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+--- Thread: The Lawn Dart (/showthread.php?tid=11284)
Re: The Lawn Dart - Jake - 08-01-2017
This is coming along really well! Keep at it, looking forward to seeing it start and drive soon enough
I'm with Taylor, that impact will pay dividends later.
Re: The Lawn Dart - Deceus - 08-01-2017
Senor_Taylor Wrote:I don't know about you, but dropping money on very useful tools never hurts me that much. Think about all of the times that impact drive will come in handy. That's an investment!
Yeah if it wasn't my third impact gun I wouldn't have cared at all. I was really trying to find something cheap from Ryobi and just couldn't find anything that seemed remotely powerful enough to be useful. May as well embrace the fact Makita is a majority shareholder of my soul. I've been really impressed with what I have from them so far though. Managed to get by with the sub-compact gun with my 2" hole saw. Though I was going to have to get hammer drill for that one but slapped one of these on the compact and it did alright.
![[Image: GT_564X688_00.jpg]](https://gtwww.blob.core.windows.net/images/products/thumb/GT_564X688_00.jpg)
Re: The Lawn Dart - ScottyB - 08-01-2017
love me some Makita. i've got an old single-speed plug-in hand held powerdrill that was my granddad's from...sometime in the early 80's. still tears shit up. i think they haven't dropped off in quality nearly like some other modern brands.
that chuck is pretty cool, never seen one. might have to investigate that one.
keep on keepin on!
Re: The Lawn Dart - Deceus - 08-08-2017
-Welp had to take the entire front end apart to get hood hinges back on but they're on.
-Even with the right angle drill I wasn't able to get anywhere I needed to clip the fuel line to the frame rail in the engine bay. Just too much shit in the way: torsion bars, k-member, headers, lower control arm all of it right where i need to be. Guess I get to drop my fucking engine and transmission now too.
-My power steering return line is leaking. It's probably the adapter I threw on there to use the AN fittings.
-Still have no real solution for my brake pushrod solution. Really don't want to order one of the $50-$60 "universal" pushrod kits that fail to mention any sort of measurement on them. Probably going to have to drop the brake booster I spent $150 on and remake all 3 of the brake lines. It's okay I only spent three hundred and fifty fucking dollars on this master cylinder that was supposed to make shit easy.
To say that I'm sick of this build would be a drastic understatement. I'm calling the Hot Rod shop on 33 tomorrow and a tow truck. This shit is officially someone else's problem now.
Re: The Lawn Dart - Senor_Taylor - 08-08-2017
I'm sorry it frustrated you, but I'm glad you have the gall and means to pay someone to finish it up. I promise the hit to your wallet won't feel as bad when you finally drive it.
Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk
Re: The Lawn Dart - Deceus - 08-08-2017
Senor_Taylor Wrote:I'm sorry it frustrated you, but I'm glad you have the gall and means to pay someone to finish it up. I promise the hit to your wallet won't feel as bad when you finally drive it.
Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk
Yeah $55/hr isn't too bad. It's like 95% of the way there but there's just too much 2 steps back, 1 step forward going on. Plus I'm real tired of the complete and utter lack of help I get for doing anything other than a factory restore on a Mopar. It's the same retarded comments every-time. "Shoulda left it stock" "Just go to the junkyard and get a new one" "Put that crap on a Chevy" "It's because your engine is green".
I haven't enjoyed working on it since the engine went in, I just want to be in the driver's seat. It's probably best to leave the remaining stuff to someone else anyways since it's mostly wiring and braking.
Re: The Lawn Dart - Deceus - 08-09-2017
So I'm a lot more stubborn then I give myself credit for. Figure there was no harm in going back at again today since I need to special order some clip nuts to get my driver side fender on and it was a really nice day.
-Managed to get the fuel line where it needed to go by using a self-tapping screw to drill a pilot hole so I didn't have to hold 3 things at once while trying to mount the clips.
![[Image: 20664456_10155619783801810_5189011321848...e=59EF9592]](https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/20664456_10155619783801810_5189011321848770184_n.jpg?oh=a0bec41d988544ae2bd7c9ecf0bb0215&oe=59EF9592)
-I remounted the master cylinder just to get it off the floorboards and decided to check and see exactly how much play was there without the depth correction plug and as luck would have it there wasn't really any with the pushrod fully extended. Gonna try to bleed it tomorrow and see how well it works but it seems this roadblock is no longer an issue.
-Managed to get the measurements I need to order my driveshaft.
-Also think I solved the gas pedal issue. The spacer I bought from Lokar didn't do shit because it raised all 4 corners. I bought a pack of aluminum spacers from Summit and put one of each of the top screws to bring the top of the pedal away from the firewall and that seemed to do the trick. Wasn't able to tighten every back up tonight but it looks good. Hopefully the new angle is not too awkward. A little close to the brake pedal but that may end up being a good thing.
