rixtrix1
Well-known member
Thx, JB. Thanks for sharing all your endeavors. Best wishes to you and yours!
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Sent from my SM-J320V using Tapatalk
Above 1200 Sq/FT The Warthog Hidey Hole
- Thread starter jbmatth
- Start date
Wokspaces above 1200 squarefeet.
shortykorte
Well-known member
May you and yours have a merry Christmas.
rmack898
Well-known member
JB,
Just stopped in to wish you and your family a Merry Christmas.
Looking forward to your "Year in review" post for 2018.
Just stopped in to wish you and your family a Merry Christmas.
Looking forward to your "Year in review" post for 2018.
All,
Wow, thank you for all the well wishes in the holiday season, they are greatly appreciated.
Drives,
Some early and some late, but I'm looking forward to opening them when the time comes.
Thanks 1/2, I'm interested to see how it goes as well, hopefully it goes well but we shall see. Nothing parts and time can't fix though.
Joe,
Everyone could use a little more power from time to time.
Mack,
I need to get cracking on that one, it always takes a few hours to get it all together.
All,
It was a great Christmas and all involved were very happy. The man in the red suit brought the girls new bicycles, they are getting better but still need practice on them. The big gift my wife and I picked up for each other was a dryer a couple week ago and settled for $20 gifts otherwise. I did receive a few more packages from the man in the brown suit though. They are starting to stack up:
I started pulling parts off to begin pulling the body again but no photos yet, things are tight up there getting the radiator hoses off! Other than that I finished another wiring harness, this one is for my brother's '68 Camaro, he should be pleased...if it works.
JB
Wow, thank you for all the well wishes in the holiday season, they are greatly appreciated.
Drives,
Some early and some late, but I'm looking forward to opening them when the time comes.
JB thats some nice shiny gear you have got there, it will be interesting to see how your foray into forced induction goes..
Merry Christmas and a great New Year to you and yours..
Thanks 1/2, I'm interested to see how it goes as well, hopefully it goes well but we shall see. Nothing parts and time can't fix though.
Joe,
Everyone could use a little more power from time to time.
Mack,
I need to get cracking on that one, it always takes a few hours to get it all together.
All,
It was a great Christmas and all involved were very happy. The man in the red suit brought the girls new bicycles, they are getting better but still need practice on them. The big gift my wife and I picked up for each other was a dryer a couple week ago and settled for $20 gifts otherwise.
I did receive a few more packages from the man in the brown suit though. They are starting to stack up:I started pulling parts off to begin pulling the body again but no photos yet, things are tight up there getting the radiator hoses off! Other than that I finished another wiring harness, this one is for my brother's '68 Camaro, he should be pleased...if it works.
JB
Attachments
![IMG_8249[1].jpg](/forum/data/attachments/714/714483-02036d9fa3615c6b517a02e6739bfb7a.jpg)
All,
2018 has been a great year as many are, I’ll start off with the worst news I had all year but will go to happy stuff after that to help make up for it. As you may remember I had to say goodbye to my grandfather earlier this year. It has gotten easier, but I still think about him and his infectious smile:
???
2018 was filled with lots of car related projects from working on my parent’s spare car to help them out for a bit. No photos, it was boring even for me. I did work on the ’57 on two occasions in 2018 the first I mention was actually finishing the install of the C4 front and rear suspension:
View media item 79706
Then it moved out with some help from my helper Cat:
View media item 79708
With that out of the way the Little Blue Truck started to take over the shop:
View media item 79906
Following it was the donor truck:
View media item 80066
Body off and pull the engine in the donor and on to the S10 while the new engine sat and waited:
View media item 80209
Engine in, body back on and working all the little details that needed finished up and solved:
View media item 81052
Eventually they were all picked through and I could start driving it around:
View media item 81375
Sometimes even if that meant hurting a tire:
"Test Drive:
I built a lift attachment for the mower:
I built a very crude grinder and buffer stand that really isn’t used very often at all so I may end up donating it to a buddy:
Thanks to some help from Andy my wife got a trivet for Mothers day:
Found and fixed a header pipe failure on The Warthog:
View media item 82611
More to come,
JB
2018 has been a great year as many are, I’ll start off with the worst news I had all year but will go to happy stuff after that to help make up for it. As you may remember I had to say goodbye to my grandfather earlier this year. It has gotten easier, but I still think about him and his infectious smile:
???
