Mission Creep on a D-150
The head for the truck is stuck in machine shop jail. I made the mistake of thinking it would be done soon. Haha. The block is going back together this weekend and I'm going to reassemble it all and put it back in the truck, then add the head when I get it back. That way I can move the truck out sooner and get back on the Dart. Summer is coming!
Out of the blue, one of my competitors stopped working so I've been super swamped lately. It is for sure the feast after the famine. I can't complain too much, it's nice to see some moolah going into the checking account lately. And the heater for the shop took a crap as we hit the middle of winter, so I wasted a bunch of time trying to fix it, then replace it with a defective unit, and so on. I dug out my old stand-by so at least I can work without mukluks and parka. And Bernie Mittens! :D:D:D
Progress report, even though it's on the truck which is just like a Dart but bigger. Oil pump and dizzy are rebuilt. All the engine sheet metal is cleaned, prepped, and painted.
The intake and exhaust manifolds got a gentle porting and clean-up, they are off for a date with the hot tank tomorrow.
The block has the cam installed and is getting the rest of its innards today so I can get the measurements and have the head shaved.
Next up, go through the tranny and do all the seals and whatnot.
Time for an update on the space-hogging truck. It's been a long slow slog, but the finish line is in sight. The head was in machine shop jail for over two months but it's finally back, shaved .060, mild bowl blend, and oversize valves. All the accessories are cleaned, painted, and going back on the block. All that's left is to button up the distributor, rebuild the carb, and reseal the trans. Putting things back together is WAY more fun then taking apart greasy nasty crusted over parts to scrape, clean, blast, clean again, and paint. It's all very time consuming but will be worth it in the end.
For today's update... I've been buried at work lately so there's been little wrenching time the last two weeks. Plus, I hit a couple of set-backs. I went to install the rocker arms and found they were pitted more than I was comfortable with so I had to source a replacement set. That took a little doing but they are set up now. Then I went to install the intake/exhaust manifolds with all the three-handed monkey business that entails, but before I got there the Car Part Fairy showed up with a set of Clifford long tube headers so all the time and effort getting the Super Six ready has gone by the wayside. The still-rusty half is getting a vinegar bath then they will both get fresh paint.
Instead of going with the Super Six, I dug out my Clifford 4-barrel intake and an Edelbrock AVS 500, and we are in the process of getting them cleaned and painted for install. Yes, the carb is on there sideways but it's just sitting there for mock-up. The intake is getting painted later today.
The head is back on and I got the new(er) rocker arms on last night. Since I'm using the 4-barrel now, I don't need to rebuild the BBD so the next project is to reseal the tranny and I'll be well on the way to final assembly and sticking this back in the truck.
The head for the truck is stuck in machine shop jail. I made the mistake of thinking it would be done soon. Haha. The block is going back together this weekend and I'm going to reassemble it all and put it back in the truck, then add the head when I get it back. That way I can move the truck out sooner and get back on the Dart. Summer is coming!
Out of the blue, one of my competitors stopped working so I've been super swamped lately. It is for sure the feast after the famine. I can't complain too much, it's nice to see some moolah going into the checking account lately. And the heater for the shop took a crap as we hit the middle of winter, so I wasted a bunch of time trying to fix it, then replace it with a defective unit, and so on. I dug out my old stand-by so at least I can work without mukluks and parka. And Bernie Mittens! :D:D:D
Progress report, even though it's on the truck which is just like a Dart but bigger. Oil pump and dizzy are rebuilt. All the engine sheet metal is cleaned, prepped, and painted.
The intake and exhaust manifolds got a gentle porting and clean-up, they are off for a date with the hot tank tomorrow.
The block has the cam installed and is getting the rest of its innards today so I can get the measurements and have the head shaved.
Next up, go through the tranny and do all the seals and whatnot.
Time for an update on the space-hogging truck. It's been a long slow slog, but the finish line is in sight. The head was in machine shop jail for over two months but it's finally back, shaved .060, mild bowl blend, and oversize valves. All the accessories are cleaned, painted, and going back on the block. All that's left is to button up the distributor, rebuild the carb, and reseal the trans. Putting things back together is WAY more fun then taking apart greasy nasty crusted over parts to scrape, clean, blast, clean again, and paint. It's all very time consuming but will be worth it in the end.
For today's update... I've been buried at work lately so there's been little wrenching time the last two weeks. Plus, I hit a couple of set-backs. I went to install the rocker arms and found they were pitted more than I was comfortable with so I had to source a replacement set. That took a little doing but they are set up now. Then I went to install the intake/exhaust manifolds with all the three-handed monkey business that entails, but before I got there the Car Part Fairy showed up with a set of Clifford long tube headers so all the time and effort getting the Super Six ready has gone by the wayside. The still-rusty half is getting a vinegar bath then they will both get fresh paint.
Instead of going with the Super Six, I dug out my Clifford 4-barrel intake and an Edelbrock AVS 500, and we are in the process of getting them cleaned and painted for install. Yes, the carb is on there sideways but it's just sitting there for mock-up. The intake is getting painted later today.
The head is back on and I got the new(er) rocker arms on last night. Since I'm using the 4-barrel now, I don't need to rebuild the BBD so the next project is to reseal the tranny and I'll be well on the way to final assembly and sticking this back in the truck.