The 283 Rebuild Begins

[padresag]

Originally Posted by MacAttack

What I'm enjoying now, that the rings are seated and the bearings seem comfortable, is 'going through the gears' with the old school shifter. Not anything radical - but enough to have fun building up speed pretty quickly.

Mac.

how do the bearings seem comfortable or is it that you are comfortable with the way that it is running
ron

[daverod]

I was wondering the same thing. Just how do you know when they are comfy?

[Vernski]

Did your camera get broke?Vernski

[MacAttack]

Originally Posted by padresag

how do the bearings seem comfortable or is it that you are comfortable with the way that it is running
ron

Well - the rear end seems to be settling down (noise wise) from the initial week, which (I don't know about you) makes me more comfortable.

[MacAttack]

Originally Posted by daverod

I was wondering the same thing. Just how do you know when they are comfy?

Based on experience in rebuilding lathe and milling machines - it's being able to recognize the difference.

Mac.

[MacAttack]

Originally Posted by Vernski

Did your camera get broke?Vernski

Nope - camera's just fine, but I didn't feel the installation of a glove box warranted any new pics.

Mac.

[Vernski]

Originally Posted by MacAttack

Nope - camera's just fine, but I didn't feel the installation of a glove box warranted any new pics.

Mac.

The complaint was suppose to go back about half the thread and looks like you are doing better with pic's now. BTW your truck is very nice looking, nice work and quite a story with it's being stolen and getting it back and all was good luck indeed. Thanks for sharing!---Vernski

[MacAttack]

Thanks for the compliments, Vernski.

I was very lucky, according to the OC Sheriff and they said vehicles (specifically targeting groups) were rarely ever found in drivable conditions. Needless to say - my insurance coverage has be substantially increased since the reconstruction.

Mac.

[jason65]

Originally Posted by MacAttack

Nope - camera's just fine, but I didn't feel the installation of a glove box warranted any new pics.

Mac.

Unless there was bloodshed. Then pics of glove box installation are required.

[MacAttack]

Originally Posted by jason65

Unless there was bloodshed. Then pics of glove box installation are required.

There was. And I'm not proud of that.

How a simple assembly made of expensive cardboard and big staples could end up being such a pain in the ___, I have no idea. Someday I hope to tackle putting light in there, but I'll probably need to go to therapy shortly thereafter.

Mac.

[Alan's Classic]

Originally Posted by jason65

Unless there was bloodshed. Then pics of glove box installation are required.

Even if there was bloodshed, it just makes it that more interesting.

Originally Posted by MacAttack

There was. And I'm not proud of that.

How a simple assembly made of expensive cardboard and big staples could end up being such a pain in the ___, I have no idea. Someday I hope to tackle putting light in there, but I'll probably need to go to therapy shortly thereafter.

Mac.

Come on, put a light in there so we can see the blood stains. J/K Progress is a good thing.

[MacAttack]

Originally Posted by Alan's Classic

Come on, put a light in there so we can see the blood stains. J/K Progress is a good thing.

Yeah, watching Mac bounce off the walls of his garage and making his grandson run for cover - a real scream. No thanks - I'll stick with a flashlight for a while.

Although I will say I've got a supposed '327' waiting on an engine dolly presently in the same garage that's beginning to whisper to me. (Loony Bin, here I come.)

Mac.

[Alan's Classic]

Originally Posted by MacAttack

Yeah, watching Mac bounce off the walls of his garage and making his grandson run for cover - a real scream. No thanks - I'll stick with a flashlight for a while.

Although I will say I've got a supposed '327' waiting on an engine dolly presently in the same garage that's beginning to whisper to me. (Loony Bin, here I come.)

Mac.

I understand.

[MacAttack]

Shot (this morning) of cab and seat cover - of a real, working truck:

[MacAttack]

Sheet metal screw to hold the saddle tank door (sprung) closed:

[MacAttack]

And for those that bag on "Gardner's Trucks": This is for you.

[jason65]

Nice pics Mac. Was that saddle tank door on your truck when you got it?

[MacAttack]

Originally Posted by jason65

Nice pics Mac. Was that saddle tank door on your truck when you got it?

Yes Sir, both sides - with good sized tanks, which - unfortunately - had some severe rust problems. The fine person that ripped my truck off decided to pry the driver's side open with a big screw driver or something and sprung the lock, leaving the door to flop open every time I came to a stop.

He could have just laid on the ground to look under the truck to see what was there - but like the locking gas cap, for the behind-the-seat tank (which he wrenched off and ruined the neck), logic didn't seem to be one of the tools in his mental shed.

The door hassle was fixed with a very small diameter hole drilled through its edge and through the bed and putting a sheet metal screw (upper right-hand corner) into the damn thing.

On a side note - the boy was out all day on jobs and the truck got its first chance to stretch her legs on the 405 freeway for a good run. Kid says she ran like a top and got many a "Thumbs Up."

Does my old heart good to hear that.

[jason65]

I get those to. It does make you feel good.

[4dranch]

very cool Mac, thanks for sharing....and finding your camera

[MacAttack]

Finally got to dumping the initial Prestone 50/50 coolant load on Saturday.

Nothing unusual to report, but I did put some Permatex around the outside of the base on the thermostat's swivel housing. It was giving me an irritating weep of coolant after driving for a bit and anytime we'd park on a slant with the nose down, a small trickle of juice would come out.

"O" rings are wonderful things - when they work, but this one (got the aluminum neck assembly from Summit, originally) never seemed quite right. I didn't want to over-torque the thing to the old 2-barrel cast iron manifold, so I never went hardcore with the Allen wrench, and put just a dab of blue silicone on the bolt treads - on the initial installation.

This weekend I put a liberal layer of #2 around the base's lip - without getting near the thermostat. We've driven the poop out of the truck this week, in fairly warm weather, all without a hitch.

Took five gallons of Prestone (forgot how much that new radiator actually took) to refill the coolant system - good thing it was on sale at WallyMart for $8.00 a jug.

Mac.

[daverod]

Thats gotta feel good.

[jason65]

Thanks for the update Mac. I'm glad she is treating you right.

[jason65]

Hows the ol girl treating you Mac?

[MacAttack]

She's treating my boy perfectly - I only get to drive her to the Donut Derelicts every couple of weeks or so, as he uses it on his landscaping job nearly every day. He's driving bus part time for a local school district and using his little side business as fill-in.

Many folks out my way doing the same to help ends meet.

We've had a couple of very minor leaks here and there - but they were quite easily fixed and I think this little '283' rebuild is going to last a lot longer than my old bones.

My time has been taken up with my 65' Chevelle's maintenance, with some rather heavy oil leaks, P/S pump going away, swing-arm bushings squeaking like "Dueling Banjos" and old drum brakes getting ready to die. Motor's got 24,000 on it now (estimate - as odometer puked back in 2000), but still pulls like crazy.

I just hate having to use this car as a daily driver, but times being what they are - I just cruise along at 50 and pray nobody hits me.

Mac.