Customs finishing off my pre-war cheveee project

went for 1/4 unf and unc nuts /locknuts .the day just slipped away after that nothing else done

 

im very happy to say ive now got oil at 16/16 rockers.lets move on.had a long conversation with matt from jegs last night,without a reciept of the order they are not interested needless to say ill be reluctant to deal with them again and ill be sticking future orders on a nail in the garage for future reference.there are articles on the net about dodgy primers from jegs and theres one here on the hamb.quality brands only for me from now on i like having quality tools

 

.a pic eric its a battle posting pic s at the moment.tray fits both sides of the motor but i had to clearance it for the trans dipstick.made a mitre box so i could cut the corner off and do a neat job.need to weld the corner up and paint it too finish up.might not need it again thats fine by me .just bag it up and hang it from the ceiling

 

had to notch for clearance .made a mitre box to cut the corner off neatly (not shown).next drop in the dizzy and get the corner of the tray ready for welding.
with the tray bolted on over the gaskets had no oil leaks running down the heads i declare that a success.

 

one mod i would consider even when i get a quality primer will be a small recess around the shaft in the top bush to hold a pool of lubricant in so it wont run dry

 

dropped in the distributer in .took more than i attempt.new gasket on the shaft.cleaned cap with wd40 and the base with soapy steel wool.think im good here .just a light skim of permatex black to hold the gasket in place on the shaft.tried for 60mm x 3mm round aluminum to make an expansion tank,but was informed they will not be cutting lengths from now on full length or nothing.ffs kick the small guy every time.the greed is setting in.anyway left with 50 x 50 x 3 square aluminum.6 ft offcut ,i took it.thats my next project need to finish that before it starts up or it wont be done at all .

 

put in a shift today.started where i left off sizing up the expansion tank.the square section wasnt working out right i found another 2ft piece of 2 " aluminum.i taped one end to check the capacity it was a litttle on the small size .solution is to weld another piece to it.ive room to make it the height of the rad plus a little bit.
that will increase capacity.decided im sticking with the round section.designing things in your head takes a little time.parked that and moved on. next decided on connecting up the rad hoses. i had them stored away in the bed with a selection of hose clamps.i was using a green stripe hose.didnt like it. it didnt like the tight bends in a confined space.i replaced it with a gates hose dont know the number off the top of my head but its written down somewhere.shortened it and it fits spot on.i was using top of the range stainless clamps but they wouldnt fit over the gates hose .its just a little bit thicker.had some stainless hose clips the type that have limited threads cut into them.they look good and fitted perfect.clamps were rated 50-55 mm.i need 55-60mm size to get over the nipple on the pipe on the rad and at the water pump.caught for a smidgen the next size up will sort it .these clamps dont grow on trees and ill have to travel to a engineering supply store to get some .someday when im passing ill pick some up.the hose clips dont look bad and will be fine for the time being. connected the fuel line as well.i need to fit another filter between pump and carb sooner the better.

 

ive little to show for today.started sizing up the expansion tank.i need to lengthen the tube to increase capacity added a 8.5 in piece of tube .ill need to true the ends to get ready for welding.had a look through my an hose fittings.ive some thing to work with.pulled the alternator out of its box.polished up the mounting bracket.didnt mount it i want to drill the mounting bolts for lockwire.the bolts never came loose but to be sure to be sure i want to drill the heads.as parts are coming out of the bed and being mounted its easier to see whats still in there and low and behold theres the choke cable stashed away in a see through container.saw that as i was tidying up if i had that this morning id have been working at that today.tomorrows another day shud make a start on the choke tomorrow.i dont like drilling the firewall but need to be sure im drilling in the correct place.looking forward to this job.plan is to mount cable discreetly to hand under dash.knob is black,the cable is black should be doable

 

went working on the choke today.started at the carb end.mounted the cable back to front to determine the path it wanted to take. other considerations would i go over or under the plug leads over risked touching a ht lead so im going under.also i wanted to clear the edge of the firewall set back and go through a flat section of firewall.rooted around in my box of grommets i had an ideal grommet with a 6mm hole through perfect for the cable.it needed a 7.5 mm hole in the firewall and is 9mm overall diameter..shur it will be hardly noticed at all.excellent. marked the firewall with some masking tape with a black dot should be able to drill with the dizzy in situ.
into the cab to suss things out from this side.ok.choice was remove a spare switch and go from there .not great id need that switch for something maybe a under hood light .ive power wire to the electric choke redundant now and that would come in handy even though i hope ill never need it but be prepared.mounting to the right of ignition switch was the obvious spot to mount the cable straighter run to the firewall and to hand .didnt want the choke proud of the dash getting in the way of keys so i decided on a underdash bracket stepped back so the knob will be hidden when not in use.if it dont work out a bracket mk2 with a greater offset will work even better .till the next day.

 

why can't you use an electric choke?

 

dont like them.started driving on vehicles with manual chokes.i removed the electric one.manual is traditional for me .no electric chokes on motorcycles.newest bike i had was 1980

 

eventually ran the cable over the plug leads well over.everything was assembled ran the cable the most direct route .going under the leads was asking the cable to take an impossible route.bracket is sprayed and drying for assembly maybe later on.this cable was a good choice it clicks shut when its pushed home at the cab end and at the carb too.theres nothing to see really knob is tucked away under the dash.nothing to see in the engine bay either.mission accomplished

 

my mechanic neighbour dropped by to check the distributor and its in correctly.timing set for now got a call just now come over and ill true up the ends of the pipe.im on the way mick thanx.need petrol and a fan belt ill make one trip of it .this thing could fire up very soon.

