Most of the articles here are success stories of challenges overcome – like the previous article on This Blows: the Vacuum Side. It doesn’t always work that way.
I’ve spent the last week re-installing the exhaust system to put in the small mufflers that replace the temporary sections of straight pipe. This was also the time to install the new rear sway bar and make sure the exhaust fit around it.
The Imperial has been snow locked the last couple of months with large piles of snow in front of the workshop. We finally had a warm spell which melted enough snow to get the car out.
So, time to drive the car around the block and test all the work from the last couple of months!
The engine still isn’t running well. Rough and not much power.
There is a lot of noise from the exhaust – banging and scraping sounds. And it sounds and smells like there is a significant exhaust leak under the hood. This is frustrating after spending time trying to make sure everything in the exhaust fit.
I need a new speedometer cable. Right now I’m using the original two piece speedometer cable which runs through the AutoPilot cruise control. The cruise control had to be disassembled because it interfered with the new dual master cylinder for the brakes. Part of the body of the cruise control remains, doing nothing but holding the gears that connect the two speedometer cables. And it is in the way of several projects I’d like to do.
I’ve been trying to get a new one piece speedometer cable for a non cruise control car since last July. The first source wasn’t able to deliver after several months. The backup source for a used cable doesn’t have any. Looks like I get to do a complete restart on finding a cable.
Despite having a rebuilt power brake booster there is absolutely no boost for the brakes. The brakes themselves feel fine – after repeatedly bleeding them there is a high, firm pedal. Which requires pressing yourself into the seat as hard as you can to stop. All of the troubleshooting hasn’t found a cause for this.
The car may be running hot. The temperature gauge went up to 3/4; in the past it only went to about 1/2. Need to look into this. Simplest cause would be an air bubble in the cooling system. Do I feel lucky?
It looks like it is time to step away from the workshop for a couple of days.
Next: Returning to the fight in Manifold Destiny.