Thread: I couldn't build it for $3 K either!

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I have reached a very important milestone in this project!!!

IT IS ALIVE!!!!!

The engine runs!!! Sorry, but I got so involved (and a little rushed), that I completely forgot to take video.

A couple of good friends (thanks John and Jimmy) got a set of old T bucket headers to me that I used for a temporary exhaust.

Initial fire-up didn’t happen without a problem or two. Self inflicted of course. I completely forgot that the oil pressure sending unit was not installed and merrily cranked away while setting the pre start-up timing. Made quite a mess!

It still needs a little tuning, but the oil pressure is good (60 PSI), vacuum is good (18-20 inches), the transmission seems to work and nothing mechanical makes any bad noises. Had a couple of minor leaks, but that’s to be expected. The cam has mild specs, so it doesn’t have a lot of lope, but I kind of expected that.

It sure does feel good to hear it run! 2 ½ years to get to this point. I NEVER thought it would take so long.

I ran out of time and have to go back to work (gotta pay the bills), so it’ll be another week before I can get anything else done.

Mike

Originally Posted by Hotrod46

I completely forgot that the oil pressure sending unit was not installed and merrily cranked away while setting the pre start-up timing. Made quite a mess!

Mike

Can't imagine anyone else on here has ever done that!!!

Sounds like a good day though!

Originally Posted by Bob Parmenter

Can't imagine anyone else on here has ever done that!!!

Bob - Still doesn't keep me from feeling kinda stupid!


Scott - I know. I was going to set the tripod and camera up, but got in the zone, and didn't think about it. It really did happen though. Honest Injun!

Thanks guys!

Mike

Guilty been ther done that!

Awesome to hear that she is running!! Awesome (Proof would be great!)

Thought I would post a quick update. Been a lot going on since the last one.

The almost ugly is that I had a water leak under the intake manifold. A few miles on the road and the engine would have been toast!!! If I hadn't decided to change the lifters I probably wouldn't have found it until it was too late.

I think the intake gaskets were too thick. These were the special Offy gaskets that came with the 3x2 setup from Hotrod Carburetion. They were .090 thick. I switched to Edelbrock gaskets similar to the Fel-Pro Printo-seal type gaskets. The new gaskets are .070 thick. I also used a little silicone on the water passages instead of the Aircraft Permatex I normally use. I'll keep a close check on the water level for a while just to be sure.

I probably had a vacuum leak on the bottom of the manifold too, since I was able to lean the idle mixture out a good bit from the original setting.

Between the new lifters and gaskets, the engine is running like a top now! The oil pressure is 50 psi at idle and it pulls 20 inches of vacuum at idle. It could probably use a little tweaking after it's on the road, but it's good enough finish the car.

The bad is that time is getting short if I'm going to make the March car shows. I have 11 days of shop time left before the first show. It's going to be close!!

Now for the good. The body is painted!!!!! I still have some buffing to do, but it's on the inside and I can't get to it right now, since the body is up on sawhorses.

It's my first complete paint job. Normally, I do the primer and sanding and get a pro to do the color. I decided to try it myself this time.

I'll get some pics of the body up as soon as I can. I've been too busy with the engine to take any after paint pictures.

I also delivered the seat insert , bed cover and door to the upholstery shop and they're working on them. They might be finished by next weekend! Hope so, anyhow.

Looks like I'm going to be pretty busy for the next few weeks, but I'll try to keep up to date with the progress.

Mike