Final test drive and shakedown
Posted: Wed Oct 03, 2012 6:35 pm
Well, I went for my final few test drives today. I say "Final" because I go back to work tomorrow, and won't have time to do anymore work on her before the Gearogia rally next weekend.
Yesterday, I spent the day PMing everything I could. There were lots of grease fittings that I had to replace - wouldn't take grease. On the front shackles, I had to actually loosen the barrels a little to get them to take the grease at all. Wile I was under there, I painted a circle around all of the grease points and oil fill locations. I got my replacement driver side tie rod end yesterday and installed it also - what a difference it made! I thought I had replaced all of them already, but had missed this one, and it was worn out! I also installed my security system:
Put a lock through the chain link and around the gear shift and she's (pretty) secure!
Today, I spent most of the day chasing down rattles, fixing them, test driving, fixing another - etc.. I ended up putting faom tape under the passenger seat leg, gas can and the small battery I am using to power my CB radio in the glove box. I actually put it under, on the sides, and in front of the battery (to keep it from moving). I put some body mount webbing at the rear panel to rear crossmember locations - I had forgotten to put the bolts back in here, which was my biggest rattle.
I finally got my CB antenna tuned - I was getting an SWR of about 7.5! I had the magnetic antenna stuck to the gas can. After a bunch of checks, I finally stuck it to the top of the windshield frame and the SWR dropped to 2.5! I adjusted the antenna length and it dropped to a 1.2. For the meantime, I stuck it to the battery box cover - it is only going to be used on trail rides.
The last thing I did was to install 4 footman loops on the top edge of the body sides. I had welded up the holes years ago when I was doing the body work - before I realized they were supposed to be there.
After a couple more rides up and down the road, she has proven to be a fairly quiet (meaning ALMOST rattle free) and smooth ride - and I'm not having to fight with the steering wheel to keep her going in a straight line. I still have to rebuild the steering gear (I got those parts along with the tie rod end), but she is doing good enough for the rally. I used to be clinched to the wheel and my butt to the seat at anything over 45, but she proved to be a fairly easy ride up to 52 today - and would go 55 easy enough.
Yesterday, I spent the day PMing everything I could. There were lots of grease fittings that I had to replace - wouldn't take grease. On the front shackles, I had to actually loosen the barrels a little to get them to take the grease at all. Wile I was under there, I painted a circle around all of the grease points and oil fill locations. I got my replacement driver side tie rod end yesterday and installed it also - what a difference it made! I thought I had replaced all of them already, but had missed this one, and it was worn out! I also installed my security system:
Put a lock through the chain link and around the gear shift and she's (pretty) secure!
Today, I spent most of the day chasing down rattles, fixing them, test driving, fixing another - etc.. I ended up putting faom tape under the passenger seat leg, gas can and the small battery I am using to power my CB radio in the glove box. I actually put it under, on the sides, and in front of the battery (to keep it from moving). I put some body mount webbing at the rear panel to rear crossmember locations - I had forgotten to put the bolts back in here, which was my biggest rattle.
I finally got my CB antenna tuned - I was getting an SWR of about 7.5! I had the magnetic antenna stuck to the gas can. After a bunch of checks, I finally stuck it to the top of the windshield frame and the SWR dropped to 2.5! I adjusted the antenna length and it dropped to a 1.2. For the meantime, I stuck it to the battery box cover - it is only going to be used on trail rides.
The last thing I did was to install 4 footman loops on the top edge of the body sides. I had welded up the holes years ago when I was doing the body work - before I realized they were supposed to be there.
After a couple more rides up and down the road, she has proven to be a fairly quiet (meaning ALMOST rattle free) and smooth ride - and I'm not having to fight with the steering wheel to keep her going in a straight line. I still have to rebuild the steering gear (I got those parts along with the tie rod end), but she is doing good enough for the rally. I used to be clinched to the wheel and my butt to the seat at anything over 45, but she proved to be a fairly easy ride up to 52 today - and would go 55 easy enough.
John