Above 1200 Sq/FT The Warthog Hidey Hole

[jbmatth]

I'd been working on the cobra on and off since October and the garage was really showing it's wear. I decided it was time to fix that, pulled the car out and pulled a truck load of what is now trash out, there wasn't that much in there I swear. Power washed the floor and now everything seems much better:

Oh yeah there is still this:

I need to be able to at least move it around some so I can pull the engine and I really don't want to destroy it so I came up with a short term plan:

Pulled the pushrods and the rockers as well:

My thinking is this will keep the cam off of those lifters, the oil will not just dump into those lifter bores and nothing else will hit. It should be good enough to move it around until I come up with my final plan, all back together now and timed:

Still sounds good, but I hate having a dead cylinder, man I really want to get it fixed and go play.

Speaking of getting things fixed, I pulled the transfer case on the new white truck because of excessive play on the output shaft of the transfer case:

Pretty quick to get it out, the case was covered in gunk so I decided to power wash it since I was going to be pulling it apart anyway. My first surprise was when I was going to drain the fluid and only got 3 ounces out of it. That is when I noticed this:

Pretty much that just means the case is shot, I think there might be some repairs I could do to make it work but in reality it is cheaper to just buy another transfer case.

Okay, that brings us back up to date, I don't need to procrastinate as much as I do.

JB

 

[Pressingonward]

Bummer on the tcase, but glad you found it in the garage and not out wheeling...

 

[OutlawDrifter]

JB, those plates are cool.

That transfercase issue is common, if memory serves...they like to get loose and eat the case.

I'm glad you got to head for the mountains in the S10...hopefully the boost counteracted the altitude!

 

[zmotorsports]

***** about the pump rub issue on the T-case.

I've repaired a lot of those over the years as well as installed pump rub kits prior to having the anti-rattle clip destroyed.

I'll bet your local GM dealer has a rear half of the TC in stock as this is very common.

 

[zmotorsports]

Didn't have any sandy beaches but did find the top of this mountain:

Ahhh. I can't wait until my annual Colorado trip. Hope we can make it this year with all of the BS going on. I love that view.

 

[jbmatth]

Bummer on the tcase, but glad you found it in the garage and not out wheeling...

Part of the reason I got the truck was because I knew the T case was hurting but hoped it would just be a bearing.

JB, those plates are cool.

That transfercase issue is common, if memory serves...they like to get loose and eat the case.

I'm glad you got to head for the mountains in the S10...hopefully the boost counteracted the altitude!

I'd heard of pump rub before and know they even make a kit for it. Sadly this was a spring clip that ate the case here. It may be repairable, but a used one from a pull a part is only $125 here localish. If I don't find one first from a few friends I've asked.

***** about the pump rub issue on the T-case.

I've repaired a lot of those over the years as well as installed pump rub kits prior to having the anti-rattle clip destroyed.

I'll bet your local GM dealer has a rear half of the TC in stock as this is very common.

The anti-rattle clip was like many that fail stuck to the magnet. Luckily that hadn't holed through, the hole was from the spring clip on the output shaft bearing. Either way the case is most likely trashed and all of the bearings I've gotten to thus far are also trashed. Luckily it only takes 15 minutes to get the case out so even a trip to the junk yard won't be too bad.

Ahhh. I can't wait until my annual Colorado trip. Hope we can make it this year with all of the BS going on. I love that view.

Hopefully you get to go, I haven't been there in 10 years now, but it is still just as awesome to see and experience.

JB

 

[BUGTHUG]

glad you enjoyed the plates. I was wondering who might like those
And then it dawned on meI know someone with that name, I know he will love a Kansas plate living in Oklahoma.
Where did you go in Colorado ? I've never seen the Caddy before, it wasn't on I 70? That's kind of a long drive, about 9 or 10 hours from Wichita to Denver. I use to drive that about ever 2 weeks when I started dating my now wife. Boring from Salina to Hays.
Looks like a fun trip.

 

[jbmatth]

Herb,
I have them on the S10, I figure the worst that could happen is someone in Oklahoma throw orange or red paint on it. Then I could make an art car and just splash paint everywhere on it.

