Re: The 283 Rebuild Begins
 

and just think...........some people call our hobby "FUN" :lol:

Re: The 283 Rebuild Begins
 

And as long as the Chevelle continues to run - it will remain so.:lol:

But the minute I have to rely on it as my daily driver - it will become a major PITA. :sumo:

Mac. :chevy:

Re: The 283 Rebuild Begins
 

:haha:

Re: The 283 Rebuild Begins
 

:lol::lol:

Re: The 283 Rebuild Begins
 

Part Number: GM AU 3972148 UX

That’s the upper radiator hose that will actually work with my new radiator and my little ‘283’ with the oil filler tube in the front and a 360 degree swivel thermostat housing.

What a quest! After trying at least 6 "stock, will work perfectly, this is the one you need" hoses - and spending 45 minutes in the last NAPA Store in my part of SoCal last night - to no avail, took a lunch time jaunt over to Original Parts Group in Seal Beach (about 15 minutes from the shop) and patiently waited 30 minutes for my turn at the counter.

The dude wrote down a couple of part numbers and took my thrashed example hose (with no markings or reference numbers to refer to) and ten minutes later emerged from their warehouse with what appears to be exactly what I need!

Customer Service: Who would have thought?

A little trimming on the thermostat housing end of this hose (about 3") and I should be able to fill the system with anti-freeze. I’m quickly running out of excuses.

Mac. :chevy:

Re: The 283 Rebuild Begins
 

:metal: (Logan's Happy for GrandPa)

Re: The 283 Rebuild Begins
 

Congrats Mac.
keep the pn# for later.......

Re: The 283 Rebuild Begins
 

That hose looks a lot better than that flex hose I ran. Does the grandson help you on the truck?

Re: The 283 Rebuild Begins
 

Every chance he gets, but my daughter-in-law makes me suffer for that, severely. Guess 2-1/2 year old boys aren’t supposed to handle tools and get their hands dirty. Who knew?

;)

Re: The 283 Rebuild Begins
 

What? At that age I was throwing mudd at girls and getting into trouble most of the time.

Re: The 283 Rebuild Begins
 

that helps explain a lot Jason;)

Re: The 283 Rebuild Begins
 

:lol: Is it me, or is Joe going out of his way to dance in the mine field this morning? ;)

Re: The 283 Rebuild Begins
 

:lol:
Jason has been too quiet lately......just trying to get him riled up http://www.hardcoresledder.com/forum...stirthepot.gif

http://www.hardcoresledder.com/forum...fee-n-news.gif

Re: The 283 Rebuild Begins
 

Some things just never change...

:D

Re: The 283 Rebuild Begins
 

He's probably still groggy from his shift at the body shop last weekend. :lol:

Re: The 283 Rebuild Begins
 

:lol:

Re: The 283 Rebuild Begins
 

TH350's Final Resting Place:

Re: The 283 Rebuild Begins
 

Creeper Perspective:

Re: The 283 Rebuild Begins
 

Great pics Mac. Good to see more progress. But I know them walmart cameras got around 20 or so pics in them. So where are the others?:)

Re: The 283 Rebuild Begins
 

Oh gee - who didn't see that coming?





:lol::lol::lol:

Re: The 283 Rebuild Begins
 

Mac's pacing himself...:lol:


Looks good Mac..

Re: The 283 Rebuild Begins
 

Not me - but the Boss Is. :smoke:

Re: The 283 Rebuild Begins
 

:haha::haha:

I know what you mean. Everytime my boss walks in and I'm on the internet, he's like :tms: and I'm like :uhmk:.


Nice work Mac!

Re: The 283 Rebuild Begins
 

Another in the very incremental (emphasis on the mental part) series:

Re: The 283 Rebuild Begins
 

Mr. Gasket product was rough - but I fixed it on the mill at work:

Re: The 283 Rebuild Begins
 

Had to notch (with a Radiac wheel) each side of the radiator support
sheet metal up about 1 inch to clear the lower lip of the new shroud.

Re: The 283 Rebuild Begins
 

This is the fan shroud mock-up only. Fat 5-blade fan left no clearance on the shroud I/D, so I had to use my back-up 6-blade from the Chevelle.

Then it hit me - without removing the radiator first, there was no way to service the fan and other associated items around the shroud. The fasteners I was using were NFG - so I went with S/S studs and safety nuts over knurled thumb-wheels (you'll have to wait until Wal-Mart finishes developing the next roll to see those) inside, which spread the mounting load out and still allow for easy maintenance.

Mac. :chevy:

Re: The 283 Rebuild Begins
 

Lookin' good Mac!!!! Its amazing how the simple stuff can turn into such a project:lol:.

So when are you planning on jolting this Frankenstein to life?

Re: The 283 Rebuild Begins
 

Great pics and great work Mac.

Re: The 283 Rebuild Begins
 

I’ve given up the planning and prediction thing. Every time I do - it turns into a scheduling disaster. I’m thinking about 15-20 hours more work, give or take, and that - because of virtually endless and ever changing family priorities - equates to about three weekends.

Could happen sooner - but I know better. Besides, with the 5-working-day Wal-Mart processing delay for the pics - it’ll probably be a month before I get to feed our resident photo junkie lunatics.

:lol:

Re: The 283 Rebuild Begins
 

Too Funny Mac,,:haha::haha::haha:

Ooh yeah, nice post , things are looking good.

Re: The 283 Rebuild Begins
 

Who, me?

Re: The 283 Rebuild Begins
 

Thanks, Man. It’s going to be really strange firing off and actually getting to drive this truck again, after being stolen in the first week of February - last year. On the street with a completely different power-train, new (lower) front spring set-up, brand new dual exhaust system and an actual man-style towing set-up, is going to be a culture shock at first. But I’m sure I’ll be able to adjust.

Mac. :chevy:

Re: The 283 Rebuild Begins
 

Its probably good to be patient anyway....I always worked all day hooking things up and getting excited and by the time it was ready it would be about 11pm. I always end up waiting cuz I figured my nieghbors wouldnt be quite as excited with open exhaust and all:lol:.

Re: The 283 Rebuild Begins
 

That’s what the case of Samuel Adams is for…..;)

Mac. :chevy:

Re: The 283 Rebuild Begins
 

Can ya blame me?

Re: The 283 Rebuild Begins
 

Got juice in the block over the weekend: Nearly 6.5 gallons worth. Poured 50/50 anti-freeze through the thermostat hole first - filled the block - put everything together and tightened everything up (including the new heater hoses), and filled the radiator.

A small drip from the bottom hose for a moment (the custom clamps like to be perfectly round and the bottom radiator fitting was a bit oval), but I tightened the fitting down hard and it sealed.

Mounted the catch cylinder and hooked up the return tube - with a few strain reliefs to hold it in place.

Mac. :chevy:

Re: The 283 Rebuild Begins
 

:wop:

Re: The 283 Rebuild Begins
 

pfffft!

Re: The 283 Rebuild Begins
 

:lol: