You know, it's a small thing, but chamfering the edges of that oil filter bracket is the kind of detail I really admire about how you do stuff. That engine looks perfect. I really like the color, too.
The engine is now installed. I had already tried installing it last week, but there was no clutch play in the release bearing. The bearing hub had to be shortened by 7mm to create enough play for adjustment. Now I was finally able to connect it, and the engine is in place. The clutch is now working properly. I still need to rework my exhaust manifold, as one pipe is only a few millimeters above the wishbone. Regards, Harald
Ha, there's one more thing I have to tell you. When I first installed the engine and then noticed that the release bearing was pressing into the clutch, I couldn't turn the engine over. Since I had to take the engine out again, I wanted to take a closer look. Sure enough, it wouldn't turn. I was sweating bullets; I didn't know what I'd done wrong. First, I took the cylinder head off. Nope, that wasn't it. I put the head back on. I removed the drive shaft that drives the distributor and oil pump. Nope, still stuck. Flywheel... maybe the mounting bolts were too long? I couldn't imagine that; they were the ones that were already installed. I took it out anyway, still not free. Now things are getting weird. The engine turned over before without the flywheel, so I removed the flywheel, and now I could turn the engine over, but I couldn't see anything wrong. Then, while installing the flywheel, I noticed something was stuck. I shone a light on everything and saw that the cotter pin in the flywheel housing had jammed in the flywheel gear ring and was being pulled in. Normally, it's bent open quite far and couldn't move at all, but this one did. I corrected the problem, tightened the flywheel, and the engine turned over perfectly. It's a good thing I had to take the engine out again; otherwise, I would have been searching forever. Regards, Harald
Something like that happened to me when I first tried to get mine running. The bolt holding the old -fashioned flat spring on the bendix sheared and dropped its head down into the bellhousing. Jammed in the ring gear and locked her up. Took me a bit of puzzling to figure out what was going on, as well. Something about how it was lying, it would only jam when I rotated the engine the proper direction, so I pulled the plugs and stuck a magnet to the flywheel through the starter hole, rotated the engine backwards one full spin, and there it was. Along with 3 more from who knows when. Hahaaa. Your car is outstanding, as is your work.
I had rebuilt the water pump; the new shaft needed to be shortened and adjusted so everything would fit together. The exhaust manifold was sitting too low and needed to be raised, so I cut everything apart, removed about 3/4 of the pipe length, welded it all back together, smoothed it, and applied another coat of black heat-resistant paint. I then made the angled clamps to bolt the intake and exhaust manifolds together. I installed the distributor, but unfortunately, the ignition coil cable is much too short. I just noticed that the ignition coil needs to be reversed. The Weber carburetor was also installed, and the throttle linkage was adjusted. That's it for now. Regards, Harald
Lots of little things done, which really takes up a lot of time. The throttle gas pedal ***embly is mounted, connected to the carburetors, and adjusted. Both throttle valves open, very nice. New spark plugs are installed and the coil is properly attached. Now everything fits. Air filter on, so that's it on the carburetor side. Now to build the bracket for the new alternator, then install the alternator and attach the tensioning bracket. Done, good. Greetings Harald
Thanks, there are still so many things to do. I noticed that the brake rod from the pedal to the crossmember isn't activating the brake light switch, so I'll readjust the brake system tomorrow so it works. I have to install a completely new electrical system; we're required to have a functioning hazard warning system, which is another challenge. Regards, Harald
Harald, Have you seen this YouTube channel? I think even I could wire a car successfully with their help. Haha. One of the many advantages of living where I do is that old cars are only required to run the safety equipment they were originally equipped with. It's a practical advantage but, as I have found out the hard way, not always a safe one. I don't know if I will bother with hazard lights on my speedster rebuild, but I will certainly have turn signals and more than one brake light. Good luck, and thank you for posting your wonderful work.
No, I don't know him. Thanks for that. I can handle the electrical work, it just can't be done in a day. Regards, Harald
The Jalopy Journal