The Caddy is in Flagler, Co. at the I-70 diner. To be honest it was pretty boring for most of the trip, you can't even see the Rockies until you are in Denver traffic. Actually it is hit or miss, I will say this though, Kansas interstates were in much better shape than Colorado's. I think I left a few fillings back there along with a ruptured disc.

JB

 

[ODIS]

Ah yes, procrastination......... something I do so well and continue to practice this art form!

You have some interesting projects at hand. Know you will keep busy.

All the best to you!

 

[jbmatth]

Ah yes, procrastination......... something I do so well and continue to practice this art form!

You have some interesting projects at hand. Know you will keep busy.

All the best to you!

Ody,
I'm sure with enough practice you can master the art of procrastination. However, with your projects and accomplishments I have a tough time believing you've procrastinated too often.

I love your FGT story by the way, they were slightly used when I graduated college and started my carrier. I didn't have the storage space at first living in an apartment so I waited a year until I bought a house and had some cash saved up to start looking for a special car. I believed they had depreciated enough to buy one so I looked up their values. I was wrong, in that year they had appreciated. I didn't think new cars could do that, oh well it would have been a solid investment if I'd have only known.

I'd also looked at air cooled Porsche's, missed that boat too. Oh well, I've had my faux cobra for 10 years now and have had tons of fun with it.

JB

 

[XJSuperman]

....I will say this though, Kansas interstates were in much better shape than Colorado's. I think I left a few fillings back there along with a ruptured disc.

JB

Thats because hippies aren't interested or good at fixing roads.

 

[jbmatth]

If I lived there I would only bike anyway or be off road so you have a point.

JB

 

[mybigwarwagon]

I will say this though, Kansas interstates were in much better shape than Colorado's. I think I left a few fillings back there along with a ruptured disc.

JB

I had to make three trips to just outside of Jackson Mississippi t pick up 3 CUCVs and tow them back. The roads were so bad that on one trip I saw something fly off of the truck, but couldn't tell what it was. A few miles later someone cut me off and I hit the horn button - nothing. The roads had shaken my horn off. I also had to stop twice and tighten up the dash on the truck. That K2500 suburban had some stiff suspension.

 

[jbmatth]

Because there are a few engineers who frequent this thread and it is pertinent to this conversation:

JB

 

[Pressingonward]

Lol!

 

[mybigwarwagon]

I think the 7th air force had a hand in paving the roads around here.

 

[jbmatth]

All,
Well another weekend goes by and I did get some stuff done but not much really to show. Mowed the yard then attended my twin niece's and nephew's birthday party where we dropped the girls off for a week with my parents.

That meant Father's Day was pretty quiet at home, I started it off by putting up my grandparents bell:

One problem, when I was installing it I had to pull the post back out to cut the pole slightly shorter. When I did I lost control of it and dropped it. When it hit the ground I heard the sound of metal breaking. I'd broken the cast iron and knew what that meant, I was ticked to say the least. I had some NiCu7 rod for the tig and decided to give it a try, ground V'd the crack, heated with a butane torch as best I could and went for it, slow cool and it seems to be working so far:

I then spent a few hours on the tractor moving concrete again and getting much closer to being done. It was then time for a quick BBQ with a buddy before bed. Fun fast weekend.

JB

 

[mybigwarwagon]

Hope the bell patch holds. Stinks you dropped it.

 

[jbmatth]

I do as well Willie, I did the best I could to make it last with what I had. If it does fail I can always grind out what I have done and take it to someone better prepared to repair it.

JB

 

[mybigwarwagon]

Hopefully if it fails no one is standing under it. Talk about having your bell rung!

 

[BUGTHUG]

Youre lucky the bell didn't crack. I think something like that happened in Boston, to a Liberty Bell. Famous now, better go see it before the crazies have it removed for being cracked.
I have a bell similar to that one, and I'm in the process of putting my up like that. They are heavy little bastards. Mine is old, bought it at a auction. No sentimental value like coming from a relative.
Speaking of bad roads, the road between Newkirk and Ponca City,has been the same for 40 years now, with no improvement. You would think with all the Casino's around that area they would at least fill some CHUCG holes?

