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Post by Gary Hammond on Oct 4, 2009 22:23:07 GMT -5
P215/60R15 tires on front and P235/60R15 tires on rear of GT all mounted on 5.5" wide 15" diameter rims Gary Hammond,
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Post by Gary Hammond on Oct 3, 2009 19:55:04 GMT -5
Hi Doug, I agree with vwman about replacing the cylinders, but I would try holding the cylinder in a vise and then use both hands to twist and rock the head loose. (And WD40 is not a good penetrator.) Next, I would try heating the whole thing in an oven to 350 degrees and then clamping the cylinder in a vise while trying to work the head free. Of course you will need to remove the valves from the removed cylinder side of the head first, and wear heat resistant protective gloves. Or you could hold the head in the vise using 1/4" plywood on each side to protect it and then apply pressure to the cylinder. I think a strap type oil filter wrench for large oil filters will fit over the cylinder end to aid in twisting and pulling. Or you could get some 5/16" (or maybe 3/8") ready rod and cut 4 pieces about 18" long that you would place in the cylinder stud bolt holes just short of entering the head. Then install two large screw type hose clamps around the cylinder and all 4 ready rods. One clamp would be as high on the finned area as you could get it and still grip the threaded rod. The other clamp would go around the threaded rod at the base of the cylinder where it slips into the crankcase. The threaded rod should bite into the outside of the cylinder and allow you grasp hold of the end of all 4 rods giving you 18" of leverage. Gary Hammond,
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Post by Gary Hammond on Sept 27, 2009 18:58:42 GMT -5
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Post by Gary Hammond on Sept 20, 2009 20:53:23 GMT -5
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Post by Gary Hammond on Aug 26, 2009 13:59:39 GMT -5
Hi Wyn, The braces look real good, as does the rest of your work. ;D And here's wishing you and your wife the best with the health issues! Gary Hammond,
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Post by Gary Hammond on Aug 26, 2009 8:10:13 GMT -5
Hi, As the Cubs would say "There's always next year". Gary Hammond,
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Post by Gary Hammond on Aug 24, 2009 16:55:57 GMT -5
Hi Mike and Steven, Both roll cages look good to me! ;D And the added rigidity and improved safety factor are great as well. Good work Mike! ;D Gary Hammond,
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Post by Gary Hammond on Aug 23, 2009 15:47:00 GMT -5
Hi Leonard and Mike, Thought it would be fun to meet up with some other Bradley owners while we're in the area. The cruise would just be an added attraction. Let me know if you would like to get together for eats and fellowship! Doesn't have to be Starved Rock. That just came to mind as a place to meet up and eat. Mike, would any of your South Side Buggista members be interested in joining in for a cruise? Gary Hammond,
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Post by Gary Hammond on Aug 23, 2009 15:20:32 GMT -5
Hi Dr. Phil, If it was sitting with the emergency brake on all that time, the cable and/or brake linkage may be stuck. If the brake wasn't set, it's probably just the brake drum rusted up. Both problems are real common on these. Penetrating oil will help free up cable and linkage problems. For a rusted up drum, pull the wheel and lightly tap the drum with a hammer to knock the rust loose. Keep trying to turn the drum between every few taps and it should break loose after a few trys. Gary Hammond,
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Post by Gary Hammond on Aug 14, 2009 20:38:35 GMT -5
Hi all, Is anyone interested in a Labor Day Bradley cruise-in at Starved Rock State Park? Sandy and I are planning to drive the Bradley to Grays Lake that weekend, and would enjoy stopping at Starved Rock on Labor Day on the way back home. If anyone's interested in joining us, we could eat lunch at the Lodge and then go cruising in that area for a while. Gary Hammond,
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Post by Gary Hammond on Aug 8, 2009 12:26:42 GMT -5
Hi MJ, The VW trans-axle can be set up to turn either direction. They reverse the rotation for mid engine applications, so it should work no matter which direction the Honda turns. I don't know if anyone currently makes an adapter or not, but it surely would be possible to fabricate one. Of course you'll also have to come up with a way to mount the cooling system from the Honda, and figure out an exhaust system as well. And I don't know how the length of the Honda engine compares to the VW. If it's longer, that might create a problem as well. Should be doable though. Gary Hammond,
