In other news, one of the Havasu 95 Speedway swap meets is this Saturday, maybe I'll get lucky and find a part or two? https://www.havasu95speedway.com/swap-meets
Today's haul from the swap meet; For the RPU: new SBC shorty pump, small flex fan, mono leaf front spring and shocks. Possibly for the '55 Dodge a dual circuit master cylinder for drums, and yet another old light because I can't seem to help myself. I realize the mono front spring is somewhat controversial, but at this point everything on the suspension is trial and error until I actually get it on the road. I do plan to run a panhard bar.
Talked to the machine shop yesterday, short block is ready to go. No particular problems found, .030 cleaned up the bore and the balanced rotating assembly was saved, although the crank was turned to .020 rods and .030 mains.
Went to another swap meet at Havasu 95 Speedway, scored a few more bits for the RPU, as well as a couple wall hangers for the shop; I had been thinking about using a Vega GT steering wheel, but found this old aftermarket 13" that will work just fine. The harmonic balancer (which I needed) is listed as for a later 283 with cast crank, but can't see how that takes any difference? The single groove pulley was a buck and is a "just in case", same for the alt/gen adjustment bracket for 5 bucks. The front spring shackles should be exactly what is needed on the RPU. Fun stuff, the wheel cover is pretty cool, my dad always had covers similar this on his old 47 Chev pickup; We head home in just a few days, I'm chomping at the bit to get out in the shop, with many projects waiting for attention.
LC, looks like you're getting some parts together for spring! Your new lights look fine. They look like Deitz. Probably 7" sealed beam for the buckets . I have the same ones on my T rpu.
I think the next step is to find some seal beam bucket and rings like these, then modify them to fit into the headlight shells; These are on eBay, listed as for 73 to 80 Chevy pickup
I also bought some used stand alone headlight stands from @hotrodhoodlum; and will use weld on shock brackets, like these I saw at a local car show;
LC, I could be wrong, but I don't think you need to adapt any buckets in there. The sealed beams should just be held in by the rings. Loosen the rings, put the lamp in, tighten the ring. Run wiring first of course.
We arrive home from snow-birding early next week. Planning to pretty much live in my shop for the foreseeable future. Next winter I plan to bring one of my project motorcycles (cuz their portable) and set up a small shop in my buddies storage unit here. 'Bout lost my mind to boredom this winter. Beyond the usual "chores" (yard/house), my priorities, at least in the first month or so are; Prepping a very old Bultaco barn find for Vintage MX, first race is early May My wifes '55 Dodge w/440, pulling soft plugs, flushing water jackets and replacing radiator FINALLY - back to the RPU project! Why is the RPU 3rd and not first? Motorcycles and some form of racing have always been part of my life. I rode my last race in '22 and quit due to age and health reasons. After lots of rehab and PT, I'm strong enough to give it a go and will do it as long as I can. So that's important to me. The '55 Dodge is our summer driver, cruise-in car and has a tendency to run pretty warm. It also vapor locked in a parade last year and momma wasn't happy. Along with the block flush and radiator, changing to a '65 Belvedere rear end for two reasons; emergency brake and gearing. Also upgrading to 2 circuit brakes and better exhaust. The RPU is a big project and will get lots of attention, just not ALL the attention! Some pics cuz these little write ups are better with visuals: '68 Bultaco, bought from the local machinist; First attempt at flushing the 440 powered Dodge in 2023, I've done all the usual stuff, that's why I suspect clogged water jackets; I will put it up on the hoist and pull the soft plugs and get in there with a pressure washer. Enough ramblings for now...
