Fuel Lines In Place

Not as much accomplished as I had hoped, but one more small task is complete. The line is in place and clamped from tank to carb. I might have to install one more clamp near the front suspension to limit the vibration, but it's in an easy-to-reach location if needed later. The holes along the frame I dreaded drilling went surprisingly well. I drilled a pilot hole with a right-angle adapter for the Dremel and a small burr, and could just reach them with a long 3/16" drill bit. Then I upsized to 1/4" with another Dremel cutter.

Fuel and Transmission Lines

The spiral armor for the fuel line arrived Friday, so I got a start on installing the fuel and transmission cooling lines.

As predicted, drilling the frame for mounting the line clamps is the slowest part of the project. I did manage to drill those nearest the tank and when the touchup paint dries I'll finish routing the line to the fuel pump. The remaining hole locations are the most difficult to access, so I'm sure I'll be cursing a blue streak before I finish drilling them!

I did a mockup routing of the transmission lines and can install them when the fuel line is hooked up.

As is typical, my house Air Conditioner died when we hit 100F for the first time this year. When it was serviced they detected a small Freon leak, so it was expected, but not quite this fast. The part it needs was ordered over a week ago, but I haven't been informed if it arrived yet. Naturally it was too late to call the installer on Friday, so that's the first thing on my schedule tomorrow morning.

Father's Day Relaxation

As a Father's Day present to myself I decided to work on the car as long as I wanted and to put everything else on hold. I was able to spend about six hours before it got uncomfortably hot in the garage, but I finished routing, clamping, terminating and hooking-up all the brake lines. The 25 ft. roll of 3/16" nickel/copper brake line was exactly enough to finish the job. That tubing is twice the price of the OEM material, but it forms easily by hand, so the time saved makes it well worth it.

Now I'm anxious for the 5/16" armor to arrive so I can finish the fuel line. It will take somewhat longer to install as there are no holes on the side of the frame to install clamps. The one hole I had to drill in an inaccessible area on the brake line side of the frame was the most difficult part of that installation, and I'll have to drill at least four holes for the new routing of the gas line.

Meanwhile, if I can salvage fittings to terminate the transmission lines I can form them less the radiator hookups.

Fuel Lines Galore

After bad-mouthing FedEx, they found the address where the parts were delivered. They had them at my door yesterday afternoon, and they were right that the address on the label was incorrect. From the packaging, it appears that the lines are made by Inlinetube.com and marketed under the Motor City Muscle Car banner, and though they seem to be the same company they might not share the same customer info on their computers. Whatever the reason, they came through also as this morning a second order of fuel line was delivered. FedEx had asked me to contact the seller so they could send a request for the driver to backtrack, but instead they just sent a duplicate order with no questions asked!

I'd offer to return it, but by the time it was repackaged and shipped, it would cost me a lot more and not save them much. If they send a prepaid return shipping label, I'll return the 2nd order, but I doubt the value makes the hassle worth it. In the meantime, I'll make a point of advertising the speed and manner in which they resolved the problem. Kudos to good service!

The USPS had me scratching my head over one part I ordered from Rock Auto. When they sent an email on 6-12 saying the part had been shipped from Sugarland, Texas, I figured two days at the most to travel 200 miles and be delivered. When it didn't arrive, I looked up the tracking number and saw it was received in Los Angeles the morning of 6-14 and left the afternoon of the same day. It's not that I need it badly, but I wonder why the unneeded trip to LA? Sugarland is close to Houston and mail to the Fort Worth USPS facility usually arrives the next day. Now the delivery date on their schedule is 6-19.

I started routing the fuel line, but realized I had forgotten to order 5/16" spiral armor. I thought it was sitting on the shelf, but it was only 3/16". Oh well, another wait for parts.

Brake Lines and FedEx Fail

More parts are scheduled to arrive this week, and there was already one screw-up in the delivery. I was notified that the fuel line had been delivered and given to the customer, but it hadn't!

