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1977 El CaminoDeleted
@Deleted
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Apr 27, 2020 16:10:56 GMT
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One thing that sound glorious recently is watching Fantomworks, most of his restorations are manual cars and they sound freaking awesome when shifting upwards under hard throttle. I'm happy with my car, but if I had the physical room to fit a manual I'd definitely think about it. I have to admit that the virtues of an automatic have worked a degree of magic on me. It would be a big decision to change it because it is effortless driving with an automatic. But I've mashed manuals all my life and I prefer to have absolute full control even if that means I could blow it all up. There's just stuff you cannot do as well in an automatic. Having fitted the kickdown cable and adjusted it so it works properly it's a lot more fun, but somehow it's still not quite the same as stabbing the clutch and knocking it down at my own chosen point. The kickdown only works below a certain a speed whereas I'm free to shave all the sticky out bits off a set of manual gears anytime I see fit. Part of me wonders whether it's actually for the best that a massive heavy slab of metal like this with dodgy-at-best American brakes cant be driven how I have driven manuals. I'd probably go sailing gracefully off the first country lane bend I came to. But automatics are so Heath Robinson, and depend on too much cross-collaboration and synergy with other things, which I always hate. So if I stick with this car I might one day do a proper gearbox and probably get better brakes too. I'm more likely to get bored of it and do a sell before I think about changing the gearbox though, to be really honest. |
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Last Edit: Apr 27, 2020 16:30:57 GMT by Deleted
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glenanderson
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 4,360
Club RR Member Number: 64
Member is Online
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1977 El Caminoglenanderson
@glenanderson
Club Retro Rides Member 64
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Apr 27, 2020 17:36:40 GMT
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Put some shoes on you freak.
🤣
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My worst worry about dying is my wife selling my stuff for what I told her it cost...
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1977 El CaminoDeleted
@Deleted
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Apr 27, 2020 17:39:27 GMT
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Ahahahaha. My wife said the same when she saw me out there washing my exhausts barefoot.
I've gone feral.
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Apr 27, 2020 18:30:07 GMT
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Just had a search for my old T handle - then remembered I fitted it to my Camaro - sorry. If you want to hoon around a bit in the Elco, just leave it in second gear, you will get engine braking then but it will rev more. When/if you get a higher stall converter it will make hooning a bit worse but will launch better. Manual changing the box when you get used to it does help a lot, but it's nothing like a manual. You will deffo need better brakes though - US brakes are only designed to work up to 60mph    and definitely not designed for hard stopping! Better discs & calipers will fix it though. (if you can be bothered). |
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1977 El CaminoDeleted
@Deleted
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Apr 27, 2020 18:39:35 GMT
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Just had a search for my old T handle - then remembered I fitted it to my Camaro - sorry. If you want to hoon around a bit in the Elco, just leave it in second gear, you will get engine braking then but it will rev more. When/if you get a higher stall converter it will make hooning a bit worse but will launch better. Manual changing the box when you get used to it does help a lot, but it's nothing like a manual. You will deffo need better brakes though - US brakes are only designed to work up to 60mph and definitely not designed for hard stopping! Better discs & calipers will fix it though. (if you can be bothered). Ah no worries. I'm sure either my home brew knob or the "possibly Hurst" ebay knob will do until I get my Toxic Knob knob. Thanks for looking though. Appreciate it. |
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Last Edit: Apr 27, 2020 18:55:02 GMT by Deleted
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bstardchild
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 14,975
Club RR Member Number: 71
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1977 El Caminobstardchild
@bstardchild
Club Retro Rides Member 71
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Apr 27, 2020 19:06:19 GMT
