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Finally on the Alignment Rack
Today I was finally able to get #8690 up onto an alignment rack. I had set it up in my garage using string, levels, toe plates, camber/caster gauges etc to get it close. I've put 2300 miles on the car in the last 2.5 months with my setup and have been really happy with the way it's been driving and handling so I know that I was close to good. When all was said and done, I actually had my front set up very close, but my rear was off a bit. Mostly my rear camber was out a bit. I have to say it was a bit strange watching someone else wrench on my car.
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5200 miles in 4 months... YES, I'm having FUN!
This is kind of a duel purpose entry. One to document the completion of over 5000 miles as well as to show some photos from the 2019 Hot Rod Power Tour that I just completed with my 19yo son Matthew. So this past Sunday, Fathers Day, I completed the Hot Rod Power Tour. On this trip, I logged just over 2500 total miles and just prior to leaving, I changed the oil with the odometer reading 2500 miles. I'm having a blast with the car. So far I've only had one minor issue with the radiator fan switch not wanting to turn the fan off when it is at the appropriate cool temp. Simple fix as soon as I find a supplier for a better quality switch. Either way, I wanted to fill you in on the first 5000 miles. I've driven it in the rain, the blazing hot sun and on some perfect 73* days with white clouds in the sky. It drives like it's on rails and is very easy to handle. The BluePrint Engines 347ci Carb motor has run perfectly since day one. I've found that with the idle right at 600 rpm, I get the perfect loping idle that we all like. During the Power tour, I had the opportunity to drag race it on the 1/4 mile as well as try my hand at a autocross track. During the Autocross run, I was really trying to push it hard and actually spun it out. During the drag race, it ran 114mph in 13 seconds and that was after I had to lift just after shifting into 3rd as I broke the rear tires loose and I started drifting towards the center line. That's right, I broke the rear tires loose while going just about 100mph. When driving in the pouring rain, I got wet. (can't believe how many people ask me about having no top and what will happen if it rains) The rain for the most part blew over the windshield, but a lot also drips in at the top of the doors and blows around and back into the car from the back. The good news, with standing water in the floor boards, a towel dries it right up as there is no padding under the carpet. I have a few minor squeaks from body/door/hood/trunk lid rubbing each other as I've not truly/properly gaped them (leaving that for Jeff K) I really like my EPAS (Elec Power Steering) The Cruise Control works really well and it will maintain a good constant speed up and down hills. What can I say, it is just a fun car to drive and I drive it as much as possible.
Here is the Drag race, I'll put the autocross video in the next entry.
https://youtu.be/sO-Qhg1lceU
Drying out the floor boards in Bristol KY during the day 2 stop of the Hot Rod Power Tour.
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The BluePrint Engines 347ci looking awesome as always. About 3000 miles on it here
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During a very hard downpour I was stopped under a closed gas station cover waiting for it to blow over.
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Just enjoying a day full of driving.
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Day one of the 2019 Hot Rod Power Tour
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A special offer from BluePrint Engines that we worked up.
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One of several small car shows that I've participated in.
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At one of the larger car shows I've been a part of.
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It's BRISTOL Baby!!!
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In the Great Smoky Mountains (Father's Day 2019) 5000 miles on odometer.
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Just the cool sounds of the 347 purring
I call this little video clip "347 Lullaby" with a "wake up call" in the middle.
BluePrint Engines 347ci carb motor with the FFR side pipes. I will be installing Georgie's GAS-N pipes in the next week or so and this will be the first of two comparison videos.
Also, remember, if interested, you have until Aug 1st to use the 10% discount code “ CEPT10% “ to save 10% on your order on your engine purchase at BluePrint Engines. Check them out today at www.BluePrintEngines.com or for FFR specific options check out www.FactoryFiveEngines.com
https://www.facebook.com/Bando11Racing/videos/2041236386182563/:D
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Crazy Squeak in the Rear of the Car
Shortly after beginning the driving of my MK4 I developed a squeak in the rear. I had read about the different possibilities, Sway bars, Control Arms, etc... All of mine have been properly lubricated and actually re-lubricated with no luck in getting ride of the squeak. So after the Hot Rod Power tour and about 5600 miles now, I decided to really get under there and find this squeak. I actually found it by accident, while cleaning the underside of the car after many miles of rain driving. While cleaning the bottom of the fuel tank, the squeak showed up. Watch the video and the photos show how I have addressed the issue. I sure hope this help others that could have this same issue.
