Da'40: The Baby Steps Forward

[pappy]

Recap for today includes solving the fuel delivery problem, making the engine purr for a little while, then installing the tranny/tc. I also bled the clutch.

Next I wanted to get the parking brake installed. Should have been easy, but after spending a couple of hours trying to make it fit, it didn't. The drum will not slide over the shoes. Adjuster is loose, and I even installed the old worn shoes. In addition, the new shoes I bought from Dan didn't fit the adjuster (flange too thick). Tomorrow I take it a part so I can get the drum on and install the rear shaft.

 

[pappy]

Next I wanted to get the parking brake installed. Should have been easy, but after spending a couple of hours trying to make it fit, it didn't. The drum will not slide over the shoes. Adjuster is loose, and I even installed the old worn shoes.

It's usually the simple things.

It's amazing what a good nights sleep can do. Resolved.

 

[pappy]

Today's baby steps ...

• Wake up and admit I'm stupid and really should take the drawing in the service manual literally. Pull drum from parking brake, reverse adjuster, install drum. Look up part number for adjuster to fit my new shoes.
  
• Install rear driveshaft.
• Install rear No-Slip locker (@$^&$%#^) <- my opinion.
• Install front drive shaft.
• Fill rear diff, transmission, and transfer case with 80W90.
• Check angles. Half weld rear spring mounts.
• Check angles. Half weld front spring mounts.
• Prep rear shackle hangers for welding. Check angles. Forget to weld them.
• Install shifter in transmission. Discover it hits the seat in 2, 4, R. Need to straighten.
• Contact Ryan to arrange a ride to a muffler shop.
• Sweep a very dirty garage.
• Pop top from a Pacifico and toss a steak on the grill.

 

[Ruadhrigh]

• Pop top from a Pacifico and toss a steak on the grill.

I could have helped you with that!

 

[evanz80]

Jon -

I'm not sure what else is missing, but it sure sounds like you're getting close!

Thanks for the video of the motor running. It sounds very smooth...
and it looks cool!

Evan

Today's baby steps ...

• Wake up and admit I'm stupid and really should take the drawing in the service manual literally. Pull drum from parking brake, reverse adjuster, install drum. Look up part number for adjuster to fit my new shoes.
  
• Install rear driveshaft.
• Install rear No-Slip locker (@$^&$%#^) <- my opinion.
• Install front drive shaft.
• Fill rear diff, transmission, and transfer case with 80W90.
• Check angles. Half weld rear spring mounts.
• Check angles. Half weld front spring mounts.
• Prep rear shackle hangers for welding. Check angles. Forget to weld them.
• Install shifter in transmission. Discover it hits the seat in 2, 4, R. Need to straighten.
• Contact Ryan to arrange a ride to a muffler shop.
• Sweep a very dirty garage.
• Pop top from a Pacifico and toss a steak on the grill.

 

[BionicCruiser]

with all this momentum, you are making huge leaps now, not baby steps.

 

[pappy]

I'm not sure what else is missing, but it sure sounds like you're getting close!

Actually there is a rather long list of little and big stuff. I still need to resolve the steering column, tidy up the wires under the dash, modify the tranny hump for the H55F, check fit of the soft top, drill out a few broken screws, re-bend the shifter, and probably a bunch of little things yet to be discovered.

Then:

• Paint the little stuff. Sprayer to be acquired end of this month.
• Pull body off and send out to be cleaned.
• Pull engine/tranny.
• Drop axles.
• Send frame out to powder.
• Powder bumpers, sliders, and little stuff.
• Paint body.
• Acquire and install roll cage (Metaltech).

Then put her all back together.

Thanks for the video of the motor running. It sounds very smooth... and it looks cool!

It idled much smoother than I expected. That engine barely moved.

 

[Beowulf]

[*]Powder bumpers, sliders, and little stuff.

I would like to jump in on your powder coating batch. Maybe several of us can throw in some things and pitch in some $$$ to get the cost down for everyone.

-Mike-

 

[pappy]

I would like to jump in on your powder coating batch.

Works for me. Didn't somebody post up recently about another powder coater in town? I've used Kaehr before and was going to give them the frame since their oven is big enough. Quality won't do "car parts" and Prism Select is flakey, if they are even in business.

 

[slimbuddha]

Has anyone here tried the do-it-yourself powder-coating? I remember seeing it on a show on Speed tv or DIY network restoration show. It would work for all the smaller pieces that can fit in your household oven.

