Build Thread 1978 Mercury Cyclone. The pig is in the pen.

[CarMichael Angelo]

Captain's log, Stardate 3031....The day I actually decided to maybe take Noobz advice.

I'm there guys....what's left? Aside from bumping the boost back up to 12 pounds (which will happen) finding and fixing the squeak, stopping the oil from getting everywhere but where it belongs....I got nothing left to do.

So, thoughts turn to machine guns.

I'm seriously considering the sight gag effect of six small air cooled barrels hanging in a stagger just like theyd' be if they were on the front of some WWII warbird..
Not even enough to be noticeable unless you look directly at them,...Just one more thing that I have to 'splain to somebody.

*Definitely NOT this noticeable..(P 38 lightning).......imagine getting your ass shot up by this guy...

More like this:

With just a smidge of the air cooled barrels hanging out....of something....made out of something,...hanging off of something...

The bad part of the update is my bodywork failures....they're starting to show up. The hood heat has forced some bondo bubbling at the back of the scoops (and there is alot of bondo in this hood) I'm starting to see small cracks like I did from in the red car at the weld points where the bumper was integrated into the body. The hood is gonna get worse, so I'll be forced to deal with it...at some time in the near future.

 

[droopie85gt]

That first picture is of one of the finest planes ever made. I remember in the 90's they excavated one from under 75 or 100 feet of ice on a glacier in Greenland. Glacier Girl. They restored it and I think it flies out of Knoxville now. Little did they know if they waited til now, the ice would melt on its own and they could just go get it!

I would say, don't sweat the small stuff, but that's what I say, not do. That's one reason I am taking SOOOOO long on my car. Well, one is the house/wife renovations. The other is I didn't like the half ass way I wired it up for EFI when I did it. Now I want some kind of trick show car/wire tuck awesomeness, but I don't want to have to take the inner fenders out to find out why my headlights don't work or the fans quit. I keep telling myself if I want something that doesn't squeak or leak to go by new Mustang and then just order up Lego's from 5.0 Resto to modify it. That's what 90% of the people at the cruise ins have. Camaro, Mustang, Challenger. Go online order your Legos and pop them in. The cars are the belly button now. Same wheels, same chrome crap under the hood.

I drove down to B'ham for a meeting 2 weeks ago. If those machine guns aren't live, you are wasting an opportunity. I may install some on my Ram daily driver here. Weed out the stupid people!

 

[95BlueStallion]

How much would it cost for a good valve cover gasket from down under?

 

[RaggedGT]

They sell gasket material by the sheet

 

[CarMichael Angelo]

I think you need automotive therapy. Somehow need to learn to like/appreciate some simpler things... Maybe you should plan to attend a show in another city, for a change of pace.

As far as the Monster, didnt you just use RTV for a valve gasket?

Huh,...Funny you should mention that...

I'm taking a huge leap of faith here...and I'm commited.

Anybody here ever heard of "Cruisin the Coast?" Happens every year, twice a year in the southeast gulf coast.
Makes Mustang week look small.

Last year they had 8300 registered attendees for the first week in October,....Basically this event amounts to a 45 mile long Automotive block party between Bay St. Louis, and Pascagoula Ms. Every American car ever made will be in attendance with an emphasis on early street rod/ muscle cars. ( Read,...No rice allowed) I just booked a room in Gulf port for Kate and myself for Thur,Fri, and Saturday Night....

God I hope the Monster is up to it.

The last time I drove this far (4.5 hours one way), It was in the red car, and was subjected to a heater core and radiator leak while in Myrtle Beach. I drove that thing back, all the while expecting a full on radiator failure. But the engine and trans in the red car was straight out of a 2002 GT, and had nowhere near the level of custom sht that the Monster is sporting... In comparison, This time I'll be driving a finicky drag week car.
And This time around I'm driving By myself, ( Much less stressful when you dont have to worry about "her" comfort.) The wife will already be down there on business (I'll bet that'll be fun amongst the 7000 plus cars that will be down there) We're stayin in a Marriott Courtyard on the beach,...on the wive's marriott rewards points.

How good is that gonna be? The three nights in a special event scenario on the beach only ends up costing me 80 bucks a night.. Everything around us is booked at 300+ a night.

I got the extra fittings to relocate the crankcase evac system away from the oil fill holes. It'll mean drilling two additional holes in the valve cover for those fittings, and plugging the existing holes with caps. Doing this will seal the crankcase, and tie it to the catch can system directly. The seeping oil will be stopped. AS for the freakin squeak....I'll be on a mission for the next month to find and fix that....That thing has got to be remedied before I go anywhere. It could be a slipping belt, it could be a bearing,....either way I got to find out what the hell it is before I give the Monster a clean bill of health to try this trip..

