Technical What did you do today?

Ha! When I put a new ring gear on my Chevy 235's flywheel, I did it in my apartment kitchen. I put the flywheel in my refrigerator freezer overnight. In the morning, I put the ring gear in the oven at 400 degrees for an hour. Pulled the frozen flywheel out of the freezer and the ring gear out of the oven. It dropped right on. No hammering was necessary. I was only wearing the leather gauntlets I used to handle the ring gear with.

 

..................Brave soul.

 

Got some primer sprayed on the engine and heads.

 

Got the gauge back in today! Seems to work well.

 

Snowing.......again, seems we're caught in whats known as an atmospheric river, slowing over us, got a foot of sloppy wet shit and its still coming. I have metal roofs, the snow thunders off when it gets deep enough, one of my dogs doesn't notice, the other is having an all day long heart attack, walking around panting, beside me step for step. Poor girl. Maybe time for another winter thread.... my back door, and my front door.

 

lazed around the house until after lunch. Then I went and cut some already drug to the field trees into firewood. loaded truck with firewood and came home. Did not even feel like unloading the truck. Cloudy day a bit of wind and in the 40,s not my preferred weather. Without the sunshine I couldn't see very well when I tried to sharpen the saw chain.

 

Made the 2nd attempt at running/breaking in a SBC that I had just rebuilt. Put together a run stand and ran the engine before for about 6 or 8 minutes total in two attempts on the first day, but had an overheating problem. It was up to 230-ish F in about 3-4 minutes running about 2500 RPM to break in the cam. Hated that I wasn't able to run it 20+ minutes continuously but wasn't about to burn it up. Engine ran smoothly and sounded good though.

I put a different, larger radiator on the stand today but still up to 220-230 in about 3 or 4 minutes at 2500 RPM. I have a timing tape on the harmonic balancer and was only at about 18-20 degrees advance at 2000+ RPM. Vacuum advance hitting the intake so I couldn't advance it any more so I guess it's time to pull the distributor and move it a tooth. Maybe slow timing is partly responsible for the temp problem? I never did let the engine idle and it had 50+ PSI oil pressure so I'm hoping, but don't think I hurt the new cam and lifters.

I think breaking in a new engine is always nerve wracking since I don't do it very often. Always fearing I'm missing a little something that is going to trash a new engine. Wish I had a competent second person with me on days like today to be the 2nd set of eyes, ears and hands to keep tabs on everything.

Lynn

 

Are you running a thermostat while running it in? If so, take it out while breaking it in.


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I actually got back in the shop today and made a couple of customers happy!! All late model OT stuff. Went and got me a pickup load of coal too, felt good to get out and do something! Still off my firehouse job til the 27th though

 

It would be a good day trip for me to get down your way.

 

While my '32 is at paint and upholstery (supposedly until early February) I decided to jump back on my '62 unibody build.

Getting rid of the wipers so I worked with some donor pieces for the cowl grille repairs that will be needed.

The last 3 days I've been cleaning the bed out. For the last 5 years or so, it's kind of become my shop dumpster. This is the first time since I've owned the truck (bought it in 2012) that I've seen the entire bed cleaned out with no parts in it.

Also cleaned out the cab floor. Pretty much rust free with just a few smaller patches needed.

SPark

 

Truckdoctor Andy....I do have a thermostat in it and have verified that it's opening at ~180 F, but might try taking it out. Thinking things over and talking with a friend I think the timing might be a bit retarded although neither of us thinks it's so bad it would cause the problem. Never the less, I'm going to move the distributor a tooth and get more advance in it. I also hope to have a "trained observer" on hand next time to check for flow in the radiator, etc.. I could only keep my eyes on so many things in such short run times.

saltflats....visitors are always welcome. Helpers even more welcome!

Lynn

 

Finish sandblasting the 34

 

Any way you can leave the cap off the radiator and just stick a running garden hose down into it ?

 

No, I don't have water at my shop. The water line is there but I never plumbed it up. Anyway, the run stand is just inside the door and it would be a huge mess, not that boiling over hasn't created one already. I need to get the overheating problem solved eventually but it would be nice to at least get through a decent break-in run. I will overcome this glitch!

Lynn

 

Always liked those Craftsman block grinders; been wanting one for a long time now. Your's turned out great.

 

Getting things ready for our Family Christmas tomorrow, Sunday - one daughter-in-law has to work at her job at a State Prison on Christmas Day

 

Helped a buddy get his fireplace "stoned"....now it just needs a mantle. I REALLY gotta get back to doing CAR stuff....

 

Listed a few more old adds on that website, thought it was odd that one was dated December 21, 1901, 118 years old to day. Bob

 

Fitted the Howard log to the GMC. None of the elbows were drilled. I loaned the originals to Patrick Dykes many years ago to use as molds and he sent back his new replacements. Measure 10 times drill once..
Fit up the carb adapters for the Holley 1807’s that will be used. The same carbs that held 7 records at Bonneville and El Mirage like many internals of this engine. They are Offys, and haven’t been made since the seventies. 1807’s are 59-61 Ford -Merc 292 carbs. I am looking for one with a choke tower.

 

Listed the '29 Steelback project in the classified section and started packing all the pieces in it. Just stuffing it in the corner was a relief, if it sells that is a bigger plus, no more wiring worries. Bob

 

I finally got my little Denzo mini alternator in after a week of waiting and the damn thing doesn't have the same bolt pattern as my bracket, so I still can't use my brand new bracket, but don't want to go back to my old homemade bracket either. My next move is possibly A arm modification or a different style A arm, freaking can of worms !
After that I pulled the radiator so I can go back to my old cross flow which cooled the other big block fine and I'm going to try the up and down flow over in the Henry J.

 

Like the old avatar better

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last day on the stand..hung a few bits to finish

 

Left the 34 in the garage and replaced the alternator on my DD/OT Chrysler 300 winter beater.[Stabbing self in balls] Still doesn't charge the way I want. Tomorrow I go hunting for bad grounds. Then drive it to U-Pull-it... argghhh!
Good news is Santa brought me my new spinners for my Americans today!

 

Built a 4" platform to go around wife's hair styling chair as her shoulder is bothering her and the added height will help. After that checked the lifter preload on the Cad 390 and boxed up the rocker arm shafts to send to Rocker arms unlimited for hard chroming and refinishing.

 

Received my sticker from the State of Oklahoma for Year of Manufacture license plate. It was surprisingly easy, all handled via conventional mail, fast too, about 5 working days total.

 

Got the front axle built for the Tot Rod, tomorrow I'll build the steering arms and tie rod...

 

More false work and insulation in the shop this week. Omg the place is such a wreck.
We’re trying to get it all done and back in working order by New Years. Gonna be close.

 

I make a license plate mount, using the existing spare tire mount hole on a '29. Didn't want to add any more holes to the sheet metal lower panel.