Grizz's Redneck Express 1966 Chevy Short Fleetside RESTO-GO!

[flashed]

Those handlebars are going to look great on that bike and good deal on the wheel work with your friend .

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by flashed

Those handlebars are going to look great on that bike and good deal on the wheel work with your friend .

Always good to be able to share or help.

Friday night..... What a relief to be home.

Started my new job on Monday, trust me, it has been tough.

Loads of data being dumped on me, and much more still to come.

Anyway, I spoke to friend Euan "Moosevan" last week when I wanted to buy some Helicoils so that I could address the issue of stripped out threads on my gearbox. He offered to post out some of his Helicoils and the associated fitting tools.

On the way home tonight, I collected them as well.



Planning on going to Martins tomorrow afternoon to load the engine hoist, engine stand and some other bits.
Then on Sunday he will come over , as well as Paul Y and then we will tackle the garage, moving truck chassis, motorbike and engine etc about in the garage.
Followed by getting the gearbox off, drilled and tapped with the Helicoil.

Next up will be the engine strip down...........

[Palf70Step]

Glad to hear you survived the first week Rian. Good to see headway going again on ole red.

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

Glad to hear you survived the first week Rian. Good to see headway going again on ole red.

Thanks Bill, it has been tough and this was only week one of seven in class training. There are also two weeks of shadowing and practical experience.


Trailer hubs.....

Puddle weld in old wheel nuts in place after securing new threads with the new wheel bolts.





Then also cut off the tops to fill the original holes.



Refitted the hubs to the trailer and painted them a coat of red to cover the original burgundy.



And of course the chrome smoothies refitted.

Now I would love to find a set of narrow Rallyes to go with the set I got for the truck..... Typical.




Next up I swapped the whole garage around again and got the other side of the garage ready for tomorrow's engine dismantling.




Tonight, some television and a drink.

Tomorrow......

Fun.

[clemdaddy]

Tonight, some television and a drink.
Tomorrow......Fun.

Make it a stiff one buddy… you've deserved it.

[Palf70Step]

[flashed]

Your garage looks nice and neat ,have fun tomorrow .

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by clemdaddy

Make it a stiff one buddy… you've deserved it.

I did Clem

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

Thanks Bill.

Originally Posted by flashed

Your garage looks nice and neat ,have fun tomorrow .

Hmmmmmm. Neat is relative.

I would like it better, but for now, this will have to do.



Over to mate Martins early today to help him load the hoist, engine stand etc into his car.

Poor guy, had not slept for three nights with his dog being sick and himself with some unpleasant sounding chest infection.

Still, he had said he would do it, so dragged himself out and delivered.....

Paul Y also came over early to supervise (well, he did all the work as he has built a few engines and knows his way around) he also tried along with Martin to teach me stuff, I think I make a good cuppa tea though.



No smiles today......



I took photos of stuff in position and also the progress, that is my job.



I did help find some nuts n bolts and made a few bits up.



Ohhhh, and another useful tool....... Keeps stuff in position. Simple.



Moving stuff about.



Very good news.... It's a four bolt main.

And the oil pump has been upgraded.





Then when the front end got opened.... Timing chain good.

But note the position of the timing marks......... Way out it seems.



With the camel hump heads off, it was found that most of the exhaust valves were missing their valve stem seals.



The engine has definitely been rebuilt previously, block has been decked, it has a +30 overbore with the cross hatching very visible, new brass freeze plugs, new oil plugs, oil pump, you get the picture.

In the truck the engine was running fine, and the reason for the tear down was that is was using a lot of oil and low compression on No 1 (both wet and dry). Think we have found the problem for the excessive oil use, lack of valve stem oil seals on exhausts, and a build up of carbon under the exhaust valve on No.1 giving a bad seal against valve seat. Upon disassembly the whole engine smelt of burnt oil and the heads and pistons had a heavy coating of oily carbon. Maybe because it has a broken valve spring, that valve has a mushroomed valve stem (and may possibly be bent)

The cam itself is undamaged, the lifters are good and the pushrods are straight.

So, the need to identify it is to ensure that the correct valve springs are procured and the mystery of the off timing marks can be solved.

What are the markings on the cam then ?

Glad you asked - This is what is cast into the cam

EP6
30
D8
C8
C5
CWC

There is also Blue and Purple paint on the distributor drive end of the cam and a 2 white spots half way down.

On the distributor end there is also an A punched into the shaft. Other than that there are no marking or casting number.

