Trials and Tribulations - longish

[JMNegrin@domain.elided]

Or - one thing leads to another.  

FINALLY - got the Euro exhaust on the Alfetta, with modifications to include
the air injection so I remain legal for the smog nazis.  (Hey, I also have to
breathe the air in Los Angeles, so it's a bit self-serving.)  The "headers"
and totally new, custom 2" tubing make all the difference in the way the motor
responds.  Yes, it is a bit louder (only one turbo muffler in the back), but
not unpleasant.  A big plug here for Huth Muffler in the San Fernando Valley
(suburban LA).  They specialize in custom work, and have yet to let me down.
No stock in the company, just a happy customer.

Then to my mechanic, so it all could be tuned up to deal with less back
pressure.  It needed a tune anyway.  While there, I asked him to look into a
vibration, with accompanying noises, at idle.  Turns out the drive shaft was
out of balance.  I wanted to take no chances of ruining the newish donuts and
center support.  Likesise the new motor mounts.  So it waits on parts.

Parts?  Yeah, like the drive belt for the smog pump.  Seems like they don't
stock those cute little things in LA anymore.  Weird.  

The point of this whole thing is that, yes all the other rubber parts
mentioned needed to be replaced.  Motors mounts, dho-nuts, center support.
The car ran so much smoother, that who new the driveshaft itself was a
problem. I figured that rebuilding just about the whole driveline would solve
the vibration problems I was experiencing t some extent, since I bought the
car several years ago.  Fixing things one by one made things better in
increments.

It seems to me, now, that the driveshaft balance issue may likely have been
the root cause for the others.  Things were getting better, so I must have
been on the right track.  As things and the vibrations got better, they may
have been masking the true culprit.  I am hoping now I don't have to re-do
some of the other fixes I have had to make recently, but can't cry if I do.   

HEY!! - Too long - Gotta go
Jay Negrin
ARO Southern California
76 Alfetta GT - gotta be back on the road for the Wild Flower Tour - Hell, I
wrote the damm thing !!  (I'll talk about the 15 x 7 Ronals later, after I get
a chance to drive the car.)

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