 

[jbmatth]

Hopefully if it fails no one is standing under it. Talk about having your bell rung!

Haha, always one in every crowd.

Youre lucky the bell didn't crack. I think something like that happened in Boston, to a Liberty Bell. Famous now, better go see it before the crazies have it removed for being cracked.
I have a bell similar to that one, and I'm in the process of putting my up like that. They are heavy little bastards. Mine is old, bought it at a auction. No sentimental value like coming from a relative.
Speaking of bad roads, the road between Newkirk and Ponca City,has been the same for 40 years now, with no improvement. You would think with all the Casino's around that area they would at least fill some CHUCG holes?

I remember that bell, I wonder if it still rings or more thuds now. I didn't have it on the pole at the time the incident occurred luckily. It certainly isn't a featherweight, I was able to install it all alone but was really stretching there at the end to reach it.

I'm always intrigued by some of the roads around here, there is one going from Blackwell north about 8 miles, beautiful concrete wide road. Then it ends leaving you driving on gravel for the next 3 miles, no other paved roads to turn off either.

JB

 

[mybigwarwagon]

I'm always intrigued by some of the roads around here, there is one going from Blackwell north about 8 miles, beautiful concrete wide road. Then it ends leaving you driving on gravel for the next 3 miles, no other paved roads to turn off either.

JB

We have roads that go from paved to gravel to dirt several times in a few miles. It is great on suspension components.

 

[rixtrix1]

We have roads that go from paved to gravel to dirt several times in a few miles. It is great on suspension components.

In my home county in Nebraska we had a few roads like that out in the country. The pavement usually stopped just past a County Comissioner's home!

There was one that the pavement stopped at the next county's border, and was then paved again at the Wyoming border. As it was a shortcut to I-80 in Cheyenne and no cops, sheriffs or State Patrolmen. I usually found it didn't slow me down one bit( seldom under 100 in those days!). was SO much fun driving out on the prairie where roads were straight and long with few side entrances. I found driving on gravel just helped prep me for winter and snow!

 

[jbmatth]

We have roads that go from paved to gravel to dirt several times in a few miles. It is great on suspension components.

Sounds like you need some Pre-Runner style suspension and shocks for the truck.

In my home county in Nebraska we had a few roads like that out in the country. The pavement usually stopped just past a County Comissioner's home!

There was one that the pavement stopped at the next county's border, and was then paved again at the Wyoming border. As it was a shortcut to I-80 in Cheyenne and no cops, sheriffs or State Patrolmen. I usually found it didn't slow me down one bit( seldom under 100 in those days!). was SO much fun driving out on the prairie where rods were straight and long with few side entrances. I found driving on gravel just helped prep me for winter and snow!

I've seen that a few times as well, but this road is way over the top for that, if it were slightly wider it could be an interstate. I'm sure there is a great story where no one had lined pockets at all.

I've driven faster on gravel than I should have but rarely break 55 any longer. When they are dry and the gravel makes way for hard packed dirt and clay you can really carry some speed on them.

All,
I'm supposed to pick up a new transfer case today, wish me luck.

JB

 

[jbmatth]

I kept thinking I could go to a junk yard in one of the big cities around and pull the needed transfer case for $125 or so but life just wasn't working in my favor. I finely broke down and bought one from a local place but it was $225 and they pull it plus a $25 core charge. Last minute I decided to not take my core in at first which turned out to be a good choice. The new to me case had been apart in the past so I'd hoped they had done a couple small upgrades on it. I planned to install it and make sure it worked before doing much other work on it. That didn't go so well:

If you can see it, the input shaft is different between the two, same OD but different spline count. Both are NP 261 transfer cases but likely the new one is from an automatic. Well that meant I had to swap the two out, but before doing that I decided to check that the front and rear driveshaft fit easily. Rear, fit great, front...looks like I need to swap that one too because it didn't look like it'd been used in a LONG time. Input shafts swapped using the planetary from the new case:

I started to get them back together when I ran out of time but should have it complete today if I can get the new seals locally. I hope to also get a pump rub kit too if I can find one as well to prevent eventual case failure like what happened to the old case.

