Hot Rods The "Whatever" project

Ever have one of those days where you just can’t get going? All I needed today was 4-3/8x4 coarse thread bolts. Just 4. So the plan was to get to the hardware store and pick them up, then get the new to me short block up on the engine stand. Right! Easy peasy! No problem, just 4 bolts. Of course first thing is to get a good nights sleep before. Nope!

Lights out around midnight maybe 12:30. Just started dozing off, and then awakened to help SWMBO get to the bathroom. Okay, I’ll just go back to sleep now…

And stare at the ceiling. Look at the clock. Back at the ceiling… and on and on…

Finally got back to sleep and guess what? You got it. Time to help SWMBO to the bathroom again. 7:30 am now. So maybe just another hour or so and then I’ll get up. Right! 11:30, and still have to get breakfast, then both of us showers, other necessary tasks, and now it’s 3 in the afternoon!

Finally got out of the house, and headed to the hardware store, Harbor Freight and the post office, not in that order, but that’s not important. Walk into the store, jokingly ask is the front of the store being readied for fall or winter merchandise. Nope, going to rearrange the store. What? 27 years shopping in that store, I’ve gotten so I can find anything I need without asking. We bs about that for a couple of minutes, and I go back to the bolts and look for what I need. Just 4 grade 8 hex head bolts! At least I was able to get socket head cap screws. Wow! Spendy!

Harbor Freight was easy, had a coupon for a freebie, needed nitrile gloves. Mission accomplished and headed home. Uh oh, running low on gas, stopped at my favorite Stewart’s, got milk, ice cream and gasoline. The Blazer took 17.5+ gallons. I guess I was a little low!

So bottom line, I have bolts, but didn’t get the block up on the stand. Must be getting old or something… Tomorrow up on the stand and pictures.

 

There’s always tomorrow, Dave are you retired?
Since I retired I really don’t know how I got anything done when I worked.
Dan

 

Yup! Just over 5 years now. Same here. I used to get up by 6 am, earlier in later years as the commute was longer. Took about a year for me to start waking up around 7. Now it’s just whatever time my body feels like it! Or SWMBO lets me sleep to, before she needs to get up. But then the other side of the day, it’s 11:30 or so before I get ready for bed… oh well, it is what it is

 

12 years here. All hours of day and night and holidays. Control center would ring at 2:00 AM. Go in for what ever ( no pun intended) and get back home to catch a few winks then be back for 7:00 AM shift. And managed to have 3 jobs to bring money in. Could sleep on a stack of nails back then. Now wake up during night to help better half as you get online (here) read figure out next day chores and go back to sleep. Chisel away my friend. My issue like you is basement gremlins hide those little wrenches or nuts or bolts I need for restorations. Wait a day and poof they appear! Be well.

 

You remember those railroad spikes that you gave me? I was looking for one yesterday. The make good tools. I put the rest of them away during the big garage reshuffle kerfluffle , right where I would be able to find them. Yeah, right! Garage gremlins got me again! I’ll find them, they are out there in a bin, or box, or on a shelf, or…yup garage gremlins

 

Got the new to me 283 short block on the engine stand today.

Thanks, Mike! It’s in pretty good shape for being 60 years old give or take a year. Bores have some slight wear, probably about 2 thousandths. Can barely feel the ridge with a fingernail. Maybe 30 over, or maybe just ridge reamer and hone??? File to fit rings. You know, a real backyard rebuild! Like we all did when we were kids…

Two sets of power pack heads, pretty sure they’ve never been apart. Are valves with oversized stems still available? Again, the way they would have been rebuilt back then.

Spin the crank in the lathe and polish the journals with emery cloth. 1 undersized rods and mains, who knows, it might run for a while…

 

Still have many spikes left for metal art. Let me know.

 

I’ll find them yet! Or make do with some other scraps of steel…

 

A small amount of progress, with pictures. Pictures first.


I pulled the engine out and took the firewall apart to modify the parts to fit the Turbo 350 in. The engine plate on the front side of the body does a couple of functions. It is the rear engine mount, and the outer firewall. It bolts between the engine and the transmission and attaches through the body’s firewall to a support hoop that is bolted to the frame in 4 places inside the body. Then the inner engine plate bolts to the outer plate, sandwiching the fiberglass in between. When the system is fully bolted together the assembly is very rigid. Next will be to hang a brake pedal and the master cylinder from the assembly, which will place the master cylinder in the engine compartment, fortunately clearing the left side valve cover. The steering column also attaches to this structure. More pictures to follow once the new brake pedal and the steering column have been installed.

 

There are M/Cs that hang inside rather than outside. Just keeping all your options open and the mind racing!
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum...-location-on-30-tudor-under-the-cowl.1208649/

 

Yea, I know. But I have a master cylinder that is sized for the disc brake system, and don’t want to buy another one… and it doesn’t fit under the cowl, but it fits just fine on the firewall! And I have a design for the pedal and its mounting bracket that will fit in with room to spare. Well it’ll fit.

 

Hey, as you know I can't say it's wrong!
With your background, you know all about built-in servicing. A T-Bucket is the best vehicle for ease of maintenance, and with a bit of planning, it can be wonderful for that.