Thread: Project "Left Overs" is back alive !

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Steve, since I have gotten older and retired my sleep patterns have changed a lot. I seem to sleep in 3 hour shifts now and it drives me nuts. Last night I got to bed around 3 and was back up at 6. I plan on going back to work somewhere in the late fall, so hopefully I will start sleeping regular hours like before.

You are also right about it being cooler at night here, so I sometimes go to the shop and work late, but now the mosquitos are so bad they eat me alive.................can't win. Fall can't come too early for me.

Don

Originally Posted by Itoldyouso

..............it drives me nuts. Don

Some would say that's a short trip.

(NOT me of course, just some...)

No, Bob, you would NEVER say that ! You've actually been pretty mello lately, could this be a new kinder, gentler Uncle Bob ??

Today was rainy all day, which kept the temps down, so tonight I was able to work at the shop for a few hours with the garage door closed. It was only 80 degrees in there, and it was nice to be able to keep the mosquitos out.

I wanted to see how much my front spring would drop with some weight on it, so I temporarily put the Olds engine on some angle iron supports in the frame. It dropped a good inch and a half, and I still have the transmission, body, and all the engine accessories to go on it. I figure it will drop a good 3 inches or more when that is all on it.

Tomorrow I am going to bolt the Bendstens transmission adapter to the block and put the TH350 behind the engine to start figuring out where crossmembers and other stuff will go. I also have to bolt on my spindles and steering arms so I can order my tie rod. Might try putting the body back on also to see what clearance issues I need to solve.

Don

Tonight I got a chance to bolt the transmission adapter onto the motor and temporarily bolt on the TH350 transmission. I've never seen the two bolted together so that was pretty neat. The adapter fits perfectly, everything lines up like it should.

Then I installed the body back on the frame and moved the engine back until I had good clearance between the distributor and firewall. I moved it un and down until I got the intake to be perfectly flat, and positioned so that I have good oil pan clearance.

It still was an inch higher in the front than I wanted so I removed the very top leaf from the spring and it settled down 1/2 inch more. Once I put the rest of the stuff on the engine and body it should drop down more, maybe even to the point where I have to reinstall that one leaf.

One thing that I might change is running the radiator in the bed. After I got stuff mocked up I realized I would have room for a pretty good sized one in the regular position, and it would eliminate a lot of work and cooling lines. Plus, it would give me the entire bed for a fuel tank and battery, plus some actual storage for tools, etc. I'm not 100% sure yet, just thinking.

Here are some pictures from tonight.

Don

Looking good Don, one thing is that 350 going to be ok behind the Olds ??? I was told to run a 400 although i stuck with the dual hydro

I think it will be fine, Steve. It is a Jacksons Racing transmission . The convertor is a 2500, and my 394 is just a tad over stock, plus I really don't abuse my cars much.

Don

Originally Posted by Itoldyouso

Steve, since I have gotten older and retired my sleep patterns have changed a lot. I seem to sleep in 3 hour shifts now and it drives me nuts. Last night I got to bed around 3 and was back up at 6. I plan on going back to work somewhere in the late fall, so hopefully I will start sleeping regular hours like before.



You are also right about it being cooler at night here, so I sometimes go to the shop and work late, but now the mosquitos are so bad they eat me alive.................can't win. Fall can't come too early for me.

Don

Bats eat mosquitoes..................LOL-I am just saying

Yeah Don maybe one of those big suckers you posted could help out!
I'm pretty sure they don't eat kitties!

Hehe, yeah, one of those big suckers could clean up our entire mosquito problem in a few nights. Bet they taste just like chicken too.

Steve, I have been thinking along the lines of a mirror finish ss firewall too. Not sure how to cut it though, that stuff must be tough. Any insight, Steve in UK? You and Ken are the SS go to guys.

BTW, see the headers on the car? I bought those on Ebay probably 10 years ago because I knew some day I would rebuild the Olds engine I have (I've been dragging this motor around for at least 25 years). They were homebuilt by someone who did them old school, with Ford torque tubes as the megaphones. They are a little on the crude side, but cool in so many ways that I am going to use them. I figure some VHT paint and I will be good to go. Whoever built them took the time to machine aluminum caps for the ends with ribs in them, but I probably will be just running baffles and no exhaust, however the jury is still out on that one.

Luckily, Oldsmobile used two different bolt patterns on the exhaust flanges on the 394's and my engine just happened to have the same on as the headers. I also had a 59 or 60 394 and the bolt pattern was different on that engine.

Don

Easiest way to cut it is to use a 1mm thin cutting wheel in an angle grinder Don, get it pretty close and then finish with a flap wheel, by far the easiest way i've found.
I presume you use the thin cutting wheels and flapwheels over there ???

Heres what i mean