Thread: Project $ 3 K Is Underway

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Ok, you've shamed me enough. Time to get this puppy done I guess. I haven't been turning too many wrenches, but I have been making progress, by, er, ah, dialing the phone and ordering parts.

I took a quick measurement of the engine after the water pump was on it, and noticed it had grown since I did my original mock up. Summit told me I needed a long water pump and corresponding pulleys for this year engine, so I bought them. However, if I would have gone with them my water pump pulley would have been too close to the radiator shroud. So, another call to Summit, and I ordered everything all over again in the SHORT water pump configuration. Got the parts this week, and what a difference. Picked up about an inch an a half. and everything is so much more compact. Still waiting for the lower mount for the alternator, that goes on the header, and should have that this next week.

I also ordered my headers from Sanderson. I had them make me up a set of Limefire headers without the dump tubes that hook up to underbody exhaust. I am going to just run baffles in the megaphones, and I ordered them coated with the Jet Hot Ceramic Silver finish. I have that same set up on my '27, and the headers held up for years and years, so I expect the same good results from these. Sanderson are great folks to do business with, and gave me the usual good service. Should have the headers next week or so.

Finally, I cut out the new, narrower driveshaft hoops, and a new piece of plywood for the floor. I have to weld in the hoops, my battery box, and a couple of minor items and then I can start glassing in the floor. I am going to use the method Brian suggested a while back, putting plaster of paris all over the transmission (the dummy transmission) to a thickness of about 1/2 inch, then I can lay fiberglass mat on top of that to build my trans tunnel. Should start on the floor this weekend.

With some of the minor stuff out of the way I can now start hitting it pretty hard, and hopefully will have more to post in future weeks. Thanks for keeping me at it.

Here are some pictures of the LONG water pump setup, and the SHORT, as well as the new floor I cut out tonight. Oh, I got my replacement valve covers from Summit...........a hole is in each one this time.


Don