Son of Godzilla update - 5/15/07

It's Monday. I took the day off to play catch up, but the way things worked out, I'll be using it to rest and take care of domestic chores I've been neglecting. That's fine with me, as I'm so crispy - I'm too old to thrash like this! I was never a good project manager anyway (always worked for other people) and am officially in over my head on this deal. I don't know how some of you guys do it. Dr. Lockjaw, for example, has FIVE active personal car projects going right now!!!!! Yet, he set them aside to help me with mine - what can I say to that? See what I mean about humbling?
More later...

 

Here are shots of the gas tank/cell welding session.
It's getting close! Can you feel it?

 

Thanks Nate! More coming soon, on the anti-roll bar. But for now, (as if you need narration on this):
1. Doc, welding up some bungs (insert bung jokes here). That's his new 4-71 set-up in background (ooh la la)
2. Framerail mounts for tank
3. Cutting fuel filler hole (AKA access hole to clean chips out)
4. Square tube is a 1" spacer to locate tank in center of frame opening
5. Ta da! Installed (mounts are steel and will be painted asap)
6. The awesome bottom panel, back when it was only a piece of sheetmetal with some marks and bends on it
7. An overall look at the fuel system now. The big (new) tank has its own filler, but when I lose fuel pressure (don't have a fuel level guage, but I have a fuel PRESSURE guage - priorities!), I just open the shut off valve from the Moon tank and presto - I have another 2 gallons to get me to the nearest gas station.
Still need to pressure test this setup and do some minor plumbing and the fuel system, she's all a good!

 

Spent today running errands, etc. I did fab some new tow bar mounts - these should inspire a little more confidence while towing...
Also talked with Dan the Wire Guy - he says to tow Z-Dawg over to his new shop on Thursday and drop it off. So that's what I'm gonna do! I'm weirded out about leaving my car in a strange place and letting someone else work on it, so while that's happening, Janglegirl and I are hitting the road for a couple days of much needed R&R. Of course, that's already turning into part of this project, as I'm picking up a set of pushrods at Smith Bros, etc...Ha! I just don't have an "OFF" switch anymore...
Oh yeah, after dropping the car at Dans Spaghetti Works, I'll finally pick up the engine (it's done and it's awesome!) and bring it home for assembly. I actually took this time off work to build the engine, but Lady Jangles hit me with those baby blues and - well, you know the rest...

 

Sometimes you just have to be open to intuition and follow your heart. After much soul searching and hand wringing, I finally told Dan The Wire Guy today that I can't drop the car at his place. He's still signed on as an advisor on this project, but it's time I faced my fear of electricity and wired this car. Also, I just wasn't comfortable with dropping the car at another shop - it was bad enough being at Dr. Lockjaws, and we've been best friends for years. So I hooked up the ol' tow bar and brought it home, along with the new engine!!!
God this thing is beautiful! I'll get some pix soon - you'll all be cryin' your eyes off!
Meanwhile, we're blowing town in the morning - hope I can loosen up and enjoy the trip, knowing my little shop is stuffed full of candy! It's all there now - just needs assembly - Tab A, Slot B...And there's this: 48 days before we leave for B-ville! Oh man, I better panic! Maybe I'll wait until Janglegirl falls asleep on the beach and just haul ass back to the shop? She'd probably get over it in time, right? She might even admire my determination and work ethic. I know she'll forgive me when I come rolling back into the driveway after World of Speed, with a sexy number stamped on my timing tag...right?

 

I know she's understanding and all, but I think there's a Nobel in it for ya if you can put that on paper and make it work. But I don't know her, and please don't mis-understand I'm not speaking poorly of her, just seems too much of a stretch for anyone.

Besides, if you don't like wiring, rested and calm is the best way to start with it.

How many circuits do you figure you need? Fuel pump, Ignition, tail and brake lights (for the flat tow), starter, main battery cables, Fan (?). Whatever the gages take (if anything). Just keep everything as far away from moving parts, sharp edges, and heat as you can. Keep a list of what color wire does what, when your tired it will help a lot. If you can figure out how to eyeball engineer all the mechanical stuff you obviously have through the years, electrical hoses can't beat you.

