I do think I won't forget what the harmonic balancer does anytime soon. The video taught me a lot. Parts from an Explorer would have saved me time & money ? Well that's another lesson I guess but I think I'd have preferred to keep my old heads anyway. Kind of vintage and I like that. Now to sort out my timing marks. I had one idiot stamp a TDC and then Bill stamped a proper TDC on my balancer. I don't know which is which & I have to do the ditributor now. If I get it 180 degrees wrong, I'll get flames !
Wouldn’t have saved you any money, unless you found a good set ready to run. You would have gained performance most likely. But main thing is you’re getting it together and on the road!
That is a good question. As soon as somebody posts a thread about Chevy engines in a Ford they all come out of the wood work to criticize Chevy engines and insult those that love 'em. Yet here's a guy looking for help with a Ford and all he's getting is Chevy and Mopar guys to help. Where are all those SBF guys?
I admit I am anxious to cruise. It's been too long but they still have to sweep the salt off the roads. Should be any day now. And I must retract my earlier statement that some 'idiot' stamped a TDC on my balancer. That was unkind. He meant well but never admits when he doesn't know something and pretends he does. That's ok on his ride but I wish he confined that philosophy to his own vehicles. If a part won't come off, he breaks it off. I don't think that's a good practice to follow. Anyway, more performance is neat. I get that but I just want to cruise and keeping my ride vintage is important to me. I do think I have learned a lot in this recent task thanks to Bill and all here and I still take notes to refer to in future. I even do***ented how to install my own battery since it is a bit tricky. I have to jack up the back end & roll underneath, then lift the battery onto my chest and (after resting from that ordeal), raise the battery & base with both arms into two square channels that descend from the frame: a male & female sort of set up with two square channels. Once I manage to get both channels lined up (Geez those batteries get heavy) I slide the battery portion in and then with one free arm (because I have three arms - yeah right) I slide in the bolts. And I entered this hobby willingly. Still, quite a sense of accomplishment. And at the end of the day, I can sit back and count the bruises I earned. Sure is fun to work on and learn. Thank you all again. I'll spend part of the day today looking for the parts I misplaced removing the intake manifold. I did set up a table beside my ride for all my parts but I guess I got involved and can't find part of my throttle set up. It's got to be out there somewhere. Maybe it is hiding with that flexible brake line I lost last year and one of my socks the dryer ate ?
Now you have learned the one truism that affects/afflicts all hot rodders.........no matter what brand, what country, or what type of automobiling genre..............The proverbial " I'll just sit this where I know I can find it later" syndrome! Welcome to Hot Rodding!
I think the rear oil sump and the starter location helped put a lot of SBC engines in other makes. Interchangbility didn't hurt as the engines grew, either.
No I haven't fired it up yet. But almost there. I was busy cutting trees (life gets in the way). I still have to connect the fuel line and Bill said he would check my work. Plus I still have to put on my new plug wires (never cut plug wires before). So anxious especially with the great weather but thought I'd take advantage of the opportunity to work on my rad shell again. I know I should focus on starting it up but sort of worried. I put on a Jegs timing tape so it is easy to find the TDC mark now. A real pain in the **** before. I will let you know when I get it running. Just trying to be patient. Thank you for asking RodStRace.
You got it. On the wires, if they are the typical resistance core (not solid core), be very careful not to cut or damage the center conductor. They make special pliers to cut them. Also start doing the longest first. If you end up having to cut it again, it can be used on a shorter location. The pliers will also crimp the terminal ends. They really are a must have. Also, be sure to leave a bit extra length so the cap can be removed from the dist. and in case the wire needs to be repaired later. Neat is nice, snug is too much and sloppy is ugly. www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4i9yeYo1pk
Just because , I don’t post doesn’t mean I’m not reading over the FORD stuff . I think , everything has been done correctly . There also have been some good questions raised . Solid lifter 289 HP , I really don’t think so , they had screw in rocker studs and the heads were clearly marked . Most of all I never saw any hens teeth showin in the images . The 1/2 turn on the rocker adjustment is just fine for what he is doing . Something to think about in your mind is : the stud is 3/8 x 24 thread , so turnin it a 1/4 is moving the nut how much deeper over 1/2 turn of adjustment ? The head gasket is a big thing to look for on a SBF , “ square corner “ should come to mind . There is something that came to mind with the question , about where are all the Ford guys . A SBC is a good engine , one of the best . My only answer to where are we is : I’m right here , and I will not wear a bow tie . Just be nice and help the gentlemen , we have been there at some point in our ride know as life . He is having fun and learning , keep up the good work . Drive it like you stole it , just be safe .