JB

 

[zmotorsports]

Are they both NP261's JB or could one be a NP263?

I'm not as familiar with the setups for manual transmission GMT's as I am auto equipped so just curious.

 

[jbmatth]

Are they both NP261's JB or could one be a NP263?

I'm not as familiar with the setups for manual transmission GMT's as I am auto equipped so just curious.

I'd hopped you would comment Mike. Yes they are both NP 261's, both 1575 assembly, but the old one has 3788 and the new one is 3787 (going off of memory here on that number), I assume that is the difference. The front output shaft on the old one had the double tooth groove whereas the new one did not. Photo below of the old tag:

I think changing these shafts will fix everything I need. Sadly I'm not able to get the pump rub kit in before this weekend without paying way too much for it so I'll get it mostly back together and shelve it for a few days.

JB

 

[oldironfarmer]

If it's not one thing it's another, JB! I admire your perseverance.

 

[jbmatth]

If it's not one thing it's another, JB! I admire your perseverance.

Thanks Andy, I guess while I'm waiting on the kit I can pull the engine from the cobra. After giving it some thought I'm pretty much stuck rebuilding what I have again. Well paying someone to do it and not push my luck again, there is a semi-local shop that will rebuild it and do the break in on the dyno hopefully tuning my carb at the same time, win, win, win. It just takes time and money which there is never enough of either.

Nice to have you stop by for a visit, next time I'll get a Coke for you.

JB

 

[zmotorsports]

Sounds like you've done your due diligence on the research JB. I was just curious to make sure they were both NP261's as they are a little harder to come by as compared to the NP263's.

Again, I haven't any first hand experience with a transfer case from behind a manual in many, many years.

Good news is that those inputs are easily swapped around. Many you can swap the entire planetary assembly or simply remove the retainer and swap out the sun gear (input) from the center of the assembly.

 

[jbmatth]

Sounds like you've done your due diligence on the research JB. I was just curious to make sure they were both NP261's as they are a little harder to come by as compared to the NP263's.

Again, I haven't any first hand experience with a transfer case from behind a manual in many, many years.

Good news is that those inputs are easily swapped around. Many you can swap the entire planetary assembly or simply remove the retainer and swap out the sun gear (input) from the center of the assembly.

Mike,
Because of all of the debris in the old transfer case I opted to pull just the sun gear out, give it a good cleaning, and use the new planetary which was much smoother.

To be honest this is the first transfer case I've ever pulled apart, well first and second. Just like the T-5 trans they are really pretty simple and easy to disassemble.

Now that I have you for a second, what do you recommend for pliers to use for the snap rings on these? Also what tool do you use for the seal removal and installation on these as well?

JB

 

[jbmatth]

Mike,
Something strange is going on in the Matrix, I received the notification you'd replied to my thread and could even view the photos when opened via the email. However, I can't even see that you posted here? Either way thanks for getting back to me on the pliers, I need to take a photo of the one's I modified to work.

It may just be that it is still early, but I can't understand how half of the seal pullers would work other than the one with a double hook on the end which I have as well.


All,
Good news is the transfer case is back in the truck and I was able to drive it to town to drop off some scrap metal and get the tag and title in my name. Bad news is the output speed sensor isn't picking up, I'll try swapping it with the one from the other case before digging in deeper. All for now, gotta run.

JB

 

[zmotorsports]

Glad you got the TC back in the truck JB.

Much of what has been posted over the past several days was lost with the forum glitch yesterday and I had already deleted the pictures from my phone. Sorry.

The home made one as well as the last one worked similar. The end would catch the inner lip of the seal and then you would strike the area perpendicular to the shaft with a hammer to remove the seal. This is without a shaft going through the seal of course.

The smallest of the seal removers is one I bought for motorcycle/ATV work as it works well to remove shift shaft seals without having to fully disassemble the engine or side case. It works well in "most" situations.

