Old Bessie's Build Thread (1 Viewer)

[UGA2018]

Here's the latest on Old Bessie from this week: Sparking noise from distributor.

We think the arcing noise could be the VCV that wasn't functioning right even before I broke it! Tomorrow the new one comes in and I will know for sure.

After struggling for an hour to find the line on the flywheel @BGarcia88FJ62 and I found another method to find TDC. We think we need to do the valve adjustment again but low and behold I do think I have that line and BB after all! After pulling the cover tonight I scrubbed the flywheel down and it showed up. See the pic. Now it is painted and ready to be started for valve adjustment #2.

Note to self.... when others say clean the flywheel before doing the valve adjustment I should listen!

 

[UGA2018]

Here's the pic of the flywheel after I uncovered the TDC line

 

[UGA2018]

When pulling off the cover to the clutch I had a significant amount of oil inside and it looked like a muddy/oily mess.

 

[UGA2018]

So now my question for you on the forum is...

Is this a rear main seal leak or oil pan gasket leak? Thanks for your help!

 

[NeverGiveUpYota]

Mine really doesn't look much different. Go slow and easy. Focus on the primary stuff first....

 

[NeverGiveUpYota]

Oil pan gasket does look really soaked and super compressed.

 

[micruz60]

Good set of pictures!
I would say it is the oilpain...
But, 'while you are there' do the rms, and clutch, and pilot bearing, and and...
Seriously, just dealing with the oilpan gasket and a general deepclean will give you a better idea of what's up.

 

[UGA2018]

I left the cover off the clutch last night to see how much oil dripped directly down. Only about a dime size. Of course it wasn't running so I don't know if this make a difference or not. But it doesn't seem to be gushing out!

Regardless.... @NeverGiveUpYota are you basically saying to "let a sleeping dog lie?" If it isn't that big of a deal to focus on other stuff?

I want to get that arcing noise gone which I hope will happen when I replace the VCV later today. Then need to do another valve adjustment. Then probably timing. Then....

 

[NeverGiveUpYota]

Yeah, I'd focus on the other stuff first. I am at home struggling with my own 2F and timing and vacuum pressure and valves I discovered that are NFG. But at least I'm on a vaca day and getting paid to tinker and be frustrated.

 

[UGA2018]

OK... here we go...

After a week of daily exploration into the case of the mysterious noise I finally figured out that the PCV (I got it right this time @NeverGiveUpYota ) had gone bad. The strange sound happened when I put the hose on the HIC at Port B. I am not sure exactly why but I think it identified that the PCV was not working right.

So I got an OEM PCV and replaced it and the noise stopped. You can read more about that process here: Strange sound coming from my distributor or PVC.

As soon as it was fixed it seemed to be struggling to get a good vacuum pull or something because the RPM's dropped a good bit. They are now close to 400-500 and sounds like it is just hanging on when it is at idle.

Right now I am just enjoying having the truck running knowing that I need to do some more work. Although this can change at any time based on new stuff I'm finding or re prioritizing but this is what is on my to do list with the truck in the not too distant future. Of course, time and money is needed for much of this!

- Vacuum gauge test: I want to get a good handle on my vacuum system and understand if there is a leak. I expect so but I expect that the test will confirm.

- Replace all vacuum lines: Some of them were replaced in my recent PCV situation but if I confirm a leak I expect that is next on the list.

- valve adjustment: @BGarcia88FJ62 was gracious to help me with the valve adjustment the first time but we both agreed that we need to do it again. Notice to all Nobs like me out there... if you have never done a valve adjustment pull the cover off of your clutch and flywheel so you can clean it first. Don't even try to spot that line on the flywheel without first cleaning it. You will waste a lot of time and create a lot of frustration for yourself.

- timing adjustment: I got the timing light today and ready to do that when the time is right.

- AC circuit breaker blowing: When I run my AC on the lowest speed it doesn't blow. When I run it on high sometimes the circuit breaker switches off. In reading on the forum I think I need a new blower but I need to spend more time digging into that.

- Rear main seal/oil pain gasket: fix whatever the heck is leaking under there. And while I'm at it replace the clutch.

- Clean the engine bay: When I pull the valve cover for the valve adjustment I will clean that up and get it looking good. I need to clean a lot more than that too but will probably do it in stages as I pull stuff.

- Fix wiindsheild leak: when it rains I have water that drips down inside the truck between the windshield and the door. There is a small spot of rust on the inside of the door jam that I think is caused by this leak. Need to fix that.

- Repair small windshield crack: I have a very small crack in the windshield. Looks like a rock hit it. I want to repair it before it gets bigger.

- Fix a strange rattle sound: It sounds like it may be a baffle or something that is not tightened down right. Based on some conversations maybe it is in the exhaust system. I'll get to it at some point so my kids aren't embarrassed by the noise when I pick them up but no rush!

