The REAL test drive

Today:
-found the m.i.a. bag of bolts so the floorboards got screwed in along with transmission tunnel
-repositioned the new speedo cable so the exhaust isn't melting it and so it connects to the speedo without popping off
-shocks are on! Grand Wagoneer fronts and dodge 3/4 ton rears, all monroe sensa tracs. (pictures to come) I had to remove all the shocks stock bushings except the rear lowers. They were designed for a 1/2" mounting stud, not 3/4". I ground down the stock shock bushings to fit the shock eyes. Thats 12 bushings btw.
- the "defroster" vent control panel got put on and works. yay.
-screws into the dash

With the carb retuned I took off down the street... again.
Shifting was exceptionally good today, the engine didn't bog, it drove straight, and with shocks it didn't bounce all over the place. The shocks weren't so stiff that it was a bone-jarring either, actually pretty smooth on the smooth stuff.

The speedo cable popped off the first time out, but a little repositioning and it started reading. It got up to "55" and sounded like a bomb ready to go off. But i had a big smile on my face listening to it.

After 5 miles of driving the engine started losing power intermitantly, so i hauled butt home at 10 mph. in the driveway the engine smoothed out and died. Gotta get the fuel guage fixed and put in more than 2 gallons at a time.

Experimented with spray paints today- the colors came down to a krylon almond or rust oleum hard hat almond. both were pretty close to original color.