-Took the leaking power steering fittings apart and re-tightened everything. I don't think that completely stopped it but it's a lot better. Probably just gonna have to do away with all the fancy AN shit and just clamp it. It's just the return line so I don't think there's much pressure at all going through it.
-Mounted my instrument panel temporarily to see how bad it's going to interfere with the steering column. Drilled the hole for my ignition switch in my dash and put another in my firewall for a proper firewall grommet for all the wiring.
![[Image: 20664490_10155619783861810_6195228722410...e=59F54107]](https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/20664490_10155619783861810_6195228722410477182_n.jpg?oh=f90bb4e08eb29549c10173f4d10a10d3&oe=59F54107)
This thing is still going to the shop once I get the body back together. I'm not touching that shifter again for damn sure and the front end is still mostly loose. Still plan on just routing most the wires where they need to go and then letting someone else do the rest.
Re: The Lawn Dart - Senor_Taylor - 08-09-2017
Just be careful how much you do before handing it off. It may be nice to run the wires for them, but if they have to retrace them and spend time figuring it out, it may cost you more in the long run.
Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk
Re: The Lawn Dart - Deceus - 08-10-2017
Senor_Taylor Wrote:Just be careful how much you do before handing it off. It may be nice to run the wires for them, but if they have to retrace them and spend time figuring it out, it may cost you more in the long run.
Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk
Yeah it's pretty idiot proof otherwise I wouldn't be touching it. Almost everything runs back to a distribution box and the wires are color coded and labeled with where they go ex: Resistor > #1
Not gonna lie I'm pretty concerned I am going to be ripped off here. They could easily claim to spend a week on it like the first shop quoted me and there really won't be much I can do. I may have to beg Jeff to come save me again.
Re: The Lawn Dart - Deceus - 08-15-2017
Seen one of these for sale this morning for $1050
![[Image: 088.jpg]](http://i0.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/original/000/830/378/088.jpg)
Would be a lot more tempting if I actually bought gauges. There was only one company that made these and they only did a handful before going out of business.
Re: The Lawn Dart - Senor_Taylor - 08-15-2017
Do it
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Re: The Lawn Dart - Deceus - 09-04-2017
So she's finally ready to go off to the shop to get buttoned up. Not gonna lie: I had one hell of a time finding the motivation to get in the garage and push through this last little bit. The driveshaft should be done by the 9th so I've been using that as an excuse to procrastinate.
I got the instrument panel somewhat finalized. I had to cut out a portion of the bottom to fit the steering column. I got tired of looking at the rust on it so I decided to take the opportunity to paint it. Also got the highlight switch installed.
A trick I picked up from my dad when cutting rounded lines. Sectioned it off with the angle grinder and then cut the sections out with a dremel:
![[Image: 21273312_10155697245471810_2822966828685...e=5A5CF6C9]](https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t31.0-8/21273312_10155697245471810_2822966828685082544_o.jpg?oh=4706033df9964d3159fab20245e77a50&oe=5A5CF6C9)
![[Image: 21316114_10155697246011810_4960719844152...e=5A251D95]](https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t31.0-8/21316114_10155697246011810_4960719844152906078_o.jpg?oh=b4e71e52a409aec780acb8d1fa2fbd1d&oe=5A251D95)
Super ratty but hopefully it won't be that way long. I have a few ideas on making the fiberglass replacement ones work. I can't seem to find a blank one but I may try trimming this plate to fit inside of one. A battle for another day.
![[Image: 21272676_10155697246366810_8676434065320...e=5A1646E3]](https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t31.0-8/21272676_10155697246366810_8676434065320506751_o.jpg?oh=a3f7c1eddca080e77a5de43bd0c898f7&oe=5A1646E3)
Definitely going to need that racing seat before I do anything but cruise in this thing. The steering wheel is basically in my lap.
![[Image: 21273170_10155697246661810_3420033806907...e=5A5C90A9]](https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t31.0-8/21273170_10155697246661810_3420033806907402333_o.jpg?oh=0eabd3d199b6865437c3fc0c096b1e2c&oe=5A5C90A9)
After that I installed the battery box in my trunk since the old battery tray was completely rusted out. Decided to bleed my master cylinder thinking it wouldn't leak after I removed the hoses on the bleed kit. I was wrong. This lead to me frantically trying to reconnect and tighten all my brake fittings. Ended up missing the one on the fire wall so there's now half a bottle of brake fluid on the garage floor.
