Jacky Franklin's Journal

New Fuse Block Installed Today

Wed, 12 Oct 2016 20:51:30 -0500

Jacky Franklin's Journal --

I have had an ongoing issue with my car's electrical for some time now and as the harness was original I have put off dealing with the intermittent loss of power to items. The temp gauge, the clock and the radio. Also the tach bouncing and the courtesy light have all mysteriously lost power ever so rarely. I noticed a loose lug on my fuse block & upon a real close examination I found a BUNCH of loose rivets in the lug assemblies. Ordered a new block which arrived and installed it today. This is not a hard job for me as I have a batt switch and just swapped the power side wires, removed the old block and shifted the outlet side wires to the new block, re-mounted with a piece of Garlock as an insulated spacer against the firewall. All my power gremlins seem to be gone now and everything works real nice. This was a very necessary job and I don't think we know how loose these old rivets get nor how green the backside copper lap points. The fuse block cover from the original will not fit the replacements as sold. It is just a shade larger so the Lucas is too small to fit down around the fuses. I suppose a real trooper would dip and retighten the rivets rather than not have a fuse block that says "Lucas" on the back and cover. I'm good. Jack

Posted 2016-10-12 20:51:30 by Jacky Franklin

Summary Of The Month

Tue, 21 Jul 2015 05:55:10 -0500

Jacky Franklin's Journal --

Well, I have put more than 1000 miles on the car now and am starting to feel pretty good about running into town. That's nice. The overdrive has been worth the trouble it took to get it..Thanks again Ric. The neg camber setup from Moss has been a blast as well, and something I recommend to anyone...so far the new tires are showing no weird wear. Excellent. I have been very busy getting LED's in the car.. the error free 1157 bulbs off evil-bay do work quite well in the rear..with using foil on the reflectors and the metal tray below the 1157 socket I now have some outstanding stop and running lights at about 1/3 the wattage but tons brighter...all good. Also the turn signal lights 1156 single element bulbs were changed to LED's and are almost embarrassingly bright. The festoon bulbs in the trunk, license lights and courtesy also swapped easy, and produce more light as well. LED's are just white. Real bright white. I am astonished at how cheap these bulbs are getting...I don't have 20 bucks in this yet. I have some 57's on the way for the side markers..keep them watts a'dropping. Also shoehorned a volt meter into the dash hole for the fog lights without screwing up the dash..tapped the instrument stabilizer input for a source....we'll see how that works out. I did put a 3 amp fuse on it tho, can't trust myself too much. I hope to get the headlight relay in by the end of the month...perhaps..

Posted 2015-07-21 05:55:10 by Jacky Franklin

Repairing A Window Issue, Re Seating The Passenger Glass

Fri, 10 Jul 2015 00:45:55 -0500

Jacky Franklin's Journal --

Had an interesting time today with the passenger window on my B. It has slipped out of the lift tray on the crank mechanism several times and I have become sorta bored of babying it so today I took the door panel and water seal plastic liner off to see what was shaking. This side had been hard to crank since the repaint and diverse hands were involved in putting bits back on so this was my first foray into this doors innards. When I started I kinda thought I could cheat the devil somehow but such was not to be the case. The entire assembly, crank, glass and all has to come out to get this thing back in. No shortcuts exist to reinstalling a window glass fully seated and smoothly operating. If you put the lower glass rubber and the metal it sets in outside the car things will get properly seated. You must slide the rubber into the track and then tap the track while stabilizing the window in your lap and against your belly. This will allow a full seat of the glass..real tight. just don't hit the glass instead and don't tap the metal so hard as to deform. Patient, observant progress gets you a full length level seal. Removing the front guide to put the glass in is kinda mandatory too. I could not get the glass in the door with it in place. You must get the glass assembly in the crank roller slots before bolting the crank assembly in. This takes a cool head and a slow hand. Then without losing what ya got position the crank assembly holes so you can start some bolts. IT CAN BE DONE. Just leave the front and back guides hot bolted while you run the glass up and down and lock them down when done. The hard cranking was traced to long fasteners being used where short ones should have. The short ones were there, just in the wrong holes...all better now. Don't overlook the adjusters inside the guides, the ones that take them in and out. The door bolts just do forward and back. As long as I had all this stuff out the door, I greased all moving pivots.