2018 was filled with lots of car related projects from working on my parent’s spare car to help them out for a bit. No photos, it was boring even for me.
I did work on the ’57 on two occasions in 2018 the first I mention was actually finishing the install of the C4 front and rear suspension:View media item 79706
Then it moved out with some help from my helper Cat:
View media item 79708
With that out of the way the Little Blue Truck started to take over the shop:
View media item 79906
Following it was the donor truck:
View media item 80066
Body off and pull the engine in the donor and on to the S10 while the new engine sat and waited:
View media item 80209
Engine in, body back on and working all the little details that needed finished up and solved:
View media item 81052
Eventually they were all picked through and I could start driving it around:
View media item 81375
Sometimes even if that meant hurting a tire:
"Test Drive:
I built a lift attachment for the mower:
I built a very crude grinder and buffer stand that really isn’t used very often at all so I may end up donating it to a buddy:
Thanks to some help from Andy my wife got a trivet for Mothers day:
Found and fixed a header pipe failure on The Warthog:
View media item 82611
More to come,
JB
Attachments
To continue on I visited Andy on a few occasions to donate to his cause and learn form a very generous person. On one of the earlier trips I mentioned the trivet, he also gave me one of the limited edition hammer that I've been able to put to use a couple of times:
As well as more recently when he cast the cross member for Project Pinkie Pi:
Speaking of Pinkie Pi and continuing out of order I brought it over to the lift so I could continue the work on getting the engine and trans mounted which meant some additional frame stiffening and engine mounts:
While I was at it I installed the front say bar and made shock mounts. With the "new" TR6060 trans I picked up earlier in the summer:
I picked up 4wd Suburban to take the engine and trans for future use:
I also used the frame as an engine run stand:
That was put to use along with a standalone harness I made from the donor to test run the engine and do some tuning on my brothers donor engine from yet another Chevy truck:
Out of order timeline wise but some of the stories just play well together so I'll keep going.
More to come,
JB
As well as more recently when he cast the cross member for Project Pinkie Pi:
Speaking of Pinkie Pi and continuing out of order I brought it over to the lift so I could continue the work on getting the engine and trans mounted which meant some additional frame stiffening and engine mounts:
While I was at it I installed the front say bar and made shock mounts. With the "new" TR6060 trans I picked up earlier in the summer:
I picked up 4wd Suburban to take the engine and trans for future use:
I also used the frame as an engine run stand:
That was put to use along with a standalone harness I made from the donor to test run the engine and do some tuning on my brothers donor engine from yet another Chevy truck:
Out of order timeline wise but some of the stories just play well together so I'll keep going.
