[BuiltNotBought]

After talking with the wife, we decided I could make one more big car purchase for the year. I was trying to decide whether or not to add A/C but eventually came to the conclusion that this welder was a better option, as I would learn a new skill.

Not having a lot of spare metal around, I found what I had (old/broken nova parts) and practiced by making myself a little desk ornament.

Man this thing would have been much nicer to have months ago! Maybe a new BBQ or workbench is going to be welded together in the near future...

 

[BuiltNotBought]

Of course, I couldn't stay away from work on the car for long as the brakes became a huge issue after driving back from my last outing. More so, the brakes just disappeared! Luckily I nursed it home and didn't put the car into the front seat of the driver in front of me.

Popped open the master cylinder and something looked off...I think there's supposed to be fluid in both chambers!

 

[BuiltNotBought]

Nevertheless, I already had a new master that I was bench bleeding, however after I pulled off the old one I found out the problem.

Looks like the seal between the master and booster decided to jump inside the snap ring of the master cylinder and rip itself apart.

Only problem now is that nobody sells a new seal, except this guy that wants $32 for an 'original' aka 50 year old rubber seal!

Looks like the car is going to have to wait longer until Summit sends me a new booster...

 

[Rupertflood]

I wanted to give a big shout out to RupertFlood on here for this surprise gift I received in the mail. He spotted my horrible addiction to 'ok' beer and decided to send a reminder I could wear daily of the damage I'm doing to my liver.

Truly though I was at a loss for words when I opened the package. I'm sure it was just a simple gesture from him but in such an impersonal internet world, I never would have expected to feel like I'm part of a true community. I've seen the messages on here of people helping each other out, wishing happy birthdays, etc but I always felt like it was just polite internet chat until this package arrived on my doorstep. This place really is a little Nova family. I sincerely appreciate the gift and thanks for putting into perspective for me what this forum is all about.

Cheers Brother! I'll see you in Annapolis, probably a year or so from now.

I'm a big believer in "paying it forward" when I can. In this case as soon as I saw the hat I knew it had to go to BNB, as I had seen his poor choice in liquid refreshment, or ballast, as we call it in the coast Guard!

sorry about your brakes! I'm sure you scoured the internet.

 

[Miles Nova 76]

After talking with the wife, we decided I could make one more big car purchase for the year. I was trying to decide whether or not to add A/C but eventually came to the conclusion that this welder was a better option, as I would learn a new skill.

Nice welder...just a suggestion...ask for Auto-darkening helmet for Christmas! Or watch for a quality one on CraigsList or something. It will make your welding so much easier and enjoyable.

When I got our welder I swung by the nearest scrap yard (where they buy metal) and found one where they are willing to sell back good scrap. It was like 30 cents a lb or something. I found all sorts of cool chunks of metal, angle iron, tubing, etc. I always keep an eye out for scrap metal...I drive a truck so I just pull over and pick up a piece of rebar if I find it, stop at a construction or demolition site and ask if I can look around and have any garbage etc. Found a nice big 6 inch by 4 in by 3 foot piece of angle iron that I screwed onto the front of my work bench so I would have a nice hard 'anvil' work surface :devil: When I end up with excess scrap I take it in and sell it and use the money to buy better quality/size metal that is more project oriented.

We built a lift stand for my KDX dirtbike as our first project. http://dirtrider.net/forums3/threads/building-a-motorcycle-foot-lift.185206/

If you look around for welding projects there are a lot of good plans out there that will help you get started...then hunt down that cheap/free scrap metal and have FUN! Then you will build up the confidence to work on that nice Nova!

 

[BuiltNotBought]

Some great advice. I'll definitely hit up some scrap yards around here. Been waiting to get a day off work or leave early so I could get to one before they close. There's also a lot of houses being built around me. I may have to snoop around there.

Also you made me realize that I had an auto darkening helmet but brought it back after I opened it because one of the adjusters on the side was broken. I ran into the store and grabbed a "replacement" (the one pictured) without reading the label. No wonder it always seemed dim. Time to look for that receipt...damn it!

 

[BuiltNotBought]

Playing catch-up on my "small" brake project for everyone.

After bench bleeding the new master and waiting for the booster to arrive I realized...I received the wrong booster. Drove down to the far away O'Reilly's because they had what I needed in stock. Picked up the correct booster, exchanged my old one, drove home, then turned right back around to O'Reilly's because I needed to salvage the cheap plastic piece off my old booster that covers the brake pedal rod.