- Tires/Suspension: I have these dinky passenger tires that are almost brand new that came with the truck. They have to go. I am thinking about the BFG's 31 X 10.5. I'm not looking for huge but I want it to look like a truck. The shocks are pretty soft right now so probably need to be replaced. I can't decide if I will go with the OME suspension system or just replace the shocks. I have 2 in shackles on there so I have a little lift now and with the larger tires that may be enough. Again... I'll figure that out later.

- Clean the interior: My seats and carpet are actually in decent shape. They are original and besides the typical driver's side seat tear they are in good shape for their age. I just want to clean them up good and get the dirt out of the seats, carpet and headliner.

- Paint her: That's in the future but I need to save up the cash first!

- Radio: I don't have one... I would like one!

- Roof rack: I'll probably do something pretty simple instead of a cage up there but I havent' decided yet.


Well... that's my list. A lot to do but I can paced myself. I'm sure that new stuff will pop up that will trump many of these things but this is what my future looks like with Old Bessie! Thanks to everyone's help her on the forum to move in the right direction with this stuff!

 

[UGA2018]

Here's a pic from when I was trying to figure out where this noise was coming from and another that shows the difference between the PCV that the PO had in there and the OEM one that I installed.

 

[UGA2018]

I did a vacuum gauge test and as you can see it was spot on perfect! I couldn't be happier. I adjusted the idle on the carb to get it around 800 RPM's and she's running like a champ!

 

[NeverGiveUpYota]

Hmm, that's an interesting port to use. I always use the one off the brake booster finned thing. Looks good tho. I'm a little green.

 

[UGA2018]

I got my favorite modification for my truck. Check out these pics with the vintage roof rack. We found this for $20 at a junk store. It's a cool "load a boat" rack. I have all of the parts but didn't set them up in the picture. The best we can tell it's late 60's era making it 50 years old.

 

[NMfjCruiser]

Looking good. 31x10.5 is a good size. You go bigger and it'll mess with the gear ratio.
Doesn't look to me like it needs paint, maybe just do the hood? If you get it too shinny you'll never want to off road it.

 

[UGA2018]

Thanks to some great help from @CaptClose tonight i adjusted the timing. It was set at 3 degrees BTDC instead of 7. I got that fixed and it's all set. It took me forever to remember where the cover was for the flywheel viewing area so I captured a pic for others that may have trouble too.

Also, for others that may be adjusting the timing the bolt to loosen to move the distributor is below the distributor on the right at 2 o'clock when standing on the passenger fender. You loosen it and the whole distributor rotates. I thought that bolt was to just hold the distributor on and not to adjust it so I didn't try it forever. Finally got it.

The engine didn't quite as much as I thought it would so I am on to the valve adjustment next.

 

[UGA2018]

I got my valve adjustment done today and she seems to be running smooth. You can hear a clinking sound that is some loose baffle in my exhaust system. I also think I have an exhaust leak that I need to get to the bottom of soon. But for now it's much better.

 

[UGA2018]

OK... here is the continuation of the thread that I started at Valve adjustment, tightened EGR pipe... now major vacuum leak.

I did another valve adjustment tonight. Albeit a cold one. I do think the valves were too tight so I readjusted. I was hopeful that it would solve my vacuum leak but it didn't.

After the valve adjustment I tried to listen carefully for a vacuum leak and thought I heard a hissing sound. So I got a piece of tube and put it in one ear and started hunting and pecking for the sound.

I zeroed in on the J pipe under the EGR that I thought was making the sound. There could be other's too but that is where it sounded like it was coming from. This is the pipe that is directly under the EGR that is corrugated.

After looking at the pipe further I noticed that there was some black soot on it close to where I heard the noise. So I thought it must be exhaust on it's way to the EGR. I snapped this picture. It was the best I could grab and it looked like there are some small pin holes in it and possibly a area cut open.

Could this be my culprit? Would this cause a significant vacuum leak? Also, how would it have shown up just recently? I'm suspicious that this is it but seems like it may be.

 

[micruz60]

Good detective work. That corrugated pipe is
Can you just wrap it with foil tape to see if that helps? Temporarily anyway.
The j pipe is a common leak at the manifold, there is a replacement gasket.
Aren't you desmogging the engine eventually?

 

[UGA2018]

Good detective work. That corrugated pipe is
Can you just wrap it with foil tape to see if that helps? Temporarily anyway.
The j pipe is a common leak at the manifold, there is a replacement gasket.
Aren't you desmogging the engine eventually?

Thanks @micruz60. I definitely feel like a detective with this thing. Do you think those holes could be causing a significant vacuum leak? I can try to patch them and see what happens.

I do plan to desmog. If this is the problem then I am not going to fix it but rather desmog to get rid of all of that crap. Then the problem is fixed and eliminated. But I don't want to go down the desmog path until I know that it is the smog equipment causing the problems.

You think this pipe could be it? You can see what my vacuum gauge is reading in this pic. Pretty big honkin leak!