I 'think' that it is a Chevy cam rather than an after market item but happy to be proved wrong.

Spring has sprung.







So that then was the fun for today.

Seems the motor needs a few bits to get it back together.

A valve, springs, clean up and some info as tow hat motor this may be, so that I know what springs to buy.

Thanks as always to helping friends, Paul and Martin.

Back to normal tomorrow.

[Grizz1963]

Which reminds me...

Two tone mockup:



And just to throw in a curve ball, you are sure on keeping it red they said......



Of course my wheels have changed in the mean time too.

[Palf70Step]

Glad you are not finding a supre lot of bad damage in the engine Rian. That green is pretty. Those red wheels would look real good on white.....but I am a bit prejudice.

[60chevyjim]

does you lower timing chain gear have more than one keyway in it ?
some aftermarket performance ones have three keyway slots in them so you can advance or retard the cam timing .

I am thinking about different colors for my truck too .
it is flat black and white in my profile picture .
but right now the right side is spray canned satin red and the left side is spray canned light satin turquoise , the roof is still white . its tuff to decide so after I look at it for a while hopefully I can decide what color I like better .
it still needs all the body repairs done so no harm playing with colors on it to see what looks good.
I don't want gloss paint on it when I do paint it for good .
I want the paint to look old so it matches my chrome trim.

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

Glad you are not finding a supre lot of bad damage in the engine Rian. That green is pretty. Those red wheels would look real good on white.....but I am a bit prejudice.

The joys of Photoshop....

The engine, well Martin and Paul felt it was good, needing some work, so that's good for me.

Originally Posted by 60chevyjim

does you lower timing chain gear have more than one keyway in it ?
some aftermarket performance ones have three keyway slots in them so you can advance or retard the cam timing .

I am thinking about different colors for my truck too .
it is flat black and white in my profile picture .
but right now the right side is spray canned satin red and the left side is spray canned light satin turquoise , the roof is still white . its tuff to decide so after I look at it for a while hopefully I can decide what color I like better .
it still needs all the body repairs done so no harm playing with colors on it to see what looks good.
I don't want gloss paint on it when I do paint it for good .
I want the paint to look old so it matches my chrome trim.

Thanks Jim, looks like you had the answer.


Here's a reply from Garage Journal.

Originally Posted by Bob Heine

Rian, I think the crank sprocket has multiple timing marks because I see a second keyway (there should be a third as well). Pretty sure those sprockets can be installed 4 degrees advanced, straight up and 4 degrees retarded (should that be "challenged" rather than "retarded"?). There should be 3 timing marks on that kind of sprocket.


I'm not that familiar with small-block issues but my '87 Corvette 350ci (5.7L) with 85,000 miles belched blue smoke when it started up. I pulled the valve covers and removed the valve springs, one cylinder at a time. The intake valve seals looked fine but I replaced them anyway, along with the springs (they do weaken over time from the heat cycles). I found this on the exhaust valve -- nothing.


I carefully removed the exhaust valve spring and chunks of black stuff fell out. I believe its the remains of the exhaust valve seals.


I replaced the seals with Teflon pieces so maybe they'll hold up better.

[Grizz1963]

Fridayyyyyyyy...!!!

Week two completed on new job training.

Managed to scrape in on first test/exam with 94% yesterday (pass mark is 90%) and also passed first practical. Five plus two weeks to go.

Today is an office based admin training day at my agency HQ. Then home this afternoon.

Weekend will include online training and further validation and tests, along with cleaning the motors heads, block, cleaning and lapping in valves and possibly painting them all, plus a second coat of red to the sump cover.


Seems my new Sealed Pro gasket and rebuild set has arrived in the post from Langy's Rod Shop @ £40.00 including the postage as well, so all coming together slowly.

Insomnia still a bugger.

My friend Paul Y also sent me this message this week after his further research into my camshaft and motor....... Great to have friends who know what they are doing.

Had a chat with a pal of mine in the States earlier.

His view is that your cam is just a standard cam. Spoke to him about the broken spring. His view... Sh1t happens. The springs could be 45 years old!

On a budget he has used, to great effect Summits own brand cam. With the Camel Hump Heads you have, his view was that with the Sum-K1103 kit *and Sum-174001 valve springs you would be up about 280-ish HP. Plus a little lope to you idle but still good with stock cam and power brakes. Best bit was that I looked on the Summit website and it was about $170 so £120? Or if you use Langy to bring stuff in at Dollar for Pound exchange rate..... You do the maths and adding up.