Why a new booster would not come with this and insist on salvaging my 10 year old piece of plastic is beyond me... Needless to say after all the back and forth I got home too late to put it all together that night. Which was probably for the best because I was quite frustrated.

 

[BuiltNotBought]

Finally got all the new shiny stuff in the car! Now all I need is a willing wife to come push the brake pedal 400 times. She couldn't have been more disgruntled.

Only now a new problem. The brakes aren't bleeding. Maybe I wrenched on it too hard in the past or maybe it had a hairline crack in the casting...no idea, but one of the wheel cylinders disintegrated. I did notice some fluid residue before starting the bleed process, and that would explain the drain of fluid from the master days prior. Regardless, the wife was pleased to hear that we had to stop for the night and even happier when I mentioned we'd have to do it again tomorrow.

 

[BuiltNotBought]

Picked up some wheel cylinders and got home. Then I just had to remember where all these springs go. Been a while since I've been doing this. Drum brakes might as well be hieroglyphics at this point.

 

[BuiltNotBought]

After knocking out the wheel cylinders, slapping the shoes back in and entertaining the wife while she begrudgingly mashed the brake pedal, "just one more time" as I put it...the car is back together. Such a simple problem that turned into so much more work than anticipated. I don't know how this thing always manages to make my time disappear.

 

[67nova73]

nice work and progress ...

 

[Rupertflood]

time for power brakes, to go along with your power upgrades

Dedicating time to work on your communication skills as a couple via working together on a common goal is to be commended!

Maybe if you had better taste in beer you'd have a friend available who would be happy to pump your brakes and drink your beer/ provide comic relief.

I have the special pliers type tool for drum brake springs somewhere....every so often I come across it and remember what its for.

Are you back on the road? Test drive SAT?

 

[BuiltNotBought]

time for power brakes, to go along with your power upgrades

Dedicating time to work on your communication skills as a couple via working together on a common goal is to be commended!

Maybe if you had better taste in beer you'd have a friend available who would be happy to pump your brakes and drink your beer/ provide comic relief.

I have the special pliers type tool for drum brake springs somewhere....every so often I come across it and remember what its for.

Are you back on the road? Test drive SAT?

Man, really hating on Yuengling. I'll make sure to have some of your bougie ass beer on hand to please your refined palate anytime you want to visit.

And yes the car is running however there must have been an air pocket somewhere in the brake line (or its leaking somewhere) because the pedal has gone a bit soft again. Hopefully I don't need to replace all the hard lines.

 

[67nova73]

i dont know if you can do a gravity bleed like they do on motorcycles, in continue in bleeding the line(s) ...

if not, sounds like you ll need more beer to get the air out of the line(s) =)

 

[Rupertflood]

Man, really hating on Yuengling. I'll make sure to have some of your bougie ass beer on hand to please your refined palate anytime you want to visit.

And yes the car is running however there must have been an air pocket somewhere in the brake line (or its leaking somewhere) because the pedal has gone a bit soft again. Hopefully I don't need to replace all the hard lines.

Here's a thought:
Your old master cylinder was dying...So not a lot of pressure in the lines. Now you have pressure..so I wonder how old your rubber lines are? perhaps they are swelling a bit when you hit the brakes.

Yeah, ask you wonderful patient wife to push on the brake pedal while you look at the rubber lines to see if they swell etc. This may not work but I thought it would be worth mentioning.

Beer/soda/ water in the frig in my garage when you come to Annapolis.

 

[xMLMx]

When you did the brakes, did you bleed all four wheels thoroughly? Like, a complete flush? It's amazing what the difference is between old, moisture-laden brake fluid, and brand new DOT 3/4 stuff.

 

[67nova73]

how do you bleed the brakes ... ?

do you start with the one furthest one away from the booster ... ?

 

[BuiltNotBought]

Well, this weekend I got the chance to beg the wife for some more pumps of the pedal. When I last bled them I noticed that the passenger rear wasn't pushing fluid very well. This time, lots of fluid came shooting out with some air. I think the car just needed to be tossed around a bit to jog loose whatever was in there. So we bled that wheel and worked our way up to the wheel closest to the master. After our efforts. She drives, and stops, just like it should. And the rubber hoses look to be decent.

 

[Rupertflood]

Most excellent! We are both back on the road !