Just a page to update what's going on with my numerous projects.
I currently have 3 projects going on in the garage 2 1976 Honda CB750K motorcycles, and my 1955 Chevy 210 Hardtop.
Just got my new disc brake conversion kit & complete new front end rebuild kit installed!
New Suspension kit includes new:
Upper & Lower control arm bushings
Monroe Shocks
Moog Springs
Upper & Lower ball joints
Upper & Lower Bumpers
Tie rods & ends
I sanded and scrub down the firewall Center and driver side portions anyway as well as the front frame. I then used automotive grade rust reformer 2 coat any bits of rust that I might have missed, causing them to turn into a hardened paintable surface.
My power disc brake conversion kit for the front off the 55 Chevy arrived this morning! As soon as my springs and shocks get here I might start putting the front end back together!
Now for the setback, I was trying to extend my workbench so I was moving a metal shelving unit and something fell off of it on to that water main sticking out of the wall... This broke the old cold plastic pipe causing tons of water to come stealing out all over me and the garage... As I jumped up to go shut off the breaker to the water pump I slipped or tripped on something smashing my face on the wall cracking a rib on my workbench and smashing my right pinky into the wall!
Long story short I shut off the water eventually got myself enough breath to drive to Lowes to get the parts needed to fix it, got home and repaired the pipes all with bruised ribs and a broken finger and a big knot on my face... PS I was able to bend my glasses back into wearable shape!
Saturday, January 5, 2013
Wow It's been a while!
I was on hold for a long time searching for a non-existent part, I stripped out the bolts/couplers trying to get them off while replacing the oil pump...
The original tube was 7/16", so the 3/8" outlet from the oil pump had a 3/8"-1/2" coupler to the 7/16" tube to a 1/2"-3/8" coupler to the block intake. I couldn't find the proper couplers to fit the tube & the block, and apparently I couldn't find any 7/16" tubing anywhere. So I had to make my own new tubing so I went with 3/8" outlet, tubing & inlet which should slightly increase the oil pressure due to shrinking the tubing diameter by 1/16".
I also couldn't find a 1/4" tube to go from the block up to the lifters, as these were also stripped out... So I had to buy some straight tubing, cut it to fit, bend it and re-flare it on both ends.
Today I was about to close up the oil pan BUT I couldn't find the oil pick up anywhere! So that'll have to wait. I did get the water pump & thermostat housing mounted on with the new shiny Stainless Steel bolts, however after looking at it I decided to paint them to match the engine... At least they'll never rust.
I managed to get some overtime this paycheck so I ordered some goodies for the '55...
A complete front power disc brake conversion kit!
New MOOG Springs!
Complete front end suspension rebuild kit (tie rod ends, bushings, bumpers, ball joints, with all connectors)
New pair of Monroe Sensa-trac shocks
Complete Suspension fastener kit (since all the original parts were super rusted)
So I basically have the entire front end on order, from the firewall up the entire front end suspension & steering will be brand new!
/i got the head bolted & torqued down to spec, the pushrods lifters and rocker arms are all lined up and working properly. All sides are painted up.
I got the New water pump painted and ready to go on...
New fuel pump installed with New stainless steel bolts...
New spark plugs & Wires installed
The Oil line you can see that's sticking straight out from the pushrod housing is supposed to be curvy and go from the point where it's screwed in to the little hole in the left corner, However the old oil line got damaged during it's moving around during the rebuild... This is the closest length to the original I could find, I'll have to cut it the correct length and bend it to match the original one. You can also see the New oil pump & refurbished "pick-up" screen hanging out of the bottom.
Just been working on getting the engine put back together and painting it in sections. I read that judges take off points if the gaskets are painted, not that I plan on entering car show/contest as a serious contender but I do want to go for as much authenticity as possible. Also if I paint it all together paint will cover my pretty Shiny new Stainless Steel bolt kit!
Hopefully tomorrow morning I can bolt the head to the block and get the pushrods & Rocker arms aligned, install the oil pump, pickup tube & oil pan. Then I can bolt on the fuel pump, distributor, install spark plugs & wires, flywheel & Bell-housing. Then all I'll need before mounting the engine back in the car is the tranny rebuild...
Sorry for the delay in updating the blog, for a few weeks there I was waiting for all of the parts to come in, then when they got here I was too busy putting them together to update the blog. That and ther Awesome guys at Dobbin's Brothers Inc. in Graham, NC were working on my engine for 2 weeks cleaning the head & block, installing new valve guides, new freeze plugs, boring out the cylinders .060 over (due to a misaligned piston wearing), resurfaced flywheel, installed new alluminium timing gears (old ones were brittle fiber),also installed the camshaft bearings and polished & tapped the crankshaft for bolting the harmonic balancer on.
Some of the new parts I orded and got in so far were
Pistons & Rings (6) oversized
Intake & Exhaust Valves (12)
Valve Springs (12)
Valve Guides (12)
Valve retainer clips (24)
valve stem seals (12)
Camshaft (with stock grind pattern)
Cam Bearings (4)
Mechanical Solid Lifters (12)
Solid Pushrods (12)
Aluminium Timing gears (2)
Complete Gasket Set
Parts I'm still waiting for (in transit)
Oil Pump
Water Pump
Fuel Pump
Glass Bowl Fuel Filter (stock type)
Thermostat
Electronic Ignition System (to replace points)
"Flamethrower" Ignition Coil (40,000Volts!!)
Rebuilt Original Starter Motor & new Solenoid
Complete Engine Bolt Kit (Stainless)
Complete Transmission Bolt Kit (Stainless)
After getting these parts in and installing them in/on the engine I'll be ready to fire her up, I also need new Spark plugs+wires and battery, but figured I can get them locally cheaper later.
Here are my shiny new 0.60 oversized pistons & rings...
Here's my installing of the new Valves into the cleaned/polished head and new valve guides...
Here's the installing of the new valve springs, reatiner clips and rebuilt rocker arms...
Here's the "thrust plate I cleaned up and painted (after taping off the gasket area for the timing gear cover & water pump) I think it looks pretty good...
I also fiddled around with the transmission a little cleaning it up and tking it apart just to look at the pieces... (I'll upload that vid tomorrow...)
Due to the Crappy weather (& the stupid Jerk that totaled my car last week)... I've had no time to work on the '55. After researching for a week I found the car I wanted... Mid-size Luxury sedan with good power.
I picked up a 2004 Hyundai Sonata GLS it's loaded (leather, sunroof, premium sound), the 2.7L /v6 24V engine will fly if you hit the gas! I just noticed last night it has the "homelink" rear-view mirror which can be used to replace the old garage door opener!
I've found a few things I'd like to upgrade on the car, the horn was just too "sissy-ish", the radio doesn't have any digital hookups, and I'd like to install a remote starting kit for the convenience of having the car cooled down/warmed up.
