Technical What did you do with your car today? * NEW*

Changed the fuel line from the pump to the filter to look like an F-Code YBlock. Not the same because of the power steering but close enough for me. The other steel line was ok but didn’t look right. $6.00.

 

I have never liked the radiator support and I am moving the trans cooler so I am putting together a new radiator support without the cooler. I think this is much cleaner looking.

 

All buttoned back up ! just waiting on the trans. cooler.

 

It rained all week, and looks like the weekend is going to be a washout as well. I got the garage picked up and spent a few hours detailing under the hood. I’m running out of stuff to clean…

 

I think I see a speck of something on the firewall.

Oh wait, it's my computer screen.

Beautiful!

 

Distracted from working on the 46 Olds and decided to tighten the header bolts on my FE 64 Fairlane when I felt a drip from above, thinking it was from radiator coolant overflow that had dribbled down and moved along the block to RH side near starter motor. I soon discovered that the engine was rebuilt with incorrectly sized freeze plugs, 1 3/4" size and NOT the correct 1 49/64", hence the weep. 6hrs to remove headers etc, a size 8 foot in a size 6 shoe. Now to remove engine again to rectify as they can't be replaced whilst engine is in car, there's just NO ROOM! I wish that it was weeping when 1yr ago when I replaced the flywheel and clutch. I've owned car 3yrs and until now it's never been an issue however it appears to be a common rebuild oversight that leads to this issue. 6 x new brass freeze plugs ordered. I just have to now wait for them to arrive along with new idler arm bushings, might was well replace them whilst it's apart. Rebuilt 9" now also has a weeping pinion and axle seals as well, it never rains but pours.

 

I finally put in some lap belts.
Then I wiped down the paint and chrome and threw the cover back on it. Besides basic maintenance and cleaning, there was a handful of things to do and the belts were the last item. Now if it would just stop raining…

 

Yesterday bodywork and priming...today, some painting. I guess technically it is on my kids car, not mine. Doing some repair work on the hood and painting it, the wiper grill, and the wheels. Was reminded he has no patience for bodywork. But, he did weld the holes, prime the hood, and help with everything.

 

I think if you have room to take that photo, you have room to replace the plug.

 

You have one clean effin' car. What a beaut!

 

The plan is to get this thing to the track at some point. For that it will have to have a catch can on the radiator. In keeping with the home built theme I thought some black pvc pipe and a couple hose clamps would do the trick. A work in progress !

 

Painted the wheels for the pink Edsel...

 

Installed the dash.

 

You can get a hand in there to use a cellphone however the shock towers, frame rails and lower engine mount brackets/cradles soon take up all available real estate, not to mention both engine mounts.
I could remove the current freeze plugs in situ however I'd need to remove engine mounts independently, there's still insufficient room to use a BFH with sufficient force and drive the new ones in square. A larger wider framed Galaxie could be doable however a unibody is a different story remembering that both front towers were cut back to squeeze an FE into a body only designed for a SBF. Given the wider frame rail width on my OT 66 Fairlane it could be doable from underneath, a LOT more room.
Trust me, when you see it first hand you'd understand my dilemma. Quicker and easier to remove, repair and drop back in than attempt on a hoist from under car.

 

I believe you.

Anyone ever try one of these copper expansion plugs from Dorman? I think I might try this before pulling the engine, depending on how difficult it was to pull it. In my A pickup, I'd just pull the engine. In my 47 coupe, I'd try one of these first.


https://www.homedepot.com/p/Autogra...ion-1-780-In-5-pack-568-011/311346985#overlay

 

Those work great, I have put lots of them in decades ago. Chrysler products were the worst for rotting out freeze plugs. I have seen the block ate away around the freeze plugs.

 

SBF in tight area, too weak to swing a hammer. I used bolt together ones and they are working good, I found out after all was said and done; tighten 2-1/2 turns. About right what I did by feel.

 

Everyone may know this but they do make some drivers for this .https://www.summitracing.com/parts/...2CWZ1rUyJxu9eQXgMgSzYe_zZGhv-YUEaAqXaEALw_wcB

 

Yesterday AND Today assembled and installed new radio; gees ain't nothing simple. Had to do speaker wires twice as I routed wrong. Only easy thing was dash holes were in the right place and the adjustable stem system works great but still took a lot of time, having to crawl over the engine. Chicken to turn it on; was supposed to have set up help but he was no where to be found. Maybe I'll get brave later.

 

After owning this car for over 50 year it was finally involved in a minor accident....Lady changed lanes on me on the Interstate and hooked my right rear fender....Bent my custom made bumper... Lucky it wasn't worse and no injuries....Think I am going to park it.... To hard to find decent parts and just to many cars on the roads anymore.....Think after almost 90 years it deserves a rest....That's what I did this weekend...

 

I ain't got into it yet, but I gotta crawl under mine soon. I know flatheads can drip oil, but sometimes when I drive mine, no drips. Sometimes, drips. Twice so far this year, it left a small puddle. Not much oil, but certainly more than a few drips. I gotta see wtf is goin on. Wishing I had a rack....

 

Such an awesome car. Seems a shame to park it but I understand what you're saying.

 

I just applied for shoulder therapy on both shoulders; place booked up so will be two weeks before I start. Pain has actually resided quite a lot but still going to therapy; maybe they find a hole in my head to fix. In a bit I will sit in car and get comfortable, and plug my phone into the radio. With the Retro 2 manual in my right hand I will turn radio on and proceed to go through start up procedure; can't be any worse than learning a computer?

 

Had to run to the city so took the old Vette, ran great. Stopped at the Marin French Cheese Co., previously, and still referred to by us long time locals as The Cheese Factory. Country's oldest cheese makers, so they say. Used to have tours of the stinky basement fermenting area, before they became all artsy fartsy a few years ago (I think it changed hands). Still a nice place for a picnic and cheese tasting. The Schloss is my pick.

https://marinfrenchcheese.com/

 

Hopefully this will be pink shortly. Nothing like painting something a couple days before a car show...

 

I suppose I should add this to the painting in your driveway thread... Nice that it rained yesterday to keep the dust down.

 

I have been working on mounting my new trans. cooler. I put a couple cage nuts at the top, nutserts at the bottom to hold the brackets and nutserts on the brackets.

 

We finished putting everything back together last night and this morning on my kids beater just in time for him to stop by vo-tech on our way to the Stray Kat 500 in Dewey, Ok this afternoon. Knocked several things off the long list on it this week. Looking forward to a relaxing weekend with my boys and lots of friends. We are taking all three cars (to save on gas...)

 

It's really looking good!