cali-carl kammback

[83Eagle!]

Glad to hear you got it running.  Thanks for the great descriptions of your work.  I'm sorry to hear about the starter.

[mojobean]

I had to shim the starter.  never had to shim a starter before, especially a motorcraft.  I used a 3/16th guide plate and it pushed it far enough away so it wasn't' grinding or binding.  I'm not sure what that was all about.  The bellhousing that I welded to fix the starter ear cracked again.  It wasn't,t the fixed ear causing the problem, cause I replaced it with a spare and it still did it, so who knows.  I got it to start,run, and backfire out of the carb and that's good enough for now.  I have half the exhaust in, no muffler or tailpipe so its runnin super lean,and its probably out of time from resetting the distrib after pulling out the computer.  I have to plug up the air injection intake holes on the exhaust for now, till I can get it running smooth and then I'll debate putting it back in.  I got into the brakes a little today and got 3 out of the four bleeder screws out but the front pass. side caliper screw wasn't budging.  Had to bust out the acetylene torch to heat up the metal but to no avail., drilled it out and plugged it with a bolt ( the spare screw I had still dribbled after it was tight-must of drilled to far) I did a Quick and dirty check on pulling fluid out with a vacuum pump, fronts are Ok(except pass side) rears I can get no fluid out, so I may have to replace the hard lines from the proportioning valve back, just my first impression.  So he is off the slab for now, till I can get the rest of the exhaust.  No sense in trying to run it for tuning with half the exhaust.

Up next is a 79 spirit. 304 4 speed.  Start on that tomorrow.

[Eagleearl]

Good work getting it running. I've never had to shim a starter before either.
Good luck with the spirit.

[Mavericke]

wow sounds like alotta fun Freeway!

I can't wait till my house is far enough along so I can post threads like this again... I love the last line the best...

"Up next is a 79 spirit. 304 4 speed.  Start on that tomorrow"

It's awesome to have enough projects to already be planning "next". Love it! Keep up the good work!

[83Eagle!]

That Spirit Project sounds like a lot of fun.  There's a guy about an hour from me selling a 79 Spirit minus the engine and transmission for $450.  Wish I had the money and time and another garage spot.

[mojobean]

put the Spirit away and pulled the Kammback out onto the pad again. doing a little here, a little there, finally getting the hang of having numerous projects. I replaced the calipers, and the master cylinder.  Replaced the timing chain and changed the pulley system from serpentine, to standard v-belt.  Took out the air injection, and I'm running the basic vacuum.  Got it fired up and drove it back to its little spot in the back yard.   Runs pretty good.

[4x4_Welder]

as far as the submarine.. i'll find my photos of that to enlighten everyone.  I agree about the old gear oil, nothin worse than gettin that stuff in your hair.

Yes, subs smell nasty, especially a 30+ year old boat getting a major overhaul.
I think the thawed out freezer space in an old carrier smells worse though-

[mojobean]

oh crud! i completely forgot to post the sub pics. i will do that now, over in..um.. it doesn't exactly fit anywhere. I will tentatively stick in in Lobby and can always move it.

[mojobean]

I took it out for its first maiden voyage.  I had to replace the parking brake mechanism.  The brakes were froze when we picked it up and I remember pushing in on the parking brake, and it had pulled the shoulder bolt right through the bracket, i'll either fix it or strip it, I'll probably fix it.  I had a spare so I put that in.  I welded up new exhaust, and had to adjust the clutch a little.  We put a new hatch seal on it, so we can keep the tarp off.  Took it out for a drive.  A few things need to be reworked, clutch resevoir still leaks and I forgot about that serpentine water pump runs backwards ,  ooops.

Other than that it runs well.

[mojobean]

I've been driving this car for about a month now.  The brake light always stays on, probably a sensor on the parking brake.  I got the fuel gauge working, the little reostat inside the sender had a loose wire that I was able to fix.  It needs shocks and rear hatch struts, and the gear shift/fork? is a little wonky in 3rd(it will grind unless its pushed in slow and easy).  What a nice car.

[IowaEagle]

Make sure the parking brake pedal is pulled all the way up.

[68AMXGOPAC]

Mine stays on in the wagon all the time too.All new brakes, front and back, and a new ebrake cable front to back,and both sides.Light just stays on and on and on.

[tougeagle]

Does it look like this on the inside?


The only thing I can think of, car related anyway,that smells worse than old dead gas is burned up auto tranny fluid, burned up 80W gear oil in a rear end that was run with a leak until there wasn't much oil left in it or 60 year old gear oil.

lol, been through that with gear oil before. It's rare for me to gag from smells, but that was like nothing else..

[mojobean]

i'll check the pedal this weekend. never thought of that.

when i drug this car home.. i had plans of making it the "show" car.. all prettied up and such. but honestly.. i REALLY like the wear on the paint. (not to mention that if i put new carpet in it, to replace the section thats not there.. well, it wouldn't hold up well) but who knows.. someday maybe. I honestly am not sure why the mister started calling it cali-carl, other than it used to be a cali car, but carl it is not.. the name will be changed at some point. (just as soon as i can get the Cali DOL to find the darn title.. or atleast not be closed on the days i actually get a chance to call them )

[mojobean]

*UPDATE* on the title issue.
the mister called Cali DOL for me in an attempt to retrieve the title. Unfortunately he just picked a field office to call and ended up with a girl who had a smarta** way of dealing with the public and essentially just tried his patience. Its a bit hard for him to bite his tongue and not be smarta** right back, and i felt terrible. Proud of him, yet sorry he had to put up with the unprofessional-ness of this girl. 
Not to mention she said it was impossible for us to buy the car. I don't put too much weight in that statement since WA DOL says otherwise, as its registered, i'm driving it, and the only thing holding it up is transfering the title.
So, i have a month before i need to get new tabs... but i have to give olympia something by then. This is getting to be a problem acquisition. 

I may have to be a "bad girl" and go another route.  well, my father DID always say i was a hoodlum.