I was preparing my engine bay for my fresh rebuild, checking wires, touching up things, little stuff. I noticed my z-bar shaft for my A904, the little bracket with the plastic guide that bolts to the tranny that the shaft end goes in, the plastic shim that goes on the shaft and rides inside that plastic guide was worn to nothing and cracked. I started looking around the garage for something that would replace it....PVC?, no, hey that plastic dizzy gear looks about right. It is precisely the same ID as the shaft and actually fits in the plastic guide better than the old worn shim. I cut the gear off and just used the plastic shaft with the alignment hole in it.

brian

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https://tinyurl.com/yynpj4v2

Excellent cobble.

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Sex, drags, and rock & roll.
Dick, 225% crazy.
Hobby (cars, that is) Photos link

Those are my favorite fix it moments, when you have a particular issue and you find some little bit or piece you've had lying around taking up space and it works perfectly for the job at hand. It was like that piece was waiting for you to discover its destiny.

I recall another one. I got a hood release cable from a later model A-body and was installing it in my 67 dart (I didn't want anyone to easily open my hood). I fabricated a bracket to hold the latch end of the cable, but I needed a spacer block about an inch thick and appropriately shaped to hold my bracket to the center post behind the grille. I couldn't find anything suitable while milling around the garage. Wood? No. Plastic. No. Aluminum, yes! I found this aluminum filter extension/spacer for a deep tranny pan. This one:

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/dcc-4510054

It was in the trunk of my car in a box of parts when I bought it. It was exactly the right thickness and shape to bolt to my bracket and to the center post behind the grille and it already had predrilled holes in the right places. I realize that I took what was a beautifully machined piece of billet aluminum and made it into a mundane spacer block, but it was perfect for the job at hand. Saved me a bunch of fabrication time.

brian

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https://tinyurl.com/yynpj4v2

This is where the real fun is. Time to swap in a 5spd or an IRS...

Lou

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Home of Slant6-powered fun machines since 1988

I can definitely do the 5 speed myself, I have sufficient skills, it would just take a bunch of upfront research and time, time, time to do the job. Partly it's me being so careful and meticulous about things, I like to fabricate not only for function/durability but also aesthetics. That is in conflict with my desire to have it done and be driving it (it is my daily driver). Someday I'll pull the trigger on that project, I can't see it being an A904 forever.

brian

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https://tinyurl.com/yynpj4v2