Be sure to turn up your speakers for that awesome fingernail on the chalkboard sound...
https://youtu.be/Inar5oYaxYI
So once I discovered exactly what was causing the squeak I came up with the idea of putting a good thick rubber cushion between the tank straps and the rear edge of the tank flange where the metal to metal rubbing was causing the squeak. I found that my left over piece of 3/8" fuel line would make the perfect addition to my build. I cut two pieces of fuel line, each 1" long and then slit the both. The idea is that the slit will go over the edge of the fuel tank and provide insulation between the tank and strap. One added note, I also put the insulator as far around on the top of the tank edge as I could so that it is actually sandwiched between the black plastic cap that you put in the tank support tube. So now it is held very firmly in place by to points, the edge of the tank and the strap as well as the support tube. Tightened up the tank straps and there is now zero squeak. Problem Solved...
In this photo you can see the inside of the tank strap and where it was rubbing against the edge of the tank causing the squeak.
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A close up shot of the modified fuel line / insulator
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How the insulator fits in place
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Job completed...
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Well almost completed... I did take this opportunity to take it all apart and put a coat of paint on the bolts to stop the rust. Just not before I took these photos.
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8000 miles, Getting ready for Body and Paint work
Last weekend, I took the BluePrint Engines Factory Five 20th anniversary MK4 roadster up to Darlington and showed it off in the Ford Performance Corral along with about 30 other Bad Asp Fords. Even had Edsel Ford stop by and say hello to us. During that 250 mile round trip, my odometer rolled all 7777s and then this weekend, it rolled over 8000. All I can say is that I'm enjoying driving this thing more and more every time I get in to it. So just a quick back story. I bought the complete 20th anniversary kit second hand in Aug 2018, pretty much finished it in December 2018 and titled/tagged it on Feb 2nd 2019. So in just 7 months I've racked up 8000 miles. I completed the 2019 Hot Rod Power Tour in June as a Long Hauler, completing all 7 cities in 7 days, and added a couple stops on the way back. That was 2700 miles of pure enjoyment. Even the rainy days. Time with my son riding through some of the most beautiful roads our country has.
During the 8000 miles, I have found some little things that I've tweaked but for about 95% of everything else, I've been absolutely happy with everything about his car. The BluePrint 347 Carb motor has purred the entire time and never let's me down when I step on the "go" pedal.
Now, it's time to get the car ready for Jeff Kliener to do his amazing work with the body and paint. I'm removing the BluePrint Engine decals along with all the others this week. (I'm sure that will cost me about 53 HP) I'll be installing the brand new custom made GAS-n fully polished stainless steel headers and side pipes and then just waiting for that call from Jeff to say... get it up here.
While out on my drive this weekend, I found a small county park and stopped to take some final photos of it with the decals all on it. I've actually really become accustomed to having them and really like the look, but can only imagine what Jeff is going to make it look like. So I wanted to have some decent photos to remember it this way. I also have some really nice, long, secluded roads that gives me some opportunity to make a couple "performance" runs. I've shown photos below of a one of my 0-60mph runs along with a 1/4 mile run. These times are as recorded by my GPS speedometer so not sure really how accurate it is but either way, I have fun as I always do.
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8690 miles on MK4 20th Anniversary Serial #8690
Nothing really important, but on 9-22-19 I rolled the odometer over 8,690 miles...
Only significant to me because that is the serial number of my car..... (7 mo and 20 days on the road)
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Clutch Throw-out bearing is toast...
During a drive this morning I noticed a very minor vibration... actually could be better described as I heard the vibration. It was a strange one, was not really dependent on speed. It came in went in a pattern of about 1 second on and 1 second off. then on and then off... over and over... Then after I had stopped for a few minutes in a parking lot to look at my phone, I was just sitting in neutral, idling and I started to hear a squeak. As I started to drive off from the parking lot, the squeak got very loud and then a the a vibration began to be felt. Fortunately I was only 1 mile from home so I got it home and up on jack stands and pulled the clutch fork cover off and this video shows what I found. Note: the squeak in the video is not what I was hearing, I was hearing the bearing squealing.
WARNING: Irritating sound on video... think finger nails on the chalk board while listening to this video...
https://youtu.be/-5zh6SJceF8
The good news is I was about to pull the engine and transmission out to send them back to BluePrint Engines for some upgrades and I believe that this will be covered by warranty. Either way, my fun daily driving will be put on hold for a little while.
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BluePrint Engine Removal & Replacement w/Body on
So over the past couple months, I removed the engine and transmission and sent it all back to BluePrint Engines. They quickly completed some work on the engine as well as repaired the transmission clutch and trow-out bearing. All of this was completed under their awesome 50,000 3 year warranty at no cost to me. The engine is back in and everything is running great. I have to give a huge shout out to the gang at BluePrint Engines as they did all this work with the ease. Ken and Josh in Technical Support and of course Johnny Mac were all fantastic.