More to come,
JB
Attachments
With the Little Blue Truck running well enough it was time to do one last last minute project, make a hidden hitch before leaving on the Hot Rod Power Tour:
That is where we met up with a great group of friends and saw many amazing hot rods from around the country and even world:
While on this trip I found and purchased some used C6 Corvette wheels and tires I swapped into the Little Blue Truck along with a limited slip rear axle that as of Christmas Eve I can assure you both tires now spin:
Shortly after returning the lift kit came in for my wife's Jeep so we installed that:
I also took a few minutes to fix my in-laws truck before selling it on to fund other projects:
It was only part of one day but I helped to tune up a '53 Chevy that was a friend of a friend's for his ailing grandmother:
Sadly she didn't get to ride in it before her passing but she did get to see it running. This was about the time school was getting ready to start and I'd promised my youngest daughter I'd build her a bed of her choice and she chose Scooby Do:
More to come,
JB
That is where we met up with a great group of friends and saw many amazing hot rods from around the country and even world:
While on this trip I found and purchased some used C6 Corvette wheels and tires I swapped into the Little Blue Truck along with a limited slip rear axle that as of Christmas Eve I can assure you both tires now spin:
Shortly after returning the lift kit came in for my wife's Jeep so we installed that:
I also took a few minutes to fix my in-laws truck before selling it on to fund other projects:
It was only part of one day but I helped to tune up a '53 Chevy that was a friend of a friend's for his ailing grandmother:
Sadly she didn't get to ride in it before her passing but she did get to see it running. This was about the time school was getting ready to start and I'd promised my youngest daughter I'd build her a bed of her choice and she chose Scooby Do:
More to come,
JB
Attachments
My attention then turned to my '06 Duramax, it was time to finely replace the failing flex plate and starter, I also took the opportunity to do many other repairs that were convenient at the time:
I went with a friend to purchase what would become his newest obsession:
We worked together a few times to upgrade the headlights, brakes, seat belts (by upgrade I really mean install what was missing), and a few other non-essential parts:
I supplied the work space for a co-worker to work on the fanciest car (read most expensive when new) ever in my shop:
I also worked on and off on a welding table that is nearing more complete:
Finely as you have seen recently I'm in the first stages of starting of adding a turbocharger to the Lil' Blue Truck:
Through all of that it is important to spend time with family which I strive for every year, we took Mama's Jeep off road on a few occasion, here is the first one after the Jeep is "done for now":
Funny as I was typing this my wife texted and asked if I could replace the headlights in her Jeep with LED replacements. It'll never be done, but that is her passion and I'm all for supporting it.
We also had a few dozen soccer games and many dozen practices, dance classes with recitals, family trips to hear and there along with many other fun activities. I didn't post photos of a few of the smaller things like the tools I'd acquired from my Aunt, the Jeep Cherokee that was here for no good reason, the many many hours of mowing and tree trimming, small home repairs, three un-planned major appliance replacements this year, etc. I am always amazed at how much I have actually gotten done each year even though at times it feels like I'm spinning in circles. If you have a few minutes I recommend you look through your phone or photos from the last year. It is good to reflect and gain motivation for the upcoming year.
Keep moving forward,
JB
I went with a friend to purchase what would become his newest obsession:
We worked together a few times to upgrade the headlights, brakes, seat belts (by upgrade I really mean install what was missing), and a few other non-essential parts:
I supplied the work space for a co-worker to work on the fanciest car (read most expensive when new) ever in my shop:
I also worked on and off on a welding table that is nearing more complete:
Finely as you have seen recently I'm in the first stages of starting of adding a turbocharger to the Lil' Blue Truck:
Through all of that it is important to spend time with family which I strive for every year, we took Mama's Jeep off road on a few occasion, here is the first one after the Jeep is "done for now":
Funny as I was typing this my wife texted and asked if I could replace the headlights in her Jeep with LED replacements. It'll never be done, but that is her passion and I'm all for supporting it.
We also had a few dozen soccer games and many dozen practices, dance classes with recitals, family trips to hear and there along with many other fun activities. I didn't post photos of a few of the smaller things like the tools I'd acquired from my Aunt, the Jeep Cherokee that was here for no good reason, the many many hours of mowing and tree trimming, small home repairs, three un-planned major appliance replacements this year, etc. I am always amazed at how much I have actually gotten done each year even though at times it feels like I'm spinning in circles. If you have a few minutes I recommend you look through your phone or photos from the last year. It is good to reflect and gain motivation for the upcoming year.
Keep moving forward,
JB
Attachments
Finallygotit
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Holy moly you're a busy guy. Whew, I'm wore out. 
oldironfarmer
Well-known member
Great job JB! I've been looking forward to your "year in review".
Holy moly you're a busy guy. Whew, I'm wore out.
Finally,
It never fails I don't think I'm doing much and then review only to see I actually did get some stuff accomplished. On a side note this was a slow year for vehicles, I only had 4 come in and 3 leave so far and of those I only bought 1 of them, the others were traded labor. I really need to step up my game next year, in '17 I had 8 new ones show up.
Thank you Andy, it is something I enjoy doing and it always nice to scroll through photos from the last year or more.