Posted 2015-07-10 00:45:55 by Jacky Franklin

At Last...I DRIVE It Home To Tennessee

Thu, 18 Jun 2015 16:00:37 -0500

Jacky Franklin's Journal --

This has been a most strange 18 months..I wish to thank the six guys that worked on this car with me. You'all know who you are, and I can't thank anyone enough. A most special thanks to this gent: Ric Cline British Car Parts and Service 1611 Davidson Rd Shady Dale, GA 31085 770-778-0843 After putting about 6k of parts on the car Rick agreed to do the shakedown for me. His shop is great and the man knows his stuff. So if you need ANY THING DONE TO A BL CAR this is the guy. Use the above info and he is easy to find. I needed someone to help me get the tranny sorted and a well respected member of this forum recommended Rick. A WELL respected member, I did not clairvoyant this guy myself. The drive home was 340 miles, further than the car has gone in 20 years. every component worked swell...a true roadster experience. Rick set the alignment just great and the new stainless exhaust set off the ride. The overdrive made the few interstate miles actually fun on I75 and the car hit 70 easy. Avoiding Atlanta entirely on the way back I traveled the twisties about 40 miles east of the city in a big loop to avoid urban sprall, but even that far out there is a bit. I am not disappointed in the small motor at all. Quite the contrary, and now I am glad I kept it..It suits the car. Being all Poly and lowered, de-smogged to the tail lights, It wanted to be up in the pwr band but as long as I complied with that she ran like a bumble bee. Apparently he shakes down cars for dealers in Atlanta as well as restos. again: I GOT A CAR MAN!

<At the waterfall on Tn. 111 north of Chatt, going home.>

Posted 2015-06-18 16:00:37 by Jacky Franklin

Wheels And Ti(excuse Me)tyres.

Wed, 18 Feb 2015 19:33:52 -0600

Jacky Franklin's Journal --

Z mag wheels outa Fla, and 185 70 tires for the feet on this rig, man has my motor out and tranny dropped so we might get done soon, new water hose and pump, as well...hell...why not, eh. The clock works too...GADZOOKS This is what progress looks like.

<jessiesheart>	<IMG 7639 2>	<005>
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Posted 2015-02-18 19:33:52 by Jacky Franklin

The Kit From UK

Tue, 10 Feb 2015 23:54:06 -0600

Jacky Franklin's Journal --

http://www.ebay.com/itm/381144406945?_trksid=p2060778.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT This kit came in from the UK and is SUPER. cost me 623us to the door and with my 77RB tranny I hope to transform this baby to OD. The gentleman B man in Marietta, (lets call him "Dave") who is transforming the tranny for me says the kit looks complete and all good quality stuff, gonna check the OD bushing and jumble it together. Also tits up on the original radio so ordered a new chinee plastic, takes SD cards, and will be all this car needs to be excellent for me. Door mounting the speakers, tho I CRINGE at the drilling of new Moss panels..A few shots, a talk with my mech, and AWAY we go.

<IMAG0767>	<DSCN1172>	<od3>
<od4>	<od5>

Posted 2015-02-10 23:54:06 by Jacky Franklin

Life Is What Happens While Your Making Plans

Fri, 30 Jan 2015 02:04:17 -0600

Jacky Franklin's Journal --

Well...180degree turn,,, keeping motor after all...not near the issues believed to exist....so.....now I have this mad idea to get myself an overdrive from the UK shipped over and piece me one together, my man in Marietta is game so Avantii mothers............................

