GA 55 left in woods for 20 yrs- 10/73 model

[Midgainc]

The bolts go directly into the block. One thread I read said it was a 12mm bolt, So I knew this guy was not right. I am going to get 4 of each of the 14mm x 1.25, 1.50, and 2.00 and see it is one of these. They need to be 70mm long to dig into the block. Who would of thought it would be difficult to find bolts to hook up the block to the stand?

 

[scrapdaddy]

No, I mean the bolt holes where the bellhousing bolts to the block.

Midgainc beat me to it.

 

[tucker74]

IIRC they are 1.75 pitch, I remember them being a PITA to find.

Tucker

 

[Midgainc]

Even more fun then. I will have my bolt guys source them.

 

[tucker74]

I just put a caliper to mine, they are indeed M12x1.75 to the block.

Tucker

 

[Midgainc]

I may have made a mistake. I was looking and came across this. http://www.globalsoftware-inc.com/coolerman/fj40/Boltstotal97-2003.xls. It says here that the bolt is a. 12 mm x 1.75. I may have been trying to source longer bolts for the transmission to bell housing bolts. Those I know ARE 14mm! My block has been in a bag since picked up from the machine shop, so I have not been sizing directly to the block. I must be dull. I can get 12's but they are small for a 400lb engine. Definitely will be 10.9s!

 

[tucker74]

Right again

Tucker

 

[Midgainc]

Maybe, I was right all along. Heck, I don't know. I admit it.

 

[Midgainc]

I will break out the block tomorrow. I know for a SWC 3/8 is what I used for the engine stand, I guess a 12mm isn't that different. Thanks for the help. I am now moving toward assembly!

 

[Midgainc]

Hitched up the block today to the engine stand. Bolts used are 12x1.75x90mm and lots of washers. Will take photos in a day or so. All along, I was using the transmission bolts to try sizing for the engine stand. I am sorry for the confusion.

 

[Midgainc]

sanding and priming

we started priming exterior and outside of rockers yesterday, just to get a feel of what all is needed to finish the body work. I am waiting on the floor supports to get here so that we can finish the floor pans. Looks alot better with a little color on it! Today will be spent wiping, filling, and touching up sheet metal dents all around and on top, repairing the rear DS quarter panel, and giving the rockers a finished look.

 

[Delancy]

Before embarking on this journey, I'd have never appreciated the milestone that primer represents.

Looks good!

 

[Midgainc]

Primer is just an indication that you are 90% done and 50% more to go. We are getting close to having the exterior body in good enough shape to take to a paint shop. The floor plan replacement is awaiting floor supports from bobm. Once that is done, the pace should pick up considerably on the re-assembly. I hope to have engine back together next week. I am picking up powder coated pieces today, and the clutch should be here by Monday. I will have to get some screws powder coated, but for the most part, I am ready for assembly now. I am ready to see this thing mostly back together. I realize, now, that having it in pieces causes me to have anxiety. I want to drive it, but can't. I am working diligently to remedy that.

 

[Delancy]

I realize, now, that having it in pieces causes me to have anxiety. I want to drive it, but can't.

Try having one in pieces with a mountain of parts stored and an out of control budget, all while having a larger mountain of parts stored, same budget condition, that IS drivable....except for the legality aspects regarding title.

Thankfully, the 80 alleviates some of the anxiety.

 

[Midgainc]

I would rather not. I would be pretty ticked about the whole title thing by now....probably would have visited with PO at this point, and someone would have gotten an arse whooping....something said along the lines of "when I leave here today, somebody will either have their arse whipped, or I will have a title in my hand or both"

on a more positive note:

consider the photos.

I had to do some things that you would never approve of...fiberglass areas where there was no longer metal.

 

[Delancy]

I would rather not. I would be pretty ticked about the whole title thing by now....

I am.

I had to do some things that you would never approve of...

You're doing it.

I'm paying to have mine done and not stated proudly, by any stretch of the imagination.

Had I been left to my own methods and devices, there's no telling the end result, but not only would I not have been satisfied with, I can guarantee no one else would've either.

The extent these Pigs decay is almost as incredible as their ability to remain intact, let alone drive, in their deteriorated state and there's no way I could've completed in any manner that'd have been acceptable.

Britt and I were looking at the joint the last trip over and he eluded to pounding out a bridge to the rocker.....keeping in mind that this Pig is surrounded by restorations that may cost more than my house, so he's the facilities and capabilities to form.

When I was looking at it, it reminded me of when I was a kid and watching a worker on the family farm braise, I believe, lead to fill holes in the bottom of the cotton trailers. Almost the consistency of a thick wax that he put on thick, sculpted to fit, then knocked it down with a grinder.

 

[Midgainc]

Lead was a good filler of choice back before portable welding was an option. All repairmen had it handy and used it for everything. Some applications were better suited for it than others. About the only time I see it used now is for repairing fuel tanks using a non-flame heat stick...for obvious reasons. I did catch my grad student using it one day on my pig filling in a hole in the rear glass channel where the weatherstripping goes on the thin metal lip. The spot was too rusty for welding and there was no way to patch without opening another can of worms. He saw that and came to the lead conclusion on his own. It made me smile.

 

[Delancy]

Tried finding an old timer around here to fill the 162 holes exposed in the Pink Panty 80, when removing the frilly plastics and couldn't.



Think the general consensus regarding toxicity was given as the reason, yet the same farm either that worked on the family farm lived to 96, and I can guarantee there wasn't a single easy day in those years. Only thing I saw him where a glove for when filling holes was manipulating the waxy puddle.

 

[scrapdaddy]

Anybody remember the term " Lead Sled " modified cars from the Fifties.

 

[Midgainc]

Picked up some powder coating

I picked up some goodies yesterday. I have a few bolts to get coated, and then I will be ready for the engine assembly. I also decided to shoot the underside of the roof with Raptor (http://www.tcpglobal.com/detailsupplydepot/dsd18.aspx) as well as the bed floor. I am thinking about leaving the seat back painted.

Also, got in my clutch kit from CoolCruisers. I am going to give an aftermarket clutch slave and master a whirl. The kit was complete, except for one hard line missing and the master cylinder being on back order.

I am just about set up for engine assembly and putting this bad boy back together!