bigmal 225 Report post Posted October 9, 2017 Probably the 45th day today with the odd hour here and there. Have been chasing the problem with the fuel/oil/temp gauges not working and blamed the new circuit board. Got a Midlife custom replacement. What a nice mod. As I have LED globes that are polarity sensitive I marked the earth side of each globe and fitted them to the harness and powered it up first. Glad I did as I had a couple of globe issues that were easy to sort out on the bench but would have been a pain to find later. I found it easier to write the harness codes directly on the panel and also the pin codes directly on the plugs. As my eyes arn't great and I have a colour problem I took close ups of my original plugs and printed on A4 to make it easier to see when splicing n the new wires. I then fitted the instrument panel back to the car and the bloody gauges still didn't work. Randy (Midlife) has been exceptionally helpful sending emails with trouble shooting ideas. In the end I rang Randy and we did some troble shooting over the phone. Turned out to be the posts on the fuel gauge had moved when I took the circuit board off and were shorting on the case. Easilly fioxed. Plugged it back in and it works. What a releif. I owe Randy some serious beers. And not that crappy Fosters either. I then finished off the dash and everything works!!!!!!. Heavy duty sound deadener fited under the carpet should help with the noise. I may have to get a louder exhaust to make up for it. As the carpet is for left hand drive I'll need mats until I can get new carpet. Very pleased with the progress now. Have other things to do tomorrow so back into it on Wednesday. First thing will be the guards and front end follwed by windscreen. 2 Caseyrhe and mwye0627 reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MAC390 327 Report post Posted October 10, 2017 Great work Mal, car is looking real nice and the steering column position looks good Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bigmal 225 Report post Posted October 11, 2017 Day 46. Some great progress and some more setbacks. This time I am right on track for my planned week. Front end all bolted up. A lot of fiddleing to get the bonnet aligned and still not quite perfect but I can look at that again down the track. Interior finished off and seats in. Windscreen fitted. Now for the test drive, tool kit and fire extinguisher in hand. Drives nicely but now has developed a massive splutter when you put your foot to the floor. As I haven't done anything to the engine to speak of I am puzzelled. Checked the firing order and nothing wrong. WIll check the timing hasn't moved but also suspect possily bad fuel. I will fill the tank before I get too concerned. This is the first time I have driven with the XB Falcon brake master cylinder. I have heard there could be issues with it being biased to the rear cause brake lock ups. Nope. Works great. My troublesome fuel/oil/temp gauges have stopped working again. About 2:00am in the morning I though of a possible cause. The intrument panel is a tight fit where the steering brackets are and may be putting pressure on them. Back out with the dfash again. Now I have sat in it the steering wheel is too low and even my skinny legs are a squash sliding under it. This is an easy fix as I have spacers that can be removed. The bright side is I need access and as the instrument panel has to come out that will be no problem. Silver linings! Put the wipers on with a windscreen for the first time. You will see from earlier in the blog I have had lots of issues with geometry and sweep. The drivers side has too much sweep going from moulding to moulding. Shouldn't be too hard to fix. This morning it's off to Pedders for a wheel alignment and then to Kirrawee Mufflers for a new exhaust. And of course it's sprinkling. 1 mwye0627 reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MAC390 327 Report post Posted October 12, 2017 It' unreal how similar the cars are. When ours is finished we gotta go cruizin Looks great mate. 1 bigmal reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bigmal 225 Report post Posted October 14, 2017 It's officially on the road. Had a wheel aligment, new exhaust, aircond replumbed and gased. I have a few little glitches to sort out but at least now I can drive it again. A great feeling. It's taken 47 full and long days. Missed my goal of 30 but I did a fair bit of other stuff so all in all very happy. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JET 445 43 Report post Posted October 14, 2017 Great work Mal, it's good to see it finished and driving. You do realise you have to get it engineered to make it legal right?. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MAC390 327 Report post Posted October 14, 2017 Well done Mal, i like that exhaust. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bigmal 225 Report post Posted October 14, 2017 13 hours ago, JET 445 said: Great work Mal, it's good to see it finished and driving. You do realise you have to get it engineered to make it legal right?. Hi mate, yep I have it being certified by an engineer. He has been following the progress and will also be certifying the front and rear inertia reel seat belts. I am in the process of installing the rears at the moment. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JET 445 43 Report post Posted October 14, 2017 I am interested to hear your thoughts on the RRS rack, I have the same one but have not driven mine yet. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bigmal 225 Report post Posted October 14, 2017 1 minute ago, JET 445 said: I am interested to hear your thoughts on the RRS rack, I have the same one but have not driven mine yet. I've done very little driving so far but definitely better than the original. I had some clearance problems with the sump of the Cleveland and had to modify the sump. There are pictures earlier in the blog. I also found on the test drive it felt a little notchy. I caught on the cover opf the starter motor and ripped it off. I haven't had a chance to reinstall it yet but expect that with the screw that tightens the cover being in a different position it won't be a problem. Where are you located? