Postby uspsmech » 08 Dec 2009 17:52
Had a chance to go down to the garage today. Got to poking around the trunk to get the size for the battery. The local Advance Auto Parts carries a Autocraft silver battery #42-1 for a 80-82 tr8 application,it measures 7"x9.5", which makes it a little small for the battery box but the post are the right polarity and it has 650 cold cranking amps a 24/72 warranty and cost $82.99 before discount by proper polarity of the post i'm refering to installing the battery with the post near the inner fender and the forward post being positive and the rear most post being negative. Also in the trunk i found the spare,held down by the original strap, the tool kit( jack,handle, lug wrench and a seperate tube type socket that i'm assuming is used for the plugs?) this tool kit is in a blue plastic sleeve,pretty good condition, is this a complete kit? there is also a small rubber strap that goes on two hooks forward of the spare tire is this where the tool kit attaches? the hardboard panel over the spare is in pieces, is this available? or should i piece the old one togeather and use it as a pattern to fabricate a new one? the battery box cover is missing, but i get the feeling you guys knew that already,i take it they are hard to get.Getting back to the spare wheel, previously i had said the wheels were a76 with gold paint,i was only half right, two wheels on drivers side are a76,two wheels on passenger side are j76, the wheel in the trunk is b77, the one in the trunk is in real nice shape and that gold paint appears to be a factory anodized finish either that or somebody went through a lot of trouble to have gold wheels,Also pulled the plugs today,almost forgot how much fun it is to work on a large engine in a small car,plugs came out well, no gaulling on the threads, no cross threading and actually it appeared the last time the car ran they burned nice and clean,i would almost consider putting them back in for the first start,but will probably put in fresh ones any prefrences? took out NGKs maybe buy the same. Put Marvel Mystery oil in the cylinders, and i just could not wait ,i had to see if it was frozen,put the strap wrench on, gave a little tug and its free! didn't move it much, want the oil to work on the rings,but at least i know it moves, thanks for the time any advice is welcome, Jim,( yeah i know i'm long winded.lol)
