Update on the Patrol.............
Exhaust work - ordered some tight radius mandrel bends........one 90 deg and two 45 deg.........to finish up the exhaust routing. They are supposed to arrive sometime next week. The new muffler is here. The next time I go to my Mom's I'll have to take the MIG welder with me so the rest of the exhaust can be fitted up (tacked). Got to figure out where the slip joints will be too.
Brake system - repairs and an upgrade. An inverted flare plug in one of the original Nissan junction blocks had been leaking, not much but every time I was under the Patrol there would be a little drip formed on the plug. You may remember that I was concerned about some of the original junction blocks due to the condition of some of the female flare areas. Decided to change out the block with another of the Earl's Performance Plumbing blocks. Earl's makes a block with an extra 1/8" NPT hole that will take a pressure activated brake light switch, so decided this would kill two birds with one stone. I had planned on using a mechanical switch, but having to replace this junction block presented an easier opportunity.
The following pic shows the original Patrol junction block, this would have been the point on the single-style master cylinder where the system split to feed the front and rear brakes. The picture (as well as the next one too) is taken lying down under the Patrol looking sort of up and also towards the front left tire........that's why it looks so weird
. The plug that was leaking was on the bottom of the junction block, and note that the original block hold down bolt has been removed (which I had to put back on to be able to loosen the flare fittings
):
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Pre-assembled the block, NPT adapter, inverted flare plug, bolt/washer, and brake light switch. Undid the line coming from the master cylinder and plugged it really quick, then undid the brake line going to the rear brakes. Installed the rear brake line fitting onto the new block, then used a small syringe to fill the block with brake fluid and then installed the line from the master cylinder. and tightened everything up. Did not have to do any bleeding on the rear brakes sine the brake pedal feels fine, but probably will later on (when I have some help).
This required no change in the routing of the brake lines, even though this block is larger than the other Earl's junction blocks previously used. Had to use the male NPT x female NPT fitting so there was clearance between the brake switch and the hold down bolt head:
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By the way, the drip of brake fluid on the plug in this picture isn't a leak, just some extra brake fluid from when I filled up the junction block with the syringe!
Here is the Earl's fitting and the bag showing the part number:
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Wiring up the brake light switch will be a good winter job that will require minimal laying on cold concrete!