 

I love that car ,has to be one of the meanest moggies on the planet!
Great to see the rebuild ,I wish I had keep my old splitscreen ,its matt black now and living in Dublin.
Good luck with it good to see minors on the HAMB
Some photos of the one I built. Built on a Volvo 240 chassis .
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/1003/50chevy/1955%20morris minor/

 

v8: Thanks for the kind words. As for Minors on the HAMB - you know, they really don't belong on here, but maybe in this case, the B-ville connection is enough to let it slide. I just know I'm real grateful to be here and don't want to wear out my welcome...

Sorry I can't access the link to your pix (something's screwy on my end), but you could post 'em on "Hey Rocky, still got your Morris?" - that thread has a bunch of hot Morrises (all of which are much nicer than my crusty beater).

 

Sure, when I went to A&P school (say it with me now, ... shule, where's Gallagher when you need him?) it was always compared to plumbing or hydraulics. Even in the digital control stuff and avionics.

It works too, you have to plumb it up so the trons get in and back out. Leaks are bad and so are clogs (shorts, opens) you don't want a constriction, like too small of a pipe. But I tend to overbuild, everything. I wire up taillights with 16 AWG everybody tells me I could use 20 (or smaller now that LED's are so cheap). I use 14 for headlights, but sometimes I get the, ummm, 'grey market' bulbs. I'm still too poor to justify HID (till the price comes down A WHOLE LOT more). I think the 2-0 in the Anglia for battery cable is too big though. After I found out the new mini starters don't blow a 150 amp Maxi fuse, I figure I could have used 4 AWG (it's what came out, but everybody Dad knew scared the crap out of him with visions of burning the car to the ground, so 2-0). I am re-wiring it this winter both to relocate the computer (4.0 SOHC V6 out of an '01 Ranger in it) to the trunk but I want to move the fuse box there too. I am thinking of an American Autowire Highway 22 kit. I have used one before and for what Dad wants of the car it is a nice piece. just kind of pricey if you are only going to use 6 or 7 circuits in the whole car. At least I don't think you are going to use more; but maybe I missed something?
For that matter I haven't checked the HAMB vendors yet (and I will) to see if they offer something comparable. The biggest advantage to a kit like that is they print what the wire is supposed to do right on it every few inches in a contrasting color (they use GM color coding for the wire itself). As I said though if you have a list, and not many wires it's not really necessary. It might be a good idea to write the list on the car somewhere nondescript, but viewable when you want it, in paint marker. Too many circuits in the Anglia for that.

 

Hmmm...Lots to think about, Nexxy. I also need to check the HAMB-O-DEX for wiring harness kits suppliers (as soon as I get back in town), but don't know if I can afford a kit, or need one, with these requirements:
- Charging system (duh), using GM 130 amp Si alternator.
- Lights.
- Electric fan.
- Electric fuel pump.
- Trans Brake.
- MSD ignition.
- Horn.
No air, stereo, power windows, satelite navagation system, or power tissue dispenser, etc, etc, etc...

 

Scotty...You mean to say you didn't install one of those new fangled cup holders that keep your beer or soft drink cold? That should have been on the top of the list.Now get in there and get that thing wired up!!!! Conduit is not that hard to bend.

 

Charging system, durn I kenw I forgot something.

 

Okay, everyone's a comedian when they know I'm out of town. Hardeeharhar...Well I've been spying on you the whole time - how 'bout that? Ha! You gotta get up pretty early in the afternoon to put one over on the jangler. Uh hey, where do I get one of those space age cup holders? Just wonderin'.....

 

I'm pretty sure that Chrysler offers them as an option in some of their vehicles.Got the tee-shirt Saturday,looks great,thanks.Had a lot of questions asked about it.Keep us updated on your progress.