I learned that FedEx has probably the most inefficient, confusing, screwed up customer service on the planet. Just for the record, their automated list of problems does not contain an option for a missing package, or mis-delivered, or a quick way to speak to a real person. After screwing around for fifteen minutes unsuccessfully trying to navigate their automated system, I started dialing random numbers found on their website. I finally found a real human, and after her investigation the response was that the problem was a wrong address on the sender's label. Seems odd, since my original order and all the communications with the sender contained the right address, and I've dealt with them before and am in their computer. I thought everything about the order, including a shipping label would be computer generated.

Then this morning they called again and said there was no address label on the box. To this I would ask where in hell they would deliver it without an address label, and why would anyone accept it?

The brake distribution block arrived, so I was able to make a mounting bracket for it and the adjustable proportioning valve. I got started routing the brake lines, but am waiting for one last part before I can finish.

The company rebuilding my steering box signed for delivery on 5-30-17, so I would have expected to hear something from them by now. They said they would call to get a credit card number to charge to, so apparently they haven't even looked at it yet.

More Odds 'n Ends

Lately I’ve had difficulty finding the energy to keep up with chores and hobbies, and today I learned why. I had some blood tests run and they discovered I’m anemic. What they don’t know yet is why, so they are running more tests. Since I eat well and take complex vitamin B supplements, it shouldn’t be due to intake, so now I get to wait until next week to see if they know the cause or if they need to do additional testing. Getting old sucks. I used to say it beat the alternative, but it gets closer to even money every day.

I’ve been doing a lot of parts ordering while I’m too fatigued to do much physical work. The brake distribution block I need is due Friday, and the brake hose will be in next week. The longer brake hose, which is a standard Raybestos part number, is listed on Amazon for $30 and from Inlinetubes.com, it’s 12.50 with free shipping for orders over $50. Rock auto is about the same price at $7.50 with $5 shipping. Without having to order anything else to reach the minimum, this time Rock auto got the order.

I ordered 5/16” NiCopp fuel line and fittings this morning, and was already notified it had been shipped, and is scheduled to arrive on Friday. Inlinetubes.com really turns around orders quickly and I’ve been pleased with their prices. Since their catalog lists the parts and pieces I need to fabricate my emergency brake setup, they will soon be getting another order from me.

The Borgeson splined shafts and connector used to join the steering columns arrived today, but I still haven’t heard from the steering box rebuild folks.

Odds 'n Ends

Not much happening with the car build recently, as our house in East Texas has been eating up my attention again. We're hoping to have it sold in early July, if the buyer can sell their house by that time. Building a workbench and storage cart for my wife’s art work also received a higher priority than playing with my car.

What began as a verification of all the things left to accomplish before the dash is installed has turned into re-inspecting all the major jobs for little things that I might have missed or need cleanup or adjustment. Needless to say, I found and fixed a few.

Two block drain plugs were too close to the motor mount brackets, so I replaced the square male-wrenching variety with a much lower profile hex-drive plug and there is plenty of room now.

When I installed 2-1/8” dual exhaust pipes in place of the smaller single pipe, I created an interference issue with the transmission kick-down linkage. Instead of pounding a dent in the pipe to clear, I’ve decided to use a cable kick-down. It’s pricy, but it will save having to design and fabricate a custom bracket to fit the aftermarket intake.

The brake hose from the banjo fitting on the axle to the frame bracket is very near taut when the shocks are at full extension, so I’m going to locate a longer hose to be sure it won’t be damaged when the suspension rebounds.

I don’t like the brake distribution block setup with the front disc conversion, so I’m going to order a new distribution block from an earlier disc-drum car. It will make a much cleaner looking installation than the more complicated ’79 version I was going to use.

I’ve also decided to change some wire routing to eliminate several of the bulkhead connector wires. I had been using the truck diagram for a pattern, but better use of the console fuse bus will improve both looks and function. I will also upgrade wire sizes and provide additional circuits the truck should have had.

I ordered and received the new fuse/relay block that will be located in the engine bay. I’ll wait to install it when I get the brake distribution block as they will be located in the same general area and I don’t want any interference with the brake line stress loops.

Taking the wife to the airport today. She’s spending nearly a month with family in Nevada, so I should have more time to work on the car.