The Official John Lee Jr Thread

[Sharps40]

Dude, ya got all that engine and it ain't registered? Hell, I'll drive it for ya!

[TJ's Chevy]

Originally Posted by Sharps40

Dude, ya got all that engine and it ain't registered? Hell, I'll drive it for ya!

LOL!! Yeah....it ain't yet. I take it for drives though. In my parts the law hardly even checks us anymore cause we are 36 miles from the city. So...a little cruise is okey once in awhile. lol. But, we'll be fully legal here soon. And having all the extra engine just helps it blow dust better! LOL!

[Sharps40]

I'm lovin drivin on the more correct tune now. John Lee is performin lika Hooker at Homecoming - with Gusto!!

[Sharps40]

Started out this morning tryin to finish up eliminating all the potential sources of post shut down carb percolation.

So far I'd tried insulating the manifold and carb lines to no avail. All that did was slow it from 15 minutes to perk out to 25 minutes till it perked. Perking occurs after shutting down from a drive on any day over 60 degrees.....doesn't matter whether its E10 or straight gasoline.

So....the other day, pulled the hose hot and watched it perk and perk and perk out the hose. Hmmmmmmm.....insulated the full length of the fuel line as shown below (factory routing for the fuel line, next to the radiator hose, head and waterneck and out over the exhaust manifold....)

Full length insulation had no positive impact....neither did adding a 1/4" thick fiber carb gasket and two 1/4" thick phenolic insulators. Runs like a scalded raped dogape but perks fuel into the intake after shut down on warm days.....making it just a tad harder to start.



So, off with the factory hard line that runs around all the hot points in the engine and a new 5/16" hard line is bent up to run out a bit and to the rear coming up between cylinders 2 and 3....much further away from the block than before and out in the wind.



Connect up the fuel filter, up and over with new rubber line and 3/4" fuel line insulation sleeve from the nut on the fuel pump to the clamp on the carb. Aimed to keep the line at least 2" from the motor at all times and was successful....



Using a convenient tapped hole in the block (the old coil mount) I bent up a nice aluminum strap and mounted it to the block. The other end captures the new metal line to prevent it from shakin loose.



Plenty of room to work and no leaks after a test drive....



Crap, its still perkin. So....breaked out the spanky new combo vacuum and fuel pressure gage after it cooled completely off.

First pulled the lid....I'd already installed spanky new needle and seat and checked float level was 39mm, factory setting.... but maybe with the hose perkin it was overcoming the ball check valve.

So, ignorin the float setting I adjusted the float to be parallel with the lid, ball check valve fully closed......the float setting was now at 43mm, a bit lower than before.

Webers, per the manual, need low pressure, higher volume. Mr. Langdon indicates running the stock mechanical fuel pump, no regulator.

Checked it out, cold start, 3.5 psi on the fuel....hot running, 3.5 psi on the fuel, rev it up, 3.5 psi rock steady on the fuel. Ran it till it was hot and shut it down....over 30 minutes the pressure in the line climbed up to 5.25 lbs and no perkin.

Oh my....hope I got this fingered out!

[TJ's Chevy]

I was starting to think of fuel pressure as being an issue...Its funny..my fuel line is straight rubber from the frame to carb(metal from the frame back to electric pump) and I have never had fuel perking out of the lines..or carb. And my fuel lins runs between the valve cover and thermo housing and and over the intake an headers to the carb. I was running the truck yesterday and it was a round 65+ out and no fuel issues. But..I am running a large carb that takes up to 5 pounds pressure..so that helps. I do know that one time I believe I could feel the fuel boiling in the metal filter. But I'll have to check 25 min after shutdown next time an see what happens. lol. I've never seen smoke comin out from the hood so me thinks were ok.

[Sharps40]

I found three sets of float level adjustment specifications for the Weber with plastic floats....Haynes, Weber America and Redline. Basically ignored em all and set the float top parallel with the lid, check ball slightly compressed. This lowered my float from 39mm to 43mm check ball uncompressed. Slightly tweaked the stroke to 49mm. The initial hot check indicated no perking. And subsequently found that setting close to the Redline recommendation for current installations (lower than haynes and Weber America). Its been cooler last couple of days but so far no perking...and no change in the feel/performance out on the road...we'll see how it goes.....lookin like the back sliding glass and rear suspension projects are moving up the punch list...I hope.