 

while i was away had an opportunity to have a look at a stainless expansion tank on a big block chevy .measured it up and calculated the capacity and the brackets holding it.pipes are welded and ive cut aluminum discs for the top and bottom with my jigsaw .jerry can of fuel going in now. built not bought is a fine aspiration but things take longer when everything is a prototype

 

today was d -day but it didnt happen.topped up with coolant yesterday evening .this morning a lot of it was on the floor.looked bad but steve fixed it in a jiffy. moved i hose clip and tightened another.all dry now.fitted the alternator and the belts.now back to the expansion tank for the rad.was working away on a bracket for the tank.it turned out to be 50 x 50 x 2mm angle i was working with .too light for the job but it helped me figure out the overall shape and the centres for the mounting holes.bought some 50 x50 x 5 mm aluminum today.overkill but ill be drilling speed holes in it to lighten it up and leave air flow through the bracket.just need to copy the other bracket.

 

getting closer to new start up day new ESD is next monday.now if i could finish the expansion tank by then.next weekend is a big holiday weekend that could slow things

 

got a break this evening i offered up the air filter it cleared the choke cable, it is touching the filter base just barely brushing it and thats with no gasket under the filter base phew needed that and i needed longer 5/16 bolts to hold on the 5mm bracket.went rooting around in my unf/unc bucket ,had 3 bolts the correct length nickle plated with 3 stainless body washers.yahoo

 

spent time working on the expansion tank,drilled speed /lightening holes in the bracket and worked on the air filter lid.needed to change tack.trying to make a stencil of a classic logo.it will take a little longer,not needed for the start up

 

tried for the big start up on monday,steve turned up but the petrol didnt it stayed in the tank petrol pump problem, from lying idle this is the second time this holley pump has played up.hopefully we will get it pumping again.stripped it down sprayed everything with wd 40. other wise will have to wait for a new one.expansion tank is ready for welding and the air filter cover is ready for lacquer when its dry tomorrow,closer than ever.

 

is the pump near the tank?

 

tank s in the back.pump is mechanical engine driven pump.

 

going to go for a carter mechanical fuel pump with clockable ports.thing is the inlet /outlets are 1/4 npt ,the holley pump is 3/8 npt.fuck it theres allways something.so ill need adapters as well.lookin at carter #4891 on amazon.$49 dollars.also came accross a npt tap kit 1/8 ,1/4 ,3/8 ,1/2 ,3/4 npt tap set in a box $19.should be ok for tapping aluminum.be very handy for tapping /clocking in fittings.ill have that too.no end to the outlay.if your gonna do it do it right.built not bought. expansion tank is very close as well.picked up some 10mm pipe today laquered the air filter cover.i like it but it will need at least another rub down with 800 grit and another coat to call it finished. if i had to lay the motor up again for any length of time i think disconnecting the fuel line and fill the pump with 3 in 1 or wd 40 would be a good idea

 

ordered the pump and a few fittings.waiting ,waiting.this gives me the chance to finish off the small jobs that aint done yet.

 

had some welding done today the bracket is welded to the overflow/expansion tank.happy with that much.not completly happy ive ordered the best fuel pump.looks like this pump will put out 8 psi was looking for a 6 psi pump.may need a fuel pressure regulater .im thinking ill order up a regulater as well.they can both be on the way at the same time .this boy is broke running out of beer money.the motor was allways running a little rich,im gambling the fuel pressure was the problem.time will tell.as it stand the mounting bolts (3) on the tank are difficult to line up.im thinking i could make studs from the 3 long bolts i have and locktite them in situ.using studs locknuts and washers would solve that issue

 

got a call from mick this morning if you can call this morning we can make up the studs .i was looking for studs threaded 5/16 unf at one end and unc at the other. with a plain shoulder in between..left for home with top of the range examples..when home and cleaned everything up..loctited and fitted them.worked out great.gave the tank a try on working out very well. so far now to finish it off and paint it

 

pump and fittings arrived today..plenty to do now.just 1 part left in transit .where are you

 

put the adapters in the pump then fitted it .it was a tight squeeze could have done with another hand to hold the pump.eventually i used much longer bolts to get the threads started and steer the pump.zip tied the fuel line to the heater hose so as not to drop the pump.then switched out the bolts one at a time for the correct arp bolts .worked out what length the bolts on the front of the motor should be you need 1" of thread to lock the pushrod. so 3/4 " bolts should be fine for the front bolts.nearly forgot to reconnect an earth strap using the lower front bolt.hard to see everything with lower hose fitted too.

 

welder not available till next week.,tank wont be finished till next week at the earliest fuel pressure regulator still in transit

 

mick knocked up a spacer with a 1/4 npt thread for the overflow tank.a beautiful job.today i disconnected the fuel line at the filter and primed the fuel line and primary filter in anticipation of a start up maybe next week when the regulator arrives .booked in for later in the week for the welding all going well.

 

im checking the tracking every day looking for the fuel pressure regulator.its not in the country yet..needed a change of tack again.yesterday was hot in the garage.while sitting in the cab listening to elvis costello i decided to offer up the ceiling courtesy light.i want to mount it to the ceiling/roof brace.id need to use an adapter plate to mount it .found some 3mm aluminum on the bench.ideal for the job.cut a 4" disc from the alloy.the brace is u shape ideal to run the wires through.i decided to bond a 15 mm wide strip of aluminum into the roof brace .drilled and tapped some threads into it..painted it ,its working out.did some mods used a grommet.2 pac adhesive is setting overnight paint is drying.could finish that up for the moment gotta check out the wiring diagram.ive got some black adhesive foam sheet for the roof.id like to get that stuck up there soon too.that was a lot of time /effort invested into another small job,nothing new but i like how its turning out