1972 Duster Build with my Daughter

What a holiday weekend... The bloody wind never stopped blowing less than 20mph the whole weekend so I totally failed on getting a friends Accord bumper and fender painted (don't ask how I got tricked into that one). After the Willcox trip it was clear the gear train needed a bit of balancing. I had the driveshaft balanced but there as a lot more metal spinning in the rear axel. I added a hose clamp to the drive shaft and marked every 90 degrees. Ran it at 35/45/55/65/75 and noted the vibrations. Then I rotated the clamp 90 degrees and repeated. I found the best spot in the 90 degree position then I tried +/- 45 degrees from that and picked the best one. It still had a bit of a vibration so I added a second aligned with the first. Spun it and noted the vibration. Tried it a +/- 90 and picked the best then started dialing it back toward the first one until it vibrated more and put it back a few degrees. It seems tedious but it only take 30 minutes or so. Also went to Tucson and bought all the A/C parts. The A/C is now all new and working as good as it can. Barry helped me dial it in but it still works no where near as good as the Coronet. I don't know why.

Went for a ride this evening and it is vibration free and fairly cold A/C. I would have liked it to freeze me out with a 75 degree outside air with the sun low in the sky but it would only reach 48 degrees or so. It is close to the specified 30 degree delta but I know the Coronet can do much better as well as all of our newer Hondas.

The rear tires hit the wheel well lip (interesting noise at 75 on the freeway when hitting rough spots and bridge joints!) I won't get to that before we leave Wednesday as I have not even looked at my car for the trip!

Kaelyn also completed her first oil change. We changed out the break in oil as we have about 500 miles on the engine now.

Work tomorrow then we leave Wednesday morning.... fingers crossed for an uneventful trip.