My Slap-my-hand-to-my-forehead 68 fixer-upper

[Low Elco]

Enjoy-One of the best feelings of the car experience is firing a new motor. Hope it goes well for you.

[stfinney]

Originally Posted by Low Elco

Enjoy-One of the best feelings of the car experience is firing a new motor. Hope it goes well for you.

I totally agree. I was jumping for joy when my rebuilt motor came to life and purred like a kitten. Enjoy the satisfaction of knowing you did a good job too. The build looks great so far. I can't wait to tear into the cancer spots on mine.

[Tinkermc]

I was listening last night and didn't hear it run is there a problem Houston? Maybe to many miles apart for my old ears. Share some good news with us.

[ixnay]

Originally Posted by Tinkermc

I was listening last night and didn't hear it run is there a problem Houston? Maybe to many miles apart for my old ears. Share some good news with us.

We entered the Kingdom of Lack of Available Parts. The engine had a oil filter adapter often used on remote installs, especially on a 4WD. It's hard to find the adapter's gasket. No one locally had it. At the Chevrolet dealership, the Parts guy pointed to the original adapter for a SBC, but said he didn't have one of those either. So, I scrambled around and picked up an adapter Sunday after church.

Yesterday we put the oil filter on and started re-weaving the spark plug cords. My mechanic mentor is pretty good at it. His wife quilts. Maybe I should tell her how good he is a tying together loose threads.

We also put on the clutch, etc. Then we realized that the set screws to attach the valve covers were a tad short. I purchased 3/4 inch. I need 1 1/4 inch, but wanted 1 1/2 inch. I went to four shops. This morning before work, at the locally owned hardware store, I found some that were 1 1/4 inch.

So tonight we should be putting the engine into the compartment and hooking up the tranny and exhaust.

[ixnay]

Originally Posted by ixnay

Then we realized that the set screws to attach the valve covers were a tad short. I purchased 3/4 inch. I need 1 1/4 inch, but wanted 1 1/2 inch. I went to four shops. This morning before work, at the locally owned hardware store, I found some that were 1 1/4 inch..

This was my friend's idea, btw, not OEM. The PO had used various fasteners he found his garage throughout his engine rebuild, and had not often tightened them properly, i.e., they were barely more than finger tight. Then there was the laughable, e.g., two of the valve cover clamps were upside down.

My friend suggested the set screws for ease of access/removal for the valve covers. I made sure the valve covers were right-side up.

So my friend did all the hard work about hooking up the transmission to the engine, as I pushed/pulled the engine hoist and handed tools down. We got the engine in but didn't start it as we still have the top to button up. Maybe we shall start her tonight. If not tonight, then maybe Saturday, the next day we both can work. Otherwise, I'm on vacation until mid-August.

[Low Elco]

Yeah, how'd it go?

[Low Elco]

Woot woot! Hope it goes well!
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[Tinkermc]

Well now I know why I didn't hear it, YET???

[ixnay]

Originally Posted by Tinkermc

Well now I know why I didn't hear it, YET???

Again the vengeful Spirit of Missing Parts struck. One of the 6 nuts on the exhaust stud was off (coarse instead of fine), so I'm off to buy a nut. Don't think I put it somewhere else; think it got tossed and the one I used looked right so I grabbed it. Aargh.

But now my mentor has family visiting, so we cannot work until I get back from vacation--August 13th. We put the hood back on, put the few remaining parts in the cab, and cleaned up the garage.

[Low Elco]

AAAAAAAAHHHHGHGGGH! The torture of waiting! Have fun on vaca! Hope you're going somewhere cool!
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[True 67]

just remember.. Good things come to those who wait...You should make sure that your mentor friend has plenty of cold ones before you start back at it. It does remind him that you are a good one to have around..

True

[ixnay]

Originally Posted by True 67

just remember.. Good things come to those who wait...You should make sure that your mentor friend has plenty of cold ones before you start back at it. It does remind him that you are a good one to have around..

True

Oh, I've already got some stuff in mind. Can't say though, as he might check this thread. We've had a long-standing relationship. We hunt together. His kids watched my kids. So my bride sends over some treats on Monday. Last night, his Mrs. returns the plate with some "crumbs" on it. I'm having my snicker-doodle crumb for lunch.

