late model hemi into early b bodies

[5.7 hemi]

Well I did the "guy thing" AGAIN!! The instructions for the Vintage Air were "glanced" over and I went to town putting it in. As you all know I was finally able to charge the system awhile back and got 45-50 degrees from the vents. So I try the ac this past weekend, and the compressor wont kick on. I assumed it was cause I got some air in the lines and also not enough freon. Turns out I mounted the condensor upside down "should have read the instructions more carefully" and I mounted the binary switch before the drier. So tonight I took the condensor out, reinstalled it the right way, and mocked up a new hose and ordered a drier with a binary switch mounted to it.I'll get the new hose crimped and vacum it down this weekend and see what happens. Now all you people who want to give me static for releasing some freon into the air, I'm sorry.

 

[rapidtransitric]

how "bout that!

 

[5.7 hemi]

I HATE AC WORK!!!!!!!!! No matter how many times I have made the compressor adapters to fit the compressor the always leak like a mutha. The vacum gauge shows that there isn't any leaks but when I start putting the freon in, I see start to leak out the soldered joint. I bet I have a 100 bucks in freon and it still isn't working. Anyone know how to tig thin wall tubing to a block of aluminum???

 

[5.7 hemi]

Since I have been having so many problems with the adapter blocks to the factory compressor, I have decided to put on a Sanden compressor since there are numerous adapters and hard line kits for those. Time is running short to get this done by the first week in Oct. to make the Fall Fling in Madera on Oct. 8.

 

[Tincup]

Don't rush, there will be other shows..

 

[5.7 hemi]

Im starting to think that I wont make it, friggin' sucks!!!

 

[MoParFish]

Sorry you're having so much trouble with that AC man!!! I know you've been working your *** off on that car making everything top notch. That's why it will be bad *** when all done... Just an idea? Table the AC for now. Leave the pump bolted on. With any luck, the hot weather will be over by October and you can drive it, get the bugs worked out and figure out the AC before hot weather rolls around again?? I'm not gonna make the show. Made it into the top 5 in points and last race is that weekend so "gotta go".

 

[5.7 hemi]

That is an idea, but I'm so close to being finished I taste the smell of burnt rubber, lol! So when you get famous, can I get some free pit passes? I got the rear seats back today, and they look awesome. The convertible covers were added to and you cant tell where the material was added, I'll post pics aftere I get home from work tomorrow.

 

[5.7 hemi]

New sanden compressor is mounted, had to modify one bracket to make it fit, and of course this lead to needing a shorter belt. Turns out my dad kept all the belts that I bought when I first started this project and wouldn't you know, one of them was the perfect size. Legendary said rear panels will go out on next week, cant wait to get them installed.

 

[5.7 hemi]

Picture time!!

As some of may notice the rear seat covers are not totally correct and also these are for a Coronet vert, so I say they came out darn good considering they had to be modified to fit the hardtop seat frame. The rear panels are in and they are also for a Coronet 440, but I got a killer on them, so thats what I used. I did take the trim off my original panels and put them on the new panels to give it a bit of flare.

The Sanden compressor fit really well, just had to shorten one bracket and bingo, it fit. So hopefully now there wont be any leaks like the factory compressor had which I now have sitting on the shelf. Still have to hook up the wires to make it work, but that should be easy as its only 2 of them.

So this is how the longer style console fits, just like I pictured it in my head. I think it makes a world of difference going all the way to the rear seat, maybe a tad more classy than the short style?

 

[5.7 hemi]

Almost forgot, installing the rear seats is a bitch!!! It took me a total of 3 hours to get them in and I used every word in the book and even made a few up. But in the end, they complied to my brute force, I did pay for it with a headache that last until late that night, so who really won? lol!

 

[Joe Mopar]

Looking really nice Zack.

 

[5.7 hemi]

Thanks Joe.

 

[Tincup]

Looking good Zack...

 

[5.7 hemi]

Thanks Tin.

Got the shorted out fuel pump all fixed. Turns out that when I tightened the tank strap it pulled the tank up into my cut out and hit the hot feed to the pump. So I had to replace a fuse, drop the tank, put a rubber 90 over the wire and hot post, then glue some left over weatherstripping on the pan and bingo, she fired right up.

Now all I have left is to mount the passenger seat, get insurance, registration, alignment, and charge the ac....then its hammer time, lol!!

 

[5.7 hemi]

Fall Fling was fun and I scored some parts. I got 3 front turn signal housings with lenses for 5 bucks each, one guy wanted 50 for a pair (whats with that?), also a new engine cover for 40 bucks, original ac/heat outlets that go on the bottom of the drivers side dash and passenger side kick panel for 5 bucks each, and a brand new set of 1.03 PST torsion bars for 140 bucks. I'm stoked to get all this stuff, and I thank the guys that sold the parts to me.

Next week I get insurance and registration, hopefully an alignment also so I can finally drive it.

 

[MoParFish]

Thanks again for the ride today Zack!

 

[MoParFish]

P.S. I haven't seen Zack's car in a while and got a chance to check it out today. I gotta say it is freakin' awesome! Starts right up, sounds great, looks new, smells new.......Good Job Man!!!

 

[5.7 hemi]

Thanks for the compliment Mike!!

 

[5.7 hemi]

Just got off the phone with Bill from RMS, super nice guy!! Anyway, I told him about my brake problem, pedal travels about 3 inches, then all of the sudden I have brakes that will throw you thru the windshield. He gave some really good advice about the booster being bad, (not alone on that, he said a bunch of boosters were bad from the manufacturer). So I have decided to go to manual brakes, and will do it this weekend. Any parts that I may need I'll buy from him cause he was so helpful and didn't try pushing his stuff, just an ask and answer session, that goes along way in my book.

Car is registered, insured, so I need the brakes working to get an alignment. So close and yet so far.