27 January 2018 - oil pressure line upgrade

I have been considering replacing the oil pressure line that is currenlty nylon tubing with a -4AN hose and fittings.

Currently I have a T fitting at the oil pressure port on the block.  This was done to accomodate the original oil pressure sensor and the mechanical oil pressure gauge fitting.

The oil pressure port on the block is 1/4" pipe thread.  The T fitting is a T fitting with one end of the T used for the original oil pressure sensor, the middle of the T is the port for the mechanical oil pressure gauge fitting and the other end of the T going to a 3" pipe that then threads into the oil pressure port on the block.

The plan is the replace the middle T port fitting with an adapte; 1/4" male NPT to -4AN male. Connect a -4AN hose that is 3' long, route it to the mechanical gauge in the interior under the dash, and then use an adapter -4AN male to 1/8" female NPT for the oil pressure port on the mechanical oil pressure gauge.

Due to the routing of the oil pressure line, hose clamps will need to be used to secure the line as well as keep it off of other areas in the engine bay.

Mechanical oil pressure line upgrade ideas

27 January 2018 - Fuel line upgrades

I've been doing a little research on AN fittings and hoses.  The reason for this is because of the problems with the current fuel lines used in the engine bay of The Merc.  The fuel lines are made up of various rubber and steel sections and are an accident waiting to happen.

So to make the fuel lines safer I decided to use AN fittings and hoses.


A holley 1850 single feed carb is the current carb.


The current plan is to install stainless steel braided lines with AN fittings from the fuel pump outlet to the carb fuel inlet.  The size will be -6AN for the hardware/hoses.  There will be a fuel filter with -6AN male connections.  The fuel pump outlet size is 5/16" inverted flare.  An adapter for the fuel pump outlet is 5/16" inverted flare to -6AN male.  The carb fuel inlet size is 9/16"-24.  An adapter for the fuel inlet fitting is a 9/16"-24 banjo fitting to a -6AN twist on hose fitting.  The total length of the fuel line is about 3'.  I have to do some research to find premade hoses.  Eventually I will be creating custom AN hoses.  I need to buy the proper tools before I can create the custom hoses.

Fuel line options for Edelbrock 1405 and Holley 1850

21 January 2018 - Edelbrock 1405

Yesterday I re-assembled the carb after installing components from a rebuild kit.  I also replaced the idle mixture screws, the accelerator pump assembly, metering rods, primary and secondary jets, floats and seats...

Basically I replaced all components that can be replaced with the stock components for a 1405 carb.

I installed the carb, made initial idle mixture screw settings and idle speed settings and it fired right up.  It did stumble abit, I did not have the manual choke setup/installed.  Had to wait until the engine warmed up a bit to get the idle to an acceptable level.

After warmup I noticed an off idle surge.  So, its lean or vacuume leaks or both.  The carb is old so it could be the throttle shafters.

Also I may not have the float levels correct.  I will make adjustments and re-test the carb.

16 January 2018 - Edelbrock 1405

The carb has been soaking for a couple of days.  The majority of the dirt, sludge and other stuff has been removed just from the soaking and mild brushing.  The fuel bowls still have red dirt in various places as well as near the jets.

Before soaking the lower section of the carb, I did use a can of carb cleaner and that did a fair job of grime, dirt removal.

The carb replacement parts should be here this week and hopefully I will have the unit together to install over the weekend.

14 January 2018 - Edelbrock Carb - 1405

Purchased a used Edelbrock 1405 carb.  Its a 600 cfm, vac secondaries w/manual choke.

So far it doesnt look too bad.  It has been sitting for quite some time.  Floats, float valves, secondary jets, idle mixture screws need to be replaced.  There will probably be more parts to replace but thats it for the moment.

Currently the secondary jets, float valve housings are soaking in oil.  

Baseline information of a stock 1405 edelbrock carb

Metering Jets

Primary .100

Secondary .095


Metering Rods

.070 x .047


Step-Up Spring

orange (5" Hg)

That number is the part number which is: 1405 0113

That looks like a accelerator pump assembly, I'll check with the manual - but it needs replacing.  No numbers on it, but its blue

That is a primary or secondary jet, that looks to be in bad shape.  Hopefully I can remove it without causing damage.

Thats a primary or secondary jet, that needs to be removed

Primary mettering rod, part number looks like 7047

Primary metering rod, that looks like number 7047

This is the lower part(fuel bowl, venturies)  There are numbers on each of the venturies and they are removable.

This is the lower part(fuel bowl) and this is the part number

This is top part of the air horn, this number is on the underside

Carb seperatedm primary and secondary jets soaking

8 January 2018 - Interior parts

The chrome handles for the driver side window, inside door latch and rear window latch have been replaced.  All of those pieces showed signs of extreme pitting of the chrome.

I also ordered a passenger side door arm rest and replaced that as well.  I ordered the pinch trim that goes along the driver side door area and the driver side door quarter panel area.  As soon as its a bit warmer I will replace those pieces.

The passenger side inside door latch, window regulator handle and rear seat regulator handle need to be replaced.  They show the same signs of extreme pitting in the chrome.

The driver side remote mirror knob and panel fastener also need to be replaced.

I also ordered and received replacement sun visor mounting hardware for the driver and passenger sides.  As soon as I get a chance I will replace those parts.

This is the "pinch" windlace that goes on the inside of the driver side top door/window area.  The smaller piece is for the driver side rear door/quarter area.

These are the replacement visor metal hardware. Both sides were very rust pitted and will soon be replaced.