Startin to work on the Clone Runner (it's PAINTED!)

71Beeper · Post by **71Beeper** » Sat Oct 14, 2023 7:47 pm

Good thing I have one of these I bought ages ago not thinking I was going to need it.

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But - it has to be cleaned up and painted before it goes on.
So, take the fiber wheel to it and Voila....cleaned up.

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Next is to get some primer and paint on it and install.

71Beeper · Post by **71Beeper** » Sun Oct 29, 2023 4:12 pm

Got the dog bone bracket painted up and installed along with the shifter box and rods.

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Also cleaned up the yoke and put it in the tailshaft as I'll be putting fluid in it next.

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71Beeper · Post by **71Beeper** » Sun Nov 19, 2023 5:25 pm

Today I wanted to get the shifter boot mounted.
Since I have a pistol grip handle that is designed to go into the bayonet style shifter box I have to mount the handle in the boot, then push the handle into the box.
But there was some difficulty in that, so I pulled out the isolator to see if all the bits were there.
Well, whoever had this shifter box before made a mess of trying to shove the handle in.

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The piece on the left is supposed to look like the one beside it.
That was in the bottom of where the handle gets mounted.
Whoever must have forced the handle so much that the plate got mangled and shoved to the bottom.
Anyway - got a new kit on order from Brewers.

Moving on to my Weld rims - the backside of them looked terrible.

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Well, a little bit of spit and polish using this stuff.

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They turned out like this..

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71Beeper · Post by **71Beeper** » Sun Nov 19, 2023 5:27 pm

Not bad - but not as nice as the front.

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Next I bought these to put into the unused lugnut holes.

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Here they are installed.

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Finally, I put some temporary front tires on the car as it will be coming off the stands right after the steering column goes in.

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They are some old Uniroyal Tiger Paws 225-70-15's on a 15x6.5 Rallye rims.
I had those tire on the back of my 1976 Volare Road Runner back in the day.
I do have Welds for the front - they are the narrow front runners.
I want to polish them up before they go on the car.

71Beeper · Post by **71Beeper** » Sun Dec 10, 2023 5:11 pm

My shifter inserts finally arrived from Brewers.
Installed them along with the shifter.

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But I thought I would glue the bottom ring to the bellows for ease of installation.

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So, in the meantime I thought I would tackle getting my front runner Welds cleaned up.
I bought some of this after seeing a video on the product.

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Followed the directions which say "spray on then rinse off with water".
Wow

what a difference.
Here's one rim done (left one) vs the other one which is not done.

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Then put some polish on both of them.

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I'm happy with them now.

71Beeper · Post by **71Beeper** » Sat Dec 23, 2023 9:02 pm

Well, Christmas came early for me....

I was able to go over to my US mailbox and pick-up the new bench seat style shifter.

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I think the E-Bay name was The Shifter Doctor who deals with Hurst Shifters as the invoice came to me from Hurst shifters LLC.
Got it home and wow!

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Good thing the handle and bezel and bottom piece came from National Moparts the day before.

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Here's a comparison from the smaller one and the taller one.

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I just pushed it into the shifter box - I still have to screw down the shifter boot.

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71Beeper · Post by **71Beeper** » Sun Jan 07, 2024 5:24 pm

Got the shifter boot and trim ring installed.

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The next step - lets stab in the steering column.
I got it set in place under the dash and this is what the other end looks like.

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I think to myself easy peezy just have to push the coupler on to the steering box right??? WRONG

It wouldn't go on at all.
So upon further investigation it turns out the new coupler I bought is for a power steering box which has smaller splines.
No wonder it would not go on this steering box.
Luckily for me I have the coupler adaptor that goes from a power steering shaft to a manual box.
Put it on this coupler and try it again.
The result.....success!

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71Beeper · Post by **71Beeper** » Sun Jan 07, 2024 5:30 pm

Here's a tech tip.
Instead of using the roll pin to secure the adaptor to the steering box I used a 5/16 UNC stainless set screw.

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I ran a tap down the opening and applied some blue Loctite on the set screw.

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Done deal.
I plugged in the 2 wiring harness' from the column to the main wiring harness and finally put the ignition key into the cylinder.

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I'm happy this hurdle was cleared.
On to other stuff, like installing the line-loc button.

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71Beeper · Post by **71Beeper** » Sat Jan 13, 2024 6:05 pm

A big day for me and the car today.
I finally got the ground cable hooked up for the battery.

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And tried a few circuits - first, the low beams.

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So far so good.
Side markers.

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Okay, no issues there.

71Beeper · Post by **71Beeper** » Sat Jan 13, 2024 6:10 pm

Next, the high beams.

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Here's the dash lights.

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Parking brake light works.

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As does the reverse indicator.

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The signals and 4 ways work as does the heater motor and wipers (all three speeds).
The only issue was the dome light - but that turned out to be a burned out 1004 light bulb.
And the BONUS......no smoke coming from any of the wires...

71Beeper · Post by **71Beeper** » Sat Jan 13, 2024 6:15 pm

So the next step is to fit the tuff wheel canister.

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And finally after all these years.....the tuff wheel.

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With the dash lights on.

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I turned the steering both ways lock to lock with no issues.
Now I'll be able to put her on the ground and move her to her side of the shop to make room for my Dart to go in there for the winter.

71Beeper · Post by **71Beeper** » Sun Jan 14, 2024 8:16 pm

Last item to do from underneath the car while it is in 4x4 mode is to hook up a fuel filter.

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Eventually I will need to fit a exhaust system up (it will have to wait for now).
So today I took her off the 4x4 mode.
She's on her own wheels and weight now.

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Here's a comparison of the wide tires vs the skinny tires.

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My list is getting shorter.
A few items to install in the engine bay like heater hoses and fuel line to the carb.
The fan and rad and shroud of course as well as the alternator.