Ironmightys Americana 1952, 58,59, 73 & 85

[ironmighty07]

Racking up the miles... so not a workshop update, more a, drive it update.
Decided I'd use it for a couple of days at Goodwood Revival then wind my way home Sunday by dropping into the Gathering..

Goodwood is down south, I'm up North... so the 4 days on the road... 523 miles, not totally trouble free... so the faults
1. No brake lights, looks like the pressure switch
2. No dash lights(🤞 that's only bulbs)
3. Weatherstrips and Windlace need replacing to quieten down things
4.Brakes...yep still curse word
5. Crankcase breather saw fumes getting into the cab.
6. Charge light glows on idle while in drive, so when sat in traffic(alternator upgrade due anyway)

Positives... Cruises lovely at 50-60mph, fuel was about what I hoped(scary, but not THAT scary😱). Temperature stayed safe, even in traffic. After brief scare at the first fuel stop, there wasn't any more hot start problems(high torque starter upgrade planned).




Then onto Mallory earlier today, no pictures to soaking up the atmosphere and chatting to plenty of folk😎

[grizz]

Love those photos, especially the sepia.

Nice car too.

[PhilA]

Re: starter. Mine was trash until I took it apart and cleaned the solenoid contacts.

Also, the factory wiring to the battery is inadequately large. Try beefing up the wires first- cheap and easy to obtain.

[Ralph.Wrecked.It]

Sounds like a mega road trip, I was at Revival on Saturday, absolutely fantastic event!

When the charge light is coming on when cruising around, have you tried popping your headlights on to draw a bit more current?

I had an issue of my alternator/regulator setup trying to overcharge my battery on long drives, pop the headlights on and jobs a gooden. Only happened on long drives.

I've upgraded to a modern alternator now, but popping the headlights on sorted it out for quite some time haha

If the charge light is coming on because it is struggling to charge, then of course popping the lights on is going to make it worse, i'm sure a volt meter will reveal all though!

[ironmighty07]

Sept 19, 2022 8:52:08 GMT Ralph.Wrecked.It said:

Sounds like a mega road trip, I was at Revival on Saturday, absolutely fantastic event!

When the charge light is coming on when cruising around, have you tried popping your headlights on to draw a bit more current?

I had an issue of my alternator/regulator setup trying to overcharge my battery on long drives, pop the headlights on and jobs a gooden. Only happened on long drives.

I've upgraded to a modern alternator now, but popping the headlights on sorted it out for quite some time haha

If the charge light is coming on because it is struggling to charge, then of course popping the lights on is going to make it worse, i'm sure a volt meter will reveal all though!

No, only comes on at idle, and only in gear. Stick it in neutral and it solves it with the revs rising just enough seemingly. Am planning alternator upgrade and fitting a power socket/USB hidden somewhere.
All relatively minor problemms, although the pot holed lanes around the area battered front suspension so might need to replaces bushes all round.

[ironmighty07]

So time to make a start working through the 'snagging' list identified on the road trip.
First up the Wipers, stainless arms and blade carriers meant refills were the order of the day, easiest enough task... but as is the way it flags another issue. Turns out the poor wipe on the drivers side is a broken pressure spring in the arm so it's not holding it to the screen...

So need to find a source for one of these, suspect it might be necessary to cannabalise a donor arm as the springs are small diameter and quite strong rating.

So next up, the brakes and brake lights... quick test shows there's power to pressure switch👍... press the pedal, the switch isn't activating🙁.. new switch on order.. foolishly ordered the right one rather than checking threads and sourcing a UK one with blade connectors so waiting for that to arrive.
OK, let's check the brakes, fluid first😬😬...in some circumstances(like a meat pie) gravy is good, but in a master cylinder I'd say less so😲

Oh well wanted to fit a Servo set up anyway, so servo & master cylinder ordered(UK source thankfully).. so cap back on and more waiting required but another acquisition road trip is pending next weekend🤔...

[nickwheeler]

Sept 24, 2022 8:05:46 GMT ironmighty07 said:

So next up, the brakes and brake lights... quick test shows there's power to pressure switch👍... press the pedal, the switch isn't activating🙁.. new switch on order.. foolishly ordered the right one rather than checking threads and sourcing a UK one with blade connectors so waiting for that to arrive.
OK, let's check the brakes, fluid first😬😬...in some circumstances(like a meat pie) gravy is good, but in a master cylinder I'd say less so😲

Oh well wanted to fit a Servo set up anyway, so servo & master cylinder ordered(UK source thankfully).. so cap back on and more waiting required but another acquisition road trip is pending next weekend🤔...

That doesn't bode well for the rest of the hydraulics or any steel pipes....
I'd be adding wheel cylinders to your order.

In the past I've stubbornly replaced just one part at a time over several months, but it's a major waste of time. Now, I do the whole system(master cylinder, wheel cylinder/calipers and all the brake lines and hoses) in one go. 

