Projects Straight 8 RPU build thread

glad to see you back on this!

 

I'll let Bobby fill in the blanks....but it is one sweet runner!

...of course we do...glad to see you are able to 'get to it again'
2026...we need to do some Rt66 running together....

 

Yes sir! I haven't seen you in ages. It would be nice to visit and catch up!

rusty - The F1 is my old beater. been on the road since the early 2000's powered by a 500ci Caddy. (It's kinda like that ol Johnny Cash song and is a mish-mash of a lot of different components; Ford, Mercury, Packard, Olds, Pontiac, Buick Chrysler, Dodge, Toyota, Nissan, etc). Its not that pretty to look at but its pretty bulletproof. I have no qualms in jumping in the thing and heading across country.

 

A little progress...
...well, very little. But I have a direction.
First of all, making linkage is a pain in the rear. I was about to s**** the mechanical clutch linkage idea and go with a cable. I had an old shifter cable laying around that I could use for mock-up. I had it layed out pretty slick, where everything tucked in nice. But, then I realized that that both ends of the cable would be attached to the ch***is only. Not good, basically it would be pulling between the ch***is and the engine. Yeah, it would probably work, just not the best situation. Ideally I'd need to mount the cable on the trans, so that it'd be pulling against itself. I might be able to go that route but its pretty tight with the brake pedal movement.
So, back to messing around with a mechanical set up.
I did some mocking up today and can get everything to play together. I do have a shorter clutch fork that I think would work out better. Maybe tomorrow I can pull the trans and swap the fork out. I'll also need to pull the clutch pedal and weld on some longer linkage tabs.
But, there's light at the end of the tunnel..... maybe....

 

In the last couple of weeks I've had the ****** and bellhousing off a dozen times....

The issue I'm having is that there seems to be too much space. I either need a longer throwout bearing or a longer clutch fork pivot stud. I've already went with the longer GM throwout bearing. I then purchased the adjustable clutch fork pivot ball kit. Even with it adjust all the way out it just wasn't enough. It only allowed me about another 1/4" (I needed about 1/2").
I found a different clutch fork, one that is a bit shorter in overall length so that will help with frame clearance. Then I decided to build my own clutch fork pivot. I pulled the 2 piece adjustable pivot ball apart and recreated the pivot end with a longer shaft. It looks like its going to work.
I have it all mocked up and it seems to work just fine. Now I just need to pretty up some linkage and I can move on to something else.

 

Not much to report...
not much time to diddle with it this week. I did get the ****** installed and bolted down, driveshaft back in, etc.
The next major hurdle is to fire this thing up to see if all these parts will work together and it will move under its own power. To do that I'll need to;
get out the torch to "m***age" the brake pedal arm to clear the bellhousing
fill up master cylinder and bleed system
re-install body and steering
fabricate accelerator pedal/linkage
figure out temporary radiator mounts & fill system
temporary fuel can
temporary ignition wiring

At my rate of progress, should only take me several months....lol

 

Make sure to post a video when that happens!

 

Frustration!!

I went to fill up the brake system. How was I to know that I created a sprinkler system....agh.
I kept the old lines from the '40 diff as I wanted to keep that coiled wrapping at the end....mistake. I had a leak in the line. Run down to the parts store and get a piece of line and bend it to shape. The new metal lines at the front are leaking where they connect to the new rubber lines. Fix that. The crush washers at the rear of the master cylinder is leaking. Had to get some new ones of those
At this point I've dumped about a pint of brake fluid all over the garage floor
Now the left rear wheel cylinder (new) is leaking like a sieve. I pulled the drum off and pulled the wheel cylinder apart. It all looks good. I cleaned it up and put it back together. I put a strap around the shoes so I could pressurize the system and see what happens without the drum on......still leaks....AAAGH
I'll pull it apart again and take a look.....

 

you and joey better get together!

 

Frustration....continued....

Did some digging online. It looks like lots of folks are having issues with these replacement wheel cylinders leaking. It seems the issue is that the input hole is not drilled in the center and if the cups get pushed in all the way one might get back behind the input opening allowing all the fluid to spew right out. The recommended fix is to cut back the tabs on the brake shoes so they don't push the cups into the wheel cylinder bore to far....seems a pit hokey
So, I pulled the left rear and tore it apart, cleaned and inspected. Yes the input opening is not centered but it doesn't appear to be the issue. I can push the cup on that side all the way in and its still behind the lip of the cup.
I did find quite a bit of gunk in the wheel cylinder. I cleaned it all out and re***embled. Good to go! Woohoo!!

But, and there's always a but. The right rear has a m***ive puddle under it. So, off with the wheel and drum, clean up the puddle of brake fluid, cuss and moan about the peeling and bubbling garage floor paint, pulled wheel cylinder off, further cussing and moaning, tear it apart and inspect (while cussing and moaning). There was a bit of gunk inside the wheel cylinder. The bore looks good and the cups look good. Re***emble/reinstall... ...leaking...
Lather, rinse, repeat... leaking
Lather, rinse, repeat... fumble the reinstall and allowed one cup to push out of the bore of the cylinder
add more cussing to the lather, rinse, and repeat sequence.
Double check, double clean, re***emble and reinstall.....still leaking
AAARGHH!!
I just ordered a new one

This is nuts. I've never had so many brake issues in my life. So far, I've dumped about 20oz of brake fluid on my garage floor.
I have a couple of days to clean up before the new wheel cylinder shows up this Sunday

 

[I have a couple of days to clean up before the new wheel cylinder shows up this Sunday]

I feel your pain with cleaning the floor. I got fed up with that and bought a large commercial boot tray meant for holding snowy boots etc. Has an inch lip all the way around and is large enough to go from the rear end to the front of the ******. slides around effortlessly and is the best thing I have ever bought for keeping the floor clean. In the good months I hit it with gunk and wash it off outside with the hose.

 

Great tip! Thanks

Well another day...
I'm not sure what I did different. I went out to the garage this afternoon and took a look at it again. I had left the wheel cylinder sitting in my drip pan, dis***embled and sitting in its own juices. So, with a heavy sigh I picked up each piece, thoroughly dried and inspected them. All looks good. I put the cups in place and clamped a large pair of vise-grips over the ends and put some air to it. I couldn't tell if it leaked or not.
I pulled it back apart, again, checked everything and put it back together except for the outer dust shields. Then clamped my big vise grips around it and hooked up the brake line. I pumped it up. No leaks...
...what the hell!
I pumped the brakes up and held pressure in the system for a bit... ...no leaks. I don't know whether to be overjoyed or to be completely pissed.
Pulled vise grips off, installed dust shields, installed wheel cylinder, cleaned up puddles of brake fluid, wrapped ratchet strap around shoes, filled master cylinder. Pumped it up, no leaks!!!
Woohoo!!!
I'll let it sit overnight and mess with it again tomorrow and see if its really fixed or not.

What a stupid hobby

 

I feel your pain Bobby. Been battling leaks on a '39 PU I put new brakes on recently. New parts seem to be junk!

 

I've never had so many brake issues in my life. Even in the old days of slapping new cups in old rusty wheel cylinders....sheesh

I havent had a chance to look at it today to see if it remains fixed or not... ..maybe tomorrow