Projects Finally My '26 Chevy Roadster Build

I came across my engine today. I knew it was there somewhere. So I took some time to answer some questions. One I can not answer. Where does the dipstick go on a 153 Chevy II block using a rear sump oil pan. It now comes out several inches too far forward in the shallowest part of the tray.
I have a dipstick fixture that I could mount on the pan or the block if there is room behind the starter or on the other side in a****st the exhaust. IDEAS?

 

Can you post or send me Photo's of the side/s of the block.?

 

This is one of the spare blocks but it is the same. Different number. You can see the tube right behind the fuel pump and the dipstick running by the oil pump and ending behind the pickup tube brace. The rear sump uses a different pickup tube.

 

I cannot tell in that photo is there another boss back past or near the oil sending unit?

 

That is the only one I see but I'll look again.

 

okay

 

I checked it all over today while I was repainting the block. There is no other boss or any place I feel comfortable putting a hole in the block. I think I'll be able to use the fixture I have on the pan like Studebaker did.
More shop cleaning, I got all my sandpaper sorted and put away and two cabinets FILLED with books & catalogs emptied and covering the work bench. I have a file cabinet in the back room full of old parts books most of which I don't need any more. There will be some room there for what I keep from this mess. I don't need catalogs from companies that don't exist, I don't need catalogs from companies that don't exist, I don't need catalogs ..............

 

Keep up the good work.

 

A little eye candy this time to show some roadster progress is happening during the cleanup. My torch cart painted with my 1/2 can & Kirt's 1/2 can. Spindles painted with gloss black from another dead friend's stash. Buck left three more cans of that stuff. The bell housing adapter and draft tube with new paint also the block, head & pan. Sorted books, catalogs & papers yesterday. Need to cut it down more.

 

That's all looking good, Great job.

 

The ch***is table made a brief appearance yesterday afternoon but was gone again by midmorning today. This time the stuff stacked on it is at least sorted and it is giving me access to another bigger wall for pegboard. Once I get from front to back on that wall the worst will be over. My new small Milwaukee cordless shop vac showed up too so It is easier to clean as I go. It will be big help not having to drag the big one out for every job.

 

That’s a great red! What is it?

and I hear ya about the catalogs. I bet I tossed 70+ this last move

 

It is Rust-Oleum Burgundy. It is not engine paint. It will be interesting to see how it holds up. It takes for ever to dry but is very tough once it does. We'll see. I realized today I haven't painted the water pump yet. I haven't decided what to do about bolts yet, paint, stainless, chrome, acorn covers......?

I still haven't found the top part of my old style Mallory 4 cylinder distributer cap. I have the bottom piece. There don't seem to be any around either. Someone should be reproducing them. There are enough Ford 4s to warrant it. I can run an 8 cylinder one if I have to.

 

Looks good. I’d lean towards acorn caps

 

I think I have some for the head bolts. I could use studs & chrome acorn nuts for much of the rest.

 

I wasn’t ever that into them but my 394 has them on the visible head bolts over the exhaust manifolds and it’s kind of a neat look. I’ll probably keep them in that place and do a standard bolt elsewhere. If I wanted to get fancy I’d smooth the tops off and then stick some sort of anti rust oil on them

 

This is the plus side of painting after ***embly.

 

A friend followed me home from our Inliner meeting this morning to check out my 413" Dodge six. He bought it and said it will be going to the Montana Dodge Boys for their speedster. Glad it will have a good home with someone who knows what it is.
I got the middle part of the new found shop wall cleared about 1/3 the way. It will be good to have pegboard on the wall and get some more of the cool stuff hanging so it's easier to find when it is needed. Also to get rid of much of the junk. Some of the cabinets from the other wall will go between the windows .

 

413! Dang that’s a big six!

Shops looking good! Made a little metal rack and am picking up supplies for another shelf tomorrow. Gotta keep up with ya now lol

 

I have a long way to go before I can actually get back to the roadster but hope to have enough room to ***emble the engine & trans in a week or two. Still have to make a final decision on pistons.

Pretty big!

 

Dang!

 

Yep he now has a truck load LOL

 

Six Ball, what did the 413 come out of???

 

It was in a big Dodge truck '54 I think. It had been converted to run a Ball mill for crushing ore in a mill on the Comstock Lode near Virginia City, Nevada.




I was told it is going in this: ?
https://www.facebook.com/100057480579867/videos/pcb.298146502111367/864682717497804

 

Very cool, and great pics- thanks, Six Ball!

 

That's Awesome.

 

The ball mill is the large round thing to the right in the first picture. The ore was put in the big drum with large cast balls and spun by the truck engine via a big belt. At some point in the early days of the mill cast iron balls were not available so they hauled ballast stones used in sailing ships up from San Francisco. These were flint and much harder than local stones. I got a few but should have grabbed more. I busted up one and made some flints for my flintlock rifle. Same principle as an engine fuel, spark, & compression.

It snowed really hard most of the day. I used it for an excuse to sit by the fire.

 

Hi Six ball, I just stumbled on your interesting thread. Love your project. Also love your 5 window, what are you running for an engine in it?
You talk about cutting down the piston for the 153, but at one point you said that you had gotten 307 pistons to use. Why the change.
Great job on mucking out your shop! Just remember when the urge to hord, or not clean up hits you think of all the work it was to "find" your shop. It helps me keep mine semi clean at least.

 

Cutlas. Thanks. I need to take this back to the roadster build. I use it too much as a diary/notebook. My '53 pickup has a GMC 270 I built in 1978. It has been freshened a couple of times since then.



The pistons are still an issue. The forged Ross pistons are 0.020" too tall. My lathe won't hold them. The fixture I made for the mill was not strong enough. Then the mill & lathe got buried and I haven't uncovered them yet. The 307 pistons are about 0.025" too short. These measurements are for zero deck height. Something I found out while trying to buy oversize off the shelf replacement pistons is that all of the ones I found were shorter than standard pistons. I read that the reason for this is to keep the compression the same as the stock specs. Stock standard 307 pistons would be the right height but 0.040 oversize are too short. I'll get it figured out because I want the engine ***embled in time for the Inliners International convention the end of May. I'll haul it to our show in the bed of the '53. Easier than the Big Dodge!

 

what do you mean when you say to short? (0.040 oversize to short. Are you needing to bore more then .040 over?