The valve needed is a Sum v8008-1 but worth checking with Summit. They are about $10 each.

So then it is about $80 for the valve springs and valve or for an extra $100 you can get a nice new shiny potato potato potato cam 🤔

Spending you cash again!!


So looks like I have a bit of thinking to do.

And wait to hear what the comments and feedback *from the panel is.

I also need to try get to the gearbox over the weekend.

Flip, drill, tap and Helicoil the stripped mounting bolt hole.

Then also try figure this one out........

Paul brought me a gift when he visited..... Something from his Pandora's box of spares that he bought a long time ago.





So there you go.... Weekend plans.

[Palf70Step]

Sounds like a good idea on the engine Rian. I remember those shift kits from a little ( ) while back. The combo suggested should be a good deal!

[nhr3]

Grizz, I have enjoyed your long distance build for some years now. The red and white looks a little familiar to me. Victory Red and Arctic White (both 2007 Corvette/GM) colors. White wheels hopefully go tis weekend when the new tires arrive. Good luck with your motor. I messed around and eventually went with a brand new crate motor ($1400). That option is probably not available to you but it was the right decision for me. I never was able to get the two piece rear seal to not leak.

[Ta2Don]

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

Sounds like a good idea on the engine Rian. I remember those shift kits from a little ( ) while back. The combo suggested should be a good deal!

I too like the combo idea...

I do believe that little lope at idle will be most satisfying, especially with the anti-social exhaust cut-outs...

Cheers Mate!!! and again, congrats on the 94...

[clemdaddy]

Rian, looks like you had a great week of truck progress with all your friends on hand. You got some problems solved and discovered others, all fixable. Congrats on another successful week of job duties. It must be a critical job, with lives at stake, to have so many classes and tests. Which makes garage time, relaxing time. Carry on buddy... looking good.

[dwcardfan]

I don't know how you do it Rian. I never did like taking test. The truck plan sounds good. I am with the others about a little lope at idle. I like the sound.

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

Sounds like a good idea on the engine Rian. I remember those shift kits from a little ( ) while back. The combo suggested should be a good deal!

I think Paul bought it a long time ago.

Originally Posted by nhr3

Grizz, I have enjoyed your long distance build for some years now. The red and white looks a little familiar to me. Victory Red and Arctic White (both 2007 Corvette/GM) colors. White wheels hopefully go tis weekend when the new tires arrive. Good luck with your motor. I messed around and eventually went with a brand new crate motor ($1400). That option is probably not available to you but it was the right decision for me. I never was able to get the two piece rear seal to not leak.

Yes, budget and import costs are not always aligned.

My truck will never a daily

So use will be a bit restricted.

Originally Posted by Ta2Don

I too like the combo idea...

I do believe that little lope at idle will be most satisfying, especially with the anti-social exhaust cut-outs...

Cheers Mate!!! and again, congrats on the 94...

Thanks Don, much obliged.

Originally Posted by clemdaddy

Rian, looks like you had a great week of truck progress with all your friends on hand. You got some problems solved and discovered others, all fixable. Congrats on another successful week of job duties. It must be a critical job, with lives at stake, to have so many classes and tests. Which makes garage time, relaxing time. Carry on buddy... looking good.

Little else to do but get on and get it done

Originally Posted by dwcardfan

I don't know how you do it Rian. I never did like taking test. The truck plan sounds good. I am with the others about a little lope at idle. I like the sound.

No choice really.

[Grizz1963]

Got home tonight from work and there was a card from our postman, he had left a parcel at the neighbours place.

So I popped around and picked up an envelope from the USA with a postage stamp worth $35.00 on it.

The tie rod ends were another $25.00 or something like that for the pair. It's the price you,pay for wrong stuff being picked by an eBay seller who then disappeared.



I also found hidden in the kitchen, my new set of gaskets and seals from Summit that Langy had sent me the last week.
I had bought a load of food containers this week to repack all the bolts once I cleaned them and some emery paper.



So spent about 3 hrs in the garage tonight, included some cleaning and repacking of bolts and oily parts.



Once again, the level of bush mechanic or bodgery astounds me.

How do you end up with three completely different bolts on one job?



All done for tonight in the garage. It was 4'C down there, and if you sit still the cold creeps into your bones.



Locked up and came indoors to give the oil pan a second coat of paint.

