At this point I'm continuing to advance in the home stretch on finishing the Dodge. I managed to install the new master cylinder and in the process of trying to bleed the brakes had to seal multiple leaks in the brake lines, which amounted to tightening brake line fittings that were still a little loose. I did manage to get the rear brakes bled enough that no more air came from the wheel cylinders, but the front brakes were not taking to bleeding. Even when it seemed that no more air came from the wheel cylinders, they still didn't move when the pedal was pressed, not even enough to remotely drag the front wheels. That was until I thought of trying something.
On the calipers the bleeder valve is not at the topmost point on the caliper body when its mounted in place. I took one caliper loose and turned it up while still keeping the brake pads in place enough that it was still between the piston and the body of the caliper, basically turning it 90% of the way off, enough to get the bleeder valve to the topmost point. When the bleeder was opened after pumping the pedal, a big fart of air came from the caliper. After reinstalling everything, the caliper grabbed hard. After doing the other side, the front brakes were grabbing just as they were supposed to. That at least closed the chapter on the brake system. With the brake system completed I was fixing to install the last belt on the front of the engine when I started seeing water slowing dribbling from under the engine. Kinda pissed off that this would suddenly occur when I'm coming so close to the end. After a little investigating I seen that the water or actually, coolant, was coming from the water pump gasket. Guess this thing was pretty old since as soon as I started taking the bolts loose more coolant started coming out. After removing the water pump the gasket was all but dust, there was really nothing left to seal the unit. I got the surface of the timing cover cleaned off along with the back of the water pump but still needed a gasket. I had some gasket paper in the storage trailer so I was able to trace out and cut out a new gasket from the gasket paper. I glued the gasket down so it can cure and be ready for installation soon. Once I secure the water pump to the engine I can install the other belt and have that phase of the project done. On a lighter note, I managed to move more scrap around and cull even more scrap from the old scrap pile, enough so that I managed to clear just about everything from the area short of a few drums and a drum boat hull that I made with the intent of using it as the basis of a trimaran boat build that I aborted long ago. The drums will be moved and staged in the new area, awaiting use as burn drums more than likely, while the hull will be cut up and added to the outgoing scrap pile. With the remaining metal removed from the old area, I can run over the grounds with the push mower to clear it more, then make my way over to the pallet pile and start clearing that area. I'll save a few pallets for other uses but cut the rest of them up into boards for future project use, the same way I did when I build the fuel shed.
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