Since I never introduced myself...

[TWX]

Hey all,

I'm in Tempe, AZ outside of Phoenix. I'm a computer guy by trade but have all but dropped it as a hobby after making it my profession. I got into cars and other stuff with my hands. I'm currently restoring a '78 Cordoba), have plans to do an '82 Dodge D350 Crew Cab utiline next, and I build model rockets and the like.

We bought a house with a three car detached, airconditioned garage with plumbing for a bathroom back in February. I'm slowly adding infrastructure as I need it, like extending the air lines, adding insulation, and eventually a bathroom will go in where it's already plumbed in the ground for it.

Anyhow, I don't like paying others to do things that I can do, so I've learned a bit on electricity and machinery as I've needed it. Haven't killed myself yet, so I must be doing something right...

 

[930dreamer]

Welcome to the GJ, some great memories in a Cordoba. Post some pics when you can.

 

[Wingnut65]

Welcome to GJ, TWX. Congrats on the new house and garage. Post pix of both some time.

 

[Omphaloskeptic]

TWX, welcome! Just remember, when working with house voltages, there is no such thing as an 'alpha test'; you don't want to be the bit that gets flipped!

 

[TWX]

Oh, I know. When I was a kid, probably seven or so, I went into my dad's workshop to get an extension cord for my slot-car track. I found an older one with a bakelite-type receptacle end that was plugged in. When I reached for it I didn't realize that the rear housing of the receptacle end had been removed, and the unit was plugged in. Gave myself a good zapping, fortunately only through one hand rather than across my body. I have no idea what he was doing with an extension cord that old in the eighties, but oh well. I now have isolated screwdrivers, receptacle testers, and several decent meters, including a non-contact unit. I try to check thoroughly before touching stuff. I don't really even like going into the main panel to replace breakers much, but I also don't like paying $90 for a technician to come out and do the same thing.

As for the car, some "before" shots are at Allpar's Cordoba Page where I used to be really active, and since then the paint died, the engine wiped a cam lobe, and then through my inattentiveness when I put a new carb on didn't notice the EGR valve pressing the throttle, so when I started it it revved to 4000RPM with no oil pressure and nuked the rear main seal before I could shut it down. It's the cadet blue metallic one featured in two photos.

I've since taken it down to a rolling chassis, gotten the bodywork and paint done, and built a 408 stroker motor out of a 360, by increasing the stroke from 3.58" to 4.00" with an internal balance crank, and boring 30 over to 4.030. H-beam rods, balanced hypereutectic cast pistons, Edelbrock heads that have been ported along with intake, etc.

The Cordoba shares underpinnings with the '73+ Charger/Satellite when they went to the "Quiet Ride" isolated front subframe suspension. The rear setup goes back as far as '71. I've gone polyurethane, put a police front antisway bar and cop torsion bars, and in back went with cop front spring hangers and towing package leafsprings. The thing shouldn't lean at all in turns, but will admittedly ride a bit rough. I also ditched the front subframe rubber isolators in favor of steel bushings, so there won't be much flex. It'll be noisy, but since I've got long-tube headers and dual exhaust with X-pipe it already is loud.

 

[TWX]

Lessee if this works... I've attached three pictures of my fairly messy at the moment workshop...

 

[DRhodes]

Welcome to GJ! Nice garage!