Captain Obvious

Wow. That really stinks! Here's to hoping it wasn't really something that serious.

Patcon, is there something specific I should repost? I do still have all the pics local.

That little black gizmo is what they call the check valve, and it's not as simple as it looks. In one direction, it is supposed to pass vapor easily, and in the other direction, it is supposed to pass vapors as well, just not as easily. Here's a couple snippets from the FSM showing the details: Here's where it is on the car (Number 8): Here's where it is on the evap system schematic (number 17): And here's how you are supposed to test it. Note that they didn't include this little tidbit until the 78 version of the FSM. In the EC (Emissions Control) section:

Thanks guys!

Looks great. But as far looking cleaner on your after picture, methinks you cheated a little. You also removed all the EGR components, removed the A/C kick-up FICD, and fixed your half 77 half 78 crankcase venting tubing and AAR lines. Can't quite tell in the pic, but maybe you also removed the cold start valve? Yes... The "after" pic is cleaner. Seriously though, I'm thinking I may do the fuel rail thing too. Site, Have you got the link to your fuel rail thread? I just don't feel like searching for it, and you probably have it in front of you.

Absolutely!

Haha!! Yeah, I stumbled across that video a couple days ago looking for something else. Don't even remember what I was looking for, but that one came up for some reason. Yes, Paul is the Seth Rogan one. I know everyone's tastes are different, but that one really had some laugh out loud moments for me. I hope it does for you too. Rotten tomatoes says "Paul is arguably the best science fiction comedy since Galaxy Quest." (Have you seen Galaxy Quest?) So you really want some difficulties putting your top list together? Here's some more of my favorites: Aliens Airplane Escape From New York Spaceballs And honorable mentions... Top Secret, Life Of Brian, Real Genius, Princess Bride, and the first Matrix. Seems l like stupid humor and science fiction..... Not much of a surprise there.

Agreed! Excellent! So was there a noticeable difference before and after the caster change? I know you have been hunting a couple gremlins. Did this take care of one of them?

Love your top four, and (not surprisingly) they are on my list as well. My list is pretty much Mel Brooks, Zucker and Zucker, and Monty Python with a couple original cast Saturday Night Live cast stuff mixed in to keep things honest (Like Caddyshack and Animal House). Here's a relatively recent release that might even make my list... Paul. I didn't see it when if first came out because the previews looked like a complete waste of time. But I watched it recently it's really good. Multiple levels good.

That movie is in my all time top ten. Maybe even top five. I hope they get whatever they deserve.

Thanks Mark. I'll take a look. I've read a bunch of stuff on the subject, but I'm not sure that one made my radar.

Here's to hoping it's smooth and stable sailing!

Units difficulties occur even where the demons dwell:

My vote? Type 1.

Yes, I agree. Estimating the total length at 24" (the 6 from ball joint to wheel center plus 18 from wheel center to top of strut), you would need about .42 inches added to the T/C rod length to add one degree to the driver's side and even things up. Thanks for checking my work! So if you throw a couple washers in there, are you going to take it back to the rack again before the track day and make sure we know what we're doing? On a related note, I just got done with some suspension work on our Family Truckster and I'm currently messing around with alignment stuff on that thing. It's got four adjustable wheels and I'm poking around trying to decide if I want to try to do it myself or take it to a professional.

Whew! Well that's better! Glad I asked. If you want to push both sides to five degrees, you should be looking at about .94 on the left side and .63 on the right. Or if you just want to make them the same, you want your fairly thick washer to be about .3 more on the left than the right. Of course, remember that I'm no suspension expert and I reserve the right to have completely screwed up those calculations!!

Well ballparking the length of the strut body from top mounting bolts to wheel centerline... I'm estimating that length at about 18 inches. And with that length of 18 inches, then the longitudinal shift resulting from 7 angular degrees pivot around the top mount would be about 2.2 inches shift. I gotta believe there's something else going on. I can't believe you need to push your wheel spindle forward 2.2 inches!! That chassis was rusted, but not accordion crunched, right? Are you sure there wasn't some confusion about positive and negative directions? Maybe their alignment rack was made in Australia? On my car, I can stand alongside the car with my body centered along the line created by the two top strut mounts and look down at the wheel. I can tell that my spindle tips are farther forward than the line between the strut tops. In other words, I can SEE some positive castor on my car. Never measured how much, but it's enough that I can tell which direction it is.

They changed a whole bunch of sheet metal all over the car in 77, including that rear area. And because of that, the 77/78 situation is more complicated. For your 75, you've got all sorts of options. "Help me I'm missing something!" Rust? You're missing rust, right?

The length of the needles isn't the problem. It's the diameter. The length only matters at WOT high load conditions, and even then, they were probably long enough.

Yup. Domes in, and small washers on both ends.

Haha! Yeah, I know the welds didn't have to look pretty. I was just busting your chops. I got no room to talk! So, about the tension rod bushings... Here is the correct orientation for the washers and the bushings: Or, if using poly, the poly goes on the front and rubber on the back: I didn't have any troubles getting the nuts started... Are you doing this with the suspension loaded, or the suspension hanging?

Yup. The BFI method still works. Glad you got those rear bushings done. Not sure I would have posted pics of those "welds" though... I think I would have kept them to myself. Are you sure you had the gas turned on? I know exactly what you mean about going to the home improvement stores on the weekends... I try to avoid them too!

Nice! I can tell you have plumbed some air lines in the past or have some help from someone who has. So where is the body off to? Chemical dip? Paint work?

Booo!!! That's too bad!!

Yes, the arm with the gear on it is supposed to pivot freely on the parking brake linkage, and yes, they rust up and stop working. This pic was taken to highlight the parking brake seals (it wasn't taken with the intention of showing the pivot function), but you can see how the arm with the gear on it is at a weird angle with respect to the rest of the assy: As to how to get it free? The usual... Oil, patience, persuasion, heat, etc. I don't have any silver bullets.