Here is a link I found on the DIY website, but I remember watching it being done on Motorcycle parts.

(AUTOS & BOATS : Auto Restoration & Kit Cars : 1962 Ford T-Bird Restoration: Powder-Coating Engine Parts : DIY Network).

Here is another link:
Custom Powder Coating

 

[Beowulf]

It would work for all the smaller pieces that can fit in your household oven.

About 4 years ago I decided to test my nifty new coolant temp gauge. Problem is that water boils at less than 210* at 6,000' and I wanted to get the temp higher so I selected engine oil and heated a sauce pan full of 10w40 on the stove. Bad idea. I got a perma-ban from using the kitchen for anything remotely related to the Cruiser.

-Mike-

 

[slimbuddha]

About 4 years ago I decided to test my nifty new coolant temp gauge. Problem is that water boils at less than 210* at 6,000' and I wanted to get the temp higher so I selected engine oil and heated a sauce pan full of 10w40 on the stove. Bad idea. I got a perma-ban from using the kitchen for anything remotely related to the Cruiser.

-Mike-

After reading some of the how-to's, you can't eat in the oven afterwards. So to do it you would have to get a stove just for this. Which would work either getting a cheap toaster oven that gets to at least 400, or a used electric stove off of craigslist.

 

[pappy]

I got a perma-ban from using the kitchen for anything remotely related to the Cruiser.

-Mike-

So, no more cleaning parts in the dishwasher? Too bad.

 

[marcfj60]

... I selected engine oil and heated a sauce pan full of 10w40 on the stove....
-Mike-

Why didn't you just use vegetable oil in and electric skillet or a fry daddy? Those suckers can get up to 350 F no problem.

 

[DanS HJ-45]

Has anyone here tried the do-it-yourself powder-coating? I remember seeing it on a show on Speed tv or DIY network restoration show. It would work for all the smaller pieces that can fit in your household oven.

I do.

It's awesome. I won't paint a part if I can at all help it now.

Anyone that wants to come on up and check it out is more than welcome. Yes you've got to use a dedicated oven. We bought an el cheapo (doesn't even have a clock) used somewhere and it's been fantastic. We use SouthWest Coating to do the stuff that won't fit in our oven. You can't tell a difference between their work and mine.

It really is easier than painting, and the finish is really good. It really only makes sense if you also have a blast cabinet to get parts to bare metal pretty quickly though.

Like I said: anyone that wants to come try it for themselves, let me know. If I'm home, it's no biggie. If you've got a blast cabinet, powder coating is a no brainer IMHO. It's actually faster than painting (because you don't have to wait for it to dry), and it's silly simple to do.

Dan

 

[Beowulf]

"Why didn't you ... "

That's kinda what she kept saying.... "Why didn't you [fill in the blank]"

I believe that she said that several times but I kinda tuned her out after an hour or so.

-Mike-

 

[Beowulf]

So, no more cleaning parts in the dishwasher? Too bad.

Nope, no using anything in the kitchen. Perma-ban. I can't even wash my hands in the kitchen sink any more. She makes me use the hose outside; preferably in the back yard.

Shouldn't you be working on your truck instead of picking on me?

-Mike-

 

[pappy]

Shouldn't you be working on your truck instead of picking on me?

-Mike-

Nope. Weekends are for working on the truck. Just giving you some, er, encouragement.

 

[pappy]

I've been emailing back and forth with Tim@DOA about the engine. I commented that the engine idled and accelerated very smooth. His response?

"The shop that performed the balancing chore builds some very high end blown alky engines."

I just want to drive her.

 

[Beowulf]

I just want to drive her.

When Ross, Connie, and I went to the recent Albuquerque International Car Show, there was a guy with a tent booth between the 2 buildings. He had a souped up car on display and Ross and I were looking under the hood. He said "I'll give you a free dyno tune if you can guess the HP within 100." "Really? What does it cost to guess?" "Nothing, but you gotta get within 100HP to win a free dyno." "OK, will you tell me anything about the engine?" "Sure..." and he rattles off a few details. "850 RWHP" I guessed. He looked a little stunned and paused... "That's pretty close, it has 875 RWHP." I said "How do I collect on this free dyno?" He scribbled something on the back of one of their cards.

When you're ready to "drive" her, let me know and I'll call that guy and see if he will honor the freebie.

-Mike-