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JET 445 43 Report post Posted October 14, 2017 I am in northern NSW, near the Gold Coast. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bigmal 225 Report post Posted October 14, 2017 1 hour ago, JET 445 said: I am in northern NSW, near the Gold Coast. Are you changing to RHD or staying left? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JET 445 43 Report post Posted October 15, 2017 4 hours ago, bigmal said: Are you changing to RHD or staying left? RHD, car is almost finished. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bigmal 225 Report post Posted October 15, 2017 4 hours ago, JET 445 said: RHD, car is almost finished. You should post some photos. I'm keen to see what others have done. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Footcutter11 23 Report post Posted October 15, 2017 Nice fab work! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bigmal 225 Report post Posted October 18, 2017 On Sunday I was trying to sort out the rough running so bought a new set of plug leads. There is so little clearence near no 5 and 6. I had to make a tool to get the leads on. No chance of a plug change with the engine in situ. I found the lead from the coil going into the dizzy had no end and had to arc about 3/8" to work. Very happy with the find I go to satrt it and the battery has decided to give up the ghost. Got a new battery yesterday and started it up. Not only is it as smooth as silk the lumpy idle it had from day one is gone. I'm a little disappointed. I always thougt it had a lumpy cam. If I'd known that it didn't I would have put a cam in while the engine was out. Maybe next time. Part way through fitting rear inertia reel seat belts from Retrobelt. The engineer is happy with the reinforcing plates I've made and he does the inspection this Saturday. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MAC390 327 Report post Posted October 19, 2017 Mal. do you have to mod the sail panel. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bigmal 225 Report post Posted October 19, 2017 20 minutes ago, MAC390 said: Mal. do you have to mod the sail panel. No mate. The bracket I made up goes trough to the boot and picks up on an existing hole on a stronger piece. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
danno 128 Report post Posted October 20, 2017 I am so amazed at what you are doing, I want to contribute. If you want a AM/FM radio, just like yours, with MP3 or Bluetooth, I will make one and send it to you for nothing. Just as a gesture of respect for your work. I have made MP3 and bluetooth conversions of the mid 1970s radios for others in the forum. I will do it for you if you want it. I did not realize you were the one who purchased the wiper switch and trunk release from me. So if you want a bluetooth or MP3 radio, I will fix you up. If you have that already taken care of, that is fine. 2 bigmal and MAC390 reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bigmal 225 Report post Posted October 21, 2017 4 hours ago, danno said: I am so amazed at what you are doing, I want to contribute. If you want a AM/FM radio, just like yours, with MP3 or Bluetooth, I will make one and send it to you for nothing. Just as a gesture of respect for your work. I have made MP3 and bluetooth conversions of the mid 1970s radios for others in the forum. I will do it for you if you want it. I did not realize you were the one who purchased the wiper switch and trunk release from me. So if you want a bluetooth or MP3 radio, I will fix you up. If you have that already taken care of, that is fine. Hi mate, I am so humbled by your post. I didn't think what I was doing came close to the work I've seen done by others on the forum. I really do appreciate the offer but couldn't possibly accept it for nothing. At some time in the future I will need to upgrade the radio and will send a message but I will insist on paying. Hopefully one day we will catch up and have a beer or three and admire our work. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MAC390 327 Report post Posted October 21, 2017 The generosity shown regularly by members on this site is amazing. There is so much help here and it's worldwide . Like a big band of brothers. 1 bigmal reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
danno 128 Report post Posted October 21, 2017 17 hours ago, bigmal said: Hi mate, I am so humbled by your post. I didn't think what I was doing came close to the work I've seen done by others on the forum. I really do appreciate the offer but couldn't possibly accept it for nothing. At some time in the future I will need to upgrade the radio and will send a message but I will insist on paying. Hopefully one day we will catch up and have a beer or three and admire our work. Yes, keep me in mind if you want a radio like yours with Mp3 or bluetooth. I really admire your work, such an appreciation of what you have accomplished. You are an artist with true ambitions that we all can appreciate. 1 bigmal reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Midlife 814 Report post Posted October 21, 2017 Danno: I'd ask for payment of true Aussie Fosters beer. *G* Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bigmal 225 Report post Posted October 22, 2017 1 hour ago, Midlife said: Danno: I'd ask for payment of true Aussie Fosters beer. *G* I don't know any Aussies who would drink that. They only sell it overseas. I'll have to get you onto something like Tooheys Extra Dry. What state do you live in? I will probably be in Dallas and Orlando next April. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bigmal 225 Report post Posted October 22, 2017 On 20/10/2017 at 6:30 AM, MAC390 said: Mal. do you have to mod the sail panel. I've been distracted with other things so will get back to it next week. I'll post detailed pictures and dimensions when I finish. I'm surprised Retrobelt don't sell the kits for the back of the fastbacks so I'm using front inertia reels for both. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