And yes.......... It is indoors, and no, she won't mind (she is away for the weekend.



Tomorrow I start cleaning the heads.

Followed by the block.

[Grizz1963]

Right, it's late, possibly one of the nicest, longest days I have spent in the garage for months. I do not have my wife here this weekend as she is cat sitting for her daughter who is in California.

But it has meant that I got a big job done.

I feel really good, I have learned so much from this truck, from friends,,the Internet and,even YouTube.

It has stretched my personal,boundaries.

So today I cleaned the heads and block. It took the best part of 8 hrs.



First head done.





Found a bit of damage, can I live with it though??



Washed with petrol, blown clear with air......

Once I had both heads done, I brought in the two oil heaters and put them on the heaters so they could warm up for when I was ready to paint the parts.



Next up was the block. I needed to clean up the Pistons, bores and also all the old paint on it.



Once one side was done, it was time to move to the next side.



Then cleaned everything with clean petrol again, followed by thinners and a dry cloth and then masked it all off.



Next up was going to be the Chevrolet orange for all the parts that had gotten themselves warm in the mean time.

[Grizz1963]

Well, the VHT Chevy orange engine paint went on without a hitch.

Good preparation, cleaning three times over and some head in the steel meant good adhesion.

Rattle cans work well if you,are patient and keep the distance equal on every pass.



Result, three coats on flat surfaces, more on the bends.



Masked up and cleaned block painted too.



Very pleased with the results of today's work.

Almost 01.00 now, so bed time I would think.

Final pic just for Greg "Bomp" in Kaiser, Oregon........... There you go my young friend.

[flashed]

I never would have thought about heating the block and heads like that ,very good idea .I have a complete 350 from our Malibu vert that I plan on making a coffee table out of that I need to finish cleaning and paint it .The only reason I have not is I have been waiting to build a new shop and none of the building contractors in my area seem to be interested in giving me a bid .I learn a lot by keeping up with your thread so keep it coming .
John

[Palf70Step]

Nice job Rian!!

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by flashed

I never would have thought about heating the block and heads like that ,very good idea .I have a complete 350 from our Malibu vert that I plan on making a coffee table out of that I need to finish cleaning and paint it .The only reason I have not is I have been waiting to build a new shop and none of the building contractors in my area seem to be interested in giving me a bid .I learn a lot by keeping up with your thread so keep it coming .
John

Thank you John,

This internet thing is there for us all to learn from and share on.

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

Nice job Rian!!

Thank you very much Bill.

Not sure what you are going to make of my next cunning plan.

OK Amigos.......... Let's see some confessions.

Went to bed at 01.30 after various chats with friends in Texas, Missouri and Oklahoma as well as my wife's daughter in California.
At 06.15 there was a furry thing walking all over me, purring and demanding breakfast.
So the lesson really is, unless you have no animals, don't go to sleep so late.
With me awake, I sorted the three cats out, they all have different breakfasts WTF..? And a tower of dry food for their grazing through the day.

Cuppa tea in hand I checked out the various sites and also Summit Racing's website....... Get me drift yet?

Tea done, I went down to the garage in my slippers and a dressing gown (well, it's chilly, so I needed the woolly slippers)

But only after setting the oven at 200'C

I removed all the masking and plugging from threads, then with gloves on, brought the heads up to the house one at a time.

I hear some of you already clearing your throats and shuffling uncomfortably in your chairs.
Some, probably the brave and stupid, which is where I fit in....... Knows what next.

I managed to just get both heads balanced in the preheated oven with the door completely shut to heat cure the VHT paint for an hour.



And in they went.



After about 30 minutes it started to smell like a race track in the lounge where I was reading.....

So I went into the kitchen to find a light haze of smoke.

Easy fix...... Open all the outer doors and windows to the kitchen and rear of the house, isolate from the rest of the house.

After the hour, I turned off the heat and opened the oven door for the heads to cool down so I can take them back to the garage later.

The place still smelled, but I will leave it all open for a while.

Hopefully my next plate of Fish and oven chips does not taste like high mileage multi grade.

And of course there will be a Yankee Candle burning in the kitchen most of today.........

Mrs Boss is back home in the morning.

Took the heads back to the garage, swept the floor, tidied up and also removed all the masking from the book and then proceeded to oil up all the bores, with repeated cranking over to spread a thin film while removing excess, also wiped over the cleaned up mating surfaces.

Am I pleased....?





You bet.