![[Image: 21248164_10155697247431810_1687774231927...e=5A603884]](https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t31.0-8/21248164_10155697247431810_1687774231927539765_o.jpg?oh=deb9211de1998124a62b10e83f3eca84&oe=5A603884)
![[Image: 21369247_10155697246856810_8809384688400...e=5A17D0AC]](https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/21369247_10155697246856810_8809384688400999759_n.jpg?oh=4e6a2921f14dcc1b55dde2897bc22e83&oe=5A17D0AC)
Got the starter relay in place and got everything routed to where it needed to be. Even managed to get the hood on myself. She's on the ground and ready to roll out. Gonna call the local shop tomorrow and get an idea what their backlog is like if they even have one. With any luck I'll getting this towed out of here tomorrow and doing shakedown runs in a week or 2. The only big ticket items on the To Do list are wiring up the ignition, tightening up the front end and installing/routing my shifter cable.
Re: The Lawn Dart - Deceus - 09-05-2017
Soooooo they don't have an opening until the first ... of next year. I figured it'd be a month or 2 and my wishful thinking was to just get it in and out since it should be a fairly quick job and they do have a dedicated bay for that. Time for plan B/operation beg Jeff. I may just end up taking it back to my parent's house since there's mostly just fabrication and wiring left, both things the old man is great at.
Re: The Lawn Dart - Deceus - 09-10-2017
So i decided to stop being a little bitch about the things left on the table and just push through. I knew it'd be a huge pain in the ass to get the starter wired up so I started with that. First I had to get my battery cables made up. I had to route them to get a good length, pull em, make em and then pin em to the subframes. Almost made the positive cable too short but it ended up being just right. It was a huge pain the ass to hold the cable in place, keep end on the stud and try to screw the nut on. Especially with 2 cables to worry about but after a lot of cussing it got done.
![[Image: 21543775_10155718494676810_2218947290187...e=5A1A6293]](https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t31.0-8/21543775_10155718494676810_2218947290187129165_o.jpg?oh=8bef06e7191e14c5a59df60869453a4b&oe=5A1A6293)
![[Image: 21427221_10155718495181810_1462818139760...e=5A51B960]](https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t31.0-8/21427221_10155718495181810_1462818139760491241_o.jpg?oh=733bd3ac4231e1cff22a22479429a263&oe=5A51B960)
![[Image: 21543935_10155718494286810_8549870563390...e=5A4DFA83]](https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t31.0-8/21543935_10155718494286810_8549870563390119265_o.jpg?oh=f88985b5961dc929f8d39b7f7c74a67d&oe=5A4DFA83)
The kit came with a junction for everything that needed a battery feed so I used that for everything else.
![[Image: 21463359_10155718493881810_6674547171573...e=5A4DB68C]](https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/21463359_10155718493881810_6674547171573290082_n.jpg?oh=186fdd22a8789808b85774813cd2d1b3&oe=5A4DB68C)
I couldn't imagine hooking all that up to the starter.
That took pretty much all Saturday. I started Sunday with a hike so I only had half a day. I managed to get most of the ignition wiring done before moving on the shifter since I needed the neutral safety switch in place. This is where shit got kinda muddy. The diagram was very simple and clear. Too simple really because it didn't include the starter relay. There are 2 wires running from it that are a part of the neutral safety switch, add in the ignition switch and 2 wires from the switch itself, I ran into a problem. There's only 2 slots for the neutral safety, so I only had room for 4 wires. Even weirder: it seemed like 4 belonged on one and the 5th was just all by itself. It's really just meant to provide a ground when the shifter is in park or neutral to keep you from starting the car in drive. Push comes to shove I'll just ground it and rely on not being a dumbass but for now I squeezed 3 on one and 2 on the other with one wire from the switch running to each one. That should function just fine.
![[Image: 21427411_10155721631101810_2001534253336...e=5A483419]](https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t31.0-8/21427411_10155721631101810_2001534253336438588_o.jpg?oh=ffe8615999fceba6a7341a3b34658118&oe=5A483419)
![[Image: 21544171_10155721631346810_2920486832313...e=5A4A2FB4]](https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t31.0-8/21544171_10155721631346810_2920486832313281669_o.jpg?oh=645418d1e12a9ca1d151dd94268d1c1b&oe=5A4A2FB4)
This was it. The moment of truth. After a long ass weekend full of frustrating bullshit it was time to hook up the battery and crank the key. There's no gas so I figured there wasn't much that could go catastrophically wrong. I just wanted to hear the engine turn over and make sure the starter wasn't going to run away like it did on the runstand a few times. So I got in, turned the key, AND ... nothing.
