66 valiant in mo.

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fonzy

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st.louis, mo
ok, for anyone that cares here is the update on getting snowflake running (snowflake seems to be the car's nickname now, yes she is white) Replaced the front brake line, waiting on a call from the carb guy for the missing fast idle cam, fixed the exhaust leak (3$ for gaskets! lmao!) fixed the washer fluid container, a little epoxy on a crack, checked the brakes on 3 of the tires, busted on stud off the last remaining wheel to check. Now looking at probably busting the other studs off and replacing them, or may actually take her to my mechanic buddy and let him try to heat em off, or at least have it on a lift to make this easier if we have to pull the axle to replace these studs. A small bump, nothing major. If anyone were to ask me why a slant 6? I would have to say the cost and ease of maintenance. nothing has been overly difficult at all. I have never cussed so little working on a vehicle! :P
 

I understand memike pulled an axle? I am still looking but what holds the axle in on these 7 1/4's?
 
To replace the studs no need to pull the axles, but I believe I would.. if you do I would pick up new wheel bearing and seals, I had to replace my wheel bearings one was making a rore (driver's side) .. These are sealed bearings in the 7 1/4 and your rear end grease does not lube them fonzy, my 66 valiant just had 65.000 miles on it... Slide hammer the axles out and have them in hand at your shop man and he can remove the races with his bench press and have you set up.. remember to bring your axle retainers holder with you, they will go on before the new bearings and races go on
 
I removed the picture so not to clutter your thread up, I see you did not have to replace your bearings and pull the axles :glasses7:
 
Update...had to replace the brake cylinder, just used the hole from that to slide in the new studs...by the way no left handed studs were found, so the rear hub has new right handed studs now. Would have liked to keep it accurate but for now I'll take it. Still waiting on the fast idle cam. Going to do some regular stuff next. Oil, check rear diff. And plugs while waiting.
 
I will be changing mine soon one day, I change all my own wheels out and never let anyone pull the wheels off to put tires on, I do it my self just because of the left handed threads
 
I will remove this post after you see it .. I forgot these have the springs threw the shoes :oops:
Removed the picture, hope all is good.
 
Removed more clutter and hope fonzy is moving forward :coffee2:
I sure hope he finds a camera some time :cheers:
 
lol I posted a few pics of the car itself, we replaced the single bowl master with a double yesterday, and bleed the brakes. we didn't get around to replacing the rear pads yet, maybe sat, also found that the front brakes probably weren't working, lol. When we bled the brakes it stopped much better, but now pulls to the right. so either the front brakes weren't working at all, or the one front caliper is seized like the rear ones were, or it needs more bleeding. we shall see tomorrow. thanks guys for the help.
 
front brake cylinder was seized. all good now. rear brakes when we get some warmer weather, going to look for a rally rim, and some window sweepers. going to post about weather stuff I should do as well to keep this car in good shape.
 
Finally got around to the back brakes, thought it would be a simple thing, I should know better by now. lol, did the brakes, took it for a road test, squeaking and clunking, thought I broke something. Took it apart, redid it. same....finally broke down a bought a spring kit, 8$, should have done that in the first place but they didn't look that bad. Then I held the hold down springs up to the new ones, wow. They were at least a 1/2" stretched out. apparently they were just so loose that the pads were moving around and rubbing the hub. That fixed it. Now to license it, I lost my dang license so I can kill 2 birds with one stone. new license and historic plates, for the valiant. Then it's on to a boot kit for the front end, all the boots are degraded or gone all together. Then it's on to rust proofing her.
 
new rear tires, new rally rim, need a center cap and 2 beauty rings....also found that I need a new antenna, since the old one is stripped inside the female connection at the antenna. She is up and running now though, took her out for my daughters field trip. I wanted to do a nostalgic trip to the drive in, but I think I need an FM radio to pick up the movie sound. dang..
 
This post really has me intrigued I have a 73 valiant, you said you want to keep her as correct as possibly ?
 
Yes. We have found no trouble finding parts. Unfortunately I had to upgrade the master cylinder. It was a single pot. And I just wasn't comfortable with that. I put a duel pot master in her from a 67. Works like a champ. Fortunately the interior is in great shape. So I don't have to worry about that. I will have to replace the weather trim on the doors. I got an Internet site that has them, they aren't cheap though. Good news is I found a couple of racing groups in Mo. that use A bodies, they put beefier parts on and take out the slants I am sure. This means small drums and tires and center caps and such may be available. We shall see.
 
Found out they had 13 inch rims on the rear, also it has a JCPenny spare in the trunk. I still need one center cap and 2 beauty rings for the girl. I put matching rally rims on the rear. Make her look a lot sportier.
 
Very nice, glad things are moving forward and that is a great looking Valiant fonzy :glasses7:
 
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