E-tek Restorations: PROJECT THREAD

[Omphaloskeptic]

Heck yeah E-Tek, any Joe Schmo can have a painted Z, but only 'The Magician of Metal' can successfully pull an all metal-finish Z out of his hat! Abracadabra Presto-Voila!

 

[tfreer85]

Oooh rusty Z's, I love and hate you at the same time. Mine keeps sprouting rust and it sits in a garage in the desert... Keep up the good work!!

 

[e-tek]

Thanks guys. I realized today that since my meetings in Vancouver will run 3 days that will make up my week - so today could be a shop day!

So, I got the smaller floor pieces welded in the 240 and the rail prepped for installation upon I return.

Then I got more done on the (early) flathead teardown. I want it to go to the engine shop for a hot tank and magnaflux. So far it looks clean enough that it may not need any machining.

Now for something a little different. We bought these tiles on the Amalfi Coast in Italy a couple years back and finally decided to mount them. I glued the tiles to a piece of ply, then Mrs E cracked some tile for the mosaic. I cut and painted the edging out of scrap aluminum I had and we grouted it together. It'll be the nicest house number sign in Saskatoon!

Lastly, I cleaned up, painted and put some decals on my jack - just for fun!

 

[e-tek]

Today I got my roller-retrofit kit from BendPak installed on my lift's jack. When I bought it all a few years back I ended up with a slider jack for some reason, which worked fine in most situations, but sometimes it was difficult to move - especially if I had a truck on the lift and wanted to slide the jack with little head room....

Anyways, being very customer-centered, BendPak made me a great deal on a set of rollers on arms that replace the ones with the sliders attached. Thanks Jeff!!

Here it is with the sliders:

The arms with rollers instead:

Lowered the lift with a stool and board under the jack to lift it above the ramps:

Out with the sliders, in with the rollers:

Done!

 

[e-tek]

Had a couple things on my fabrication list, so I banged them off today....

I needed to use my O/A torch to make one item and since I'd been needing a torch-stand I decided to make that first. Of course that necessitated moving my welding set-up, which had a leaky tire....

So first, I removed the air valves from both wheels, filled them with some Green tire-repair Gel, re-inserted the valves and pumped the tires back up. Step 1 done.

Now, on to the torch stand. Looking through my scrap bin I found some pieces that would work. A sliced a piece of exhaust tube in half, ground the mounting piece so it'd sit at an angle and welded it all up - Voila, Step 2 done.

Finally.....I had made a Flathead valve retainer removal tool some time ago and one of our members, Sweet Old Bill saw it and asked me to make him one. No problemo!

Here's how you use it - the tool fits around the block and the pointed end fits into a hole in the valve spring retainers (Horseshoe clip). With a large bar releasing the spring pressure you can sometimes just pry the horseshoe clip out, but sometimes you need to use some hammer-persuasion, either way, it works!

How's this for packaging?! It ships tomorrow.

 

[Sweet Old Bill]

e-tek,

Thanks again for the help. I am looking forward to putting the Valve Tool to work. I hope that you & your family enjoy the dinner!

 

[e-tek]

e-tek,

Thanks again for the help. I am looking forward to putting the Valve Tool to work. I hope that you & your family enjoy the dinner!

No worries Bill. If I can help keep the membership in tools, then I've done my part!!

After that and changing out the EGR in my Dodge, I got the other floor trimmed and tacked onto the 240Z. These floors haven't looked this good since it left Japan!

 

[richtersrodz]

E-tek,

I don't know how you find the time... I really don't. Maybe one day, when I win the lottery and quit my 9-5, I'll find the time to build one of my three projects sitting behind my house.. Keep the pictures coming, and I'll keep dreaming... ha ha ha..

I like that flathead tool you made. You make this stuff look easy sometimes. I have a '50 8BA for my model A, but I haven't even taken the heads off of it yet. Fingers crossed it's not cracked. But if it is, it will become garage art.

Thanks for the inspiration..

 

[e-tek]

E-tek,

I don't know how you find the time... I really don't. Maybe one day, when I win the lottery and quit my 9-5, I'll find the time to build one of my three projects sitting behind my house.. Keep the pictures coming, and I'll keep dreaming... ha ha ha..

I like that flathead tool you made. You make this stuff look easy sometimes. I have a '50 8BA for my model A, but I haven't even taken the heads off of it yet. Fingers crossed it's not cracked. But if it is, it will become garage art.

Thanks for the inspiration..

Thanks for that - means a lot!

