Re: Serious Black
 

Chip,
"Road kill nights" do I dare ask what goes on there? :haha::haha::haha::haha::haha: where exactly do you guys hang out? I heard the local gatherings at Independence Center were no more, and I haven't heard of any other cruise in's around.....interested in knowing that.
Thanks!
Ben
:metal:

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Go online to hotrod.com and check out Roadkill craziness set for the night after Power Tour concludes at Kansas Speedway in a week and a half. Kathy and I are leaving Thursday to do the long haul from Gonzales, LA to KC with the Challenger. Roadkill is sponsored by Dodge, so they lean that way a little bit, but everyone is welcome and it's a chance to see a clowder of Hellcats engaging in parking lot drags.

Re: Serious Black
 

Okay, last night I took my door panels apart (again) this time, I sprayed the door channels with silicone, loosened up the screws holding the tracks and rolled the windows up and down many times, hoping they find their "home" (ease of operation) they work ten times better than they ever did, and I lubed up the rollers and tracks of the regulators, that said, put the doors back together, hopefully for a while.
My temp gauge hasn't worked since I got the engine started, I am in the process of troubleshooting that right now, VetteVet is helping me with the process. I believe the stock gauge is dead, I have another to swap out, just hate having to remove the gauge cluster for the millionth time...... at least I'm zeroing in on the problem. well, work calls (came early for some Overtime :metal:) Have a Great Day!
Ben
:metal:

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well, it's been a while since I did an update....I took my truck to get the front end aligned, well, that didn't happen. The shop pointed out to me that my right front lower ball joint was "Cocked" in it's seat (came out of the press fit) I'm guessing when I installed my drop spindles, I may have hit the original spindle with the hammer just a tad too hard and unseated the lower ball joint.
I borrowed my uncles ball joint press and re did the lower ball joint to make sure it seated fully.
the shop also pointed out to me that my rear end wasn't centered between the wheel houses (the driver's side tire was rubbing the inside edge of the wheel house) I had to adjust my "Adjustable" track bar to re-center the wheels, I
'm guessing with all the driving I have been doing around town, my suspension must have "settled", so I'll keep an eye on that.
the rear disc conversion I did uses the pre-LS1 Camaro/firebird calipers and rear brake cables, well, even with the correct short bed intermediate cable, the rear cables won't reach without an extension of some sort, but I read in a post a while back, that if you pass the intermediate cable through the trailing arm cross member, (the holes towards the center of the cross member on either side of the hole the driveshaft goes through) the cables will meet up perfectly, I still have to do this, my rear brakes drag currently, can't have that.
pretty much done except the headliner, kick panel covers and finish the the stereo wiring.....
well, work calls, Have a good one!
Ben
:metal:

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Sorry I missed your post, Ben! Hope your issues are ironing out nicely.

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As most of you know by now, I had a "Brain Fart" (put the upper control arms on the wrong sides):dohh::dohh::dohh::dohh: but at least I know I won't have to replace anything either, just a matter of swapping sides. the guy's at the shop that did my alignment pointed out that my radio was staying on, it also powers up the amp at the same time, so for the 3 1/2 hours they were trying to get my alignment done, they ran my battery down, I made it halfway home before it died....seems my alternator isn't charging, however my amp gauge is working fine, guess I better yank it off and get it tested. I did the swap to an internally regulated alternator, followed the links showing how to do it, so I'm sure it's got to be internal of the alternator.....
well, better go for now, hope everyone has a Great 4th!!!!!
Ben :metal::metal::metal::flag:

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I took the truck to the alignment shop Friday, they said I must have the wrong control arms.....they had to leave the caster at 10 degrees, otherwise it would have needed two inches of shims, of course, those studs are no where near that long.....
To make a long story short, and with the help of a few "Forum brothers" and a few pics I posted, they spotted my issue a mile away.....I had the upper control arms mixed up....:dohh::dohh::dohh: so, last night after work I swapped them back. Everything centered up good, so my next visit to the alignment shop should be a fast one. Here's a few before and after pics.
Ben
:metal:
Have a Great 4th!

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Well, fixed my speedo drive gears last night, and I believe I fixed the alternator charging problem, but I'm gonna have the alternator tested just to be sure. I think the main issue was that the no.2 wire on the alternator connector wasn't hot 12+ so now that is resolved, just want a warm fuzzy about the alternator before I crank it up again.

I have an appointment at the alignment shop again on Friday, hope this is the one.
Have a great day!
Ben
:metal:

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Good Luck!

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I'm goin' straight!!!!! Ok, maybe not straight, but straight ahead. Got the truck aligned today!!!!!! Yeah! :metal::metal::metal: I also got my alternator issue resolved, my uncle went through my alternator to verify the work I did, which was fine, with the exception of one screw that holds the brushes and voltage regulator (I had the one screw that was insulated in the wrong spot and the uninsulated one where the other was supposed to be, needless to say, it was grounded, but no more! Charging like a champ now!!!!! I have a few interior pieces to install and swap the memory and power leads for the stereo, and that will be it!!!

I might have to cut down my rear bump stops though, I can feel the bed/chassis bottoming out on big bumps, if that doesn't do it, guess I'll have to do the C notch...... I'll have to clean her up and get some pics outside later tomorrow,
Have a good one!!!
Ben
:metal:

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Getting her ironed out!

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Yeah Buddy!!! Time to "Shake this Bad Boy Down" only driven it about ten miles across town, need to put some miles on her and stretch her legs!
I did notice when I make sharp turns I can hear som rubbing, think the lower control arm is still in need of trimming, I don't remember seeing stops cast into the drop spindles,so they hit the control arms against the edge of the rim bead, knocked off one of my wheel weights.may have to use spacers to open up the clearances. Other than the few little things left to do, I'm just about there!
Have a great weekend!
Ben
:metal:

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Thought I'd take a few pics as it is right now, got pretty far after three years!
Have a few things left to do yet, but take it day by day. My work doesn't leave me much time to do anything with it, but I'll manage when I can.
Looking good so far!!!
Ben

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Looks great, Ben!!

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Vic,
Thanks! There are a couple of things that still need to be fixed with regards to paint, chips, scratches, etc. I may have mentioned this to you or maybe not, but the painter who did my truck died a month or so ago....he was going to fix these but....
Stuff happens... It will be fine for now. I should have insisted he mount the doors prior to painting the cab, bottoms of the doors are flared out and don't fit the gap between the rockers and doors. I'll show ya once I bring it by.....soon,very soon.
I'm gonna have to change out my temp gauge, it's "DOA" checked everything that "VetteVet" said to do, but it's stuck on cold and once I ground the green sending unit wire, doesn't move. I have a good one I just tested to swap out with it.
I don't want to drive it any distance until I know it works fine.
Have a great evening!
Ben
:metal:

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Nice work Ben! Looks pretty sweet!

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Thanks Scott! I'll be visiting Vic pretty soon, I'll let know when. I have a few more little things that need to be done before I make any long journeys far from the house. But Soon,very soon.
Have a good one!
Ben
:metal:

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Cool, let me know for sure. I'd like to check out your truck.

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Looks good, Ben! Party at Vic's! Let me know when. You gotta bring this up and hang with us at the Nats in Riverside. It's a good time.

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Chip,
Sounds like a plan! Looking forward to it!
Have a good one!
Ben
:metal: