Hi kids

Busy weekend working on Frieda the 66 coupe. Got her registered andrunning last weekend, but was undrivable... no brakes and clutch and she was overheating badly.

For the heating problem, I started at the beginning checked everything, starting with valve lash and timing. The PO put the dizzy drive gear in wrong and had the dizzy set up ass backwards too, Started from scratch and reset the gear. dizzy, and timing by the book. I just cannot believe how sweet this motor runs!!! It is just awesome. It seems a little tight turning by hand, but starts on the first hit and runs at completely norm temps now.

The dork boy who owned it before me lost a carb dome screw (HS6 SU) and replaced it with a japanese metric item and busted the tab on the carb body (works just like a threaded wedge). Stupid twit!!!! Sadly, the carbs are just about perfect, as one might expect of 90k easy miles and now one dome screw is compromised!! I put a proper screw back in and Very Gingerly tightened it. I am thinking about building the tab back up with industrial strength metal filled epoxy and then surfacing it back to the normal level, then drill and retap the threaded hole for the correct screw. Are these Whitworth thread??? Thoughts???

Then, the brakes. IPD's 68 wagon Dual Brake Master cylinder conversion kit is just awesome!! Very nice parts and everything fits perfect. Took me maybe a half hour to replace the MC and reroute the lines for a dual braking system, It's not a dual diagonal system, but the fronts and rears ARE independent. Certainly an improvment in safety and reliability, I think.

Drums and disks had maybe .010” wear, max, and look like they have never been turned. No out of round at all, outside a couple thou. The rear backing plates cleaned up perfect and have the, as new, mill finish on the steel with no rust on the passenger side and only light surface rust on the driver’s side. Went ahead and turned all anyway and they cleaned up within .005”, tops. My brake guy is very conservative and was amazed at the drum and disk condition!! He turned just enough to get a good finish to bed the new pads... He knows how pricey these thes drums and disks can be.

Rebuilt the clutch master and cylinders. The fork is worn quite a bit and will need to be replaced. I got clutch though.

Installed the Bosch alternator and adapter kit bought by the P.O from IPDs. Looks neat and tidy and I got volts!!!

Cleaned the fuse block contacts and put anti-corrosion paste on the terminals to forstall future problems. Thanks Ron!

Regreased the front wheel bearings... original volvo stamped bearings are still in perfect condition! Never yet had to replace a front wheel bearing.. Do these things ever wear out???

Best part is..... I got to drive it yesterday for the first time!!!! Yee Ha!! But Whatta Turd!! The tires are absolutely shot and it has two mildly bent rims!! It runs though, by golly! The next step should fix that

Was thinking about 16x7 rims and 55 serier tires but I have had a moment of clarity...I’m gonna pick up some more 15x6 Ford Ranger rims, like on my wagon, and some 205/60 tires this week. An inexpensive approach, but a known good combo and with a set of trim rings looks just dandy to me.

Shayne has some Konis headed my way. That and a set of IPD sway bars ought to give me a smooth riding, yet still competent little car in the curves. I’m looking for a good road car that you can toss about in the corners when you want, and drive 10 hours to Portland in comfort too. Anybody else using this combo have a comments?

Took the driver seat lower cushion and drivers door panel to my local upholstery guy and he found a pretty good match for the green vinyl and I already have some good green basket weave I scrounged in the junk yard out of a 68 140. Ought to be able to make the minimal repairs to the seats and hardly be noticable.

The jute padding comes out next weekend and gets replaced with aluminized closed cell foam. An adjustment of the slightly sprung drivers door too. Hopefully Konis and bars too and I'll be on the road to break in the B-18 for eventual transplant to the wagon.

Decided to freshen up the Aug 68 B20B before putting it in the coupe with the O/D. B's came with a "C" cam right? Why get in a hurry, right?

A productive, fun weekend. Hope everyoneelse hada good time???

Mike