A journey with my boys- The Elf Barn as I call it. (4 Viewers)

[1911]

That bucket brings bad memories for me. My dad had a 5 gallon bucket of screws/bolts/whatever and when he'd work on stuff, I was the one that would look/sort/clean up.

I can only imagine.

It was therapeutic for me. Beer in hand. Some tunes going. You are looking at 150lbs of bolts.

Something I probably inherited from my dad (he grew up an orphan during the great depression), but I cannot bring myself to throw away a nut, bolt, or washer - might need them again some day!

 

[davegonz]

I pick up old bolts and do the same.

 

[waiting for time]

We used to have a Ferrari specialist in our neighbourhood and when they got a new employee they spend the first 6 months sweeping the floors and sorting out nuts and bolts. Somehow I never had the urge to work there.

 

[ceylonfj40nut]

If you did not notice yet, the elves were miraculously absent

 

[ceylonfj40nut]

Elves got at it today. Final touches on the pony. It’s out the barn.

 

[samc2447]

Great work guys, it looks fantastic!

 

[ceylonfj40nut]

Sign of the times with Covid-19. @SipLife (my pony loving son) had his friend and his dad over for a day at the barn. The came bearing a gift of toilet paper. They did not want to use our stash. A new crazy social etiquette.

 

[ceylonfj40nut]

We also had Dennis and Ellen join us on their way home to CO from the.....South Pole. Both were out there for a couple of months on special assignments. It was great to hang out and for them to see all the projects the boys are embarking on.

 

[ceylonfj40nut]

So the pony left the barn. I followed @SipLife and @Cowboy45 as they enjoyed the labor of love for the past two years on the highway. It got upto 70mph. Cruising. 30 minutes from Dallas. I see a splash from the undercarriage. Thought they had gone through a puddle on the road. Not really. This happened. Water pump gave out.

 

[ceylonfj40nut]

Hagerty haul got us a free tow back the barn. @SipLife says he lost power. I cringed. Engine seized? We tried to crank it on the side of the road but the starter sounded like it was free wheeling. Did not want to engage the flywheel. We get it into the barn and on the lift. Turn the crank pulley. Luckily the engine turns smoothly. We hear metal grinding noises coming from the bellhousing area. Yikes! Open up the bell housing inspection cover. Metal shavings and three pill shaped bearings laying between the bottom of the bellhousing and the flywheel teeth.

We pulled the starter. It was toast. Puzzling how this is connected to the water pump.

@SipLife figured it out.

Over the past two years as we were working on the car we would start it to keep the motor and seals fresh. At times we would have to crank it a ton to get fuel to the carb. It really wore down the starter. Luck has it that the day we were leaving the barn the starter had its last start but spilled its bearings into the bellhousing.

As the boys were cruising on highway a couple of the pill shaped bearings caught the flywheel temporarily jerking the motor. This put sudden stress on the water pump pulley causing it to wobble off its housing. Explains the sudden splash. No signs of prior water pump leaks, typical sign of a water pump failure. Fan belt was off right after we pulled over.

@SipLife and his friend (visiting for the weekend) went at it. Removed all the accessories. The water pump on a 289 has a lot to be desired. It had six points of weakness. Pump housing has a backing plate!!! Housing depends on it holding. Also pump shaft has only one bearing near pulley side. Otherwise unsupported at the impeller end. Kind of like semi float vs full float issue on axles.

It was great to see the boys work together on this.

 

[ceylonfj40nut]

Anyhoo, new pump went in. Took two tries to get it to seal. It’s sealed and curing. We will connect the hoses back next week. Then stretch its legs again to see how she holds up.

On a side note, parts are available at box stores! And cheap!

 

[ceylonfj40nut]

While it cured the elves got busy on a few things.

@Cowboy45 installed the injection pump on his 2H and made sure timing was all verified. He bolted the timing cover on. He also focused on prepping the AC brackets/pulleys and intake/exhaust studs.

 

[ceylonfj40nut]

@Cowboy45 and our visiting friend also helped assemble a long needed transmission jack. They worked well together.

 

[ceylonfj40nut]

@SipLife also worked on bluebonnet while the pony water pump sealant cured. He took of the hideous trailer hitch. His friend worked on the new barn doors we acquired.

 

[ceylonfj40nut]

Pony left the barn today. New water pump and starter. Boys had a blast. A pic to cherish.

 

[waiting for time]

Pony left the barn today. New water pump and starter. Boys had a blast. A pic to cherish.

View attachment 2252630

Nice to see them taste the fruits of their labor.

 

[JLawson]

Nice Pic! Riding off into the sunset on a red pony! Truly memorable moment!

 

[imyahucklbrry]

Poking through threads I’ve not seen before as I sit here in ‘Pandemic exile” - glad to have found this one! Outstanding

 

[ceylonfj40nut]

First car wash. Right of passage.

 

[FJBen]

Love it! Awesome work guys. What a fun journey!