Thread: Knock on wood, 27 seems ok.

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Today I installed the final parts on my 27 and fired it up for the first time since it broke down in Daytona at Thanksgiving. I hope I don't jinx myself by saying it, but everything seems much better.

The ticking is MUCH less, it still rattles a little til it warms up, but I am going to contribute that to the stroker kit. Once warm it quiets down to almost nothing, and best of all, my oil pressure is right at 60-65 lbs. I also do not see any drips from the rear main seal, so maybe that is cured too with the new, better seal. I prelubed the engine before I started it and got great oil flow to all the rockers. I guess putting the screw in galley plugs was a good move.

The water pump is spinning a whole lot slower with the new RunneRite pulleys and even though my temp still got up to 220 on my dash gauge, the radiator cap that I bought with the thermometer in it only reads 170. I can hold my hand on both radiator hoses so I am more inclined to believe the radiator cap. I have my sender right at the thermostat housing, so maybe it is just the hottest part of the motor right there and not a true reading.

Finally, I took it for a little drive and it pulls strong and runs well. I would like to take it to Billetproof in April in Gainesville, so I want to put lots of miles on it before then to make sure everything is ok.

Here are some pictures from today, the new valve covers Don bought me are much better as far as clearing my firewall tunnel. I can actually get them off and on, something I couldn't do with the tall Edelbrocks I had on it.

Don

Are you using forged pistons?

Yep, Keith Black.


Don

Learn to love the rattle til it warms up then.

Good to see the ole sled back together & running.

Hit the streets & rack up some miles.

Enjoy ... this time.

Paul

Originally Posted by Bob Parmenter

Learn to love the rattle til it warms up then.

I kinda guessed that was the case, Bob. Plus, these pistons are so darned short I think they rock in the bores during the stroke.

Paul, no one is happier than me to see it back together. Not only are parts not strewn all over the shop now but I can finally start in ernest working on the frame for the rpu. I have one front rail welded up and can now get moving on the second side.

Don

Sounds good Don, looking forward to a blast around the block

Originally Posted by roadster32

Sounds good Don, looking forward to a blast around the block

Looking forward to you and Sue coming Stateside again. What are your plans for that?


Don

Good news Don. Now time to enjoy the car!

Don if i can clear this backlog of work we hope to be over fairly soon. look forward to seeing you all.

Originally Posted by Itoldyouso

Looking forward to you and Sue coming Stateside again. What are your plans for that?


Don

I put a bunch more miles on today running errands. It was cold and rainy at times, but was still a blast. When I came out of AutoZone I had a bunch of French guys standing around it taking pictures with their cell phones. They asked me where I got it and when I told them I built it they were surprised. I guess they figure people don't actually build cars, they have to come from some factory.

While Dan was working on his wiring today I got my section of the shop all cleaned and organized, so tomorrow I can do some more work on the RPU frame. Now that my 27 is out of there I have enough room to work, finally. Dans section looks like there was an explosion at a wiring factory..........bits and pieces of it all over the place. So I guess he is getting close to being done.

Don

You need to give that boy a kick up the ass Don, Is he trying to hang the job out

Glad to know it's OK, Don. It's such a hassle when things that you think are done require another round of attention. Hope you have a long spell of trouble free miles now.

Originally Posted by rspears

Glad to know it's OK, Don. It's such a hassle when things that you think are done require another round of attention. Hope you have a long spell of trouble free miles now.

Steve, you know Dan, he is doing thiis wiring the same as the rest of the car. He liked some stuff about the American Autowire kit and didn't like other things, so in the words of Tim the Toolman, "He rewired it". He has put Weatherpack ends on every circuit so he can remove things in the future by just unplugging them. He is also enclosing each bundle of wires in that old time cloth covering so it fits into the look of the car, He's just being typical Dan.

Roger, thanks. I do think everything is ok with the 27. I may have to replace the radiator with an aluminum one down the road. The one in it is a Brassworks that I had built over 20 years ago and it may have just gotten too old for the job.

I just realized yesterday that I have been guessing about the temp difference between the gauge and the gauge on the radiator cap, and I have one of those infared heat guns in the shop that Don bought me a while ago. Next time I get it up to temperature I am going to shoot the block and see what the temp really is. I forgot I had that one.

Dan and I didn't get in till about 4 this morning, so once he is up and moving we will get back over there and if it is warm enough out today I can put some more miles on.

Don

Good to see that the sleigh is now up & doing some miles.

It looks as though the start up rattle is something you'll have to live with - based on some commnets ...

O/T: I see you re-gifted the '46 to Jr. ... didn't want to roll with the s/axle & flattie??

Enjoy the day.

Paul