 

[e-tek]

Today my next project showed up: a 1940 Ford with a 5.0L Ford (from a Gran Marquis), Mustang II front suspension (welded to the original frame), Chev rear-end ....and the rest of it in boxes.

Of course it comes with a ton of parts....some original to the car, some to the engine, some sourced from ebay. As well, lots of aftermarket bits and pieces, like a vintage air system, Lokar cables, power window kits, remote openers....the works.

Here's the owner showing me the grill pieces - which gives one a glimpse of how cool these where....

I'm tasked with putting it all together. From the engine and its computer management system, to the interior which requires everything from a custom console, seat bracketry, power door openers and regulators, hood and trunk mechanisms, brake system, fuel lines, power steering to rack and pinion set-up, Vintage air system set up.....lights, bumpers and **phew*** just listing it is making me tired....

Looks like the 240Z will be going back into hibernation.

 

[e-tek]

Today was partly a cleanup and chore day....

Started by detailing the Mini Cooper and Ultra-Detailed my beautiful Caravan!

... this is the mirror I broke and repaired:

Sorry for the blurry pic....

Then I installed Low-pressure Sodium yard light on the bird house stand (the birds are gonna HATE me!):

After cutting the grass, oiling doors, putting up hooks in the boys rooms ("Hang up your ****!), I got a little more done on the 240 before turning my attention to the 40 Ford Rod.

I wanted a better transition from the old to new rail, so I made up a piece that would bridge the gap:

Bought this great chisel set with removable ends last week - a real nice set that I could have used hundreds of times over the years!

 

[Omphaloskeptic]

E-Tek, what amazes me is that you have a REAL JOB and yet, you seem not only to have 'a lot of irons in the fire', but you took the time to make the irons! To top it all off, you even took pictures and explain how to make the irons; have you cloned yourself or what?

 

[JC23]

Like we discussed previously, it's too bad we don't live closer to one another. You have plenty of kool stuff that should be introduced to my brushes.

But after seeing just much of that kool stuff you actually have, maybe it's good thing there are miles between us. If I wuz painting all yer stuff, I would have no time fer my on!

Digging the 40! Whatcha gonna do to it?

 

[theoldwizard1]

Today my next project showed up: a 1940 Ford with a 5.0L Ford (from a Gran Marquis), ...

The 5.0L should have either an EEC-IV or V. Pretty straight forward to wire, just make certain ALL of the sensors are hooked up !

Depending on what year, the tank vent/carbon canister/vapor management could be a pain.

 

[e-tek]

Would be nice to have a few "like-minded" blokes around for sure!

Wizard - Thanks, I PM'd you. Rather than clog this thread up, if you or anyone has any tips or tricks to installing this harness, engine, or parts, please PM or email me anytime!

 

[Motown 454]

I love the front end on the 40 Ford, This should be fun watching it go together.

 

[yucholian]

Bought this great chisel set with removable ends last week - a real nice set that I could have used hundreds of times over the years!

Where did you get the chisel set?

 

[e-tek]

Where did you get the chisel set?

Princess Auto - it's a Pro-Point

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

Now for something a little different. We bought these tiles on the Amalfi Coast in Italy a couple years back and finally decided to mount them. I glued the tiles to a piece of ply, then Mrs E cracked some tile for the mosaic. I cut and painted the edging out of scrap aluminum I had and we grouted it together. It'll be the nicest house number sign in Saskatoon!

Ed,
Good on you for doing the things that keep Mrs. E happy.
Keep the home fires lit and you'll never regret it....someday your kids will thank you for it - not that you need anyone to tell you that.

 

[e-tek]

Ed,
Good on you for doing the things that keep Mrs. E happy.
Keep the home fires lit and you'll never regret it....someday your kids will thank you for it - not that you need anyone to tell you that.

HaHa - yes, I learned that long ago. The "Honey-do" list always takes priority!!

 

[richtersrodz]

HaHa - yes, I learned that long ago. The "Honey-do" list always takes priority!!

Oh yes... Got to keep the wife happy.. otherwise we won't get to see any more of your cool avatars.

 

[Omphaloskeptic]

Oh yes... Got to keep the wife happy.. otherwise we won't get to see any more of your cool avatars.

E-Tek, keep the Mrs. happy by all means! Love that avatar and hope to see more!

 

[e-tek]

E-Tek, keep the Mrs. happy by all means! Love that avatar and hope to see more!

You mean like this? You guys are too much!

 

[Omphaloskeptic]

Yep!

 

[HOTFR8]

C'mon Ed we need to see a bigger photo than that. My eyes are not as good as they used to be.

