The Official John Lee Jr Thread

[C@rnut001]

Originally Posted by Sharps40

I could make a box with air hole and a mre and some water an FEDEX myself up for dinner on Friday evening, if I'm in the box and shipped/stamped by 5 PM Wednesday.

Yeah, that might just do it if the weather permits flights in. We have been having a lot of snow storms lately (today even), so it slows things down a bit. You might need 2 MREs, LOL.

[NEWFISHER]

You had me at bacon.

Keep on keepin on, thanks for the info on the tuning

[Sharps40]

Well, I'll pack two mres and a coat. Course if I eat two MREs I might be a bit windy, but we could light em and clear off the driveway for ya .

As for tuning......we will revisit that with the new engine and the T5. I'll post up the initial and final tune settings once we make them on the new motor. Hopefully this week is first fire in John Lee's new engine!

Been testing mid grade gas in GoodWife's jeep. It has not dropped below 20.3 mpg combined (2 tank fulls) since the switch. No more 87 for us. Previously it got 17.5 combined and pinged a bit on hard pulls....the ping is gone now too.

We are also gonna feed the 89 or better fuel to our lawn mower, chain saw, blowers, etc.

And I found a local station with pure gas for an occasional tank....sort of a liquid tune up.

[Sharps40]

Its looking like the 11" astro van clutch kit will be a no go. Its not supported by the stock flywheel which takes a 10" plate.

Shop is checking the fit on an Astro Flywheel right now but it appears to be a no go for fit and balance is in question.

And there are no reliable local sources of V8 flywheels which are also "InternetSaid" to bolt up to the sixes. The several test specimines in the shop are from V8 chevys, right diameter but not drilled for anything bigger than the 10" I6 clutch set up.

So, rather than continue to order parts that may or may not fit based on InternetSaid, we will validate the Astro Flywheel is a no go and very likely do what Mr. Langdon did for his I6 truck package...run the 9 1/8 to 9 1/4 S10 clutch disk. This "should" mean we wil be sticking with the rest of the clutch assembly (pressure plate, flywheel, throwout bearing) as 1965 issue parts.

Will let ya know what parts actually fit on the swap as soon as the shop knows!

[Sharps40]

Lugnutz, thanks for the clutch shop/swap info. I forwarded it to the shop. Will let ya know if we figure it out local or have to call TX for advice!

But, I think its a minor bump. Just a bit of delay and some real under the truck research to validate what will actually work.

Once we know, I'll post it up as a separate install thread on the main 60-66 board for reference.

[Sharps40]

For those of you dieing to know.

The Engine and trans is in. We have weight on wheels and the DriveShaft Specialist shaft is inbound from the Great Republic of Texas.

And the Combination??

GM/Chevy 250 Cu In L6 + mid 80s Astro Van T5 with S10 Tail shaft and short throw shifter + S10 Flywheel, + 11" Astro Van Clutch kit + 1965 Fork/assembly and Bell Houseing!

Who'da figured such commonality would result in as close to a direct bolt in (no adapter, no cutting the trans input shaft or bearing collar, etc) as one could possibly hope for from 1965 up to the early 1990s!!!!

More to follow.

PS, Lugnutz, looks like the home made shifter as is will clear the dash and the seat....might only need to shorten it to suit then drill it for the install.....we shall see tomorrow. Leavin the shop alone tonight as they fire and tune this new Buzzin Half Dozen.

Yep, gotta move the cup holder!!!!!


I am bout as happy as a pig in poop!!!

[aggie91]

Awsome! Maybe you could post up a thread of the install including part number of the parts used for future reference in the 60-66 section???

[Sharps40]

Already got the place holder started over on the 60-66 board! I'll finish it up with all PNs and pics/descriptions as we get closer and closer to back on the road again.

[Low Elco]

Great to hear! Hope it all goes down the road like buttah!

[Sharps40]

It fired fine yesterday. Totally cold, no kicking the pedal, just turn the key and it its turning round and round and round ready to go!

[TJ's Chevy]

Glad to know it is working out so well! I can't wait for pictures...hint hint...lol!

[Sharps40]

Pics comeing....gota make sure its all right first!

[Sharps40]

Well, didn't get to haul it in John Lee but that's comin pretty quick. My sister did put the SMACK DOWN 20 yd neck shot on here firstest swamp goat with a lovely Marlin 3030 that I fully restyled to small, light, tight carbine for her. It was a two hour drag uphill outta the swamp but worth every step.