JB
I guess my year-in-review may have been a bit pre-mature, work has been continuing even if the weather hasn't been great at times. My DD the Green Dragon recently developed a bad noise when hitting the brakes on occasion. I checked it out that day but didn't see anything really wrong. This weekend it was time for an oil change so I dug deeper into it, all of the bolts were tight but then the caliper moved in a strange way and noticed this:
The slide pin seized in the caliper and broke off.
I easily removed the threaded part and removed the caliper bracket to work on pulling the pin. After heating it with a butane torch (Yes I really need to buy a proper OA torch set up) and soaking it with penetrating oil I wasn't having any luck. Fine out comes the welder, after a few heat cycles and more penetrating oil I finely was able to remove it. Then after calling 6 parts stores I found it and I was done with the oil change 3 hours later.
Now onto fun stuff, the Lil' Blue Truck, I pulled the body late last week I believe:
View media item 89393
Then this weekend I pulled the engine and trans out, seperated them and started on the cleanup. I wish I would have done this last year but oh well, no better time than the present I guess:
View media item 89394
It is very nasty but is cleaning up well. I have the intake soaking in a bath of purple power to remove as much of the oil (valve cover breathers) and gunk (Exhaust Gas Re-circulation [EGR]). The engine I started with a shop vac, screw driver, and plastic scraper. I started this morning on the degreaser and brush, this will take a while but I'll feel so much better about it when done. As a side note I'm replacing all of the gaskets I touch and removing the heads to install head studs, new head gaskets, and make installing the springs and stuff easier.
One other side note I tested the compression on the engine stand and was very pleased with the results, the low reading was 173 (on one cylinder) and the high was 180 with all but the one between 175-180. Not bad at all for a 300,000 mile (480,000 Km) engine.
JB
The slide pin seized in the caliper and broke off.
I easily removed the threaded part and removed the caliper bracket to work on pulling the pin. After heating it with a butane torch (Yes I really need to buy a proper OA torch set up) and soaking it with penetrating oil I wasn't having any luck. Fine out comes the welder, after a few heat cycles and more penetrating oil I finely was able to remove it. Then after calling 6 parts stores I found it and I was done with the oil change 3 hours later. Now onto fun stuff, the Lil' Blue Truck, I pulled the body late last week I believe:
View media item 89393
Then this weekend I pulled the engine and trans out, seperated them and started on the cleanup. I wish I would have done this last year but oh well, no better time than the present I guess:
View media item 89394
It is very nasty but is cleaning up well. I have the intake soaking in a bath of purple power to remove as much of the oil (valve cover breathers) and gunk (Exhaust Gas Re-circulation [EGR]). The engine I started with a shop vac, screw driver, and plastic scraper. I started this morning on the degreaser and brush, this will take a while but I'll feel so much better about it when done. As a side note I'm replacing all of the gaskets I touch and removing the heads to install head studs, new head gaskets, and make installing the springs and stuff easier.
One other side note I tested the compression on the engine stand and was very pleased with the results, the low reading was 173 (on one cylinder) and the high was 180 with all but the one between 175-180. Not bad at all for a 300,000 mile (480,000 Km) engine.
JB
Attachments
![IMG_8256[1].jpg](/forum/data/attachments/682/682365-14976b13c82ddaa474109de0e2f8f00d.jpg)
OutlawDrifter
Well-known member
JB, it's hard not to be impressed with an LS. If memory serves, an old 283 SBC could be over bored 120...not just 060 or 030. Most needed rebuilt long before 100k miles...today's tolerances and oils are amazing! I have yet to pull the heads off an LS that didn't show crosshatch in the bores.
I completely agree Outlaw, they are amazing from everything I've seen from them. I'm pulling the heads on this one in the next day or so, hopefully I find similar results. After the compression test I'm convinced I'll be fine. I did take a sample of the oil to send in to have analysed and I'll hopefully get the results back before I have this engine back in the truck.
JB
JB
JohnnieMo
Well-known member
Great year JB. Your bandwidth continues to amaze me. I wish my wife had a passion for Jeeps.
Sent from my iPhone using Garage Journal
Sent from my iPhone using Garage Journal
oldironfarmer
Well-known member
A couple of turns of baling wire would have kept the caliper from moving around until the other guide bolt broke.