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Had a few minutes to spare in the aching chasm of uncertainty and a heady schedule of existential nihilism. So I decided to reach for my trusty tube of anusol to have some fun and see if it could do anything about my scabby tip (just the tip though. I promised my wife).  Are those tips welded on or clamped - or have they been on so long they've stuck Only reason I ask is I bought a pair of adaptors to change the exhaust tips on the daily an it turns out I didn't need them - stainless steel but currently unpolished and they look similar diameter to the pipes I'll measure them up if you tell me what diameter the actual exhaust pipe is - they're currently straight end but have plenty enough tube to slash cut |
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1977 El CaminoDeleted
@Deleted
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Apr 27, 2020 22:28:29 GMT
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Had a few minutes to spare in the aching chasm of uncertainty and a heady schedule of existential nihilism. So I decided to reach for my trusty tube of anusol to have some fun and see if it could do anything about my scabby tip (just the tip though. I promised my wife). Are those tips welded on or clamped - or have they been on so long they've stuck Only reason I ask is I bought a pair of adaptors to change the exhaust tips on the daily an it turns out I didn't need them - stainless steel but currently unpolished and they look similar diameter to the pipes I'll measure them up if you tell me what diameter the actual exhaust pipe is - they're currently straight end but have plenty enough tube to slash cut That's really kind of you B'stard, but they cleaned up nice enough to do me for another year. They are clamp on jobbies , or rather bolted through, and I imagine they wouldn't come off without a fair amount of wrestling and some swears. So I'll be leaving them alone for now. Cheers though. I appreciate the offer. |
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jamesd1972
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 2,921 
Club RR Member Number: 40
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1977 El Caminojamesd1972
@jamesd1972
Club Retro Rides Member 40
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Ahahahaha. My wife said the same when she saw me out there washing my exhausts barefoot. I've gone feral. Even a pair of crocs would be more civilised... Nice to see the karma mobile out on 'shopping trips' and being enjoyed. James |
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1977 El CaminoDeleted
@Deleted
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Ahahahaha. My wife said the same when she saw me out there washing my exhausts barefoot. I've gone feral. Even a pair of crocs would be more civilised... Nice to see the karma mobile out on 'shopping trips' and being enjoyed. James Yeah, good point. What the hell is it with you lot and footwear (or lack of)? Bunch of foot pervs. Leave a man be! I'm wearing my wife's high heels next time. But anyway, yes, the car gets enough use. I've had enough time with it now to get a number things sorted. The carb needed a lot of adjustment but is now sweet as far as adjusting a carb by ear alone can be. It was running very rich. I had to learn about the electric choke and discovered that it was set way off to an extreme because it wasnt working properly. So that got cleaned up and set right and now works fine. I plan to fit a manual choke though. I'd prefer to be in control of that. Various other things needed a bit of attention. Lots of bolts worked loose which now tightened have cured a lot of noises. My next noise thing will be to stop both door internals rattling about. Those are the last remaining irritable noises. The shifter is now much better and hopefully the internal illumination will be working next time I drive it. If so I need to make a new selector lens and affix the lamp where it can do the best job of illuminating the lens. Then I'm planning on taking all the interior hard plastic off and sorting that out. It's pretty horrible. It might end up black and I might get a black bench seat if I stuck with the auto box. Lots still to do but she runs and drives good for now. I just need the local car meet to start up again so I have an excuse to give it another wash and polish and get the winter protection off the wheels for a shine up.  |
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Last Edit: Apr 28, 2020 9:37:06 GMT by Deleted
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1977 El Caminoballbagbagins
@ballbagbagins
Club Retro Rides Member 164
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Put some shoes on you freak. 🤣 Leave him alone. I'm often out on the drive tinkering with the cars in my slippers. Wanted to go outside in my dressing gown to check something this morning but had 2nd thoughts. All it needs is a gust of wind and you're on the register for life. |
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Apr 28, 2020 11:58:36 GMT
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I have the same shifter in the Pop. I fitted 2 led bulbs instead of the single std bulb, one either end of the window. The single bulb never lights it very well.
I have some 2mm clear lexan at work if you want a bit for a new window? You would need to warm it carefully to bend it to shape, but I'm fairly sure that's within your skillset. A bit of clear Dymo would sort the shifter lettering - we don't have clear at work (only black or white background) otherwise I'd do you a strip copied from mine.
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Last Edit: Apr 28, 2020 11:58:55 GMT by blackpopracing: fat finger typos!
