Grinding and Hosing and the Next Step


Fuel system on the white flag.

So it may seem that I've been taking a awfully long time completing the Weber conversion, but I think of it as patience, accompanied by deliberate and carefully planned actions. And so it is. I was stumped by two issues - how to reduce the fuel line from the 1/2" line from the tank to the 5/16" line at the pump. The original SPICA fuel supply pump had a 1/2" inlet, with a 5/16" outlet (or the metric equivalents - we're talking rubber hoses here, not crank bearings). I searched and though and scoured and wasted time until I found the part I needed at Lowe's. Fitted and snugged and ready to pump all sorts of fuel.

The next issue was with the strut that supports the carbs. I e-mailed the supplier that I couldn't figure it out why the bushing seemed to be about 2mm too wide. I tried to figure a reasonable way to fit it, thinking there must be some elegant Rubik's cube type solution if I just stared at it long enough. I gave up, and ground it down. Then the supplier sent me an e-mail saying "You've got to grind it down." Good to have a confirmation of my questionable act by a professional.

I also got a new oil pressure sending unit, since I had manhandled the Sun Tune unit installed by the previous owner. I ripped out the cold start solenoid switch that had been rigged up under the dash, which tidied things up a bit, and ground the paint and rust off a couple part to practice my painting skills on.

Next up - trial fit of the DCOEs! Now I start worrying about exploding. Everything under the manifold is clean and good to go. Got a nice replacement fuel filter for the line to the Webers, and a jar a extra virgin Permatex on deck. Make sure everything is clean, sealed, and snug, and a thorough going over of the rest to make sure I didn't forget anything that I was sure I was going to go back and fix ( I can think of only one, and it is written down). The Roman Gods of Spark, Compression and Fuel willing, I might hear a cranking, firing, idling, snorting engine this weekend.

I've already started to hang out at the bookstore, eyeing the "Bodywork for Numbskulls" books.

Posted: Mon - September 18, 2006 at 08:14 PM           |

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