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Post by Gary Hammond on Aug 3, 2009 21:39:57 GMT -5
Hi Mike, The roll cage is looking good! ................But I got to ask............how did you make out removing the roof with the windshield installed?? Gary Hammond,
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Post by Gary Hammond on Aug 3, 2009 17:14:27 GMT -5
Hi mrbigh, NICE JOB!!! I love the color!!! ;D ;D Here, have another karma. Gary Hammond,
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Post by Gary Hammond on Jul 26, 2009 17:01:11 GMT -5
Hi Jeff, ..........Wish your grandson could have driven one of the race karts around the track at Quincy, but maybe we can do a replay next year. I'm sure he's ready after those killer Pedal Ponies you built. Ever think of putting a small, governed four-stroke engine in one of them? There's a kid rush for sure! Be well, my friend. Warmest... The ponies were just small "rocking horses" not pedal cars. BUT, when I finally get around to making a motorized car for them, I plan to make it a half scale Bradley GT!!! ;D And let me know when you'll be back in the area. A Quincy "REPLAY" sounds great! ;D regards, Gary Hammond,
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Post by Gary Hammond on Jul 26, 2009 16:25:19 GMT -5
Hi Jeff, Thanks for the karma. I just returned the favor, because you are so willing to help everyone with your vast Bradley experience! ;D It's sad we've lost all the good advice you posted on the old board! Gary Hammond,
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Post by Gary Hammond on Jul 25, 2009 19:13:29 GMT -5
Hi, Talked my wife into taking another Saturday afternoon cruise. This one was about 150 miles round trip with a stop midway at Lowe's, Menard's, and a fast food Italian restaurant in the next state over west (Iowa). ;D At Lowe's, the guy parked next to us wanted to trade his family van even up for the brad! And while we were eating at the restaurant , a couple of young people working there went over to the window to check out the Bradley, and wanted to know all about it. And before we left the restaurant, a couple of guys in a PT Cruiser pulled into the parking lot, got out and took pictures of the Brad, then got back in their PT Cruiser and left! The brad is blast to go cruising in and sure draws a lot of attention along the way! ;D Gary Hammond,
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Post by Gary Hammond on Jul 17, 2009 20:53:29 GMT -5
Hi Rob, "rear seated passengers" and "airbag" reminds me of when we first got the Bradley several years ago. Our two boys were still in high school so they rode in the "back seat" or "jump seat" with their heads sticking way up above the roof. We took it for a cruise to go see my parents late in the afternoon. All the way there, my wife complained about the " mouse smell" coming out of the heater ducts. (It was pretty bad!) So when we headed back home after dark, she announced one of the boys had to ride up front and she was going to ride in the jump seat to avoid the " mouse smell". Didn't hear a peep out of her until we got home and discovered her glasses were plastered with bugs! ;D If she had opened her mouth to complain on the way home, she'd have gotten bugs in her teeth!! There's more than one way to disable an " airbag". ;D Gary Hammond,
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Post by Gary Hammond on Jul 17, 2009 19:49:14 GMT -5
Hi, Since I got it running real good the past few weeks, it has developed a very bad habit I can't break it from! Seems like every time I run into town on a errand or for lunch or whatever, on the way back home it absolutely refuses to turn back into the driveway!! Darn thing takes off for an extended run and occasionally develops a sudden "burst of speed". Acts just like a horse that's not fully broken to ride. Go figure. ;D Gary Hammond,
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Post by Gary Hammond on Jul 17, 2009 19:33:28 GMT -5
Hi Steve, Does than mean we're really driving "LUNAR ROVERS"? ;D ;D Gary Hammond,
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Post by Gary Hammond on Jul 17, 2009 15:30:56 GMT -5
Hi Big Bob, Don't know ......wasn't me ..........BUT............ I just gave you a karma on general principles!! ;D Gary Hammond,
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Post by Gary Hammond on Jul 16, 2009 18:13:58 GMT -5
Hi Mike, Don't know the answer to your question, but figure the windshield might break either way. Wouldn't it be easier to just lift the entire body off the chassis to do the welding? Gary Hammond,
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Post by Gary Hammond on Jul 11, 2009 8:41:23 GMT -5
