2023 Project Log - Lose Ends

[Duke5A]

This has been a while in the making. Dad and I have been getting the new barn squared away and now have a heated place to work in the winter. No more having to freeze in a cramped ass garage. I've got a few things to finish on the car this season and then it's time to move on to other projects.

- Finally install the new custom made fuel cell
- Bump out a huge ass dent I put in the car's rear driver side door
- Emergency brake kit
- More LED wiring and replacement

Probably more to add, but it won't be a crazy year or any big expenses.

 

[Lightning II]

LEDs?

 

[Duke5A]

LEDs?

Have to finish the LED conversion. Still need to do the high beam headlights and instrument cluster.

 

[Mikes5thAve]

Cool! Having a bigger space to work and store cars has either been a good thing or helped my car collecting along which I'm not sure is good or bad lol

 

[M_Body_Coupe]

Damn...that's sweet!!!

Yeah, you can never get enough space for the cars, and equally important the parts that make 'em up...especially the spares...ha ha!

Looking good for sure.

 

[Autostocks]

Wish my barn was heated. I have to either take up a spot in the garage in the winter (garage is heated) or basically not be able to get anything done.

 

[Aspen500]

I'm lucky enough to have a heated and air conditioned garage/shop but, it's only 24W x 30D. Basically keep it about 70 degrees year round. Most important thing the A/C does, other thsn the obvious, is it keeps the humidity low (i.e. no rust).
Problem with a shop, no matter how big you build it, it's never big enough!

 

[Duke5A]

Wish my barn was heated. I have to either take up a spot in the garage in the winter (garage is heated) or basically not be able to get anything done.

Heater is a ceiling hung 160000 BTU propane forced air unit by Modine. 120v at 15 amps. Propane bottles are outside the barn, but next year Dad is going to get a 250 gallon pig for it. Refill cost on the pig can be had for $2 a gallon. I think he spent $1800 on the heater itself. Getting heat isn't the expensive part.

Insulating is what cost an arm and a leg. Attic has blown-in while the walls have purple foam board with spray insulation taking up any gaps. Probably $12k in that, but it is a big barn. 40x60 I think.

 

[Autostocks]

Mine is 30x40, not insulated. Not only is there the cost of insulating and the heater, but also the trauma of having to move everything out of the way to do it!

 

[Duke5A]

Not much of an update, but the gas tank is pulled and in the hands of the fabricator now. Hopefully in another week or two I'll have the new one back. It'll be made out of 1/8" aluminum plate with internal baffling. Made a little narrower to accept 3" exhaust to the bumper. Going to have to change some plumbing to once it's back.

Forgot to add I have a set of Caltracs going on too.

 

[Duke5A]

Things are coming along very slowly. Time is scarce, but it here is a small update. The new tank is taking form and the builder has all the parts now to finish it. Hopefully it'll be done soon.

 

[Duke5A]

Test fitting.

 

[LSM360]

Really nice tank and love the work shop too.

 

[Duke5A]

This project is taking forever. The guy that made the tank made it 6" in depth, but I needed it 6" from the pump mounting plate. We had talked about this in the very beginning, but this is what happens when you take four months and work banker's hours. Would not recommend this guy to anyone.

You can see the 1/2" aluminum plate space that had to be made to mount the pump. Thankfully there is a mile of clearance as the trunk floor starts to roll upwards right above where the pump sits. Had the added benefit of providing a mounting point for a plate the filter is strapped to.

Tank is in the car now and plumbed. Still got a few small things to do before I can start it. Saturday hopefully.

 

[LSM360]

Well that should be a really nice, reliable fuel delivery system!

 

[Duke5A]

Got it installed Friday of last week. Made new straps out of 1/8" stainless steel flat stock and lined them with rubber. Rubber is held in place with weather stripping adhesive. Looks great and started right up. When I dumped the second can of gas in it though it started leaking from the front left corner. So to get it back on the road we reinstalled the old tank. Have to take this one back to the shop. Meh...

 

[M_Body_Coupe]

Mark,

So in that last photo where it's circled with the black marker, that thin line you see, is that a crack, or just a piece of dirt?

Either way, it sucks doing the work twice, but hopefuly they'll fix it up for you and it'll just be a matter of a re-install afterwards!

Have to say: it does look pretty darn spiffy otherwise!!!

 

[volare 1977]

was the tank tested for leaks before? that sucks

 

[Duke5A]

No, no cracks. It was pressure tested by two different shops. Project is driving me nuts.

 

[volare 1977]

No, no cracks. It was pressure tested by two different shops. Project is driving me nuts.

Wow, that is even worse after having it tested twice. Looks good though.