We're at one month and counting.

 

[95BlueStallion]

Man, that sounds awesome. The only cruising the coast Ive heard of is in CA.

 

[CarMichael Angelo]

I've decided.

Being really old is like being really drunk.

We have a 16 year old cairn terrior. He hears nothing, he sees nothing, and basically goes through the day either sleeping, or bumping into things.

I can emphasize .

I focused today in the details... The stuff I've been blowing off as " ill get to it when I get to it" details....


Today I got to that stuff.

The valve cover gasket has alway been made out of RTV. I keep thinking "I wonder how long I'll keep using RTV instead of making an actual gasket".. Today I stopped thinking that.

I made a gasket.

My valve cover is too long...the gasket stuff that's out there is too short.

So, I gotta add an inch of stuff to make it work.

This:

You have no idea how long I've been ignoring the open end of the dash...

This end cap has been made ever since the dash was done......I installed it for a minute, then it came back off when I needed to do something....( I forget what it was) ....
But it never got put back till today.

I never made the other side...........
Till today...

Now that's done..........(Still gotta stain the leather to match).

And,...there's this:

Those two discs started life as 1/4" plate . After getting drilled, hole sawed, chucked into a drill press and sanded round,..... They get " glued and screwed" down as substrate for the future 1/2" NPT. Fittings that will end up there tomorrow night.

So,...the little stuff is what I work on now a days......once I get the parts in that will allow me to finish this, I'll plumb both holes into the crankcase evac system.

That's it for today,....except this:

What kind of man ignores a military vet who served his country for 50 years,..who spent 5 years in a Hanoi prison, and came home broken. Who went on to further his service to his country as a moderate senator, ran for president, and lost.....and then continued in the senate...serving his state and his country....finally dies.
And despite that service,......What kind of man begrudgingly keeps the flag at full staff and only after enough pressure from the
American legion ( 2 million Crotchedy potential Trump Train voters) lowers the flag back to half staff at 3 pm?

The kind that needs to be stood up against a wall and shot.

 

[95BlueStallion]

Hopefully your new vent system and valve cover will pan out.

As for the other thing, they didnt really get along. Do you go out of your way for people you dont like? Not saying he is right, but maybe he is a stubborn old crotchety guy.

 

[CarMichael Angelo]

Hopefully your new vent system and valve cover will pan out.

As for the other thing, they didnt really get along. Do you go out of your way for people you dont like? Not saying he is right, but maybe he is a stubborn old crotchety guy.

No, he goes out of his way because he doesn't like somebody.They didn't get along? It's because the One said he liked "heroes that didn't get caught". It's because the One held a grudge over the other not endorsing his racial profiling bill. If I dont get along with another here so What? I'm not the president. Are the flags back at half staff today? I'll bet they are. How many petty men that have been in charge of this country have ordered the US to ignore a vet at his death?

 

[95BlueStallion]

Dont know, Ive never been the type to get into politics, buddy. Seems to be a bunch of arguing and drama. I like simpler sht like making fun of you for your little mis steps building the Monster, and then getting it back times 3 when I do something dumb.

Guess I'll just let the political stuff fly from now on like everyone else does. Theres gotta be a "not my President" forum out there for ya somewhere...

 

[RangerJoe]

Mike, for once I agree with you, somewhat. I think we should always honor those who have served unselfishly, whether over seas or here in our community.

I will say that he is not the only one to do this type of thing though. Obama allowed the White House to project purple lights in honor of Prince; however, he refused to honor officers who were ambushed and murdered by displaying blue lights at the Whitehouse. He was also refused to come to the Fallen Police Memorial in DC where a former fallen co-worker of mine was being honored along with others who have given their lives in their communities.

I have to say that Trump really should have shown more respect, but he is not the first president to disrespect those that have paid a price.

Joe

 

[CarMichael Angelo]

Mike, for once I agree with you, somewhat. I think we should always honor those who have served unselfishly, whether over seas or here in our community.

I will say that he is not the only one to do this type of thing though. Obama allowed the White House to project purple lights in honor of Prince; however, he refused to honor officers who were ambushed and murdered by displaying blue lights at the Whitehouse. He was also refused to come to the Fallen Police Memorial in DC where a former fallen co-worker of mine was being honored along with others who have given their lives in their communities.

I have to say that Trump really should have shown more respect, but he is not the first president to disrespect those that have paid a price.

Joe

Aww Cmon Joe this can’t be the first time you’ve actually agreed with something I’ve said.

Im such an agree-able kinda guy..I’m just floored that I’m so far off in left field....

Our complex flag was at full staff when I got to work today...I called the mgmt, and pointed out to them that the bone spur in chief had been pressured into lowering the flag back to half staff until a member of our senate, a war hero, and a surviving prisoner of war is laid to rest this weekend.