[1963c-10]

Nice job Rich, glad your able to work out the small issues so you can get on to more projects!!!

[TJ's Chevy]

X2! Glad its starting to fix! Hopefully now you can get to other projects!

[Sharps40]

I hope its worked out. If not, I should know thursday when the temps go back into the 60s and 70s. I suppose the last ditch is a cooling fan on an adjustable thermostat to circulate air under hood till things cool off.

[shok]

A seperate fan just for that or an electric rad fan that besides cooling the rad will stay on a minute or so after shutdown?

[Sharps40]

Yep. Wire it hot (not ignition switched) and a rad fan or cooling fan will cycle on and off after engine shutdown till the set temp is reached....just like modern cars. If ya use an external probe type you can put the sensor in the fins, on the head, the block, near the manifold, on the fuel line, in the air, whereever ya want.

[Sharps40]

Bit o the Scaries this morning. Hopped into John Lee and kicked the ignition and nothing. Not even a touch of clatter....neglected to check the lights for function/drain from being left on or for function/dimming to see if it was a starter issue and went straight to the 6 amp chager.....in the red.

Gave the ol boy 10 minutes at 6 amps and kicked the switch and clatter at the starter........10 more minutes and VROOOOOM! Off and runnin.

Got to work....36 miles at highway speed, it should be fairly well charged. But I guess I need to check idle voltage tonight and start lookin at switches for leaks to ground. Its possible I left somethin on in the rain last night....but in my confusion, neglected to check this AM. Fortunatly I got jumpers in the truck and selected a parking spot thats jump start accessable for this afternoon.

The headlight switch is good/new. I note my wipers don't park unless I cycle the switch once or twice....could be that original switch or the 1964 wiper motor leakin. Or could be the ignition switch. Hope its not the 12SI....its just out of warrenty!

[TJ's Chevy]

Stop scarin me!!!! My electrical is 48 years old an working fine so far!!! SHHH!!!!

[Sharps40]

Well, it started and ran fine at lunch, twice....so I'm hopeful it was just me leavin the park lights on last evening. But, I'll at least check the charging voltage tonight at home.

[Sharps40]

A beautiful day with John Lee. 5 qts of 10w40 Accel oil with the ZDDP already in it and a new large size Fram from Lowes (1.75 ea clearance so I got 2).

Topped off the water. First I added any in 14k miles since puttin on a cheep overflow tank.

Topped off the T5 with 1 pint of DexMerc.

Gave the ol boy a bath and vacuumed out the cab....even pulled the rags outta the vents on accounta its finally warm.

Rotated the tires.

Pulled up the brake shoes.

Gave the new suspension its every second oil change shot o greese.

Dayum. I'm tuckered out. Goodwife is takin me out fer a burger anna R-o-C Co-Cola!

Spring is here an now we're ready ta head out fer trout an turkeys.

[TJ's Chevy]

Nice work Rich...glad the truck is going good!

[Sharps40]

Its good to go. I gotta get some long bolts so I can slide back the trans and get at the release bearing. Its in three pieces, we used the inexpensive masterpro bearing and it ain't up to the job. I gotta go look at the national bearing....I believe its one piece machined collar and if so, that'll be the service replacement. For now, a bit noisy and crunchy!

[TJ's Chevy]

Well..ol trucks are supposed to be a bit noisy an crunchy! LOL!

[Sharps40]

Bit of a scare today. Everything runnin like a new truck and its been nigh onto a month since I raised the hood. Headin up the road, perkin along at 70 mph on the 5 speed and lovin the cool breeze in thru both vents and the wing winders.....got off the spressway and pulled up to the light......

Looked back, gobs rich black smoke. looked at the tach and idling 850 rpm (normal is 550 rpm) and rough as a cob. Looked at the fuel gauge and 7 gallons burned in 70 miles. WOW did the worries kick in.

Popped the hood, spectin the lectric choke to have malfunctioned and stuck closed causin the excessive piggishness....nope, all well there.

70 miles from home and out in the middle of nowhere central NC so we turned around and ran home.....motor is under warrenty and I need to be closer if a tow is necessary...

Runs super, no smoke, get close to home, hit the stop sign....black smoke and stinkin of fuel...dayum.....jest get home.

Pulled into the driveway and left it idling, rough as a cob and looks like a wet wood fire burnin under the rear bumper....

