Build Project Old Blue - 1973

[charliemeyer007]

PO damage or lost some is my guess. Then again Bubba Machine Shop R Us - parts you don't need no stinking parts!

 

[KingAir Driver]

PO damage or lost some is my guess. Then again Bubba Machine Shop R Us - parts you don't need no stinking parts!

Must be… cylinders 1-3, only 1 valve seal. The rest just a tiny mangled O’ring.

 

[KingAir Driver]

All 12 seals are done, here’s what came out. 1 actual seal and 11 O’rings pretending to be seals. . Going to clean up the rocker assembly next, then reinstall.

 

[KingAir Driver]

Re-torqued all the cylinder head bolts, some actually took a 1/4 turn before being set. Got the rocker assembly back installed and torqued down, adjusted all the valves to spec. Now old blue won’t fire up!

Spark check, gas check… just chug chug and not a hint of trying to ignite. I pulled off the air cleaner and noticed a bunch of gas in the secondary. Here’s a clip.. stop cranking and gas pours out.

I’m thinking needle valve or float is causing the engine to be flooded? Thoughts???

 

[Skreddy]

Re-torqued all the cylinder head bolts, some actually took a 1/4 turn before being set. Got the rocker assembly back installed and torqued down, adjusted all the valves to spec. Now old blue won’t fire up!

Spark check, gas check… just chug chug and not a hint of trying to ignite. I pulled off the air cleaner and noticed a bunch of gas in the secondary. Here’s a clip.. stop cranking and gas pours out.

I’m thinking needle valve or float is causing the engine to be flooded? Thoughts???

Can you see the fuel in the sight glass?

 

[KingAir Driver]

@Skreddy …Cannot see gas. I think it’s over the top. I just did the pedal to the floor and choke all the way in. She fired and roared. Wouldn’t stay running though.

I think something is stuck in the needle valve causing the flooding. More to come after I finish my bourbon

 

[Skreddy]

@Skreddy …Cannot see gas. I think it’s over the top. I just did the pedal to the floor and choke all the way in. She fired and roared. Wouldn’t stay running though.

I think something is stuck in the needle valve causing the flooding. More to come after I finish my bourbon

I’d say you’re on the right path. A whack with a soft mallet over the needle can free it.

 

[KingAir Driver]

Let me go whack it…

 

[KingAir Driver]

@Skreddy Whacked away, pulled the bolt off above the fuel inlet and sprayed compressed air at the needle valve. Fuel level back to 1/2 way and running.

 

[Pighead]

Good fix.
Now, I have heard that the intake and exhaust manifolds were matched, or "mated", at the factory. And that you cannot expect two different unmatched manifolds to fit together.
Also, fitting any headers to anything is going to require grinding.
I was fortunate enough to get an early Downey header back in the day. Had to mate it to a '69 intake manifold and bolt it to a '74 head that I had m12 threads tapped into. A lot of time with a dremel and grinder. Lots of putting it on and taking it off. This is normal from what I hear.

 

[KingAir Driver]

Thanks @Pighead I got the intake and SOR headers matched up pretty good. My pig on the other hand has been wallowing in slop and needs some lipstick.

 

[KingAir Driver]

Happy to report after a 40 mile test drive, no more James Bond smoke screen after stopping. More pep in the step as well.

 

[KingAir Driver]

Bit the bullet and ordered a new front bumper and rear bumperette’s from the local Toyota dealer, next day delivery! Installed them today.

Also rechecked all the valve clearances and retarded the timing slightly. Think it’s dialed in now after a 20 mile drive tonight.

 

[KingAir Driver]

Guess I’ll drop this here… picked up a late ‘72 1F motor within 1000 serial numbers of old blue’s stock motor. For the price with an OEM Asian Carb it was a no brainier to have a spare block. I guess…

According to the seller, it’s been sitting for 30+ years.

Wrestled it out of my truck and built a special dolly support stand to wheel it around the garage. Because I need more Cruiser junk in my tiny garage.

 

[KingAir Driver]

Pulled the head off tonight. Nothing looks out of whack.. cylinder walls looks good, not sure if these are OEM pistons. .040. @Skreddy come by my house if you’re in south Spokane

 

[Skreddy]

Pulled the head off tonight. Nothing looks out of whack.. cylinder walls looks good, not sure if these are OEM pistons. .040. @Skreddy come by my house if you’re in south Spokane

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I may be down that way tomorrow! Looks like a good find. My wife is happy you found it before I did!

 

[KingAir Driver]

Trying to find different projects to keep going on old blue for the winter. Picked up a new grill badge from the dealer, plus I’ve had a set of the new headlights waiting to be installed. Should I also install OEM fog lights, harness and switch ? Hmmm.

I have put off fixing the windshield wipers as well. Ugh.

 

[KingAir Driver]

Step 1 - say awwww.

Now let’s clean that lower grill.

 

[KingAir Driver]

Progress update for the 81110-60P70 Headlight upgrade. Got the back of the bib cleaned up with CLR and 000 fine steel wool, then rust converted areas that needed it. Cleaned up the headlight buckets and surrounds the best I could. Ordered new headlight adjustment bushings from CityRacer.

Installed the headlights and new grill badge.

I ended cutting out about 3 feet of wiring between the drivers side and passenger side lights.

I used @cruisermatt headlight fuse and relay brackets to clean up the wiring and make it tidy.

 

[KingAir Driver]

Last step.. need to get some bigger terminal ends to attach the headlight power and ground to the military grade terminals.

Unless someone has a better idea? Can I ground the negative to the fender?