Anybody else go to these extremes?

after 5 years of dependable service my car didn't start one morning.
this is what I had by that afternoon,

 

Thats why I am afraid to do my wheel bearings in my 53 f100. I know I will end up rebuilding the front end and doing discs brakes. On a o/t new driver/beater truck I got it leaked a little oil from valve covers and seat was rough. So far new msd goodies in distributor, new valve covers & air cleaner, complete tune up and tons of fun with engine degreaser. Oh and the interior is stripped to the seat only so I can drive it temp until I get my ford f100 going again.

I think we have a problem or some type of addiction lol.

 

If you have a hole in one frost plug better replace them all since you have the engine out. Ask me how I know this. Brian

 

One of the first things I was taught was "if you change one thing you will end up changing ten". I started out to change the front end on my'32 coupe and ended up doing a frame off re-build. Only kept the body (Henry) motor, radiator and shell. Everything else went, best thing I ever did but yeah.......I know about the "Snowball" effect....

 

Yep....went to change valve covers,now I got my whole engine apart.

 

I intend to replace all of them. Why do you recommend that? John

 

Cleaned up the firewall for a few minutes, scraped grease off the chassis for 2 minutes, bored with that stuff. Spent about an hour grinding all the casting marks off my exhaust manifold (only got one done). Who the hell is going to do all the clean up while I smooth out the other manifold?

 

Isn't that how you start teaching your kid how to work on cars? Those are the kinds of crap jobs I always got stuck doing when helping my Dad build cars!

 

I must of skipped that part of his training, he has his own car now and works just about the opposite hours I do. He was kind enough to let me pay for the stuff he bought at the Blacksmith swap yesterday. I am seriously thinking of taking Friday off so he can help me push the car in and out of the garage for a little pressure washing, we'll see. You ready to sell me those 5 spokes yet? P.S. Did find myself in need of an extra car today and he let me use one of his (of course its about out of gas).

 

Everybody does one frame off, some are planned, most start with something simple and build like the perfect storm.

 

I'm not doing to bad on my O/T bellflower style car. It started out as a car with no brakes. So i did a new dual chamber master cylinder conversion and replaced every other brake part except the backing plates and front drums.

Low oil pressure at idle ment a new oil pump and pan gasket. Now its time to do all the belts and hoses. Wonder where that will lead.

The new chrome wheels are making the bumpers look like crap. maybe time to send them out.

 

To a car that you can drive with confidence. Good job!

 

This is kinda like the guys that start a project and try to get everything so perfect that the car sits for years and never gets done.

 

That happens alot, I try and be very careful about not biting off more then I can chew. I'll get this back together. I just was laughing at a frost plug, becoming an engine removal project.

 

I wanted to clean and reseal the 390 in my tbird. Leaky gaskets and freeze plugs. Ended up with a complete rebuild and engine compartment detail. I'm helping to stimulate the economy.

Rick

 

Well I did it. I have been having some issues with my tailights not working. Finally go under the car and got mad about the crappy hack wiring. Pulled it out and running a new harness from the dash back.

 

Because if one has rusted through, the rest of them are probably just about ready to rust through also. Years ago I replaced just one in a T Bird I had and after about a month another one started to leak, then another, and another you get the picture.

 

Yeah thats what I figured, but I always intended to replace them all. Thanks for the tip though.

 

Well the greaseball ain't greasy no more, all cleaned up, exhaust manifolds all smoothed off, everything painted, a few more things to do and it can go back in. To those who suggested it I am updating the distributor to a newer style with the better vacuum advance. Thanks all

 

Glad you are getting back together, got to keep these sweet wagons on the road!

Brad

 

It lives again.............fired it up last night, a little bit of tweaking and I'll be set to go.

 

How about some pics???!?!?!?!?!

 

Thats another one of those things I would need my son to teach me how to do. I have a picture of the motor on my computer but couldn't figure out how to do it. Lucky my mechanical skills are better than my computer skills.