Rack ATTACK!!!

Today I got a rather speedy email reply back from elko, and its looking promising.

The solution to the rack dilema could come in the form of one of their modified k-frames, which they are willing to sell to me seperate from their kit, which im hoping will be cheaper then buying another kit outright, enabling me to use the parts i already have.

this is what their kit looks like

And here is what it looks like installed

Pretty good huh? makes for a near factory appearance, and according to many VC owners accross the ditch superior handing over a cradle mounted rack and pinion, due to much less flex in the whole setup.

AND IF WE HAVE TO, OVERNIGHT PARTS FROM JAPAN

... Well maybe not, Summit Racing more like it.

further onto fridays issues, is sundays solution.

this oil filter as it sits will be replaced with this

attaching via -10 AN fittings and some of this

which will plug into one of these

which will be mounted on one of the front wheel tubs, where there is actually plenty of room.

Although tempted to use cheaper cast components from budget manufacturers, or even a whole kit which would have cost the same as the moroso adaptor block itself, I restrained myself and remained mindful that this is a big ticket item, I need the oil system to work, and to work well if I want this engine to last. Its one thing popping the diff doing driveway burnouts, its another thing blowing an oil line, dumping all the oil, running a big end and wrecking a crank in the middle of nowhere halfway from somewhere that I need to be and all over saving a hundred dollars or so. As it stands I may well have to sleeve the braided line in fireproof sleeve to help protect it from header heat as everything down the sides of the block will be tight. It almosts makes me wonder how chrysler managed to produce a V8 option on this model, I havent seen one up close, but I expect it to be messy, I believe my install will be much cleaner and perform.

This maybe the last update for a while whilst I save some dollars, send some emails, and do some research into getting this rack back on track.

You stay classy San Diego

CUSTOM COMES ONE CUT AT A TIME

Following in on from thursdays international call to hemiperformance, the factory steering box and idler mounts were in the way and had to get the chop, a plan was hatched and early on friday morning, I rolled out of a warm bed and into a cold flannel shirt.
Shit just got real.
I pushed the heavy valiant down the drive unaided and somewhat hindered by its independent front steering, yet I managed to get it loaded up into the parents garage the only way a forty boy knows how, cargo strops, with enough cargo strops any object of any size and any weight can be moved by anyone. Not too long after my uncle and master panel beater Roman Swierczynski (of classic-restorations fame) turned up to give me the much needed guidance and direction. Well thats an understatement, he basically did the lot, cheers!!!
Jacked up, axle stands .... blah .... who cares? heres some hot metal ....

As always a lack of photos is evidence of an abundance of progress.

Mounts were cut off, shaved smooth, rack cradle lifted up, now the brake line brackets were in the way, due to the complex multipoint star stamped into these they were carefully trimmed away from the chassis rail, the last thing needed is to rush to failure. This 'simple' install was not at this stage looking like it was going to be completed in a morning.

First snag.

Drivers side, using the existing steering box mount hole, as directed in the very misleading instruction sheet.

The mounts were drilled for the existing 7/16" hole somewhere around 10-20mm out ... at this stage we had a stop work meeting, and a decision was made to press on, albiet to do as little as possible to dummy the rack up and get it in place, the wheels moving in unison, and the car able to be rolled around much easier.

Passengers side



Second snag

 

Although difficult to tell from the one photo I had taken to display, the rack position is SHIT!!! It sits a solid 20-30mm too far forward.

Third and final snag, which only became apparent later in the failed install.

The red plastic in the above photo is a protective blank over the rack input spline, it is pressed hard against the oil filter, which if you could see behind it is the window which the steering column attaches ..... Time to pack up for the day.

The leaking front pressed steel wheels, which were spoted due to the morning dew, were loaded into the domani and taken to firestone, were i had the valves replaced and instructed that they were in very borderline condition for running tubeless.

The car was put back together and dropped back on its feet.

Problems, I have them, its time to engineer some solutions.

 



GOAL ONE ..... GET IT ROLLING!

My main aim for this trip down was to sort out what the car needed in the way of spares, mission accomplished for now. Much back slaps and good times all round, I could even relax with a cider this afternoon after heading down the adventure park so I could run around like a kid and play on the equipment.

