The Great Ms. American 3.14159 Chase Truck Renovation Caper

Hey All,
Because of logistics brought on by such things as weather, and other considerations, I'm going to start this new thread, not so much as a Ms. American specific discussion, but more as a "General Mechanical Knowledge" kind of thing.

This is NOT to turn the FM Forum into a discussion of another marque, but there are things that need knowing that are just general "automobile mechanics" in nature, and while we here at FM Forum ARE somewhat biased toward Ford in General, and Galaxies in particular, nuts and bolts are nuts and bolts, and how to deal with them spans the full spectrum of Makes and Models.

This morning, I continued the process of removing a Master Cylinder Assembly. And the part that connects the Push Rod that activates the Cylinder in the Master Cylinder Assembly to the Brake Pedal has a STRANGE kind of characteristic. It is a specially shaped BOLT, with a shoulder, and what appears to be a "special" thread. The NUT is also somewhat unusual as it has on the last two threads on the trailing end of the threads, little wide places in them that makes the NUT "VERY" hard to turn. Those little "wide places" are quite "regular", and look to be there "on purpose".

The BOLT "threads" into the Brake Pedal Lever until the shoulder part of the BOLT is left sticking out, as it is a "bearing surface" on which rides the Cylinder Push Rod. It threads through the Brake Pedal Lever until it is TIGHT, and then the NUT then goes onto the BOLT, and locks down against the Brake Pedal Lever. Once assembled, it ISN'T going to come apart incidentally.

What I am wondering is: Is this a design feature? Or are these threads "boogered" up?

It CAN be reassembled properly, but BOY, is it ever hard to tighten.

Anyway, this work was done this morning even though it was drizzling a bit. The working on TWO projects at once is a way of NOT wasting time due to the weather.

If JPGs of this unit would help answer the question, I can get the JPGs and post them quite easily.

JC

Sounds like it is a purpose made lock nut. did this application use a lock type washer under the nut? If it only used a flat washer or no washer at all then it is definitely a purpose built locking nut and made that way.
There are several of these types on most vehicles.

Scott...

first -- did ya kick a cat this morn. just for good measure??or at least frown at one?? whatever-

JC i remember them -if im remembering right their just a locking nut-- cant remember any strange flat spots -- would have to see it to know --
here kitty kitty--

Originally Posted by one37tudor

Sounds like it is a purpose made lock nut.

Hey Scott,
That's what I was hoping for.

did this application use a lock type washer under the nut?

No.

If it only used a flat washer or no washer at all then it is definitely a purpose built locking nut and made that way.

There was NO washer at all.

There are several of these types on most vehicles. Scott

This is the first time I've ever seen one.

Anyway, I cleaned the Bolt and Nut, and they are presently residing in the box with the Tail Light Switch and its Nut, the Bolts and Nuts that held various pieces together, and I'm now ready to remove the Push Rod, then two Nuts that hold the Bracket on which is mounted the Master Cylinder.

The weather is supposed to clear tomorrow, and more will be done.

Did I tell you that I've painted Lorrie's Engine Black with Gold Valve Cover, and Air Cleaner Assembly to match Ms. American's Engine?

I'm feeling really good about getting back to work on Lorrie. She and I have been together longer than have Ms. American and me. I just love them both.

JC

Originally Posted by Rich27028

first -- did ya kick a cat this morn. just for good measure??or at least frown at one?? whatever-

Hey Mr. DH,
Actually, I didn't. Two of them (Rocky and TraLaLa) were out in the Kitty Kastle last night but came in this morning for breakfast, and because it was raining out most of the day, they ALL got to stay in all day.

They are so well behaved that I seldom have to do anything other than snap my fingers at them to get them to cool whatever it is that I'm snapping my fingers about.

JC i remember them -if im remembering right their just a locking nut-- cant remember any strange flat spots -- would have to see it to know --

Well, I look at all this stuff through my ten-power, magnifying headset while I'm cleaning the stuff with the Craftsman RotoTool and Wire-Brush Wheel, and that's when I noticed the little flat spots on the Nut's last two wraps of threads.

Also, Lorrie Van Haul has Left-Handed Threads on one of her side's Lug Nuts (I don't remember which one right off the top of my head). It's a Mo-Par thing.

I'm just working away on Lorrie now. Wonder if the Holley Carburetor with the Micro-Tonsil in its throat is going to work? Won't know till the Brakes are finished, and all the wiring is figured out.

here kitty kitty--

That's what Matt Dillon used to say!

JC

That's what Matt Dillon used to say--

cant say as i blame him -was always parcel to red heads--

a story about cats-- wifes cat squecker - got old and died -- she [my wife] was at work so i wrapped squeaker the cat in one of my wifes tshirts and buryed her out by the fence under the lilac bush-

pain in the azz cat always wanted to be petted -- -

I know Ms. American has her own page, but does Lorrie Van Haul have one?

Originally Posted by Rich27028

cant say as i blame him -was always parcel to red heads--

Hey Mr. DH,
I dated a red head named Helen when I was in high school. But as I got older, I got partial to any color LONG hair as long as it was female.

a story about cats-- wifes cat squecker - got old and died -- she [my wife] was at work so i wrapped squeaker the cat in one of my wifes tshirts and buryed her out by the fence under the lilac bush-

My favorite cat of all time was a Black with White markings named Bonsai Bean. When she died in an April, I buried her beneath a Wild Rose Bush that had never bloomed. And ten days after I buried her, the Wild Rose Bush put out dozens of almost Black Roses, and has bloomed every year since. So I wrote this about BB after she died.

Bonsai Bean, my Bonsai Bean,
Prettiest cat I've ever seen.
Purest love I ever knew,
I'll always be in love with you.

And when she died,
I wrapped her in a Penny Saver,
Put her in a paper sack.
Beneath the Wild Rose I dug her grave.
Each April brings my Bonsai back.

pain in the azz cat always wanted to be petted -- -

They're LIKE that!

Anyway, for some reason I'm not sleepy, and I didn't have a nap today.

The weather has cleared, and there are stars out tonight. I'm going to be working on Lorrie tomorrow, AND I have to go pay my car insurance.

Hang in there.

JC

Hey All,
Got the Adjustable Length Brake Push Rod out of the Master Cylinder, and cleaned it up.

Got the two Nuts off of the two Bolts that hold the Master Cylinder Bracket to the frame with the electric Impact Wrench, only to find that there are two more Bolts holding the Bracket in place and they can't be gotten out without removing the Body from the Frame. So now there are two Bolts holding the Master Cylinder to the Bracket that have to come out. They will be difficult, but it's not going to be impossible.

Have some GENERAL QUESTIONS:

If one puts a Test Light between the Positive Post of the Battery and the Post on the Starter Solenoid that goes to the Starter, should the light come on?

It does.

If the Negative Cable to the Battery is disconnected from the Negative Pole of the Battery while the Ignition Switch is off, and one connects the Test Light to the Negative Pole of the battery, and then touches the Negative Cable with the Probe, should the light come on?

It seems to me that it shouldn't. BUT it does!

I am certain that I have a closed circuit somewhere in Ms. American because sometimes (not always) if I leave the Battery's Negative Cable connected, the battery will go down in voltage while she is sitting. That's the reason that I have the Quick Disconnect Cable, and why I disconnect it between usages.

I disconnected the Holley Carburetor's Electric Choke Wires, and that didn't change anything.

I'm not clear on how to check the circuitry to find where the closed circuit is.

Maybe a tutorial is in order here.

JC

question 1 --answer--no

question2 --answer no-

you got a short someplace--