Well, it seems I was wrong about the clutch cable connection that I wrote
about a couple of hours ago. The metal sheathing that I thought was
supposed to butt up to the left side of the cast bracket actually does slide
into it, though it took quite a bit of work to get it in there.
Now I have more trouble. With the car in gear, the clutch does not seem to
put it into neutral when the pedal is depressed. I had a second person step
on the clutch, and I observed the clutch lever pull in towards the engine.
So it is going in, but the car is still in gear. Please note that the bolt
on the center of the clutch lever is now out further than it used to be, to
allow the clutch cable to get over the end of the lever without pulling the
lever in while at "rest". By the way, the bell-shaped end of the clutch
cable that enters the firewall not firmly attached to it. There seems to be
slack on the cabin side by the pedal, but not so much that the clutch cable
doesn't do the job of pulling in the lever (even though I still have the
problem listed above).
I also have what may be a carb problem. When I first started the car (after
6 months of sitting, with the gas tank 1/4 full), it ran slowly and roughly.
I found that if I pulled off the tubing that runs from the engine to the
brake booster, the idle speed goes up dramactically. Being a sedan engine,
I cannot tell the actual RPMs.
Smelling gas, I killed the engine and found gas dripping slowly from the
bottom of the carb. The gas line going into the carb was dry. I cannot
find the source of the leak.
Now the car won't start. Occasionally, after cranking for several seconds,
the engine will stop cranking abruptly for a moment. I get the impression
there is a release of pressure somewhere when this happens, but I may be
imagining it.
So I am not so lucky as to drop in the engine and drive away.
On the upside, the starter motor is fine. All the lights work. Oil and
brake fluid levels are good. The brakes work.
I'm stuck. Any suggestions as to steps to take from here are welcome.
Steve