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Post by Gary Hammond on Jul 9, 2009 19:28:05 GMT -5
Hi Kyle, Sorry about the loss of your truck!! That really sucks!!! Hope you catch the sicko purps who did this!! Also hope you get an adequate settlement from your insurance and are able to replace the truck quickly! Wishing you the best. ;D Gary Hammond,
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Post by Gary Hammond on Jul 4, 2009 8:13:43 GMT -5
HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMERICA!!! Gary Hammond,
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Post by Gary Hammond on Jul 3, 2009 18:13:38 GMT -5
Hi Chris, Good to see you posting on this board. .............I'm doing fine. Thanks for asking. Already started repairing the doors with silicon, but I'll keep your suggestion in mind for the next time. Thanks for the heads up on Shoe Goo. Never heard of it before, but it sounds like it might work well for laminating the doors with S.S. sheet metal. As for puttering.............Sandy and I took the Brad for a 200 mile cruise today and it ran great............but I got "Bradley Butt" after about 150 miles. Sandy did OK though.......more padding on her side. ;D Gary Hammond,
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Post by Gary Hammond on Jul 2, 2009 10:07:49 GMT -5
Hi Mike, Your car is looking really good! I like the new graphics. Sandy and I enjoyed meeting you and your family as well!! ;D ;D Gary Hammond,
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Post by Gary Hammond on Jun 30, 2009 13:49:09 GMT -5
Hi Jeff, Thats way cool!!! I always liked the looks of the Aztec 7. ;D ;D Gary Hammond,
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Post by Gary Hammond on Jun 28, 2009 21:33:32 GMT -5
Hi Kyle, ....I'll be honest, my web design skill are long out of date. If someone can help me out on this, I'd really appreciate it. All I want is a home page, and another message board. All of this would be temporary, so simple is perfect!! I know there are a few of you out there doing this type of thing now, so feel free to chime in. I'll do it your way, point me to the server and I'll get it. Tell me what to do, and it's done. We can work together with you having full access to the site while it's being done. This stuff is over my head as well, but my son is extremely knowledgeable on all this as he works with it all the time. I told him what was going on with the old site and that you were looking for help from some of us. He indicated a willingness to give you some help on what to do. The small company he works for is one of our local internet providers. They host web sites and home pages, set up networks, and will also help with web design. Here's a link to his company's home page. www.logonix.net/ Just click on <contact us> and write to or ask to talk to Bob Hammond. I'm sure he can give you good directions on what you want to do. Gary Hammond,
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Post by Gary Hammond on Jun 28, 2009 20:43:37 GMT -5
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Post by Gary Hammond on Jun 25, 2009 20:59:16 GMT -5
Finally got mine back on the road with the new tank (fuel cell sort of) installed. I also added more baffling to my home-made exhausts and put them back on in place of the Monza GT exhaust. It sounds great, looks better, and is much quieter as well. Unfortunately, it started having a fuel pressure problem after a while, so I proceeded to troubleshoot the fuel pump and regulator both of which tested OK. Further testing revealed that vapor lock was occurring after everything got up to normal temperature. After relocating the pump and plumbing the return fuel back to the tank instead of back to the pump inlet, I solved the fuel pressure problem. Also installed a third set of injectors (started at 22lbs/hr, then 14lbs/hr, and finally 19lbs/hr) and re-calibrated the throttle position sensor and dash module of the injection system. It's running pretty good now! ;D Took all three grandkids their first ride in it yesterday (one at a time of course) and they all loved it! ;D ;D And I started redoing the doors. The old repair I did a few years ago was coming unbonded, so I'm redoing it with silicon seal instead of the more rigid epoxy I used before. I'm hoping this will compensate for the difference in expansion rates between the plexi and the stainless steel. The sundowner rear window is cracked in several places now and needs replaced. It's still usable, but it looks like crap. I haven't decided yet on whether to replace it or fabricate a new design with flat panels. Anyway, I've been enjoying the warm sunny days and getting lots of looks and thumbs up. ;D Gary Hammond,
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