Popped the hood, pulled the air cleaner...choke is fine, linkage not jammed, idle is still 850 and rough as a cob.

Grabbed a flashlight and the secondary throttle plate is wet with fuel, looked in the top and the bowl is tippi top better sip on the edge of the glass afore ya pick it up full....so....gotta be and overheated fuel pump cause the carb is cool and condensed on the outside.....or could be a stuck needle.....

Yanked the accelerator and reved it past its 2700 rpm 70 mph engine speed all the way to 4500 rpm, eased it down and yanked it back up to 5000 the secondtime and let the throttle slam shut......

Idled back down smooth and easy, 550 rpm, smoke gone, smooth as silk and happy as a Big Gal at the County Fair knoshin on a Corn Dodger, Cotton Candy, French Fries with gravy and sippin on a 92 ounce R-O-C Co Cola! Stuck needle it was!

Time to change the fuel filter and clean out the jets. Mr. Langdon did say the webers can be a bit sensitive to dirt in the system so use a good filter and change it often.....I'm guessin 20,000 miles is a bit beyond the proper change interval!

Evening drive went well, picked up a filter and can o cleaner with a swoosh tube and we'll spiff it up in the morning afor the skeeters get busy dining out.

Sure glad it was an easy fix....mash the pedal, it fixes a lot of stuff I reckon.

[TJ's Chevy]

Gotta say these new carbs are crap....I will say I prefer my Edelbrock over your Weber...Thing I hate about mine is unless I take it for a drive down the road..the truck idles poorly...after driving a few miles down the road and back..it idles fine...well..old truck...old engine...gas is crap compared to what it used to be...can't complain..it runs. lol Glad you fixed your issues.

[Sharps40]

Well, this weren't a carb issue (more like PMCS as my sister so effectively lectured me last eve, see below) and short of a big build six or at least a stock 292 I wouldn't entertain a four barrel. Much better throttle response in the driving range having the smaller primary.

[Sharps40]

On top of it all yesterday evening....I get a call from my lil sister......imagin my shock and horror when she (in no way a car girl but knowledgeable none the less) pointedly and succinctly dresses me down for missing dinner with a brief diatribe on the value of fuel system Preventive Maintenance Checks and Services. Ouch, I slept poorly to say the least.

But, up early with the sun and the dogs and 30 minutes of inspection and maintenance and we are ready for a test fire, leak check and road test.

A look into the fuel bowl. Fines accumulating at 4, 7 & 10 oclock. So I swarfed out the carb, inside and out with cleaner sauce, pulled and flushed all the jets and the needle and seat. Should be fine, nothing appeared to be restricted or plugged. The idle jets on both barrels have wee teeny tiny passages but they flow pressurized cleaner sauce from a swooshie straw with alacrity. Sure is a lotta jets and flow type bushings in this here carb....I think I counted 11 or 15.....hard to remember cause I only got 10 fingers to tick em off....but I squooched all I could find and purged the emulsion sticktube thingies as well.



This might be the culprit....though I run a good quality filter twixt the pump and carb inlet, here is the strainer on the carb between the needle and the fuel filter.....icky....that ain't all of it, some was in the housing and two bitty bits fell out of the strainer onta the surgically clean paper towel. Ouch....its a 2 year old tank, 2 year old lines, 3 month old hoses and what I thought was a good filter.....guess I got some gunkey gunk in the tank and the filter finally broke down a bit.....anyway, junk appears to have gotten past the filter and screen to lift and hold the needle offa the seat. Ah well, more work with the high pressure cleaner sauce and alla the bits blasted into the air and away from the carb. Should be good to go.....fingers crossed.

[McMurphy]

This is a great example of a "Lesson Learned".
We use this concept in the Army as a means for others to learn from a particular incident or event that resulted in a quantifiable result, either good or bad in outcome.

This helps us to identify potential issues earlier on, and/or initiate corrections or fixes promptly.
Your black smoke had my attention pretty solid !!

Thanks for sharing

[CRGRS 66]

"happy as a Big Gal at the County Fair knoshin on a Corn Dodger, Cotton Candy, French Fries with gravy and sippin on a 92 ounce R-O-C Co Cola!"

This is just simply a level of happiness that I was not aware to be achievable

[Sharps40]

The County Fair is the WalMart of opportunity to find true love! or ya can jes get drunk and go hoggin.