Project: NO-LIFE,...

[gringoloco]

Originally Posted by n2billet

Detail the motor and the lines will look right at home......

Agreed. I like that they stand out a bit, showing off the hard work that went into them...

[STP67-72]

Get some tips from n2billet and detail it real quick. I just stabbed a new motor today in Krusty, and got alot of plumbing, etc. The front clip is off and painting core support etc. I got along way to go and ive got about 800 miles to KS.
Good luck on your progress. Any pics. from this weekend???

[lolife99]

Originally Posted by STP67-72

Any pics. from this weekend???

Nothing worth showing.
I bent up the trans lines today.
(That's another job that will get re-done when the engine comes out. What a pain, doing it in the truck.)
I'm going to fill it with fluids tomorrow and look for leaks. Ha.
Gas, water and trans fluid.
I need to drive this thing, some, before I head to Kansas.
Plus I may need to remove the exhaust manifold,... if I can't get the manifold studs out.

[lolife99]

Can you change a 6-cylinder oil pan gasket in the truck?

[mcbassin]

Nice work with the tubing Keith.
Not sure if you can change the 6cyl pan gasket in the truck or not?
I know you can on a big block truck. I just removed the motor mount bolts and a few other things then
jacked it up far enough to get the pan out. It was a major PITA. I do remember that part.

[70k52wd]

Great job on getting the tranny puzzle figured out.
Keep the engine and compartment as is, just make it ultra clean.
Good progress.
Posted via Mobile Device

[lolife99]

Originally Posted by 70k52wd

Great job on getting the tranny puzzle figured out.

Got the exhaust manifold "doughnut" put in tonight.
Then proceeded to pull the trans back out so I could remove the "bent" flexplate.
I found my vibration.

[mcbassin]

Originally Posted by lolife99

Got the exhaust manifold "doughnut" put in tonight.
Then proceeded to pull the trans back out so I could remove the "bent" flexplate.
I found my vibration.

What caused the bent flywheel?

[lolife99]

Originally Posted by mcbassin

What caused the bent flywheel?

Three indexing dowels on the 292 crank.
They were tapered.
.440" dowels and .420" holes in the flexplate.
I bent the center of the new flexplate and tried to use it anyway.

I thought I was going to drive it tonight,... but now I'm flexplate shopping again.
It's kicking my butt,...

[mcbassin]

Originally Posted by lolife99

Three indexing dowels on the 292 crank.
They were tapered.
.440" dowels and .420" holes in the flexplate.
I bent the center of the new flexplate and tried to use it anyway.

I thought I was going to drive it tonight,... but now I'm flexplate shopping again.
It's kicking my butt,...

Hey man you need a reamer? I bet I got one you can use. Let me know, and I send one your way.

[lolife99]

Tonight I added an overflow container to the truck.
It's just a cheap poly tank from Jegs.
I alway try to put these somewhere out of the way, because they are ugly.
I mounted it to the battery tray.
The radiator overflow hose runs under the battery and connects to the bottom of the can.
The upper hose exits thru a hole in the inner fender.
I had to make a spacer, for the lower mounting bolt,... because of the weird angle on the side of the battery tray.

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by lolife99

Tonight I added an overflow container to the truck.
It's just a cheap poly tank from Jegs.
I alway try to put these somewhere out of the way, because they are ugly.
I mounted it to the battery tray.
The radiator overflow hose runs under the battery and connects to the bottom of the can.
The upper hose exits thru a hole in the inner fender.
I had to make a spacer, for the lower mounting bolt,... because of the weird angle on the side of the battery tray.

Pet peeve.... Round the corners on the sides of that brass fitting & shoot it black (or find something in SS/nickel). Those fittings scream 'look @ me' in an otherwise fantastic clean-up effort.

[lolife99]

Also filled the truck with fluids, and started it.
Luckliy there were no leaks in any of the new lines I made.
I have a terrible exhaust leak, so it's kinda loud.
(sounds like a tractor to me. Ha)

But,... with the truck setting on jackstands,... I have a vibration that wasn't there before.
I'll fix the exhaust,... and then look at this vibration issue.
Trans or Engine?
Who knows.
I may be done with this truck,... for this year.