 

[Nlped]

Saw this today and immediately thought you needed this!

https://www.roadandtrack.com/car-culture/a33010324/ford-73-liter-godzilla-v-8-crate-engine/


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[jbmatth]

Glad you got the TC back in the truck JB.

Much of what has been posted over the past several days was lost with the forum glitch yesterday and I had already deleted the pictures from my phone. Sorry.

The home made one as well as the last one worked similar. The end would catch the inner lip of the seal and then you would strike the area perpendicular to the shaft with a hammer to remove the seal. This is without a shaft going through the seal of course.

The smallest of the seal removers is one I bought for motorcycle/ATV work as it works well to remove shift shaft seals without having to fully disassemble the engine or side case. It works well in "most" situations.

I didn't realize there was a glitch in the Matrix at that time, but apparently there had been. I think I see what you are saying, I'll show my home made snap ring pliers in a later post.

Saw this today and immediately thought you needed this!

https://www.roadandtrack.com/car-culture/a33010324/ford-73-liter-godzilla-v-8-crate-engine/


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I've been looking at them more than I should. The biggest hold up for me right now is that they don't come with a computer or wiring. I can make an alternator bracket if needed, but as of now Holley doesn't have a compatible computer to run it just yet but they are working on it. I suspect the intake and throttle body would cause issues but again Holley is working on a solution for that as well. One other big unknown is what manual transmissions will work with it, bolt pattern as well as what clutch fits. Hopefully it is the same as the 5.0L (Coyote) engine and I could just buy those parts to make it work.

Lastly with all of that it is still $8,150 just for the engine. I think I'll hold off until I can get one a touch cheaper, I have been looking at wrecked trucks but none have actually sold just yet.

JB

 

[jbmatth]

Well I had a very productive weekend plus a couple days. I decided it was time to pull the engine in the cobra and send it off to be built by a very respected machine shop a couple hours away. But first I needed to take it for a spin. I do not reccommend driving an engine in the condition in which I drove this one, but basically said screw it and took off. Met up with this guy:

He seemed to enjoy going for a ride, sadly Hershey didn't like the smell of the side pipes when she got a little too close to them.

It made the trip just fine and I pulled it into the garage to cool while I worked on other projects. I got started a little late but by mid morning the engine was in my truck and ready for the trip. No photos because once again I forgot.

One of the other projects was to get the White truck registered and insured now that the transfer case was going to work, for under $130 the truck was insured for 6 months and tagged for a year, not bad at all. One problem, the speedometer wasn't working nor was the cruise or odometer. I suspected it would be the transfer case output shaft speed sensor and had the old one to swap over. Turns out it was just the little rubber gasket missing off of the connector. Put one on from another connector I had laying around it everything works fine now.

Here are the pliers I "made" to work the snap rings on this transfer case:

Harbor Freight pliers that weren't much use so I lobbed the end off a bit and notched them with a cutoff wheel. Worked really well actually for no more than they cost me.

Other than that I spent a lot of time cleaning more of the concrete and dirt up as well as making a scrap yard run, mowing, and celebrating the 4th with the girls. Enjoyable time away, but man I'm behind now.

JB

 

[jbmatth]

In other news I'm becoming more and more aware of the benefits of a winch. In the process of cleaning out the dump where I'm dumping the concrete and dirt there were some thing too buried to pull out by hand. I ended up using the Pink Jeep and winch to pull it out in a slow and controlled manor. Of course no photos. I should be ashamed of myself.

Well a friend posted he had a winch he was interested in selling, I ended up making a deal on the winch and the bumper, they came off of a Ford Ranger but I plan to adapt them to work in a sort of brute force and dumb way:

I'm thinking of integrating a receiver hitch on the front as well because why not. That also reminds me I installed a receiver hitch onto the white truck, it was one left over from a previous vehicle I'd parted out, glad I saved it. Again...no photos. I'll hang my head in shame.

Keep moving forward, with or without photos,
JB

 

[OutlawDrifter]

No pics means you're working quickly and efficiently...at least that's what I tell myself!

 

[mybigwarwagon]

The winch on my trailer gets used for all sorts of things it shouldn't. One day I will get the winch mounted on my truck.