pulled head for head gasket removal and putting on a freshly redone head, 3 angle valve job the works. I now need to pull the side cover off and oil cooler and clean out the milk chocolate covering the inside of the engine. heres a small shot of the inside. the valve cover was coated with this stuff, looking like beeswax over over.
This week my bro and boxed in the rear of the frame, finished fabbing and attached a new rear bumper complete with inset lights and receiver hitch; welded in support struts and built/attached new spring hangers. Also moved the rear shackle hangers back several inches to get the overall WB to ~102".
Next week is to cut the rear wheel-well openings to allow for the moved axle and get the rebuilt axle installed with U-bolt flip kit and start the prep to get the new (to me) SM465 installed.
Drove it about 50 miles with no problems - No top, 65 degrees and sunny. I had a smile on my face the whole drive. It was a good reminder of why I put so much time and money into her.
Installed new powder coated stock wheels with new bfg at 33 x 9.5 with new hubcaps, new brake shoes, sandblasted the front bumper, headlight rings, side vents primed and painted hammertone grey. Waiting to install rebuilt carb and freshly boiled gas tank..
i buy my 1976 dec 20 2008, in 3 1/2 days: i install the front Arb bumper, change the warn 8274 for a fresh serviced by me.. Warn 8274-50, change the battery system to 1/0 ga. , install a fresh rebuilt blower system, fix electricals BUGS and route better the ez wiring,fix the lights,wipers,install the rear marker lights at the rear quarters, made a light holder for the tag,paint the air cleaner,install 2 hella drivings lights and paint the bezel.. The Priceless.....piss off my neighbor 2006 Heep when i turn my sweet 40 with headers... not bad for 3 days...
1. Replaced a leaking fuel line fitting at the pump
2. Replaced a 'temporary' bolt in my power steering conversion [that was put there temporarily 6 months ago!]
3. cut ANOTHER hole in the dash and moved my choke cable in anticipation of adding another guage [air-fuel mixture] in the near future.
Swapped the higher pressure Mr. Gasket fuel pump with the lower pressure version. FINALLY figured out why it has been so hard to start my bucket of bolts in the cold over the last few years. It appears that to properly operate the electric choke on a weber carb, the choke needed a ground. Hmm....Who knew
Let see i slam the body back in the tub. started to do body work. got some 16 g steel sheet so Should maybe get some progress done this weekend if I dont go out to Hammers. Should start tearing into my 77 fj to for I could start driving it again. some stuff here and there
Fitted the mud flaps back on, after trimming the rear quarters and new rear lights.
Just needs a new coat of paint in the new year now, front tail shaft and the front diff rebuilding, pinion bearing is a little worn. The list never ends.
Built plates for my DIY u-bolt flip kit. Using mid-80's minitruck brackets on top of the axle, and my fab'd plates on the bottom, underneath the spring pack.
Waiting on one more hard-to-find square u-bolt and the rear axle can go back underneath.
I've been fooling with the head on the 40. Pulled off the old one, cleaned out the lifter valley, oilpan and oil pump. Replacing all gaskets etc for side cover as I've been too lazy to fool with clearing the old one off, Hell there was nothing wrong with it anyway. Broke off a darn little bolt in the block- extra black goo in there now!
Here is a pick of the new redone head, magnafluxed, milled new valve seats, 3 angle valve job and nice new seals. Unsure of the make on the dual springs, they were on there with the head. I had the machine shop double check the spring pressure as I wanted it on the low side with the old cam and lifters. I pulled the lifters and they are all in pretty decent shape, 2 of the 12 were a little pitted on one edge and 2 or 3 with small crescent moon shaped wear in the face. I think they will be ok for a while as I don't drive this thing too often.
It's been so damn cold I've been to much of a puss to get out there and get the intake on. tomorrow right...
See the garage widow wondering when she can go out to dinner.