Build Dick's '84 Saudi 45

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Roof with all new weatherstripping and paint finally installed. Looks a lot better in and out, but the seam sealer ordeal didn't end up looking perfect like it did after the the first application that failed, so I am not super happy that it is just OK.

Good news from the machine shop. Block work is done, balancing of the rotating mass complete, rocker assembly disassembled, cleaned and reassembled as it had minimum wear and was in surprisingly great condition, connecting rods sized with only one grossly (30 grams) different in weight. Looks like I should be able to plan a road trip to pick up the motor in a couple of weeks.

Finally, to keep moving forward I tore into the seats as they were covered with pretty bad seat covers, and I suspected ugliness underneath. I was not disappointed. My plan was to find foam and SOR seat covers and replace it all myself. Unfortunately, no non USA market seat foam is available for the 45, the foam is toast, and I do not have the artistic mindset to sculpt seat bottoms. So, some research into Grand Junction auto upholstery guys is in order,

As a reward, another treasure revealed itself when I pulled the driver's seat bottom apart. An original key!
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Not too much progress lately. Seems I have been doing what we used to call the construction shuffle, one step forward followed by two steps back.
The power steering hoses were in terrible shape and needed to be replaced. OEM is discontinued and unavailable across the interweb as far as I can tell.
Two different local guys and their Denver supplier struck out on the M16x1.5 fittings needed to replicate the 2 hoses. There is a male M16x1.5 inverted flare fitting on the pump and steering box end of the hoses, and a FEMALE M16x1.5 on the other end of the hose that attaches to the M16x1.5 ferrule nut on the hard lines that go from side to side across the front of the truck.
My hope was to find adapters to go from the M16 to AN so that the hose could then be built out of readily available AN fittings.
The adapters for the pump and steering box are available and in hand, but I have had no luck on finding the FEMALE adapters to the hard lines.
The search continues.
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The concurrent project is the rebuild of the rear full float axle with a kit from @cruiseroutfit. Tear all down, clean, paint and install all seals and bearings and some drum brake hardware. Of course I managed to lose 1 cone washer, and install one hub seal backwards, so this project too has been drawn out while I order the missing parrs one at the time.
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In addition, the drivers side brake hard line was kinked badly at the wheel cylinder attachment, so it cracked when I removed the ferule nut to get the backing plate off. I got to bend brake line and double flare the line to replace it.
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One project did go flawlessly, probably because after removal and breakdown, all I did was drop the seats in Grand Junction last week at Grimsley Upholstery for a rebuild and new upholstery.

Funny how the less I seem to be involved these days, the better the results.

Anyway, they had a cancellation and my material was there, so they jumped on the project and finished them earlier than expected.
We will travel through Grand Junction and pick them up on our way home, so pictures to follow in a week or so
 
Update on the power steering hose drama.
After hours on the internet and several different searches on MUD, I came across some info from @cruisermatt that seemed to confirm that he had the mysterious female adapter fitting that I needed,
A DM with him confirmed this to be true, and we are in the process of getting 2 fittings headed my way.
I was sure these fittings were unobtanium and that someone would be welding up one of a kind expensive hose fittings to get me going again. Thanks to Matt and the MUD community goodness has prevailed
 
More good news! Maybe my bad karma is on the way out.
Motor work is finished and all the parts are ready to pick up in Wyoming. Traveling now, so will head there the end of the month.
Can't wait to get started on putting this truck back together and getting it driveable!
 
Power steering hose issue is resolved.
I used the Borgeson fitting at the high pressure ports at the pump and steering box to convert the M16x1.5 to AN6 male. This fitting is pretty easy to source.
At the hard lines across the front, I used @cruisermatt's magic fittings to convert the male M16x1.5 ferrule nuts to AN6 male. This fitting is available one place.
That allowed the hoses to be built with common female AN6 fittings on both ends. My local guy did not have any custom hard pipe angle fittings, so my hose routings are not elegant but they will work, and if they bother me or have clearance issues after this thing is put back together, the AN6 stuff is reasonable.
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@DickM what’s ya profession? Thought you retired? Nice work on the truck. Anal as all get out!
 
ceylonfj40nut said:
@DickM what’s ya profession? Thought you retired? Nice work on the truck. Anal as all get out!
Click to expand...
Engineer by training, carpenter/contractor by trade, and retired with only one client I can't say no to :princess:.
 
Picked up the seats from Grimsleys in Grand Junction. Great work and attention to detail throughout. They do work for Profitts, so they had the patterns for the drivers seat, and just added to it for the larger passenger seat.
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Quick trip to Wyoming to pick up all of the engine parts and pieces from the machine shop. Time to get serious about getting this back on the road.
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Different bigger chevy valves than the previous two engine builds
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Painted and ready to un-mask and get on the engine stand.
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I completely rebuilt the 2F - bored 0.020 over, turned crank, new pistons, bearings, cam, …, valve job. Got it running this morning. Sounds healthy, but vacuum leaks prevented a smooth idle and dialing in the timing.
 
@OGBeno , I was going through the parts stash and came across this blast from the past. Still trying to find the vintage beer koozie picture.
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3F-E parts! For the 60 2FE build.
Found it.
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I found this link to be very helpful when I was building my 2F.

orangefj45

Thread 'F, 2F, 3F and 3FE rear main seal, oil pan gasket and clutch installation instructions'

I’ve been asked countless times how we install these items so I thought it was about time I’d post a thread on here about it.
I was taught how to install these parts by a couple of people with VAST experience, one of them being none other than Mudrak.

First step is to remove the oil pan. The easiest way to do this is to remove all the bolts but one towards one of the ends at the front. Next, use a putty knife, or a very thin chisel, and working forward from the back of the engine, taking care now to gouge the engine block itself.
Then remove the remaining gasket and any...
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Engine build progress photos
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