I have also been following along. raced small block and big block Chevys for years. I am not a brand man so when I built my super stock wagon for the SEGA it had to be a Ford motor in my Comet. I have been a Ford dealership mechanic for about 6 years so they were nothing new. You are doing a good job learning.
Thank you very much gentleman. Such helpful and kind words do inspire. Perhaps it is just me but I do discourage easily during the pandemic when so much of this hobby seemed to be guys getting together to turn a wrench. Without these forums I'd never have met on-line or off so many kind souls. I watched the plug wire video and saved it. I think it looks much easier than I thought. I tend to overthink things. And I do everything much slower than most here as most here know what they're doing. But I see you all as offering the opportunity to do things right so I do my best to watch and listen. I don't consider myself a Ford, GM or Dodge guy. I like all the restorations and customs because I understand now what goes into them. But since I started with a Ford body & engine, I want to keep it somewhat correct with the caveat that apart from safety, it's a hobby so there are no rules (I am told). Thank you everyone. The learning continues.
Thank you for that reminder. I did learn that from a video but I hope I remember it. Seems like the kind of mistake I'd make so thanks for reminding me. I have to buy some sort of gel first so the cable slides in.
I should begin by stating that Bill is a Chevy man. Oh he owns a Ford or two a**** the rides in his stable but he is a Chevy man. Anyway, my ride is purring nicely now. We had some trouble the other night trying to get it running smooth. I thought to myself, I had one cylinder not firing properly because a valve was burnt. I had it fixed and now two cylinders aren't firing properly. This can't be good. So, long story short, I think Bill was just tired after a long day. He was kind enough to come over in the evening to show me how to get things running but the rod just wouldn't cooperate. He went home after a splendid effort saying he'd return later in the week to get things right. It was really bugging him. Sure enough, he phoned a day or two later and said he'd come over that evening and as much as I was anxious, I suggested sometime, anytime earlier in the day so as not to disturb my neighbours so he came the next day early in the afternoon. We got started and 1st thing, he wanted to loosen the rockers and start fresh. I think he finished 3 before he had an epiphany. He suddenly realized that he was repeating the same error he had made last time but this time he wasn't so fatigued and caught it. Bill was setting the rockers in Chevy firing order, not Ford. A true Chevy man. It just came naturally. Once he realized what he was doing, all was made right and it purrs now. He said he is always thinking ahead to the next step when he works so wasn't really focused on the task at hand. So there was a lot more here to learn about wrenching and that is precisely why (I think) hands on tutoring is so precious and why the pandemic makes learning so much harder. I got to set a few rockers myself and I learned that even once I become more familiar, I should still focus. Boy she sure sounds good now ! (thanks entirely to the kindness of Bill)
When it comes to setting valves on a 4,6,or 8 I use the companion cylinder method. Take the cylinder half way down the firing order from you want to set and as you turn the engine watch the the exhaust valve close and the intake just start to open then set the valve. On a SBC order 18436572 to set 1 you would watch 6 to set 8 you watch 5 and so on down the order.
Glad to hear all of your (and Bill's) hard work paid off. Memorial day is a great time to have a fresh running rod! While there is always a learning curve and 'touch' to doing something, this era is the absolute best for finding information online. So although you mention COVID in a few posts, realize that you can at least educate yourself and have an understanding of the process before starting, which can accelerate your abilities. Even something as simple as an oil change can go quicker with a teacher if you have a mental checklist and don't need to have each step and possible issues explained. You can instead know what needs to be done and concentrate on that 'feel'.