The secondary objective came about due to the car being stored at the parents for now at least, and the fact that my mother would most likely kill me if i left in a state in which it couldnt be moved around and got the hell out the way should the need arise .... the hemi performance rack and pinion kit would have to be installed.
This kit promised to be the ultimate bolt on solution to the rubbish steering box (and assorted idlers, arms, linkages, etc) that these cars sported when they rolled out of Todd Autobodies Petone. With more room for the big american engine which had no design consideration given to being mounted in a RHD vehicle, and as such, in a compact car, its all a bit of a squeeze and space is at a premium beneath the heads and between the chassis rails ... every bit helps.
In between times though the stock bosch starter had a stuffed solenoid and so had to be removed to be fixed, when i got down to taking it out space proved to be of a premium on the left hand bank also, and a quick check on summitracing.com proved there to be a multitude of 'mini' small block mopar starters with the correct 10-tooth pinion, these badboys claim to have twice the grunt of the stock starter which should help turn over an angried up mopar mouse motor, as well as being half the size of the stock starter, with space at a premium it will help fitting an exhaust later on in the build. Settled then.
On removal of the starter the wiring wasnt really at the standard I desire, the boot was much the same, a battery box was provided, although not fitted which may be a blessing in disguise as it gives me a chance to install it to the specifications required should this vehicle hit the strip. A lot of old copper core fabric wrapped wiring remains in the car, powering the brake lights and turn signals, as much as I respect the originality of it, for piece of mind and perhaps saving later 'epic' road trip nightmares, I am budgeting now for what will be pretty much a complete rewire.

Getting back to the rack in a round about fashion, the factory dog dish hubcaps were removed, revealing a broken stud on the left drum, perhaps due to an accident with the bizarre mismatched threads used on opposite wheels on these cars based on the long since past insistance on using left hand threads on the left side of ALL rotating parts, and right on the right.
Not to worry though, this car would not fly through a mod certificate with the factory drums ... not like it would fly through an intersection when I would rather it slow. This car has been built to go, so now it must be built to stop. At the moment im still keeping my options open, as im still yet to sort out the rack. But I did find these bad boys on summitracing.com which I found by looking at the exact same kit on an australian website listed for a price too rich for my blood, then cross refencing the kit to wilwoods comprehensive catalogue of available kits and finding the part number, which i plugged into summits search engine, low and behold, its in stock and features all new parts.
The rusting wheels which were originally fitted with 6.5"X14" crossply tyres, is now fitted with near new 195/60R14 Supercats, running a very low performing 10 psi in the fronts, I took these to the servo once the car was on jacks to get them pumped up.

Up onto stands .... hemi performance rack moved into position ..... nope .... it doesnt fit .... WHAT ... THE .... F&^&!!!!
An international call to australia, was greated with these pearls of customer service 'ohhhh mate, VC's are the worst things ever' .... 'nah mate, these things are a nightmare aye' .... 'we dont recomend them for VC's' .... 'what do your instructions say' .... 'it might have been a prototype' ..... 'Yeah those mounts will have to go' .......
A plan way hatched to the next morning slice and dice my chassis rails till they were naked and smooth them out, like old school rodders say "custom comes one cut at a time"

So much for a kit that would have ripped someone off to the tune of NZ$2000!!!! once the dollar had been converted over, the item shipped, and customs had stung you for duty. Not impressed to say the least, I can not recommend this kit.

Pics to follow. along with the next days (attempted) install

THE FIRST STEP IS ALWAYS THE HARDEST

Tuesday the 5th of july 2011 was a day I would rather forget. Im not sure how I kept my cool yet somehow against the trials that presented themselves during the day I managed to pull through albiet with a somewhat forced smile, I think perhaps it was due somewhat the delightful company in which I was lucky to be kept.
Anyway, this is a story about buying a car, this car to be exact ....Chrysler VC Valiant 1966

The day started much like any other waking early, except instead of having to slave for the man getting covered in aviation kerosene and aeroshell grease 22, I was getting up early to pick up a tandem axle car trailer and getting away on what  later prove to define the oft used term 'epic road trip'.

For the uninitiated this is what $8k of cold hard cash looks like.

The car was loaded onto the trailer, parts were loaded into the car, money and papers were exhanged .... although some people would know it was never that simple.

At around 10:00pm, dazed and drowsy I lazily rolled the begged and borrowed commodore (cheers Marcus, your a life saver) back into the parents driveway with my bounty. the car was unloaded, and the trailer parked up, at 11pm we had dinner, a shower, then bed. FML.

Although I had promised myself I wouldnt even look at the car the next day, I somehow couldnt resist the urge to get stuck in, the assorted parts scattered throughout the car was unloaded, interior given a once over and a shopping list made for what was unservicable or lost in action. A quick wash to get the road work dust off and heres how she sat.

On inspection, the car has proved to be an 'honest' example, although it is far from the standard I want to be rolling around the coromandel this summer in, she has a tidy body and what isnt there or cant (read: SHOULDNT) be reused is easy enough to source.