They lowered it.

Then Mercedes Followed suit,......... then Chrysler,.
Joe, if you’re a cop, you’ve gotta have a problem with a man that paints everybody in the Govt law enforcement branches as corrupt, incompetent, and undeserving of the respect due their daily sacrifice.
Especially since the one guy making that claim is by definition, corrupt, incompetent, and undeserving of any respect, from anybody.

 

[RangerJoe]

Aww Cmon Joe this can’t be the first time you’ve actually agreed with something I’ve said.

Im such an agree-able kinda guy..I’m just floored that I’m so far off in left field....

Our complex flag was at full staff when I got to work today...I called the mgmt, and pointed out to them that the bone spur in chief had been pressured into lowering the flag back to half staff until a member of our senate, a war hero, and a surviving prisoner of war is laid to rest this weekend.

They lowered it.

Then Mercedes Followed suit,......... then Chrysler,.
Joe, if you’re a cop, you’ve gotta have a problem with a man that paints everybody in the Govt law enforcement branches as corrupt, incompetent, and undeserving of the respect due their daily sacrifice.
Especially since the one guy making that claim is by definition, corrupt, incompetent, and undeserving of any respect, from anybody.

Actually I left a 12 year career on Dec. 31st, 2017 for a long list of reasons not needed to go into here, .

Joe

 

[Davedacarpainter]

Actually I left a 12 year career on Dec. 31st, 2017 for a long list of reasons not needed to go into here, .

Joe

Figured drag racing would replace the income, huh?

 

[RangerJoe]

Figured drag racing would replace the income, huh?

Lol, actually I started my own towing and recovery service. Hours are long but it is very rewarding working for yourself and the money is definitely better. Very little time for drag racing anymore.

Sorry for the derail....back to the regularly scheduled program.

Joe

 

[CarMichael Angelo]

Lol, actually I started my own towing and recovery service. Hours are long but it is very rewarding working for yourself and the money is definitely better. Very little time for drag racing anymore.

Sorry for the derail....back to the regularly scheduled program.

Joe

I’m perfectly capable of derailing my own thread....don’t worry about it.

 

[95BlueStallion]

Any more progress on slowing the Monster's bleeding?

 

[droopie85gt]

I wish Trump was in charge of the economy and someone was head of state. Right or wrong or by pure luck, the economy is great. But the mf'er won't shut his gaping trap. He is a little man who has to tweet about anyone and everyone. But I agree with pulling out of the bogus Iran deal. At least they don't have to pretend not to be making nukes to kill us with anymore. I agree with him going to talk to Dennis Rodman's buddy. If, for no other reason, we got more American remains back.
I read a great piece earlier about how McCain has orchestrated his own funeral to send a message to Trump and really to all of us. He is having his 2 biggest adversaries speak at his service. Bush who he lost to in a very personal and contentious battle in 2000 and Obama who he already had a nasty run in when BO had just been elected to the Senate.

So in contrast to Trump's MO to first call anyone who crosses him a Dog, then belittle them, then threaten them, John S. McCain invited his 2 most bitter rivals to speak. To show the country and the world that there's politics and there's human decency. I despise the Clinton politics. But I would have compassion for Hillary if she came down with cancer. Ted Kennedy got away with murder, but I felt sad for the family that lost a father/grandfather/husband. I though ol Joe Biden was a buffoon, but I will admit I teared up reading his tribute to his son.
The outright indecency between politicians and just normal people who have differing views is appalling. We're speeding down a mountain towards either an all out race war (3 way) or an all out war between liberals and conservatives.

There's just no meeting in the middle any more. Now with social media everyone (including the Don) have a platform and by God they are going to use it and screw anyone who thinks differently.

RIP John McCain. Godspeed!

 

[Noobz347]

View: https://youtu.be/fYNR0TQrnCE?t=4m

 

[CarMichael Angelo]

Despite the urge to respond to Drew,..........I will return the thread back to it's general purpose....

That is to act as my daily journal, with a little bit about my life/dog/cat/house/wife/kids/work/political/religious beliefs..............and a whole lot about this car.

I did do some more to it last night, but it's not ready for pics.....Last night was one of those times when I walked back upstairs mumbling to myself..."Now why did I do that?"

I..I..I....don''t know actually,...at the time it made sense. It'll look good, but it'll serve no practical purpose.

I tied the back valvecover fitting to the front valvecover fitting, and ran the one common line to the Evac cannister.....
Makes no damn sense to me other than it looks good...(I guess it will serve as a handle the next time I have to lift the valve cover.)

The one thing it does do very well is completely use up any available oil fill hole in the valve cover. I guess I'm drilling and tapping another hole.

I'll finish that tonight, and you'll see it then.