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

71Beeper · Post by **71Beeper** » Sun May 28, 2023 7:42 pm

So, I put some putty on the wing tips and ground down the heads of the countersunk screws and reinforcement plates and sprayed some primer.

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My new pedestals came in from Dantes, but were a little too shiny, so I scuffed them down and painted them and the wing with the SEM landau black.

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71Beeper · Post by **71Beeper** » Sun May 28, 2023 7:44 pm

Here's the finished products.

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Next task will be nerve racking as I need to put holes in the trunk lid to locate and install the wing...

Post by **sdweatherman** » Sat Jun 10, 2023 9:49 am

This car is going to be a stunner when you are done with it!!! Hope to get back working on mine by mid July.
Scott.

71Beeper · Post by **71Beeper** » Sun Jun 11, 2023 4:40 pm

Thanks Scott,
Yes, my list of things to do on the car is getting a little shorter.
Yesterday was the nerve racking day to drill holes in the trunk lid for the gull wing.
But first I had to put the wing together.
The first hiccup - the adjustment plate and the hole in the pedestal were slightly off.
I went to put the bolt in and it started going in fur-cocked......

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So I had to take a Dremel and open up the slot.
Here's the before and after shot.

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Then give them a coat of the SEM landau black.
Next is put everything together and on the wing.

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71Beeper · Post by **71Beeper** » Sun Jun 11, 2023 4:43 pm

Next step - get some tape on the trunk lid and start to lay out where the holes will be.

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Next verify the locations by putting the wing on to see if my measurements were correct.

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Just a couple of photos to see how it will look.

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71Beeper · Post by **71Beeper** » Sun Jun 11, 2023 4:48 pm

Next - I held the wing in place and had my assistant (wife) draw around the stud holes.
That would be the final location for the holes.

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Then say a prayer and get out the drill.
Starting with a very small starter hole, then move up in sizes.
The final hole size is 5/16".
Now put the studs thru the holes to check.

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It fits!!!

71Beeper · Post by **71Beeper** » Sun Jun 11, 2023 4:53 pm

Now to remove the tape from the topside and get started on the underside.

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When I drilled the topside holes I went all the way thru the ribbing on the underside.
Then I used a step drill to get the hole big enough for the flanged nuts to go thru.

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For the reinforcement plate that gets mounted to the underside I used stainless riv-nuts for the fasteners.

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Then install the plates and button it up.

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Here's the final look - Man am I relieved that's over...

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71Beeper · Post by **71Beeper** » Sat Jun 24, 2023 3:22 pm

With that big task out of the way, it's back to working on the engine.
First order of business is to remove the inner valve springs.

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Then get the timing cover installed.

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And now put the Romac harmonic balancer on.

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71Beeper · Post by **71Beeper** » Sat Jun 24, 2023 3:24 pm

Next - I installed some magnets in the lifter valley.
8 magnets in total.
My engine does this with all the roundy round engines he builds - makes them live longer.

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71Beeper · Post by **71Beeper** » Sat Jun 24, 2023 3:26 pm

Next is to install and adjust the Harland Sharpe 1.6 rockers using the Mopar adjustment chart.

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Lash was set at .015"

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71Beeper · Post by **71Beeper** » Thu Jul 06, 2023 8:12 pm

I finally got the rest of the engine bits back on it.
All there is left is the valve covers & alternator and fan.
Oh, don't forget headers and carb along with distributor.

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Soon enough I'll be able to put it on the K-member and get the headers mounted along with bellhousing, clutch & starter.

71Beeper · Post by **71Beeper** » Thu Jul 06, 2023 8:30 pm

I was finally able to score the most sought after part for this project...........the coveted dash pad..

I'd been searching for a replacement pad for about 2 years now as the one that came in the car was had the typical cracks on it.

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A little backstory on this crusade.
I had an order for one with a company called Moparts Canada located in Windsor, Ontario.
Well after dickin me around for a year they still could not come up with one, so I cancelled my order.
A local Mopar guy was getting them from a company in El Paso, Texas (but wouldn't tell me the name of said company) so I had him order one for me - that was in March of this year.
I heard nothing about mine until recently I messaged him and he said that he cancelled all his orders and stopped payment.
So I asked about my order to which the reply was "sorry, I might go to Carlisle and find one."
So I figured my chances of him finding one was a snowballs chance in he!!

Last week I was looking on the for B-Bodies site under interior parts for sale and lo & behold there's a dash pad for sale!!!
Long story short I made contact with the seller who agreed to ship it to my US mailbox.
I picked it up on July 3rd.
I couldn't be happier...

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71Beeper · Post by **71Beeper** » Thu Jul 06, 2023 8:37 pm

Along with the dash pad which was done by ABC Moparts I also got a complete set of ducting for an A/C setup.
I also got a speaker grille and under dash fasten seat belt / map light panel.
Today I finally got the chance to try it on the frame.
It fits great!

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A little hint to getting a great fit - don't use the speed nuts that are normally used to fasten the dash to the frame, instead use #10-24 ny-loks like I did along with #10 fender washers.