So, about a year ago, I told myself that I was going to wait to update this until the forum was a bit less broken. Now that it works again, its time for an update.
Picking up where I left off, the Edelbrock cam came out:
And the engine was buttoned back up again with the new Comp 290HR Magnum cam, with 230/230 duration @ 0.050 lift, and .544 overall lift at the valve.
With the new cam in, the EFI fired right up, and after some additional tuning, I had it idling fine, and starting pretty easy.
In early March of last year, I filmed this little blurb on my phone:
and started driving the hell out of the car.
Visited a friend in Salt Lake City:
('67 Dart, Mopar 360, Lunati cam of some variety, and a T56 out of an LT1 Camaro)
Went to
Mars Hite crossing
Saw some weather:
Went on a 2400 mile vacation/trip to Idaho to attend a friends wedding (the wedding was an excuse, really, I just wanted to play in the mountains)
Hit a delaminated semi-truck tire at 80 mph, and ripped my exhaust open:
(That should be straight out of the glasspack, and into the 90° bend btw...)
Made a ghetto patch of quality that could only be described as Roadkill+
(worked better than one might think, btw)
And installed some new seats:
In September, I simultaneously got tired of constant CO2 poisoning, as well as tired of having to wear ear protection lest I lose all hearing, and so installed an exhaust system that was only loud when I wanted it to be, and
almost civilized the rest of the time. As an added bonus, the new exhaust sealed much
much better than the tape and aluminum sheet wrap band-aid.
then, for maximum stealth, I painted the whole shebang blaaaack (really, it was just a feeble attempt to make it last longer this time)
The system is now 2.5" all the way through, was was pieced together from what Summit racing claimed was a full kit for a '67 Cougar, along with a few extra U bends I bought.
The box mufflers are Walker brand OE replacements for, I believe, a LX platform Charger. They are quiet enough, and were the size I needed to fit in the space I had. It's quiet enough that conversations can now be had at highway speeds.
In what I have since dubbed 'Party' mode, its just as loud and obnoxious as ever. Maybe more.
All in all, My photo records show that on January 3rd 2018, the Autometer gauge said I had 51,657 miles on it.
On January 15, 2019? 71,646.
Just a hair under 20,000 miles in a single year.
I think that counts as driving the hell out of it
Of course, its not all sunshine and roses. The Toploader transmission is not as happy as it once was.
The speedo driving gear inside the trans stripped all it's teeth off a few months ago (the last 2200 miles have been recorded via GPS)
A minor problem really, It's only a $7 part, and a $2 gasket.
The speedo gear problem is hugely, vastly overshadowed by the fact that 4th gear is almost impossible to engage these days unless I double clutch, and even then, it does not feel like there is much engagement most of the time.
It feels fine when I'm not moving, but when underway...... it's not so good.
A proper solution is in the works, and craigslist, ebay, and other classified ad trawling is underway.
In the meantime, I bought the car a Christmas present:
From a '98 Ford Explorer, Axle code D4
3.73:1, and Trac-Loc.
I opened the case and verified it's contents and quality, and internally, I think it's good to go.
The OEM 8 inch axle measures about 59.25 inches, WMS, to WMS.
The Exploder axle measures 59.5, WMS, to WMS.
I'll need to move the spring perches, and clean some other junk off the axle tubes, but it's going to be a great upgrade.
Future's looking bright!