Scampin!!!!!!

[varlo]

hey everyone I have a question in regards to anyone running a similar setup in their a body. I have my 340 with Ceramic coated dougs headers and a mini starter with manual steering.

I started the car up and ran down the block to the local 7-11 real quick she fired right up no problems whatsoever. But unfortunately when I came out and went to start her up I had a very low crank. The battery was just charged days before. Mind you she fired up just prior to the trip to 7-11 with no issues. I think that since it is so tight under by the header/starter that all the heat is doing the starter motor no good at all. I made a heat shield but I don't think it is enough. Has anyone else on the forum had a similar issue? I have a feeling im going to need to buy a better protected starter in regards to the heat. Any comments/suggestions/input is greatly appreciated.

 

[racerkilla]

Hey Joe... what about engine timing being to far ahead?

Didn't you put battery in the trunk. What size wire did you use for starter?

 

[varlo]

looking for a 4 speed.....

 

[eric22]

Any new updates on your car Joe?

 

[varlo]

Wow I can’t believe it’s been 9 years since I have updated this thread or been on FABO. Life has gotten busy. Bought a house. Changed jobs. Built an extension on my garage. Put a lift in. The older you get the less time you seem to have. Unfortunately I’m learning that the hard way. But I have been working on the scamp quite a bit as of late. I’m kind of learning the hard way now of fixing mistakes I made when I was rushing to finish this car to begin with. But now I’m back at it and it’s my own fault. Hoping the uploaded pics work.

 

[varlo]

Some updated pics

 

[varlo]

I’m taking the back half of the car down to bare metal. With a heat gun. Spackle knife and wire wheel. It’s been a lot of hours and I wouldn’t wish it on anyone but the lift makes life a little bit easier. Rear is down to bare metal. Leaf springs have been taken apart and down to bare metal. I’m curious as to what you guys have used to coat the metal/undercarriage coatings. I’d like to get something to protect it but something with a nice finish. I don’t have an air compressor so keep that in mind I can’t mix and shoot. Also the rear brakes I threw whatever I had around to make them work. The drums I was using were sbp but I drilled them out for lbp ( I know I know not the right way of doing things) I have what looks like 11” backing plates and would like to get the correct lbp drum setup. Can anyone maybe help me out ? Also I found this today when taking everything down to bare metal after I pulled the valence. The rear “cross rail” is shot. Being a northeast car that’s 50 years old things just go. I never fixed it the first time. But it needs to be supported since the leaf spring box ties into it. Has anyone replaced it ?

 

[hcallaway]

Great pictures! Love the garage extension. It seems like when you catch a second wind it really does pick up speed. I plan on watching! Thanks and Merry Christmas Santa would like that ride.

 

[varlo]

Scrolling through Fb marketplace I ended up grabbing another project. Did I need a snap on box? No. But for the price I paid with an extra upper how do you say no? Don’t know much about snap on stuff but I’m thinking maybe polish it up and keep the patina? Also if anyone knows where I can get sliders for the bottom drawer that would be awesome.

 

[varlo]

Got the heater cranking in the garage some music going and I’m working on the piece of steel I had bent up to replace the back of the car. Lots of “massaging” but should be much better than what I took out. Almost time to weld this in and I can coat the underneath of the car. What have you guys used underneath on bare metal?…. I was considering the Eastwood stuff.

 

[varlo]

Some progress is better than no progress. Cranked the heat overnight prior to laying epoxy primer. Definitely glad all the bare metal is sealed up. My Doug’s headers are currently being recoated so next step is to work on the rear. I’ve gotta figure out the brakes.

 

[varlo]

Well I learned a valuable lesson last week. Wear eye protection in the garage. I ended up getting a piece of rusty metal in both of my eyes. Not sure how it happened since I wear glasses but after a tremendous amount of pain they got it out and had to remove two rust rings from my cornea. I wanted an extra coat of epoxy primer on the underside of the car and since the leaf springs are being rebuilt and taken down to bare metal they all got a couple of coats of epoxy primer as well. Cranked the heat in the garage and let her rip. And I got some shiny parts back from coating

 

[varlo]

recoated my Doug’s

 

[FRQ]

Nice project and workshop. I don't think I could muster the courage to strip undercoating by hand I put on myself a few years ago, no one can accuse you of lacking work ethic!

I almost feel bad sharing this after the fact, but if you ever find yourself in a similar situation, invest in some of these. They are used to strip antifouling off of boat hulls and work great. The discs are flexible allowing the carbide tips to remove coatings without heating them up, fast and not as messy. The singles and doubles mount on a regular drill and are quite cheap.

 

[varlo]

Had a 24 hour window to get some paint on after epoxy primer. It’s the last thing I wanted to do today but I’m glad it’s over with. Nice and shiny. The Comanche gets booted out to the driveway while this bakes in the garage.

 

[varlo]

Some more progress today. Rear suspension is back together with new bushings and back in the car. And I got the rear housing in. A major milestone for me. Once I get the axles/brakes on it’ll finally be a roller again! After this it’s back to. Finishing up the drivetrain. Thanks for watching

 

[varlo]

Fuel tank is in. Transmission and driveshaft are in. It’s been so long since I’ve put fluid in both the transmission and rear end. What are you guys using/recommend ?

 

[varlo]

rear is all together. Figured out my brake situation. I bought bbp axles but they were sbp originally so the measurement on the flanges is different. After I put everything together I came to discover this. Luckily my brother had a 340 duster he upgraded to 4 wheel discs so the correct backing plates costed me nothing. Nice quick fix. Topped off the rear axle with fluids today. All new clips and washers on shift rod (nice and tight now). Rear wheels are back on. Ran a new fuel line from the tank up into the engine bay. Things are progressing. It’s nice to put stuff back on and not take things off. I also got my headers back from jet hot. When I got them back originally there was some scratches in them not exactly sure what happened but no questions asked they paid to send them back and recoat them within 7 days. Can’t say enough about that. Hoping they hold up

 

[Dartnut]

The headers look good.
What brand are they?
The progress is great so far!

 

[varlo]

The headers look good.
What brand are they?
The progress is great so far!

They are Doug’s. Bought them when I first built the car 15 years ago. Thanks. I forgot how much work this is

 

[varlo]

Some more progress today. Pulled the torsion bars and manual steering box. The paint on the block was “crusty” so I taped everything off nicely wire wheeled it clean and shot it with a new coat of Chrysler blue. Some might say yank the motor and do it that way but I’m not pulling the motor if I don’t have too. I couldn’t put my headers on and have the motor look the way it did. And of course I was like a little kid on Christmas I had to throw the headers on as soon as possible. Some pics of today’s progress for those paying attention. Hoping to get get a lot of work done on the front end soon.

It’s also time to fill up the a833. And I’ve searched quite a bit and there seems to be a lot of opinions. But I cannot find any gl4 anywhere local. What have you guys been using ? Im open to suggestions.

 

[varlo]

Spent the day stripping and painting. Fresh paint on the manual box. Hoping to get the rest of the steering components back on the car tomorrow. I ran the numbers for my torsion bars. Nothing came back. Anyone have any idea ?

 

[varlo]

A couple days off of work means some work on the scamp. Z bar got all new bushings and clips and regreased Steering box is in. Torsion bars are in. Steering components are back in. Calipers and upper arms got a fresh coat. Soon I’ll be able to roll this thing out of the garage and give the shop a deep clean. Next up. Exhaust

 

[abdywgn]

just started following, like the Valiant grille! and it's lighter to boot. are you considering a driveshaft loop?

 

[varlo]

just started following, like the Valiant grille! and it's lighter to boot. are you considering a driveshaft loop?

To be honest I haven’t really thought about it. And thank you. Love the 69 grille!