Great year JB. Your bandwidth continues to amaze me. I wish my wife had a passion for Jeeps.
Sent from my iPhone using Garage Journal
Thank you JohnnieMo, it was a good year, but as always I just don't feel like I make much progress at times. Be careful what you wish for.
I like the Jeep for Jeep things, but as a family car...not so much. They are something you can dump a bunch of time and money into and won't get that much back out, but on the other hand resale value is really good for them.A couple of turns of baling wire would have kept the caliper from moving around until the other guide bolt broke.
I have probably put 200 miles on it how it was so I shouldn't have been too worried, the wheel would have kept it from falling off. A bright spot is the pads had a ton of life left on them and I know I haven't changed them in the 50k miles I've driven it.
JB
Work continues on the Lil Blue Truck, I have the sides of the block and oil pan about as clean as I care to get them for now, I'm not going to paint it so no reason to get it perfect, I just want it less of a mess than before. So here is what I really started with in a close up shot:
After cleaning one of the valve covers:
View media item 89471
Again I'm very impressed with how clean this engine is on the inside:
Just as Outlaw predicted I still have crosshatching on the cylinder bores. The only real dirty parts on the inside of the engine are the parts where the EGR (Exhaust Gas Recirculation) and PCV (Positive Crankcase Ventilation) were, throttle body, intake manifold, intake runners, and piston tops. All will be cleaned some but may not be factory new looking.
Such a big difference in the overall look of them, I cleaned one of the heads and installed the new dual springs, retainers, seals, and seats:
View media item 89472
The valve spring tool above is new and works great, I would highly suggest if you do this on an LS you get one.
More cleaning and partial assembly to come.
Keep moving forward,
JB
After cleaning one of the valve covers:
View media item 89471
Again I'm very impressed with how clean this engine is on the inside:
Just as Outlaw predicted I still have crosshatching on the cylinder bores. The only real dirty parts on the inside of the engine are the parts where the EGR (Exhaust Gas Recirculation) and PCV (Positive Crankcase Ventilation) were, throttle body, intake manifold, intake runners, and piston tops. All will be cleaned some but may not be factory new looking.
Such a big difference in the overall look of them, I cleaned one of the heads and installed the new dual springs, retainers, seals, and seats:
View media item 89472
The valve spring tool above is new and works great, I would highly suggest if you do this on an LS you get one.
More cleaning and partial assembly to come.
Keep moving forward,
JB
Attachments
mybigwarwagon
Well-known member
Glad to see you are getting some quality shop time in.
Here is the situation at my place.
https://scontent-atl3-1.**.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/49069681_10157245566809739_4128221637478711296_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.**&oh=307179fc7a330ba8832540e5a32b5ae9&oe=5CD6AEB0
And it is supposed to rain tomorrow.
Here is the situation at my place.
https://scontent-atl3-1.**.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/49069681_10157245566809739_4128221637478711296_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.**&oh=307179fc7a330ba8832540e5a32b5ae9&oe=5CD6AEB0
And it is supposed to rain tomorrow.
E.rodz
Well-known member
Good to see you are making progress working through your ADD. Lol. Hope things are starting to settle down a bit and you can get back on the 57. What do you think about turbo power ?? Pretty impressive isn’t it!
Well that just looks like fun...if you were a pig.
We have gotten a little rain over the past week and it doesn't want to dry up much. Luckily it isn't too bad, just lots of cleaning, I now know why I don't clean very often, it just takes so long.Haha thank you E.rodz, I'm making progress and really just want this thing to be clean and leak free when I put it back in so I only have to worry about the gravel and mud from my road in the future. The only turbo vehicle I've had before are diesel trucks but they were pretty impressive for the size. I've ridden in one turbo ls car before, however, it was a complete different animal, it was around 900 hp at that time and was closer to 1,200 when he was hit at the track and totaled the car. That was nuts! Really looking forward to getting it back on the road.
