April 2024. The rebuilt engine and the rebuilt transmission are installed.
May 2024. We prepare for the first run of the engine. Now is the time for a fresh starter motor. I ordered one from NAPA. The new mini-starter style arrived. The clerk and I found a new rebuilt original style on the computer. We ordered it. A new mini-starter style arrived. Turns out Napa can't get the old style anymore but I hear O'Rielly's can. I decided to go with the new mini. The terminal connections to the battery cables is different and the terminal adapter hits the engine block. Some people remove the adapter and run the cables direct to the starter.
My cables are too short to do this plus this routing puts cables close to the exhaust. We modified the adapter and installed the starter.
The first test of the engine went well. We ran it for 20 minutes to break in the cam. I noticed the temperature sender went to full hot when the engine was stone cold. It was the sending unit grounding on the AC compressor base. On AC cars, the temp sender has to be screwed into the block as deep as it will go to provide clearance for the wire. The compressor was unbolted, raised, the sender went deeper, reassembled and problem solved.
The back up lights were on whenever the ignition was on. The problem was old hard grease on the switch. Reassembly of the switch is particularly challenging. You can watch these adventures here.
Applied another coat of Calyx exhaust paint. Don V says transmission fluid OK; anything compatible with Dexron III is OK. I don't have to change the fluid already in there (new SuperTech).
Jamie brought back the rebuilt alternator. There had been belt rub on the upper radiator hose. I bought a new hose and figured out how to cut and position to clear alternator belts. It turns out the new hose has a bend for clearance on the AC belts and the old one did not. We have plenty of belt clearance now. Jamie got a new 1-5/16" brass block plug to replace the weeper and installed. Note from Carl: Those RV2 compressors come with deep sump and shallow sump which helps with clearance on the temp sender.
Installed the heater box and had to reuse the gasket since Quirey has been no deliver since October. Installed the heater hoses. Checked with manual for proper routing.
Refilled with new antifreeze; green 50-50 premix from Zerex. Installed power steering belt and adj belt tension. Got running, alternator is charging and radiator circulating. No fuel leaks at carb after replacing the feed line.
The temp gauge reads slightly high but the engine is not hot. Adjusted carb idle setting and screws. Changed distributor to a fresh rebuild (old Biello piece rebuilt by DV) and checked spark flash regularity with timing light -- now have consistent flash. Other distributor did not have consistent spark.
September 2024. We did a test run in the driveway. I adjusted the timing by ear for quick crank start and no ping. It runs a bit rough at idle from the performance cam which is what we expected. The brakes are poor and we determined the booster is bad. We installed the hood which is a quick and easy job when you use the engine hoist to support the nose. The passenger side rear block plug shows no leaks after the new plug was installed.
The booster is back from Booster Dewey and with a test drive, there are plenty of brakes. The pedal is almost too touchy but something I can get used to. The new engine starts quickly and runs fine. The console vacuum gauge reads low but a mechanic's gauge hooked to the manifold reads 14-15 at idle -- console vacuum gauges are almost always an unreliable reading.
September, 2024
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