Time for a new project - '73 Javelin 360

Also broke a bleeder valve off in one of the Kelsey Hayes calipers.     After much searching I finally found one at Advance Auto for $39 plus a $10 core.  I'm going to keep the old one and try to repair it, but didn't want to tear into it until I knew I had a spare.  That caliper is sticking anyway, and I've got some new brake lines on the way too as I'm thinking that might be where the problem is.

Found that most of my engine noise I thought was piston slap was actually the diverter valve on one of the smog tubes.  I taped it up with exhaust wrap for now and will deal with either replacing or removing the smog tubes entirely once the engine is out.

Have a new cement slab being poured this coming week in a side yard off my garage.  I plan on putting one of these portable car shelters on it so that all my old cars are out of the weather.  As you can see it has an internal frame and is easy to open up for access to the car.

It's from Amazon.  Here's a link to it.

First of all, the right turn signal wasn't working... seems that the plastic guts inside the steering column had disintegrated, and then the left one quit as well.  These parts were always an item you could find at just about any Auto Zone, O'Reilly's etc. due to their GM connection, but even so, I guess the cars they're meant for are too old as well and now the parts have to be ordered.  I went with Amazon as they could get it here soonest.

I'm always amazed by the Saginaw steering column.  It's a real Rube Goldberg of a design-- especially the tilt version-- but it really does work amazingly well... until the nylon turn signal parts break, that is.

As I was pulling into the local NAPA I noticed a guy behind me slamming on his brakes as if he wasn't aware I was stopping.  I decided to check my brake lights, and sure enough-- darker than last week's total eclipse.  I'm familiar with that switch, having replaced it in my '72 a couple years ago, so Amazon to the rescue (again).

As mentioned a couple posts back, I had a sticking front caliper so decided to replace the brake hose.  I was planning to open the bleeder to verify my diagnosis and ended up breaking the bleeder valve off.  I didn't want to try repairing it until I had a replacement caliper, and was amazed to find a KH on Advance Auto's web site.  I should have known it was too good to be true.  What showed up was the Mopar version, which is identical except that the inlet is in the wrong place and the hose bumps into the spindle.  After driving around and trying every auto parts and hardware store in our nearby town looking for adapters, Mopar hoses or anything that might solve the problem, I concluded I was going to have to bend the steel-tube portion of the brake hose.  Not the way I like to do things, but we have a new extension to our driveway being started tomorrow and the Jav was dead in the water and in the way. That did the trick, but a one hour job turned into an all day affair.

I also picked up some nylon bushings from Ace Hardware-- 3/8" ID and 1/2" OD-- to act as cushions for the door strikers.  I cut them open with a hacksaw and slipped them over the striker bolt, and it's amazing what such a small thing can do to improve a car.

I also got the steering wheel I pictured a couple posts ago painted and installed.  Feels great, but really needs the correct horn button to make it.  The Pacer/Matador mid-70s horn button just looks out of place in a sports car.

I also fixed the sagging driver's door glass, courtesy of forum member Buster Pile's (SceneOne) awesome Delrin replacement parts.  What a great upgrade, and really great of Buster to make them available to us.