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1977 El CaminoDeleted
@Deleted
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Apr 28, 2020 12:32:50 GMT
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I have the same shifter in the Pop. I fitted 2 led bulbs instead of the single std bulb, one either end of the window. The single bulb never lights it very well. I have some 2mm clear lexan at work if you want a bit for a new window? You would need to warm it carefully to bend it to shape, but I'm fairly sure that's within your skillset. A bit of clear Dymo would sort the shifter lettering - we don't have clear at work (only black or white background) otherwise I'd do you a strip copied from mine. Thanks Blackpop, I've already got a bit of material that is ideal for the window, and I've trial cut a few freehand pieces to get the size/shape that works - Even though I was drawing with a very fine point around the original item flattened on the paper, when cut out the trial ones always bow up in the middle as though they're much too long. So I've had to trim hairline amounts off my trial window to get it the perfect length. I just need to get my cutting matt and radius guide and a straight edge and cut the final finished one neatly. I plan on using rubdowns for the letters/numbers but it'll be a long time before I can be bothered with that, knowing me. It's fairly obvious which gear it's in so ordering the rub down letters feels like a nice to have, and from experience I generally lose interest before the finishing details are applied. For example my Scimitar had it's mocked up prototype rear lights in it for the rest of its short life because they were good enough that I never felt the need to actually do the proper final set properly. Interesting what you say about the interior light. I've been trying to work out where the light should be and what exactly it does... just illuminate? Illuminate when I'm in reverse? Only illuminate when I have my headlights on? I just don't know and I can't find any representation online either. From what you've said it's just a standard constant light. I found the blown bulb in the socket when I was refurbing the mechanism. It was just hanging around loose at the front of the plastic box, so I need to to work out where to stick it. I also have a small manufactured hole just in front of my indicator window which I have not seen on any other Pro-Matic Shifter box, so I was wondering if there is meant to be a "Reverse Warning" lamp sticking out of that too...  ^That's not drilled it's got chrome on the hole's walls. I cannot find a single example of this shifter box having that hole there. I'm also keen to know what the standard physical indication device is for these shifters, because on mine there's just a bit of crudely bent tin which is hand painted in Airfix orange, and it's barely visible. It looks like somebody's made it with blunt tin snips whilst drunk. I might make a better piece for it if I can be bovvered. If you happened to have a photograph of yours I'd love to see it. All in all I suspect my shifter kit is a bodge up different parts. The stick is way too far forward when in park and there's a chunk of the silver surround missing at the front where the stick sits when it's in Park. In Park the metal indicator sliver isn't even beneath the indicator window, it's way beyond it under the casing. So my window will only show RND21 unless I make another indicator piece that places P in the window... but then 1 might drop off at the other end. I suspect this is not the original Hurst stick for the Pro-matic 2. |
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Last Edit: Apr 28, 2020 12:53:44 GMT by Deleted
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Apr 28, 2020 16:52:58 GMT
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It might be the wrong cover for it - think mine is a Mr Gasket one.
I've got photos somewhere, but I can take the cover off & photo it for you.
Mine has a 3mm rod sticking out of the side which I put some red heat shrink tubing on so you could see it. They do have a fairly long throw on them though.
The light comes on with ign so is lit constantly.
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1977 El CaminoDeleted
@Deleted
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Apr 28, 2020 19:00:31 GMT
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It might be the wrong cover for it - think mine is a Mr Gasket one. I've got photos somewhere, but I can take the cover off & photo it for you. Mine has a 3mm rod sticking out of the side which I put some red heat shrink tubing on so you could see it. They do have a fairly long throw on them though. The light comes on with ign so is lit constantly. Okay that's really useful to know - I didn't realise people made third party casings for these. Mine may well be a hokey top cover then, and having looked at the prices of some of the Hurst branded dress-up parts for this shifter I can appreciate why somebody might have opted for a cheaper off-brand version at some point in the past. The rod sticking out of the side.... also good to know thank you, and you don't need to photograph yours now you've said that. I have seen reference pictures to rods sticking out and I wondered if that's what the rod was for. I don't have a rod on mine. So if that's what that rod is, I can make one up and remove my janky bit of flappy tin. Some stuff to do tomorrow then! Cheers Mark. |
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1977 El CaminoDeleted
@Deleted
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For all the home made knob haters, I'm pleased to say the Hurst knob arrived, it was genuine Hurst brand and therefore is a nice chunk of aluminium which fitted straight on like a glove on a hand. Goodbye beer tap shifter forever.   |
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A couple of photos of my shifter for reference as I had the camera in the car today.   |
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1977 El CaminoDeleted
@Deleted
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A couple of photos of my shifter for reference as I had the camera in the car today. Ah shweet. Thanks Mark. I definitely want a red rod rather than my battered shovel head. All looks very good! |
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Another shot of the internals as I had it in bits today. You can see the led's in this photo as well.  |
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1977 El CaminoDeleted
@Deleted
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Another shot of the internals as I had it in bits today. You can see the led's in this photo as well. Cheers bud. I've been waiting for the next time I drive my car so I can see if my internal shifter light works. I disconnect the battery between drives so it hasnt been a case of just turning the key to see. Annoyingly, I drove the car today for quite a long time and never once did I think to have a look and see if it works now I've changed the bulb and reconnected the wires. I have to assume it's not yet fixed else I reckon I'd have noticed although it was bright sunshine and the bulb is tucked down the front and you said it's quite dull anyway. Damn, I wish I'd actually paid attention to that one. Good to see where the rod goes. No doubt I'll have a hole for it. Just need to make one and get it in there. Might get around to copying your LED placements at some point but I'll have to see if the basic light works first. Are tour two LEDs just in sequence on the same wire so to speak? |
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and definitely not designed for hard stopping! Better discs & calipers will fix it though. (if you can be bothered).