I scheduled to pick up my engine at the FedEx Distribution center. It was much easier than trying to deal with the lift gate at my house (I have a dirt/grass driveway). They loaded it into my truck with a forklift and then I just backed my truck into my garage and used the engine hoist and cargo straps to lift the entire crate. Lifted it up a couple inches and drove the truck out from under it. Then I just moved it to where I wanted it and set the crate down on some jack stands.
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A lesson learned during the removal of the engine is that it is much more difficult with the body on to put it in and out. The reason is that the balance bar / chain connects to the rear of the engine head. When the body is on, that location is actually under the body and you can not lift the engine up off of the engine mounts with out the balance bar hitting the body. ALSO, even the 2 ton engine hoist that most everyone uses is not long enough to reach over the front of the car (with body on) so you must go in from the side. I will say that putting it back in was sure a lot easier knowing the issues that I had taking it out. I actually was able to use a cargo strap wrapped through my intake manifold at the rear of the engine to attach my balance bar so that it did not hit the body when I was putting the engine back in.
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Mechanical Throttle Linkage Installed
While the engine was out I took the opportunity to switch over from the cable throttle to a mechanical throttle linkage. I purchased all the parts from McMaster-Carr and have to tell you, it is night and day different from the cable. I also installed the Russ Thompson Throttle Pedal assembly that mounts to the 3/4" tube. If you are just building your car now and are even remotely considering a mechanical linkage, do it before you get you engine in and button up the foot box... you be glad you did.
I used all stainless steel. 1/4" threaded rod, 3/8" SS solid rod, SS nylon self-locking nuts and under the hood I covered the rod with a cut to length piece of SS 5/16 brake line that I polished with some metal polish to give it a high mirror finish. I picked up the levers for under the hood and in the foot box from Speedway motors.
I had to tap out the ends of the Speedway Throttle Arm to match the threads on the ball joint linkage and then put a self locking nut on it as well.
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Note, the extra rod length next to the fire wall has been cut off to appropriate length.
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Speedway Motors Parts
#91018410-3/8 Speedway Light Aluminum Throttle Linkage Arm, 3/8 Inch $ 9.99 (2 Each)
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McMaster Parts List:
1 1141T25 Hardened Tight-Tolerance 17-4 PH Stainless Steel Rod, 3/8" Diameter, 1 Foot Long $23.22 (1 Each)
2 6072K31 Oil-Embedded Ball Joint, Linkage, 1/4"-28 Internal Thread, Right-Hand Shank and Ball Stud $7.77 (4 Each)
3 6072K175 Oil-Embedded Ball Joint, Rod End, 3/8"-24 Thread, Right Hand $6.36 (2 Each)
4 93250A060 Super-Corrosion-Resistant 316 Stainless Steel Threaded Rod, 1/4"-28 Thread Size, 1 Foot Long, $2.78 (2 Each)
5 3370K15 Clamping Two-Piece Shaft Collar for 3/8" Diameter, Chrome-Plated 1215 Carbon Steel $7.38 (2 Each)
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Getting ready to go to Bloomington IN
So as the time gets closer and closer to taking my car up to Jeff K for his magic, I've been getting ready. One of my goals with the car is to travel and stop in a "fun" area, unload my MK4 and cruise... and camp, and cruise. So a couple weeks ago, I picked up this 40' Millennium trailer. 12'+ Living Quarters and 20' Garage. The previous owner was a Porsche guy and I've since taken all the decals off the sides of the trailer. I also installed some cool E-Track tie downs and loaded the MK4. It all fits great and pulls fantastic. I'm really getting excited to know that my first real trip with it will be up to Bloomington IN...
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And I also received my vanity tag....
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The beginning of the end!
Today was an exciting, and long awaited day. I delivered my 20th Anniversary MK4 to Jeff Kleiner in Bloomington IN. It is now in his trusty hands for a beautiful Carmine Red w/Gray strip paint job... It's going to be an exciting day when I go back to pick it up....
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This is close to what I hope it to look like when all completed with the exception, the red will be much more red...
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And a sample of the paint that Jeff did for me several months ago, the photo doesn't do the color justice.
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Working on the Garage while car is off to Paint and Body
I've been working on the back wall of the garage while my 20th Anniversary #8690 is off at Jeff Kleiner's for paint and body for a few weeks. This is a work in progress. I still have to get a Factory Five Racing metal logo ordered and put up and polish up the old FFR stainless side pipes. It is getting so close to graduating this 20th anniversary Mk4.
The red paint is actually the same epoxy that I have on the floor. I have about 3/4 gal left over so I figured I would use it. The plan currently is to have the same stripes on the car (of course) Metallic Pewter with the black border stripe. Of course, if this changes, I'll just mix up some more red epoxy and start over. Either way, I think it will look pretty cool once 8690 is back home.
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