7/8/23:
I really enjoy this car, the handling, the way it is setup, everything.
I did the engine break in over the last week, Putting 500 miles on since last Friday or so.
Most of my trips took me on everyday errands, semi local car shows and cruises and to the bike trail.
This morning, I rode the bike 22 miles from the old USS Homestead steel site in Homestead PA, now called the Waterfront, through Pittsburgh and down the Ohio River a bit to the Bicycle Museum in Pittsburgh.
Now that I am not constantly futzing with this car, I have time for fun stuff like that.
I am going to drain the oil / cut open the filter and inspect all for any issues tomorrow.
I have a few other small jobs to do tomorrow too..
- Fab up a new dipstick that will read 5-8 Qts of engine oil
- Fix the hood prop rod stay ( it fell off)
- Replace the Firewall Clutch Rod Grommet (it is old and Broken.. I got a new one)
- Replace the Oil Pressure Relief spring with a high pressure unit from a Hemi / B/RB Engine.
- Shim up the driver's side Engine mount so that the Exhaust does not rub the torsion bar.
- Raise the rear ride height for Trunk full of tools and for the tongue wight of the trailer.
- Probably something else too.. but I am not sure what that is at the moment.
After the bike ride today, I pulled the valve cover off and Set the lash on the valves - they were super loose.... and noisy.
I found my notes from last year and went with 0.024" and 0.028" It sounds like one of them is still a but clackety so I will recheck those again tomorrow.
I love having the trailer hitch on the back of the car for the bike rack.
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4 More miles to get to the point where the Ohio River begins.
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A quick stop at the Ohio River for a drink.
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A few more miles on the trail took me to the bike museum.
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They said that they had bikes for sale..... But not this one.
I wanted to buy that forest green Vintage Schwinn - I think it would have looked perfect on the back of the dart.
But... NFS. :-(
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Got home this morning and lashed up the valves on the engine..... Getting there.
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Should be packing up the trailer and getting ready to tow to Carlisle later this week.