On the plus-side of the delay cost/benefit table, I'll be able to have clean fingers for the first time in a month.

But my quip about waiting is this: if God had meant me to have patience, he would have made me a dentist like my dad.

[ixnay]

I see that my last post didn't post. On Wednesday night, we added coolant, primed the camshaft, tightened this and that, primed the carb and started her up. Woo-hoo The engine sounded rough so we shut her down, corrected the crossed wire, and started her back up. The engine ran for 30 minutes on the break-in oil. It sounded great. Then when we adjusted the timing, she sputtered and died. Not sure what happened. Fuel is fine, so it must be spark, but the distributor connection appears fine.

We'll work on that tonight.

If I could figure out out how to attach a video, I'd show it.

MJH

[ixnay]

Originally Posted by ixnay

If I could figure out out how to attach a video, I'd show it.

MJH

Here's a link to a quick vid w/ sound of the engine running.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/zt2e4s4mym...2021.05.47.3gp

[Low Elco]

Congrats! Always good to light up a fresh one.
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[Low Elco]

Linky no workie!
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[ixnay]

So I get her running last Friday, take her to the lube shop Saturday morn to top her off and the guy says your speedo gear housing is leaking. Oh, okay. So I figure out that the speedo gear is not tight (the internal O-ring leaks), and I need a silver bullet. Monday I head to three places (LAPS, Chevy dealer, and tranny shop) to find one. NO LUCK.

Tranny shop, whom I used before with great success, says it will need to see rig, etc etc. Bring the rig in the next day. End of day they tell me it needs a silver bullet. Yes, I knew that. The shop will order a part and bring the rig back today. So I brought it back this morning, and picked it up this afternoon. $57 for parts and labor.

Off to my daughter's cross-country meet. Heavy traffic because of a rollover jamming I-5. All lanes south stopped. I'm working the clutch. All of a sudden, she's locked in first gear. Clutch engages and disengages, but the gear shift is locked in first.

Reading other posts, I think I may need lube or lube/bushings for my column shifter (it''s a 3-speed). That's tomorrow's project, I suppose. And my wife? She's ready to kill the truck and me.

She's justified in doing so.

Back to the GM manual.

P.S. Nursed the rig home in 1st gear, grabbed the car, drove like crazy to the meet, caught the start. Daughter had a great kick at the end and did very well.

[ixnay]

Originally Posted by ixnay

All of a sudden, she's locked in first gear. Clutch engages and disengages, but the gear shift is locked in first.

Popped the hood, manually pulled the gear out, rig is fine.

Except that I started painting and now it's Frankentruck.

MJH

[Low Elco]

She'll cool off. Oddly, about the time she needs something hauled, which seems to be about once a week once you have a truck. Glad it runs well!

[ixnay]

Sanded, masked, took more photos. Painted the cowl, drip rails, 3 hours of work for 20 minutes of paint (well, maybe 40). At it again tonight and then I'm off with Mother Army for a 14 days. I'll do 28 days of AT this year, again. It hasn't been 2 weeks during the summer for oh-so-long.

I decided to paint the cab white, as you can see. I think the two-tone will look sharp.

MJH

[Low Elco]

Cool! Running good?
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[ixnay]

Originally Posted by Low Elco

Cool! Running good?
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The rig is running well. I lost a bolt from the exhaust manifold when the rig got hot during the drive up to Fort Lewis. I saw the temp spike on an extended incline. First time I've seen it happen. Fluid is fine, but the bolts loosened. So I re-torqued them tonight. If you look at the photo, you can see how the right one is also walking out. I could move it with my fingers.

I'm getting good stares now from people, and guys always come up and want to talk. It's amazing what a little paint will do.

MJH

[Low Elco]

Glad it's still on the road! Good to hear from you!

[ixnay]

Still driving the rig, but I think it's time to let go. I'll be putting the rig on the market. Not sure what the price will be. My dad said "maybe you can get your money out of her." I just lauged. I still get looks and compliments every time I take her out.

[ixnay]

Finally did the doors.