I wasn't even mad, just fucking tired. Started giving everything a look over and just as I decided it was time to admit defeat and go inside
![[Image: giphy.gif]](https://media.giphy.com/media/leWR6wEhj4hfG/giphy.gif)
My coil wire is just hanging out on my valve cover. OH RIGHT, I needed to make a trip to get a terminal for that. That would certainly explain the nothingness since my distributor isn't hooked up to shit right now. So yeah a 50 cent part is now deadlining my car. Too late to do that now so I guess I get to disappoint myself another day.
Re: The Lawn Dart - Deceus - 09-13-2017
Grounded the neutral safety switch and it's cranking beautifully. Gonna have to fix that eventually but it's fine for now. Got the gauge feed hooked up and everything lit up.
![[Image: 21739959_10155727144161810_9405159336164...e=5A549992]](https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/21739959_10155727144161810_940515933616460979_n.jpg?oh=1fcc31b54c6860268021dc3861a0e726&oe=5A549992)
Finally got the damn filler neck pass the gas tank grommet. I had use my dremel to wallow it out a bit and lubbed it up. It still ended up going in a lot like this:
![[Image: 44l9Zyh.gif?noredirect]](https://i.imgur.com/44l9Zyh.gif?noredirect)
So the trunk is now done. Wish the positive cable was a little longer to route it better but I really don't care enough to remake it and it is out of the way enough to not really matter.
![[Image: 21728000_10155727144131810_8038650487698...e=5A4B60F5]](https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/21728000_10155727144131810_8038650487698060632_n.jpg?oh=258b9e513c0c5ab688f3810223d51c43&oe=5A4B60F5)
Steering column mount and coil wire terminal get here today. Debating on throwing gas in the tank and firing it up today or tomorrow. Still a have to hook up the throttle cable, take apart the front end to get the strut bars setup and figure out how to setup the brake booster before it can go anywhere so I'm not in too much of rush to tackle that yet as much as I'd love to hear it fire up with the headers on this time. Also need to hook up the sending units for the dash to make sure everything looks good.
Should be a BIG weekend for the build coming up. I'm forcing myself to hitup Snowshoe on Sunday before the bike parks close for the season so I'm not sure how much I'll actually be able to knock out in a single day. Hopefully I can get a good jump on it Friday.
Re: The Lawn Dart - Deceus - 09-13-2017
Had a rough start dealing with the steering column mount but I finally got it in place only to find out that the u-joint would no longer line up with the box. Had to rip the whole assembly out just to get the damn thing off too. The "throw money at it" solution is to simply buy a $140 double jointed u-joint. I'm going to try and trim some more of the old mounting area to see if I can't get the mount in there in the other direction to bring the column up a bit instead of down.
![[Image: 21742891_10155730058031810_7129478379855...e=5A13C7B9]](https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/21742891_10155730058031810_7129478379855051647_n.jpg?oh=e030d3afc6f4092ef42e0e7e4c27377f&oe=5A13C7B9)
![[Image: 21761666_10155730058066810_3968042798012...e=5A4BCB36]](https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/21761666_10155730058066810_3968042798012587543_n.jpg?oh=ced914f126f407e8421b8a40ddfcb9f8&oe=5A4BCB36)
I did manage to hook up my RPM, water temp and oil pressure sensors and finally hook up my throttle cable. The TO DO list is getting really small, if only it would stop fighting me every step of the way.
Items remaining before I can do my first shakedown run:
-Steering column mounted
-remove front shocks and torsion bars to adjust the strut bars
-reassemble the front end, get car off jack stands and then torque everything down
-get gas in the tank/carb
-fire it up
-add trans fluid after I've had a chance to idle and shift through some gears
Re: The Lawn Dart - Senor_Taylor - 09-13-2017
It's funny. This build is such a full, real build, and nobody comments on it. I think we're all just sitting in amazement.
Re: The Lawn Dart - ScottyB - 09-14-2017
Senor_Taylor Wrote:It's funny. This build is such a full, real build, and nobody comments on it. I think we're all just sitting in amazement.
i am. this is way beyond my skills so i can't really contribute, just watch and learn.
Re: The Lawn Dart - Deceus - 09-14-2017
It's really not that bad. It's just a matter of tackling one issue at a time. I've basically just been rebuilding the whole damn car one aftermarket part at a time.
Re: The Lawn Dart - Goodspeed - 09-14-2017
ScottyB Wrote:Senor_Taylor Wrote:It's funny. This build is such a full, real build, and nobody comments on it. I think we're all just sitting in amazement.
i am. this is way beyond my skills so i can't really contribute, just watch and learn.
Same. This is definitely one of if not the most "build" builds ever to grace this section, and it's been a trip seeing what you've had to put up with, but respect for your perserverance :thumbup: