[68ragtop]

Oh wow! those look really, really good.

[schneidsd455]

Just want to say that your engine bay is looking fantastic! I appreciate your posting all your pics as they will be a good reference for when I eventually do my 78. Thank you.

[Bentwheelbob]

Originally Posted by The Boss

Very nice - now, is it burnout time or not???

No, but it's getting closer. Hopefully it'll get it fired up this weekend. July 4th and the fireworks interrupted progress, but tonight the suspension all got torqued down and greased, and the drive belts installed and tightened. Just need to get inner fenders in, radiator and shroud, and A/c plumbed and filled. Hopefully there will be a video before the weekend is over with the car at least running.

Originally Posted by schneidsd455

Just want to say that your engine bay is looking fantastic! I appreciate your posting all your pics as they will be a good reference for when I eventually do my 78. Thank you.

I appreciate your kind words and hope it helps. I look forward to seeing pictures of your project. Let me know if I can provide any advice or help.

[Alvin]

Bob, after all of the "info" received on the PS hose thread did you get it sorted? Was gonna suggest that you use the take-off hose as a match... IIRC - last one I purchased for our 78 TA W72 (pwr steering pressure hose) was sourced thru local auto parts chain store. Did have an issue @ 1st to get it to seat correctly into the pump housing...but that was with shroud, inner fenders etc. and was a fitting & o-ring alignment issue as I recall.

Looking great Thx for sharing your artwork.

[Bentwheelbob]

Originally Posted by Alvin

Bob, after all of the "info" received on the PS hose thread did you get it sorted? Was gonna suggest that you use the take-off hose as a match... IIRC - last one I purchased for our 78 TA W72 (pwr steering pressure hose) was sourced thru local auto parts chain store. Did have an issue @ 1st to get it to seat correctly into the pump housing...but that was with shroud, inner fenders etc. and was a fitting & o-ring alignment issue as I recall.

Looking great Thx for sharing your artwork.

Alvin - Thanks for asking and for the comments. The power steering pressure hose I had is exactly like the one on my '72 Formula 455 HO. The difference is on the Black Car the alternator mounts behind the power steering bracket which spaces it away from the head and provides clearance for the line to bolt into the pump and still clear the cylinder head. Although I am not sure that the hose is correct for a '78, I wanted to use it if possible. I know the line that was on the Gold Car when I got it was not correct. I took the new line to three different hydraulic hose shops to see if they could shorten the metal line and still re-flare the end, but none could or would do it because the nut was too close to the flare to allow the flare tool to grip the line. We ended up doing it here by shortening the metal line and straightening it enough to slip the nut back and provide room for the flare tool and then bending it back once it was flared. Hopefully it won't leak.

Well, a lot got done today, but the car is still not breathing on it's own. The accessory drives and belts are all installed, the radiator and shroud are in, the inner fenders have been installed, the A/C is almost plumbed. I also got a few of the vacuum lines installed and the lines run to the charcoal canister. I don't really want most of the vacuum lines to do anything but look good so I mounted the vacuum check valve backwards so no vacuum will actually get through it. There is not much left to do. Hopefully tomorrow it will come to life. We'll see...

Here's a few pictures.