We finished the rough butcherin last evening at 11 PM and got it mostly deboned and on ice. She's still happy, happy, giddy but we're both stiff as old boards from that 1 1/4 mile drag on the logging road!

[Larry64]

Do you have the length of the driveshaft that was used?
Thanks Larry

[Sharps40]

Not yet. Still waitin on a call from the shop. Each truck could be a bit different though due to weight on wheels, drop spindles, etc. Best thing is to put your configured truck on the ground and measure seal to parting line, etc.

[Sharps40]

As the final bits come together, I roll past the shop this morning and I hear John Lee singin again........

Watch out fellas, he's a Bull Goose Rooster!

Watermelon Slim & The Workers - Bull Goose...

[TJ's Chevy]

That 250 sings great!!!!! HAHAHAHAHHAHAHA!!!! Just kidding! Nice country music!

[Sharps40]

Was posed to get it back today. But we got no first third or fith gear. Been running around the shop in 2 4 and R though. So, half way there! Trans is comeing out for a check!

[Sharps40]

Betcha its interference from the adapter I made.....we'll see. Toes tappin......

[Sharps40]

Hoooo Ahhhhhh! Shops drivin it now. All 5 gears are in. Purrin like a Singer Sewer at 8 degrees BTDC.

The Bull Goose Rooster crowed and the Ayatola of Rock-n-Rolla my very own King of the Sand Hills is BACK!

Get yer chillins outta da way, tonight we ride, "Layin Down a Rubber Road!"

[shok]

So was it the adapter? Glad it's back up and running

[Sharps40]

I think it just needed a tweak to seat the shifter ball end in the cup....me, I'da given it a smashwack or two. These fellas are a bit more refined than me.

[Sharps40]

Okay. Gotta jet the secondary a bit more...final tweaking....but thoughts after test rides.

Fantastic smooth idle. Superb performance on the main. Working the secondary tomorrow.

Clutch: 11" Astro, it'll build leg muscles, should pull stumps/rocks/dragsters/houses and locomotives, etc, all w/o slipping.. Stroke is shorter, bout 2/3s of that with the ol peanut.

Trans: Shift, smooth as butter. Neatest bend I ever seen in the shifter...its perfect...lays by my leg w/o touching, and its right dead under my hand all the time. (Pic comein!)

As to why it didn't have 1, 3 and OD today? Seems ya can install a S10 shifter two ways and only one way gives ya all 6 gears.

Clutch linkage: Heim joints are an awesome feel, no rattles, no slop.

Drive shaft: Steel, 3" and awesome.

Speedometer: Gotta check it, looks 20 mph high or so.

Ebrake x member: Dropped about 1/2" under the frame, some grinding of the flange and plenty of clearance ... so, retention of the 1965 ebrake assembly with a simple mod.

No fancy bolts needed for upper trans ears, factory bolts fit and clear fine for sockets.

And most important Dual Cup Holder will fit with room to spare back in its spot between the shifter and the seat and right at my fingertips!!!!!

[Lugnutz65]

Originally Posted by Sharps40

Trans: Shift, smooth as butter. Neatest bend I ever seen in the shifter...its perfect...lays by my leg w/o touching, and its right dead under my hand all the time. (Pic comein!)

That's nice to hear! Since I found that shifter in a 67-72 Chevy Truck, I thought it would probably work well with the bench seat.

Originally Posted by Sharps40

Clutch linkage: Heim joints are an awesome feel, no rattles, no slop.

I will definitely upgrade mine to HEIM too!

Originally Posted by Sharps40

Ebrake x member: Dropped about 1/2" under the frame, some grinding of the flange and plenty of clearance ... so, retention of the 1965 ebrake assembly with a simple mod.

It's good to know that the 65 style will work. Now I don't need to try to figure out the 66 version I have.

Originally Posted by Sharps40

No fancy bolts needed for upper trans ears, factory bolts fit and clear fine for sockets.

The OEM bolts may work well on yours but perhaps not all versions of the T5 case. I'll have to try mine out and see.

We need Pics! PLEEEEEEEZE!!

[Sharps40]

Shifter...it was straight....but we bent it to a C like discussed....after getting the shifter lid on the right way so we had all 6 gears...but, damn neat if ya ask me.....lays right in there next to me w/o hittin my leg in 2nd and plenty high above the seat and right under my hand at all times....I love it!!!!





And a shot of the ebrake crossmember. A slight mod on the left to remove some flange....drop it below the frame, install some spacers and washers and Oingo Boingo, all back together and working just spiffy fine like new.