ZINC PLATING

After test fitting the battery connections, I was just dying to try out the zinc plating kit that was purchased from Eastwood sometime back. After cleaning the copper bars until they looked clean, then cleaning them again, the solution was pored into the plating container, batteries were installed in the holder, the zinc bar that was supplied with the kit was hung on the side of the plating container with the positive lead hooked to it, the negative lead was connected to the copper bar which was immersed into the solution. After about 4 minutes, the bar was removed revealing that a thin coat of zinc had been plated on the surface.

EASTWOOD ZINC PLATING KIT

PLATED COPPER BARS

The plating worked very well and should give the connections a sacrificial barrier to prevent corrosion. 

Electroplating System Tin Zinc

Item #10049Z

Thanks for visiting,

Randy

TIGHTENING THE BEARINGS AND BLEEDING THE BRAKES

The last time the car was taken on the interstate, it tended to be a little unstable at 70 and 80 mph, so the wheel bearings were checked. The car was jacked up and the wheel bearings were removed, greased and tightened to 14 foot pounds, while rotating the rotor, then loosened, then hand tightened, before backing the nut off one hole and installing the cotter pin. 

While the wheels were off, the front brakes needed bleeding, so the bleed valves were loosened, tubing was connected to them and run to a bottle. The valves were cracked, then the peddle was depressed a couple of times then left to gravity bleed for awhile. 

BLEEDING BRAKES

The previous owner had installed lifts in the springs to support the extra lead acid battery weight and the springs are going to have to be removed to be able to get them out. I am considering adjustable coil overs all the way around, so this will wait to be done at that time.

SPRING LIFT SPACER

A check valve was also installed between the shut off switch and the the new brake boost vacuum pump and it is shutting off properly. It is very quite and now that the check valve is in, the pump in no longer getting hot. The arrangement shown below is temporary, as a new inline check valve is on it's way from GM. This will make for a much cleaner looking arrangement.

BRAKE BOOST VACUUM PUMP

While in the front trunk area working on the vacuum pump, measurements were taken to decide where to mount the front battery modules. I have another module bottom balanced and ready to install and I am rather excited to get the additional modules in so the car can be driven to work.

So much work, so little time until EVCCON!

Randy