Frank

 

Well thanks guys. Today's my first day back. Got out in the shop early, all full of piss and vinegar (is that a good thing?) and feeling really well rested (and well fed, too!). Imagine my surprise to discover that it was going to be one of those days when nothing goes right. What a disapointment. I took the new fuel tank to a buddys radiator shop for pressure testing and found two little leaks (that's not bad, considering the miles of weld holding that thing together). Will run it back to Docs on Thursday. I painted all the fuel tank mounts, etc and plumbed the system. Installed new shocks. Put together the freshly painted anti-roll bar system and found that the bushings won't fit tight against the arms (those Speedway arms we used have a weird radius on the sides that don't allow for a flush fit - doh!). Spent the WHOLE DAY trying to make it work, but no dice. The piece will still function properly, but there's a sloppy gap that's making me crazy - I'm sure I'll obsess about it all day at work tomorrow and come up with some fix...I also re-routed fuel lines and wires away from the anti-roll bar assembly.
Anyway, it's good to be back and I'm happy to have gotten SOMETHING done today. Gotta panic now - it's past my bedtime and tomorrow is another 14 hour non-stop day behind the wheel. If you'll be travelling on I-5 in Oregon tomorrow, give the fish truck plenty of room - the driver has a lot on his mind (but at least he's well fed and rested)...

 

Took the fuel tank to D&T Radiator (drag race pals Denny and Tara are Lil Zilla sponsors) to pressure test the welds and found two pinholes. Back out to Docs today to get that fixed. Also ordering some misalignment bushings for the anti-roll bar links. Hope to do final assembly of fuel system today and get block mounted to engine stand. Hope to spend weekend building engine. I am a man of many hopes...

 

Glad to see the ole' Morris still around.

Where are you pimp'n the T-shirts ?

 

Hey Glenn - How' you been ,man? If you guys don't know Glenn, you should. He's the MAN at TRW and knows what works and what doesn't. He also has a new project every time I see him - they're all cool and fast, too! Yeah, ol' Glenn has about everything - except a GBR SoG T! Glenn, just hit the SEARCH button and type in "Help support the Bonneville Dream" - it's all set up for Paypal, etc...
You know, that reminds me very little of the time I met Glenn. It was at the Goodguys deal in DesMoines, Iowa, back in nineteenhundred and eightysomething. I'd been building the Morris on $20 a week for a few years, but was finally ready to debut it. After a long trip from Omaha (an adventure that ended with the Morris arriving in DesMoines on the end of a chain), I finally drove it into the fairgrounds and got some feedback on it from the crowd. My ego was about to bust wide open and I couldn't wipe the grin off my face. I was standing a distance away, watching my car and the peoples reaction to it, when the most godawful rumbling I'd ever heard invaded my reverie. Before I knew it, every available oxygen molecule was being sucked down the intake of the worlds most badass Model A coupe and I became dizzy from lack of air. When it rolled into view, the ground shook so, I feared I'd completely lose my vision, as the violence was causing my retinas to detatch! The adrenaline finally pushed the fluids from my bladder and I remember the vague realization that I'd pissed myself, as I fell to the ground. When I came to, the A-bone (painted Satan Red and glowing like a hot poker) was parked next to Lil Zilla, with a huge crowd gathering around it. The doors opened and slowly, a parade of people exited the smoking and steaming coupe, each carrying luggage and drinks. It was Glenn and his family, grateful to be setting foot on Mother Earth again, after driving this monster from Godonlyknows, Kansas. We made friends that weekend and took each other for rides, etc. I've been wearing out the poor guys phone ever since, with tech questions, etc...Great guy. Builds killer cars, too.

 

Oh yeah - today Doc welded up the pinholes in the fuel tank, it passed the dunk test at D&T Radiator, I assembled all the fuel system (after an annoying trip to the store for fasteners) and I got the block up on the engine stand, where it's waiting patiently for me to screw it together, starting Saturday AM. Between now and then, I gotta work like a dog for da man what's tryin' to keep me down under his thumb an' shit.....
Until then,
Scotty

 

I sent Nate some pix of the finished fuel tank install, plus the anti-roll bar "how to". He should be posting them soon, so watch this space for that. This morning, I'm locking myself in the shop to begin building the new engine
(377" SBC). I'm assuming you've all seen enough SBC builds, so I won't bother with pix (okay, maybe a couple, just for my own beeswax). Wish me luck - I'm goin' in!
Jangle

 

Okay, day one of the engine build had several interuptions (life - go figure)...But I did get the crank laid (can I say that on here?) and got the rings on the pistons, ready to install in the morning...I'm hoping for more solitude then...

