Technical What did you do with your car today? * NEW*

From the BillyBob Shop log

August 16th 2021 Was a little bit under the weather over the weekend, probably due to barometric changes of Fred passing by and blowin' the stink off us. I relapsed into lazy for most of the weekend. I did get started with the nailhead crankshaft polishing and ran into pitting of the rear main seal surface. Spent some time pondering the best approach to fixing that problem.

Beer of the day is Hamburg Brewing Company's Southtown American Style Stout. Background music was LeAnn Rimes Blue.

 

Out with the old centre (3.5:1) and in with the new rebuilt centre (4.56:1). New axle seals in morning and back on the ground.

 

Using compound has to be one of the most satisfying things to bring back old paint. Now for some wax!

 

Hopped in the heap to run to the auto parts. Got down the street, smelled gas. Loose fitting at the fuel pump, which is crammed against the firewall, necessitating a 90 elbow, which needed to go around another turn get where it needs to be. Got most of the way around and snap, broke off, in the fuel pump. Grr. Off came the pump, and fortunately an easy out slammed into the leftover brass got it out. Dug, and dug, through my pile of plumbing fittings that never has the one I need and lo and behold, found another elbow. Got it all back together and made it to the auto parts. They specialize in VWs, couple of nice ones out front.

 

while you have those wings off dont miss the oppertunity to underseal everything.i payed attention to where the bead rolled around the wire on the wings sealing with seam sealer and sealed up where the wings bolted to the running boards .tried to avoid sharp corners to catch mud /dirt by using seam sealer where necessary and blending away the excess with a damp glove and cloth.

 

nunattax it good to see guys coming up with simple but effective ideas, like it.

 

Header gasket...again. And again just the right side on the SBC in my '39 coupe. Bolts keep backing out, and I check them about once every couple weeks. I put blue Loctite on the bolts this time, but if that doesn't hold I guess I'll try star washers under the heads.
My 10 minute gasket change got halted just as I got the old gasket out, as my neighbor walked up and asked for help getting the alternator off his Volvo wagon. Two hours later, after pulling power steering pump, AC compressor, and the belt, I finally got the alternator out. Another hour to put it back together, and then I was able to finish up the '39.
At least nobody complains about my hotrods, as they know I'll help with their OT cars if they're nice.

 

I went for a test drive this morning, after putting the transmission back together. I had burned up the direct clutch, although it was still shifting and driving ok.

It works again. I hope it lasts 5000+ miles again. I'm planning to drive it up to Michigan for Drag Week in a few weeks.

 

I can relate, currently waiting for a new front pump.

 

Yes. This is the whole unit. I have 3.89 gears in the rear, it works great

 

Would love to run one of those in my Model A Vicky but don't think I would have much of a driveshaft. Any idea of the total length of it and that's a 400 correct ?

 

Cranked both cars and moved them outside, I spent about 2 hours mopping up water this morning that Hurricane Fred dumped on us yesterday. at east we didn't have any real damage. HRP

 

Nice to see that it`s not just me who spray on some paint
on the transmission!

 

Mine was all smoothed and polished out when I bought it from a guy who was switching to a T56. So I left it that way. I usually paint them too.

 

Yes, it's a 400. Overall length is about 44 inches.

 

Just about finished up with cabin insulation on my ‘38 Coupe.

 

Have not gotten much done for a few days, but I did get a nice USA damper.

 

Reminded myself I should fix the wipers...but, also thankful for the rain that we need.

Oh, and I found out that a squarebird trunk is big enough to haul a 34 Ford axle complete with the wishbone today.

 

Fitting the rear floor in my 39 SD today

 

Fitted my new Carson top . just back from the trim shop.

 

Made a center shift for a 3 speed Saginaw in my roadster

 

Fixed the courtesy light in the Merc and found out why the parking brake warning light does not work,the switch is broke and will give me a excuse to go to the junkyard.

 

Cleared the pathway to start making brackets to cram the AC condenser in the front of my first-generation Falcon.

I have all my shoehorns ready.

 

From the BillyBob Shop log

August 19th 2021 Polishing the nailhead crank journals is taking some time. Ops went a little faster once I established a rhythm. Almost finished with the first pass with 800 grit paper.

My friend, Dave Kerry, asked about run out and offered that he had the v-blocks and precision dial indicator to check it. Decided to take a timeout from the polishing tedium and do an initial check myself.

Since I don't have v-blocks to support the crankshaft, I oiled main journal one and five bearing halves and installed them in the block, then the crankshaft followed, touching only the two bearing halves. I set up my dial indicator to measure the run out at main journal three. First time I've used the dial indicator and I fumbled around a bit setting it up. It didn't come with instructions.

Measuring the journal, front and back, resulted in readings of .009 and .0085 inches between low and high points. I haven't researched run out yet and my WAG is that some of this could be due to journal out-of-round. My next step, after polishing operations are complete will be to check all main journals for run out and to mic the high and low points to check out-of-round.

Beer of the day is Uinta Brewing Company's Sum'r Ale. Background music was Johnny Winter Lone Star Shootout.

 

Nice work on your roadster center shift bracket!

 

Thank you

 

This truck has been kicking my butt ! but I keep moving forward. Working on the metal under the seats and along the back of the cab.

 

walked past the 38 had a good look at it. said naw ,im doing something else today.travelled to my buddys house and picked out a new german shepherd pup.dave said he had one picked for me but we both agreed on the pick of the litter.two rigid ears ,confident alert ,no fear in comparison to the others and a very good stance.straight tail ,straight front paws ,no sag at the wrists im happy.father is a friendly fellow black/tan.mother is darker with some silver on the back.1 week to go and counting.(all the litter was good by the way)
would you believe it ive been trying to trace my dog SETZERs line since he died.i visited a local historian today researching something.i was admiring his black long haired shepherd dog.she was beautiful gentle bitch 9 years old.he told me she was related to another german shepherd local i knew well.a brother to SETZER.died a few years back,died from bloat, twisted gut.the bitch was neutered.another dead end here but got a name and locality of the breeder.long shot.googled the name nothing turned up so a road trip is on the cards soon.anyway the new guy will be arriving next week 8 1/2 weeks old ,but huge boots to fill big expectations here.