For those of you with 28-29 roadster door pillars in need of repair, @bct is now shipping his cowl post top repair kits. He has them advertised in the parts for sale section. https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum...29-open-car-or-pick-up.1309098/#post-15181037
Today was our second day back home and we didn't waste any time, heading to La Grande and picking up both the 283 short block as well as the latest Bultaco project. This summer will be very busy. The 283 back home and on the engine stand;
Just ordered my 2" chopped windshield posts from John Lee Williamson. I was gonna hold off for awhile but his latest advert indicated he might not be making more of them, so if you're thinking about getting a pair, act now; https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum...eld-posts-275-usa-305-intl-see-picts.1130640/
Been quite a while since I've updated, not being lazy, just the opposite. When we got home from AZ, picked up the old Bultaco (since dubbed "Peppa", you know like the pig) and did an ultra quick revival in 30 days and had it at the vintage MX races, had a few little problems but a really good first moto and a slightly less successful second moto (fuel issues), but overall considering its 3 decade slumber and then back to the track, pretty good. Next up in the shop was my wife's '55 Dodge, the 440 runs a bit warm (don't they all?) and am trying a new radiator, one of those units with the 1" tubes; The new radiator is an improvement over the old chinesium rad, but think the next move will be going to a mechanical drive fan and shroud. While I was at it, also pulled the block soft plugs and flushed the water jackets, that was a grungy job! Also getting ready to change it to a 2 circuit brake system and eventually a complete '65 Belvedere rear end. With those two projects momentarily out of the way, had a little time to get the RPU project somewhat organized. So far it's only been parts gathering and planning, no real work (other than the 283 engine build) and getting some shelving and organizing parts seemed a good start. Some pics; With the short block back from the local machine shop, was disappointed to find they had decked the block, but somehow missed the mark on setting piston to deck height; The pistons are .038" down in the hole, and with a .010 (compressed) shim head gasket, ends up at .048" quench. Probably livable but definitely not optimal. Compression ratio with small chamber power pack heads that have been milled, comes in roughly at 9.5 to 1. Contemplated pulling it all back apart to re-deck the block, but it's just a fun little street rig, so will try it like this for now. Did end up getting '29 cowl windshield post repair kits from @bct, shortened windshield posts from @John Lee Williamson and headlight stands from @hotrodhoodlum so the parts gathering is going well. Found this cool little medallion at garage sale yesterday, probably a re-pop, but like it anyway; At this point I want to assemble the engine, then start getting the chassis mocked up. Only have about 75% of the front suspension pieces and none of the rear suspension. Probably the next step is to get a front cross member and start cleaning up the frame. Any thoughts on what front cross member to use? My stock cross member is beyond repair so gotta buy something...
Find an original crossmember. It will fit perfectly with no fab required, and will have more strength than the skinnier repros. A 28-29 will have slightly higher radiator pads, but if you can only find a 30-31 you can just put a shim under the radiator feet.
Hey, like one of my tee-shirts says, I'm a great Enginere... Enginear... Engineir... I'm good at math!
Don’t know if your trip south/north took you near Denver. But you could have picked one up at Bert’s Model A Store. Original or repo.
Saw your doodlebug for sale on facebook and wanted to confirm it was actually you! Sent you a PM with the link.
Some of the motorcycle stuff is winding down, so getting started assembling the 283 today. Before bolting the heads on the short block, wanted to verify TDC and have the balancer and front timing tab synced up. Because i'm running a 6" balancer, and most of the tabs available are for larger balancers, I decided to clean up the original 283 truck timing chain cover and use it. It was really nasty inside; I'd partially cleaned the outside last year, so it wasn't nearly as bad; Lots of scraping, wire brushing and liberal amounts of brake clean did the job. Not quite paint ready, but good enough for mocking things up. With the cover cleaned inside and out, set in place, balancer indexed to crank and set to TDC with a dial indicator; Indicator and balancer were pretty far off from each other; For now I just marked the timing tab where it aligned with the balancer, I do have some 6" timing tape ordered. Next up was installing the heads using steel shim head gaskets sprayed on both sides with copper coat and new bolts from Speedway; Had to stop here as the copper coat was running out.
Have seen balancer slip off from timing mark. Feel more DIY builders should always check proper location timing marks. Nice job
More 283 progress today, got the other head on and then on to cam, lifters, pushrods and rockers. The legendary Duntov cam; Since the used original cam is pristine, didn't want to take a chance on lifters, so stepped up and bought the Howards Cams direct lube lifters. These are normally used with high spring pressure (ours are just stock) but the extra lube on the lobes really appealed to me; Cam and lifters are in, generously lubed with ultra slick; Pushrods and rockers installed, still needs proper valve lash set; When the engine is mostly complete and has a starter on it, will spin it over and verify all 16 lifters properly rotate.
Progress has been slow, mostly due to so many other projects. Here's where we are at; The original timing cover installed, after removing the old timing tab, a good cleaning and installing new seal. Next up is rolling it over to install the oil pump and oil pan, then cleaning and painting the engine.
More progress on the 283; Intake and carbs are just set in place for show, the intake and carbs need a lot of TLC before they're ready. Plenty left to do before it's first fire-up, but it's getting close! Heading South for the winter, when we get back no more side tracks, the roadster pickup will get lots of love next spring and summer!
Thanks! I hate to take time off out of the shop, but my wife really likes the warm weather, so I'm taking a vintage bike south to work on and keep from getting bored. Can't wait to get back to the RPU project.