Sunbeam - um, ok. Looks a bit more complicated but I'll ask Bill about it. Rodstrace - As an example of hands on instruction as opposed to internet learning. when I changed my oil I wanted to be sure about tightening the drain plug so I checked the net and found one of the people I have come to trust (ChrisFix) offered a video. He does general stuff about cars on Youtube. He recommended a maximum of 20 foot pounds pressure. A day after I had put the plug in I noticed a drop of oil on the floor. I had only hand tightened it by feel. So I tightened it a bit more and the next day, still a drop. Even the third time and still a drop or two so I checked the ChrisFix video and went to 20 foot pounds with a torque wrench and I was very careful not to exceed 20 and I think it leaks more now. I saw that there was a small washer and later asked Bill about it and he said is can crack or wear and replacement could fix the issue or even a little silicone around the bolt. Point is, with the virus, I try to do what I can on my own and usually manage to screw up. I learn from it and am likely not to forget but still, wrenching with someone is more fun socially and often less damaging to my ride. But I take your point, having the net is a big help. My very first task was fabricating a floor and I found Eastwood made some great videos for beginners so I came to rely on their videos a lot. I put in two great access plates (battery & master cylinder). So I do get some things right on my own. And before attempting the Edelbrock manifold install, I watched a LOT of videos and wrote everything down (printer is broken) and followed each step. Plus people here guided me a LOT so I did feel familiar before I even began but alone, opening up the motor was scary. Second time, not so much. But I know I couldn't do this stuff correctly without the kindness found here.
It’s like anything you work on, it take time to do it the right and more time to learn to do it the right way, when no one is around that can help you with experience. Videos are the greatest thing (along with the HAMB) to help you get an understanding of what/how it’s done. Heck, I sheet rocked a room last year, taped it and sparkled it, troughed it and after paint looked as good as anything I’ve seen. Thing is I had never done this before. Reading forums, asking questions, then looking for videos of just what the heck I was being told or read about, made it all work. The past 20-25 years the internet has grown to the point that if you have the ability and comprehension skills, you can do almost anything you want. There’s so many people willing to share their experiences, expertise, and video it as well. Ya know what I did about 4 months ago? I polished a SBC crankshaft in my big lathe. I spent hours a day looking and reading and watching, then put all the info together and came up with a plan. It wasn’t about the $$ that I saved from taking it to a shop, it was about the satisfaction of doing it myself. I often get a few hours of downtime working the night shift at my job, so Google and me are friends Nothing more satisfying than doing it yourself.
I totally agree. The satisfaction is unparalleled but the risk can weigh heavy. I have learned that there is a lot of similarity in this hobby to scratch building a model but this hobby holds a lot more potential for stress. Still, the satisfaction can be far more rewarding. Thanks for that.
My new ride is my daily driver because I don't have one. But they are both special. I will baby them both.
I should have added that my flathead question was entirely rhetorical. I have every faith in Warren and in this truck.
An old truck powered by a flathead is an ambitious choice for a daily for anyone let alone someone with your minimal experience with old vehicles and their repair and maintenance. The fact that Canadian Tire doesn't exactly have a section dedicated to flathead parts comes to mind too. Old trucks generally have a horrible gear ratio for highway use so ... it wouldn't/couldn't be my first choice for a daily. That being said, I genuinely hope it goes well for you BTW, I use Fluid Film (bought by the gallon) and a Princess Auto undercoating gun for salty road protection. Fluid Film doesn't drip off like many other 'oil spray' type products. Hope the old truck has a good heater
If I remember right, the rear end was changed for highway driving. And as for repairs, I figure this is as basic as it gets so it should be good to learn on. I won't be driving it in winter so on cool autumn nights, I'll bring blankets. It will be like when I was a kid only now I won't be in the back of the pickup where it got really cold. Fluid Film ? I will check it out. Thank you borntoloze.
The Jalopy Journal