I need to get back on Ginger anyway,...

[72BlckButy]

Looks good installed Keith.

Curious about that rattle... let me know if you need help tracking it down once you button things up.

[72 Super]

Keith, your truck is coming along nicely, interior really looks great!

Ray

[lolife99]

Originally Posted by 72 Super

Keith, your truck is coming along nicely, interior really looks great!
Ray

Thanks.
Thats the only part of this truck that hasn't given me grief.

[lolife99]

It's more than just reaming the holes.
It's a big mess.
I can't get the dowels out of the crank.
The original flexplate pulled one dowel out when it was removed.
(so I have 2 of the three dowels still in the crank).

I'm trying to figure out if I need the dowels at all.
Can I cut them off flush?
Can I drill the dowel holes on the flexplate over-sized?
I can't seem to find any 292 specific answers on the internet.
Plus the crank bolts are 1/2"-20.
And I need a 5/8" long bolts.
Seems like the regular 1/2-20 bolts I used distorted the flexplate in the center.
I have some ARP bolts coming now,... but who knows it they are correct.

The original torque converter bolts were 7/16".
My new converter is 3/8".
All the 292 flexplates have 7/16" holes in them.
Ive' spent so much money on a simple trans swap,...

[lolife99]

Well here it is out of the garage.
The new transmission works great.
No leaks in any of the new lines I made,... but the engine is just too tired.
I got the exhaust manifold leak fixed,... and it sounds like it has a low end knock around the #1 cylinder.
It's getting put back in storage.
I think the 292 will be coming out, and be replaced by a small block or my old 454,... someday.
It would be cool to throw a new 4.8 LS engine in it,... since the 292 was a 4.8.
But that's not in the budget for this low budget truck.

Gotta get back on Ginger.

[n2billet]

I want this truck soooooo bad!

[lolife99]

Originally Posted by n2billet

I want this truck soooooo bad!

If I was rich,... I'd trade it (and a mountain of cash) for Stella.

[mcbassin]

Originally Posted by n2billet

I want this truck soooooo bad!

You ain't the only one...I would love to take this basket of troubles off your hands too.



Sorry to hear about all the hassle with the "simple" tranny swap. I assume you figured out how to mount the new flexplate with dowel situation. I have never owned one of those straight sixes so I really don't know anything about them. I definetly like the LS idea. Big blocks are cool too.

[lolife99]

Originally Posted by mcbassin

I assume you figured out how to mount the new flexplate with dowel situation.

Kinda.
The new dowels are .030" bigger than the holes in the flexplate.
They are suppose to be installed with a .003" interference fit ,in the crank.
The correct way is to bolt the flexplate to the crank and drill and hone the holes.
Then press the dowels in the crank.
I have "Leo Santucci" Chevrolet Inline Six-Cylinder book.
He swears you don't need them at all,... in an automatic equipped truck. (even in auto equipped drag vehicles).
I have the new flexplate indexed on 1 dowel like any SBC or BBC.

I've wasted enough time on this truck,... for now.
I can move it and drive it.
I'm just not going to replace the windshield or exhaust,... untill I have a new plan.
I really like this truck, for some reason.
Even with the 3" drop springs (that everyone hates),... it rides and drives great to me.

[VA72C10]

Looks good. Sorry the 292 isn't working out with all the time you put into making the tranny work with it...

[lolife99]

Originally Posted by VA72C10

Looks good. Sorry the 292 isn't working out with all the time you put into making the tranny work with it...

I need to rebuild the 292,... but in the long run,... I don't think I would be happy with it.
(especially for what they cost to rebuild)

[72BlckButy]

Keith's tried to make things right on this and it has fought him every step of the way. Can't wait to see it on the road, but sometimes it's good to take a step back, reconfigure and start on it again. NO LIFE is a killer project and will have it's time under the knife again. Who knows what's to come.

Thanks a TON for everything today Keith.