custom aluminium hub adapters:



They go inside the center hole of the wheels...



centering the wheel on the spindle on front axle:



and on the axle shaft on rear axle:



Then, I had to rework the rear calipers because they go in contact with the wheel rim:

before:



and after the hand grinding:



the result behind the wheel:



and the whole car with the wheels on:





The car is still on jackstands because there are no torsion bars on the front.
It will be lower when finished.

And in conclusion, a photo of the long block... I hope to fit the whole engine in the engine bay during Christmas holidays...



Bye!

[Scotty]

Hi Ricky,

Your work is fabulous, puts my old banger of a Chevy to shame.

You may know, but just in case - Uncle Joe has moved onto other web sites now, but I know he was seriously impressed with your standard of work. Getting that compliment from him means to me you're up there with the "big boys".

Really looking forward to seeing your project progressing. Scotty.

[dalbuie]

Some great looking work

Love the car, will be good to see some videos of the engine running after Christmas

[pigtin]

This stuff is so far out of my league it might as well be going on on another planet, but I still find it fascinating and comforting that there are those about with so much dedication. Good on you sir

Don.
_________________
Due to the onset of my mid eighties I'm no longer sprightly and rarely seen in my Austin special. I have written a book though. https://amzn.eu/d/7rwRRqL

[Ricky426]

Thanks for the comments!

It's an hard job. Really hard, considering is my first restoration! Second, considering my 70 Challenger, but I did not many things on it.

The hardest job (for the moment) was the brake lines. I stripped out all the old lines and I did custom new ones. I had a lot of leaks, I had to change the rear old tee because it was damaged, and other things like stat-o-seals for the front calipers instead of copper gaskets. Not to mention the front nipples are still leaking, and I have not found any solution, a friend is suggesting me to change stainless nipples in favour of brass insert with steel nipples.

That friend is the good old UJ, we are in contact daily. It's a pity he moved away from here because he's really a "big boy", not me!
If anybody has seen his custom stainless gas tank... well, my job is like painting a children drawing with color pencils!
I hope he will be convinced to join this forum again, since almost all my problems were solved "online" by him.

I hope to come here soon with the videos of the Indy headed engine running!

Bye!

[Rick]

Thanks for the update Ricky, superb job

RJ
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Rick - Admin
Home:https://www.oldclassiccar.co.uk
Videos:https://www.youtube.com/user/oldclassiccarRJ/videos
OCC & classic car merchandise (Austin, Ford ++):
https://www.redbubble.com/people/OldClassicCar/shop

[scott_budds]

Great thread. Looks like your are doing a great job! All those lovely new parts making me drool!!! Keep up the good work

Much respect

Buddsy

[Ricky426]

I put a lot of new parts on the car, because the engine is supposed to be really powerful and power must be controlled and feed, so many stock parts have to be upgraded. So I decided for stiffer suspensions with poly bushings, bigger sway bars, race disc setup, 3/8" fuel sender with 3/8" lines...

The problem is that most of the parts were supposed to be bolt on, but they weren't. I had to make a lot of modifications, for example the rear wheel studs were to be corrected and threaded on the lathe, the rear floating calipers also have to be corrected because they won't fit into the brackets.
Front calipers are Mustang parts, the braided hoses also are... in fact they are not Mopar quality! Now I have to find a way to solve some leaks from the nipples.

I think I will have other problems, for example when fitting the external transmission oil cooler, the electrical high flow fuel pump which requires a regulator and 2 filters in parallel... I will keep you update.

It's not annoying, is all part of the same game!

[Ricky426]

Here there are some fresh new photos.

The engine:









Looknog carefully inside the hole, you can see a roller lifter on the cam lobe:



The HUGE exhaust valves:



And a photo of the new engine near the old one. There are some, minor difference between the two. Who can find them?