JB
Well more progress has been made but it has been very slow. Cleaning 17 years of grime off of an engine takes a lot of time. The cam is in with a new oil pump and timing chain:
View media item 89670
As you can see the heads and valve covers look much better than before:
View media item 89394
It was at this point I realized I didn't order the timing chain cover gasket So rather than spend $20 and wait a week I picked one up locally for $45. 
Back in business I finished installing everything else I can until I install the engine back in the frame:
View media item 89671
I cleaned the transmission and started on the frame but I have a ways to go on that still. I plan to test the compression again before installing the engine, it'll be interesting to see how much that changes with the new cam.
JB
View media item 89670
As you can see the heads and valve covers look much better than before:
View media item 89394
It was at this point I realized I didn't order the timing chain cover gasket
So rather than spend $20 and wait a week I picked one up locally for $45. Back in business I finished installing everything else I can until I install the engine back in the frame:View media item 89671
I cleaned the transmission and started on the frame but I have a ways to go on that still. I plan to test the compression again before installing the engine, it'll be interesting to see how much that changes with the new cam.
JB
Finallygotit
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Looking good JB.
drivesitfar
Well-known member
JB: I've never rebuilt an engine or did much work on my cars especially since 1975 when it seemed you needed to buy a new tool or computer to do so, but I sure like watching guys post pictures and talk about it so maybe one day i'll take on an old truck and try it.
looks like you were the ALPHA DOG in the shop today cause looks like the engine is almost ready to install. WELL DONE!!!
another thing you might do if you have a fair amount of mud you have to walk over or around is maybe buy some 4x6 or 4x8 rubber mats that are 3/4 inch thick. most equestrian centers up here carry them cause the farms like them for their horses and I guess the cows too. I put them in my garage cause I had a gym in there for years. I know the 2x8's are probably a bit cheaper, but you can keep using these thick rubber mats for years and years once you own them. the 4x6's I own probably weigh about 80-90 pounds each so when you put them down they usually stay put.
keep up the good work.
looks like you were the ALPHA DOG in the shop today cause looks like the engine is almost ready to install. WELL DONE!!!
another thing you might do if you have a fair amount of mud you have to walk over or around is maybe buy some 4x6 or 4x8 rubber mats that are 3/4 inch thick. most equestrian centers up here carry them cause the farms like them for their horses and I guess the cows too. I put them in my garage cause I had a gym in there for years. I know the 2x8's are probably a bit cheaper, but you can keep using these thick rubber mats for years and years once you own them. the 4x6's I own probably weigh about 80-90 pounds each so when you put them down they usually stay put.
keep up the good work.
Looking good JB.
Thank you Finally, it just takes so long to clean all of these nasty parts. I sure hope I don't have any oil leaks or I might just cry.
Thank you Drives, this is the most I've ever gotten into an engine, at this point the only thing I've never replaced on an engine are bearings and rings. It is pretty simple really, just like anything mechanical the parts all went together at some point, take them off the opposite way and install them back when done. Simple
JB
Growlertdi
Well-known member
Wow, those Heads and valve covers really cleaned up nice, I didn't even know they were aluminum after seeing the before picture the first time you posted it.
Good job!
Good job!
1/2 Cup
Member Emeritus
Top job JB it cleaned up well.
It is really sad how nasty it was, and that I was too lazy last year when I installed it, I should have cleaned it then. I'm not an expert on the gen 3 or 4 engines (LS based) but they almost all had aluminum heads. I believe there were a few early on in the truck line that were cast iron but don't quote me on that.
Top job JB it cleaned up well.
Thanks 1/2, not as clean as the heads you've been working with lately but they should get the job done.
All,
A note to file, if you ever have to install a crank pulley on an LS engine they are a press fit. Many people will use the bolt that came out to pull the pulley onto the crank snout, and will get away with it. I'm not a fan of that, a previous 383 I owned had stripped threads from doing just that. I have a fair amount of extra hardware so I just planned to make something work. That didn't pan out as the threads are M16 x 2.0 and I didn't have any long enough bolts. I thought about a few options but in the end it was just better to order the tool. At $15 it isn't worth the risk of tearing up a crank, when it arrives later this week I'll get it installed, put on a fresh oil filter and new oil to test compression again.
