Another S2 adventure, 742R, Carnival red and "Running".

[Richard48Y]

After cleaning up some excess wires added by the DPO the engine compartment is much more tidy.
Relocated the battery ground to the engine block and the starter spins faster.
Also added a fresh ground strap and cleaned the factory ground point.
Pulled the dust cover from the transaxle so that I could find TDC for static timing.
Set that and got it to fire up at last.
Only ran for a moment as I am still working on the cooling system but I now know it will run. 

[dakazman]

  Richard,
  That’s a great feeling for sure .
Dakazman

[Richard48Y]

Got the trailing arms, hubs, axles nearly removed.
Will clean all that up since I am replacing the mounts anyway.

Engine mounts are looking to be a bit more difficult.

[TurboFource]

 

[Richard48Y]

Small progress today.
Figured out the non-standard timing marks.
Red for up to 15º advance and yellow for up to 15º retard.
So I'm guessing this car has an aftermarket flywheel.

Also got the water pump to transfer pipe hose replaced with a correct part.
Much nicer than the ugly flex hose that had been on it.

[Richard48Y]

A little more progress.
Got the trailing arms off and apart.
They are in excellent condition but I will have to rebuild the brakes.
Naturally doing U-Joints as they are too much of a pain to ignore them when it is already apart.
With the trailing arms off new engine and trailing arm mounts should be simpler to replace as well.

[Richard48Y]

Prepared both trailing arms for the electrolysis bath to remove any inside rust.
They are actually very good but I will remove all rust spots before repainting inside and out.
I cut a couple of pieces of steel rod, then cut squares of plastic to go around them so that the steel will not contact the arms.
An electrolysis bath works best with a direct path from the piece being de-rusted to the anode.
With the prep done tonight I will get them cooking in the morning.
Battery charger for the power source.

[Richard48Y]

Got the arms cooking.
Hard to see details in the pic but I have a mild steel rod down the inside of each trailing arm.
They are insulated from the arms by square plastic spacers I cut.
I could have used some heavy mesh on the outside but proximity makes a difference and it is the inside I need to clean.

[dakazman]

  Are you going to plate the afterwards? Is that a vinager solution? 
Copper , zinc or nickel anode?
That’s a big vat btw.
Dakazman

[Bryan Boyle]

  Are you going to plate the afterwards? Is that a vinager solution? 
Copper , zinc or nickel anode?
That’s a big vat btw.
Dakazman

I'm thinking plain iron, and the solution is washing soda (sodium carbonate).

https://www.familyhandyman.com/project/how-to-remove-rust-with-electrolysis/

[Richard48Y]

Yes, mild steel rod and washing soda.
DO NOT USE STAINLESS ROD! TOXIC!!!!

When this set is done I will do my own too.
I've thought about doing a light galvanize afterward.

[Richard48Y]

Got the rest of the rear suspension completely apart.
Brake backing plates are stripped, cleaned, bead blasted and painted.
Axles are apart for all new U-joints, I did mark them for orientation first.
Many small parts are soaking in Evaporust.

Strange that someone in the past had painted the suspension white.
Why would you want it to stand out?

[Richard48Y]

Lot of parts now cleaned, paint stripped, bead blasted and painted black today.
Got the uprights apart and bead blasted too.
I like the look of the bare aluminum but doubt the porous surfaces would stay nice for long, so will paint them in aluminum color.
Paint will surely clean up easier at the car wash.
Pulled the trailing arms from the electrolysis bath and rinsed them.
All the loose scale and crud is gone but they are still spotted with light rust.
So back in the dunk for another go.

[Richard48Y]

Four runs through the dunk looks pretty good inside.
No loose scale at all.
Not shiny inside but clean.
I've gotten the outside blasted and did as much blasting as I could inside.
Primer before paint, and the insides will also get treated with the Chassis Wax kit I have.

Also got the brake adjusters apart and cleaned up today.
Painting the hub carriers as I so not expect porous surface aluminum to stay clean very easily.
By the weekend I should be able to begin reassembly of the trailing arms and brakes.
Need to order wheel cylinders and rubbers too.

[Richard48Y]

Time for a progress report.

Trailing arms, uprights, stub axles are back together.
I will install the brakes after the suspension is done, makes the arms lighter.

A comment was made some time ago about never seeing a clean install of the tube from the swirl pot to the transfer tube on S2 single Weber conversions.
I am a bit disappointed this stainless tube did not bend smoother over about 40º but happy to get it done in one piece.
I was even able to use some of the blue feeBay silicon hose that had been left over.
This passes under the Weber with plenty of space.
Due to bend radius limits I did have to use a 90º rubber connection at the swirl pot end.
I will post an installed pic once it is in place.