Finally Coming Together

[74ls1tr6]

Ed,

Great idea that you came up with. Looks like it will work fine.This will give your mufflers the room they need. Very cool!

[epeppy]

Thanks Byron and Calvin.  The "next" thing is to get the interior put in.  I'll feel like it's just about finished when that happens.  I've got Bob Danielson's interior panel kit and MrMikes seat covers along with all the trim and fittings.  I originally had planned to do the interior installation myself, but I'm leaning towards letting someone else do it.  It's supposed to rain the next couple of days so maybe Saturday I'll load it on the trailer and take it to a couple of places to get some estimates.  If the estimates are ridiculous, I'll probably just end up doing it myself.  I know it will take me a lot longer to do it myself and I would hate to miss some great spring weather to do some driving.  Hopefully the estimates will be reasonable.  I am still planning on trying to make the meet in Townsend May 9-11.  We'll see.

First time it's been out of the shop under it's own power.



Ed

[v869tr6]

Wow, sure is a nice build, glad it's under it's own power. Have fun!!

[epeppy]

Thanks for the kind words Ed. Hopefully will be having "fun" soon. Had an exhaust manifold leak and pulled the header off. Fortunately it was the passenger side so I didn't have to remove the steering shafts (again).  It hasn't stopped raining here so still haven't gotten any prices for the interior. Installed a rollbar today that I added a 3rd brake light to.  The bar is more for looks as it's not tied to the frame but it still should add a little rigidity.

Ed

[epeppy]

Just a couple of pictures of the rollbar installation.

[88v8]

Hmmm.
Don't know how this will tie into the overall 'look' of the car, but I decided the roll bar was an ugification, and took it out of mine.

Ivor

[Charles]

Ed, I too like the color. I notice several things you are doing to the car that speak highly of your skills. Thanks for posting the pictures. A short side story of my oil pump priming. I have just finished building a GM V6, wanted, like you to prime the oil pump. So with a portable drill, extension, socket, I start the drill, noticed oil coming from the pressure gauge adapter, tightend that. I am a little lacking in the hearing department, I start the drill again and am watching the push rods for oil on the right side, then the drill speeds up and I noticed why. It looks as though an Exxon super tanker has run aground in the shop, I have empted 5 qts in about 30 seconds. I had not seen the hose come loose on the remote filter adapter. Maybe we will see each other in Townsend this year.
I hope your progress is coming on.
Regards
charles

[epeppy]

Thanks for the kind words Charles.  I know that I have incorporated a lot of what I have done by looking at photos that others have posted, so I'm hoping that someone might benefit from what I've posted.  

I think everyone has some type of horror story when it comes to engine building/starting.  I know I've had my share.

I am still planning to make it to Townsend.  May not have an interior in it but at least it's running.  Hope to see you there. Was not far from McDonald over the winter.  Bought a boat from Madisonville Marine right off of 75.  Hopefully, one of these days it's going to warm up so I can put it in the water.

Ed

[Ronp]

I noticed the absence of a battery in several posts. Are they being tucked somewhere in the trunk? Sure makes the engine compartment cleaner!
Oh, and I love the color, too.

[epeppy]

Ron, yes, the battery is in the trunk. Many installations require cutting of the battery shelf to move the motor back.  The 302 is a little more forgiving when a short water pump is used.  I probably could have fit a battery on what shelf  that was left but liked the idea of moving the weight to the rear. I installed a second solenoid in the trunk so the 1/0 cable going to the front is only hot during start-up. Have another 8 ga wire that handles the battery charging.

Ed

[epeppy]

And.... the saga continues.  Put a total of 13.5 miles on before things started to sound like something was wrong.  Had been losing coolant and could see it coming out the exhaust.  The engine was running poorly and decided I needed to do some looking.  Took the valve cover off on the passenger side and was kind of horrified to see rocker arms where they shouldn't be and push rod ends staring me in the face.  Took the carb, intake and heads off.  The only real casualty was number two cylinder intake valve pushrod.  Was relieved that was the only damage.

I have now learned a few things about small block fords.  Ford used 3 different methods to attach rocker arms.  Pedastel mount (uses a bolt), stud with a step (uses a 1/2" nut), and straight shaft stud (uses a 5/8" nut).  I read how to remove the valve lash by rotating the pushrod and then giving the nut another 1/2 turn (or 3/4, or full turn depending on what you read) to preload the lifter.  Well, that's what I did.  Only problem is that the straight stud is the only type of rocker arm attachment that has adjustment.  The stepped stud just gets torqued to 20 ft lbs and that's it.  

Also learned something about torquing heads on a 302.  Most manuals tell you to torque in 3 steps of 30, 50, and 70 ft lbs.  On further reading I have learned that it is advisable to torque the upper head bolts under the valve cover to 80 ft lbs.  Evidently the 302 is susceptable to leaks when the intake is torqued down.  The leaks that I had were on the intake side of the head on no. 1 and no. 2 cylinder.  

Was planning to put it back together without pulling the engine but had difficulty getting the rear head bolts out.  Was concerned that I would not be able to get the torque wrench on them.  Have just about got it ready to come out.  Hopefully, tomorrow.

I think this is going to keep me from getting to Townsend.  Was really wanting to make that trip. Is there something planned for the fall?

Ed

[danmas]

I think this is going to keep me from getting to Townsend. Was really wanting to make that trip. Is there something planned for the fall?

Yes, the first weekend in October we'll have our annual get-together at the Talley-Ho inn in Townsend. Strictly informal - no plans, no schedule, no fees, just a bunch of British hot-rod enthusiasts hanging out together and burning up the local twisties.

http://forum.britishv8.org/read.php?10,40235

[dbeliveau]

These dashes all look great would have liked to have that CNC capability when I did my Spitfire dash.
I used a hand held drill with hole saws and a coping saw to cut the glove box, (That's right glove box)
I only have a picture of the finished dash.  I used a piece of cherry from a tree my uncle had cut down in his yard, cut all the holes sanded the heck out of it and finished it with 20 coats of satin tung oil. Also hand turned the shift knob using my drill and vise as a makeshift lathe.