JB
OutlawDrifter
Well-known member
JB, you found a steal on the tool! I built mine out of some grade 10.9 metric "all thread".
OutlawDrifter
Well-known member
That will make it identical to mine!
Not a lot to really report on, still cleaning more but this time on the frame, it is much nicer and I really should paint it but... Yeah I really should... Oh well.
I received the crank pulley install too and it worked but I don't think I could have used it without having a second nut to use as a jam nut. I tested compression this morning and was surprised I got as high as 235 on a couple of cylinders. I was also surprised I got as low as 190. I guess I'll have to do a leak down test and see if I have a valve sealing issue, hopefully it can be solved by lapping the valves.
I only have 3 more weeks before I start working nights on a turnaround for a month so hopefully I can get it done and together by then so I can tune on it a bit.
Keep moving forward,
JB
I received the crank pulley install too and it worked but I don't think I could have used it without having a second nut to use as a jam nut. I tested compression this morning and was surprised I got as high as 235 on a couple of cylinders. I was also surprised I got as low as 190.
I guess I'll have to do a leak down test and see if I have a valve sealing issue, hopefully it can be solved by lapping the valves. I only have 3 more weeks before I start working nights on a turnaround for a month so hopefully I can get it done and together by then so I can tune on it a bit.
Keep moving forward,
JB
XJSuperman
Well-known member
Better order a gallon of POR15 for all the stuff you work on.
I should have ordered it a couple weeks ago. I'm not worried about painting most of the parts on the truck I'm working on for now but the frame seems like it was only painted with grease. I'm just using a stiff bristle brush and simple green to clean it but 90% cleans up to bare metal. Good news is no rust at least.
JB
OutlawDrifter
Well-known member
Some good oil based implement paint will do a decent job JB. That is what I used on the frame of the '49.
Outlaw,
Too bad I didn't read this before now, I painted it with some semi-gloss black I had and now have the engine back in the truck:
View media item 89806
Before installing it I did install it into the "test stand", wired it all up connected it to a battery and hit the starter. To my surprise it started almost instantly. It idled as well as could be expected for an engine with a larger cam and no tuning, it eventually got oil to the valve train and ran like a top...well a top that needs a tune.
I have the headers installed and am working on the exhaust now and I can already tell I need more exhaust pipe.
I'll put an order in today and see how far I can get until it arrives. Stainless isn't cheap and making a mistake could be costly.JB
RickP
Well-known member
Before installing it I did install it into the "test stand", wired it all up connected it to a battery and hit the starter. To my surprise it started almost instantly. It idled as well as could be expected for an engine with a larger cam and no tuning, it eventually got oil to the valve train and ran like a top...well a top that needs a tune.
I have the headers installed and am working on the exhaust now and I can already tell I need more exhaust pipe.
JB
I'm finally caught up on your thread again after getting behind for several months - you've been busy. I enjoyed reading your year in review, and it highlighted just how busy your shop has been!
I'm really impressed by your engine test stand - that's a really useful and convenient tool, especially with all the engine swaps you do. At your current pace, I'm sure you'll have the truck running before the turnaround starts.
Rick,
Thanks for catching up, I'm sure you noticed I like to ramble on at times. I try to stay busy, no need to let grass grow under my feet.
Speaking of the engine swap I'm knee deep in working on the exhaust after two mornings of working on it I have made 1 weld.
Yeah I know what gives right? Well my welding helmet quite on me, it was an auto darkening helmet that stopped auto darkening for some reason. I tried to find a way to replace the batteries but couldn't in my limited time by that point, it has lasted 7 years now so I decided to retire it. Picked up a new helmet, opened it today only to find it was missing one of the hinge "bolts" and of course the old helmet's bolts were different. I rigged it up for the time being and was able to make one weld before leaving for work.I'll show some photos later but my first SS exhaust welds weren't perfect but seemed acceptable. Something I noticed was that even using mandrel bends they don't come out perfectly round so there is a slight step between the two of them, but less than the thickness of the pipe wall so I'm not too worried about it.
More to come tomorrow hopefully,
JB