 

[vegar]

Not if you add a couple of leaves to the springs on that side. Something that I noticed when I was looking at Google pictures of Cuban cars, a lot of them have straight axles on cars that didn't come with straight axles. Being that they are not gassers I figure that the bodies have been mounted on old Russian truck chassis.

I am not sure where the chassis are from, but a lot of them are using old jap diesel engines. I think they are just using whatever they get theyr hands on to keep them running.

This is a pic of our favorite taxies in Havana. We used it a lot on our trip there

A couple more pics from our trip there are found here:
http://http://s5.photobucket.com/albums/y171/vegarj/Cuba/#!cpZZ1QQtppZZ20


Sorry about the OT E-tek

 

[richtersrodz]

C'mon Ed we need to see a bigger photo than that. My eyes are not as good as they used to be.

What he said....

 

[tdkkart]

C'mon Ed we need to see a bigger photo than that. My eyes are not as good as they used to be.

Neither is your heart, smaller pictures are safer........

 

[HOTFR8]

What he said....

Neither is your heart, smaller pictures are safer........

A guy can only ask.

 

[richtersrodz]

A guy can only ask.

I'll submit my vote for a bigger shot of the one on the hood, if he's taking requests..

Now back to the other awsomeness..

 

[e-tek]

Ok boys, let's get back on track here.....

Sweet Old Bill got the Flathead Valve Tool I made and sent him, here it is on a truck where he works. I believe he'll be posting it in use shortly....(watch your knuckles Bill!)

 

[e-tek]

Check out my blog for todays progress on the 40 Ford!

http://e-tekrestorations.blogspot.ca/

 

[customcab]

Darn-it Ed you did it again!! Now where were we?

 

[e-tek]

Darn-it Ed you did it again!! Now where were we?

When?

 

[Omphaloskeptic]

Gosh, E-Tek, with multiple resto's going on at your shop, and the eventual appearance of a Corvette on the horizon, you may have to resort to 'Sub-Threads' somehow. Now the real trick will be to have a separate avatar for each sub-thread! (wink-wink-nudge-nudge-heh-heh)

 

[e-tek]

Talking about "multiple-restos", it's gonna be a BUSY long weekend for me!

Got all the materials needed to build the brake lever and e-brake system, as well as template material for some brackets needed, wiring for battery re-location and much more on the 40 Ford. On that note, check this GREAT way of making a lug on a length of cable to make your own e-brake cable lengths:

Cut a piece of rod or bolt, drill a 3/16" hole thru centre:

Clamp it in a vice and drop a MIG weld on it:

Viola - custom cable end!

Way better than using a set-screw!

Once I get the engine and brake bits sorted out I'll start on the interior - of which a custom console will be the most interesting part, from a build standpoint.

Plus, I plan to do the inner fender under the battery box on the 240Z. Interestingly, I was looking at 383 240z's pics of a 240Z he did years ago and this photo of his is the EXACT job I'll be doing on mine - guess they all rotted here.

Then I'll cut out the quarter panels and inner fenders.

Oh ya - Owner of the Cougar said he'll be done the suspension pieces this weekend too, so next week we'll be getting that one into roller status so it can head to the paint shop!

Memories....

 

[Omphaloskeptic]

We're looking forward to more progress pics!

That's a slick way to add a ferrule to a cable; sure beats the expense of a swage tool.

Will the console be 'scratch built' or are you going to customize a donor?

I'm still amazed at how much work went into the Cougar, but it sure came out well!

 

[e-tek]

We're looking forward to more progress pics!

That's a slick way to add a ferrule to a cable; sure beats the expense of a swage tool.

Will the console be 'scratch built' or are you going to customize a donor?

I'm still amazed at how much work went into the Cougar, but it sure came out well!

Thanks O - appreciate all your input here. It's not that a swage tool is expensive, but you want to be able to remove these cables in various circumstance (like when needing replacement).

The console will be 100% custom, just not sure if it'll be a fiberglass buck, all metal, or what.

 

[e-tek]

Long weekend!!! Updates all weekend on the blog: www.E-tekRestorations.blogspot.com

 

[Kevin54]

E-Tek...if you did it, shame on you. You know better!!! I guessing you just staged this for the photo shoot.

BUT....for the others that don't know, never drill a piece like this in the location it's in. If it grabs, it kicks around. You're not supposed to wear glove at a drill press so if your holding it with your bare hands, you stand the chance of possibly getting a good gash out of it. Rotate the part around so it is up against the drill column. If that is not possible, run a bolt up through the table slot to act as a stop.

Just wanted to mention it before anyone gets hurt. We had a guy at work that had his thumb ripped off because of unsafe drill press practices.