 

Oh man...Get this: Had a real nice quiet day in the shop today. Got all the piston/rod assemblies in, oil pump on, cam and timing chain in, oil pan on, even got the heads on. Then I stood back and patted myself on the back for a while, before turning off the lights and getting back to reality. My machinist pal Jerry had told me this one would take a little longer, because of the spiro locks, windage tray, etc, but I thought it went pretty quickly - wait a minute! Windage tray? WINDAGE TRAY?! I didn't install it, because it wasn't there - Jerry forgot to throw it in the parts box, which he handed to me on his way to California for a weeks vacation - DOH! Anyway, it's quitting time now. I'll figure something out, but at the moment, I'm pretty pissed at myself for jangling this. The bottom end is all sealed up and now I'll have to tear it back open and deal with all that again (good thing I used one of those one piece oil pan gaskets).
It sucks getting old - but it does prove one thing - I really enjoyed the sixties! Grrrrrr............

 

Dear Diary: It's always the little stuff that gets me. Take today for example. I go out to the shop and tear open the bottom end of the 377 and get up to my elbows in making major changes to the oiling system and in half an hour, I'm wondering what to do next. So I install the new balancer and crank pulley, then I want to check the water pump pulley against it - see if they still match up, now that I'm running a new improved water pump, right? So I grabs the water pump and it lines up PRETTY good, but I notice there's a different arrangement of holes for the accessory in/outlets. Next thing I know, the day is gone and every tool I own is strewn across the shop, after fabbing like the wind for 3 HOURS to make this stuff fit. Oi. But it does feel good to know that it's done and done right. Okay, pretty right...
What's it matter anyway? Nobody comes around this thread anymore. All the cool kids are getting ready for Speedweek and the HAMB Drags, without me. What was that? A tumbleweed just rolled across the page. Hmmm...Guess I'll close up shop here. Nobody cares anymore. I should just go live in a hole. Everyone would be better off. Okay you guys, this is it - I'm turning off the lights. Goodbye forever. I mean it - I'm not bluffing. I'm leaving forever and you'll never know how fast the car went on the salt. And you'll never know anything about the busload of cheerleaders we hooked up with on the road, or the details of how we beat Mark Steilow when we accidentally drove into the Silver State Classic and WON THE EVENT, which got us on the cover of Car Hero Magazine!!! Oh well. I guess people just don't care about such things anymore. See ya 'round, if you're not square............................click!

 

Enjoyed the 60's,... Flashback??? Whaaaa? Jeez, musta been a rough day at the 'office' today. When is World of Speed again? Isn't it like 6 or 8 weeks from now? I would have to say you have a very good start. After all if it's 8 weeks out Boyd wouldn't start his gaggle for another 7 1/2.

We're still here, you just haven't posted anything that looked like you needed anything (aside from the mythical pickup load of $100's, more hours in the day, a mechanically inclined Swedish Bikini team for pit crew, etc.)

Tumbleweed, that's funny.

 

For Sale - one used SOGodzilla shirt $16 Is slightly soiled as it has been used to polish the inside of a stainless porsche exhaust tip.
___________________________________________________

hahahahahha - I am keepin tabs on you..... better quite that whining and fawkin around and get after it!!!! Five weekends left mister.

 

I got your tumbleweed, right here mister.
get to wooooooooooooooorrrrrrkkkkkkkkkkk !

 

Ha! I knew it: You guys come crawlin' back, wantin' to be part of the action, just in case it really happens! Yeah, well guess what - I sure missed you guys! Thanks for speaking up - it was gettin' lonesome around here...

We leave here for World of Speed in 38 days (September 8th). It's still shakey, but today I got some fresh inspiration...

 

Oh yeah?! I'll show you - you'll be laughin' out of your other ass when I get done with your gold chainer import. You got those leather elbow patches on your firesuit? Better make sure they're sewed on tight, kid...'Cause the way things are goin', we'll be breaking in the cam on the new engine during the drive to B-ville - this thing will be FRESH! We'll be power tuning all the way there and should have the razor sharp ultra-mega GBR tune on it upon arrival at Wendover. Whereas, you'll be using your air conditioned trailer to store your freakishly huge stash of Grey Poupon (he won't leave home without it, folks) and won't have access to your porch until you have your people unload it on the salt... So yuk it up now, while you can. (Uh, hey, will ya take $12 for that SoG shirt?)

 

Okay, okay - just let go of my tumbleweed and I'll get back to work, all right?
Jeez.......