I just wanted to let everyone know about some success I have had recently.
Hopefully it might help others. I have a 1956 Imperial. I recently replaced
the brakes. Put in new wheel cylinders, master cylinder, hoses, blew out
the lines ,and replaced it with silicone brake fluid.
The brakes worked but I did not have much pedal. I found out other people
had the same problem. I followed some advice and bled them again. I even
purchased a vacuum operated pump. I still could not improve my pedal. I
finally took it to two of the more experienced mechanics in town. He looked
at it and said he could take care of it. He had an old woman come in 3
weeks earlier and he had the same problem.
He did correct it and my brake pedal and brakes work like a new car. He
told me the problems arise in the dual brake cylinders on the front
of the car. My right one still had some air in it. He said you have to
remove the brake assembly and work it like a steering wheel back and forth
with the brake line still connected. You can also tilt in towards you back
and forth. Usually gravity is enough to allow the fluid to expel out of the
fitting without someone pressing the brake.
He also adjusted the plunger in the new master cylinder and whoola, great
brakes. I am very happy.
I am still battling a problem with a miss under load. I have replaced the
points, condenser, rotor, distributor cap and wires with items purchased
from Andy Bernbaum. I have put in 2 new sets of plugs, new coil and
balllist. I rebuilt the carburetor. I even had the mechanic above look over
the carburetor and he basically rebuilt it himself. The compression is
145lbs on 7cylinders with one being 137. I have found heavy carbon on
plugs on cylinders 2 and 8 on the right side. I pulled the distributor and
the mechanic above put in on a dwell distributor machine, a rather older
and interesting piece of test equipment. The dwell and the distributor
checks out good.
I have ordered a new cap and rotor from NAPA and am going to replace them
tomorrow. I have used all NAPA parts on the car before expect the tune up
kit parts I received from Andy Bernbaum. I am basically going to put the
rotor and cap on if that still does not work. I will replace the plug wires.
The car starts up fast and at low idle not under load is quiet responsive
and smooth. As soon as the load comes it misses. I suspect the 2 and 8
cylinder.
Any more ideas would be appreciated
Anthony
Back to the Home of the Forward Look Network