[grizz]

Sept 24, 2022 8:25:36 GMT nickwheeler said:

Sept 24, 2022 8:05:46 GMT ironmighty07 said:

So next up, the brakes and brake lights... quick test shows there's power to pressure switch👍... press the pedal, the switch isn't activating🙁.. new switch on order.. foolishly ordered the right one rather than checking threads and sourcing a UK one with blade connectors so waiting for that to arrive.
OK, let's check the brakes, fluid first😬😬...in some circumstances(like a meat pie) gravy is good, but in a master cylinder I'd say less so😲

Oh well wanted to fit a Servo set up anyway, so servo & master cylinder ordered(UK source thankfully).. so cap back on and more waiting required but another acquisition road trip is pending next weekend🤔...

That doesn't bode well for the rest of the hydraulics or any steel pipes....
I'd be adding wheel cylinders to your order.

In the past I've stubbornly replaced just one part at a time over several months, but it's a major waste of time. Now, I do the whole system(master cylinder, wheel cylinder/calipers and all the brake lines and hoses) in one go. 

I have to support nickwheeler here.

Having rebuilt a few Americans now with Paul Y and then the Rezin Rockit with Nick guiding, and still ignoring his advice, to my own detriment……

He is right, if you can afford it, do systems, if gives peace of mind and ensures something else does not let you down in a few days.

[ironmighty07]

Plan will be replacing the majority of consumables... first up is to flush through the current set up then replace cylinders and hoses and bleed again with the new kit in place. All part of the fun of dealing with 50s 'survivor' cars rather than something that's had loads of work already.

Strangely the calipers/hoses look reasonably new but replacements don't look too pricey from Rockauto although exchange rate & shipping is killing me at the moment😬

Decided to take the Chevy out today to local US Cars & Coffee gathering... and decided to puke coolant despite not registering hot🙄 also leaking oil from take off for the capillary, hopefully it's just loose🤞

[ironmighty07]

Decided that some of the problems with Chevy running rough are probably linked to the Rochester 2BBL carb, so an upgrade is in order and while I wait for Plymouth brake spares why not do a little more parts shopping for the other love😁


Just sticking with a 500cfm carb as don't need huge fuel volumes on a stock engine... next decision is stick with manual trans or migrate to a TH350 Auto.

But the weekend beckons imminently, and the next acquisition beckons,and my own personal "If only you were nearer" collection Road trip begins Friday...

[ironmighty07]

So 130 or so miles into my rail/road collection trip, not as many pictures as hoped... but one in what I'm sure will be its most natural habitat... the fuel station

Running quite well thus far, does appear to have gained an oil leak onto the exhaust, fine whilst moving but when static the smoke tends to enter the cab.

[grizz]

I am normally not a 4x4 kinda guy….. to own that is.

But this already looks interesting.

1986 and 6.9 litre diesel. Must growl nicely.

Looking forward to a few more pics, taken around or even inside the van.

PS. Nothing is ever too far to collect….. mostly.

Well done for just getting it done.

Road trips ❤️

[ironmighty07]

Well the final 300 miles of today slightly more eventful than preferred coolant leak developed(external as its dripping and think heater connection at the block🤞... topping up most of way back... but the system finally sh*t itself 2 miles from home, 😧... so investigation work needed from the off but circa 430 mile one way trip bagged already...

[ironmighty07]

At least now I can start flushing through the braking system on the Plymouth in readiness to fit this little lot... plus the new Servo & master cylinder as well... something to do while waiting for Quadravan parts🙄 Shame about the exchange rate right now😬


One wheel cylinder still to come from a different warehouse(Rockauto)... but due this week so 🤞 that gets done next weekend.

[glenanderson]

Cool.

Shame about the niggles, but that’s an awesome looking van. 👍👍

[wildrover]

Is that a Sportsmobile Econoline?

[ironmighty07]

Oct 3, 2022 0:31:35 GMT wildrover said:

Is that a Sportsmobile Econoline?

wildrover - no, it's a Quadravan conversion by Pathfinder(similar to Quigley), but don't think they were responsible for the turbo upgrade.

[Ralph.Wrecked.It]

Ah man that van is super cool!!!

[Morris63]

Cool Quadravan - any plans for it yet or still thinking - camper, work truck, or something else?

[ironmighty07]

Oct 7, 2022 13:05:22 GMT Morris63 said:

Cool Quadravan - any plans for it yet or still thinking - camper, work truck, or something else?

Definitely overland camper on the inside, on the outside not sure. 70/80s style boogie van..


Bit frustrating the slotmags are a 16.5 dia, which it's a proper pain for sourcing tyres at a practical price in the Uk so might need to go with new 8x16 plus 285/75R16 if I want to keep the hi-rise look.