Posted 2015-01-30 02:04:17 by Jacky Franklin

Bak In'a Saddle

Wed, 24 Dec 2014 18:55:53 -0600

Jacky Franklin's Journal --

Well, I'm back after a long time off, trying to get the ole' B slogging. Life sidetracked the job a bit and now a cold hard eye at the engine has led me to see an engine swap as the only real option, sad. The 2.8 + T5 bolt in route seems best, still...the numbers just do not work in a drive train resto, and that makes me sad. I cannot help but feel like I'm taking one more "off the road" as a British experience. I'll have a few bad nights, but they will pass. Must excellent member in Marietta will be doing the swap for me. Note TR gas cap mod....too cool, just cut old filler tube, insert and solder...pesky gas cap, HA!

<IMAG0776>

<IMAG0789>

Posted 2014-12-24 18:55:53 by Jacky Franklin

Wet Dry Desert

Thu, 30 Jan 2014 19:45:53 -0600

Jacky Franklin's Journal --

Well...finally have most of the wet/dry 2500 work done,,,down to the compound/touchup phase...

Posted 2014-01-30 19:45:53 by Jacky Franklin

Shes Painted

Wed, 22 Jan 2014 01:16:34 -0600

Jacky Franklin's Journal --

well...here she is gents

<paint3>	<paint1>	<paint2>
<paint4>	<paint5>	<paint6>
<paint7>	<paint8>

Posted 2014-01-22 01:16:34 by Jacky Franklin

Today She Went To The Painter

Tue, 14 Jan 2014 02:38:40 -0600

Jacky Franklin's Journal --

title says it all

Posted 2014-01-14 02:38:40 by Jacky Franklin

Coming Together, Ready For Painter

Sun, 05 Jan 2014 23:46:29 -0600

Jacky Franklin's Journal --

Ok...new deck lid...305$...down to Atlanta, replace marginal lid, adj. hinge so the damn thing closed, pulled outer trim and lights, replaced body to crossmember bushings under suspension, removed door innards, vent window, ect, Also replaced oil pan gasket, took about 2 hrs actually, quarter inch swivel, with seven sixteenth socket, eight inches of extension, good light, patience,,,,,,got it done, cleaned and painted, back on.

Damn good two days,,,

<image>

Posted 2014-01-05 23:46:29 by Jacky Franklin

Still No Painter

Tue, 31 Dec 2013 01:08:02 -0600

Jacky Franklin's Journal --

does it really cost 3k$ to paint one of these teeny things ????????

<mgb1>

Posted 2013-12-31 01:08:02 by Jacky Franklin

LOST MY PAINTER

Fri, 27 Dec 2013 00:58:59 -0600

Jacky Franklin's Journal --

Lost my painter today...he went to the doctor and called me up to say he could not take my car...this is bad for me...ThoI suspect the worse for him. He's an ole' B jockey of 22 years standing in atlanta. Time for another plan.

<DSCF0032>

Posted 2013-12-27 00:58:59 by Jacky Franklin

First Touch

Mon, 23 Dec 2013 14:40:41 -0600

Jacky Franklin's Journal --

Got to get my hands on Jesse as I will call her. She is everything my friend said she would be....we got the front back under her and one rear spring done, wood wheel and shifter on, walnut console cover also done. Gadfry...I do love this car... The engine compartment looks great, I'm just glad to have me bud's garage to get this done...

<console2>

Posted 2013-12-23 14:40:41 by Jacky Franklin

Learning

Mon, 09 Dec 2013 17:50:59 -0600

Jacky Franklin's Journal --

this thing has 100,000 parts and they all cost more than a dollar...;)

<S5030164 (2)>

Posted 2013-12-09 17:50:59 by Jacky Franklin

Cancer

Thu, 05 Dec 2013 23:26:14 -0600

Jacky Franklin's Journal --

Just got a good pet scan, 6mo, for throat cancer. New lease on life. working out daily and just bought this car. december 2013. A 1977 model with a lotta new stuff. I know NOTHING about These Cars. A friend of mine in GA.is doing a lot of part swaping for me,seat covers, carpet, bushings, braekes, all the usual suspects. Love this place here. Real good people. I am a Lifelong tool jocky, but still no fool. The real bloody knuckle lessons are where its happening..thanks for existing.

Posted 2013-12-05 23:26:14 by Jacky Franklin