mattb73lt

Man, I got a LOT put back together today. It was faster mostly because I wasn’t fabricating every little piece and kept it pretty well organized as it came apart.

Back where it belongs!!! I was getting everything ready this morning and I lined up the engine while I was waiting for help to arrive. Then I thought, let me give this a try and with a little effort it dropped right in! It must’ve been all my previous practice that helped!!

Yup, same here. I usually put together a weekend work party with family and friends. But I need to get this done and don’t want to wait. Plus work this time of year can be unpredictable. I already lost this coming Sunday.

Got a lot reassembled today. My friend is sending me a 5,000# lift on Wednesday and on Thursday he’s loaning me a couple of his mechanics to help me set the engine back in. I only need their help for about 20 mins if it goes right and I’ve got everything ready to go. I’m leaving the intake, exhaust and water manifolds off to make it a little easier. Until then I’ve got a lot to do to get ready. I’m keeping my fingers crossed work stays quiet this week as it looks like the weekend is already disappearing.

Actually, that was my goal. My chapter has a show this coming weekend and I was hoping that would be it’s first outing, I think Brooklyn is doable.

Yeah, there might be some anger management issues with you jokesters lurking about in the shop! I'll be wracked enough trying to get the oil pressure up and then firing this off. Those first few minutes and then road tests will be hard enough without someone screwing around. I will admit to having fun with people in a shop setting, though. All in good fun.

It’s painted. All I kept thinking about while painting was “I hope I did everything right, because I’m not doing this again, dammit!!”.

I have an Empire blast cabinet. It’s indispensable for this kind of work. I use it all the time to clean things up. There’s a pic of it way back in one of my posts.

I had it upside down for the last time the other day to get the oil pan on. Having the rotary stand was indispensable!

He’s pissed because I’m the barn and he thinks I’m ignoring him all day!

Off the stand, FINALLY!! I need to add a few things to it, then prep and paint. A little more assembly, then back in. I feel like I’ve done this part before?

That's fantastic and looks amazing!!

It took quite a few attempts to get through the valve lash sequence before they stabilized at the proper setting. I barred the engine over and set, then go through again to recheck and they’d change a little. I gave up last night and went at it this morning and finally got them set. Now for the bell housing/clutch and the oil pan. Then it should be off the stand for paint, a little more assembly and back in!!

That was from you? Thank you so much for those items!!! They'll definitely get put to use!

This mornings efforts, just need to set the vale lash and add the Jake and the top is done.

All timed up, front gear case assembled, minus the oil pump. Push rods inserted. Cross heads on. Looking to get the rocker boxes and jake brake on tomorrow. You can start to see the extent of parts that are coming over from the original engine.

Yeah, we got a lot done yesterday, but it was time consuming. Setting things up and checking tolerances. A lot to do for each step. Setting up and organizing everything beforehand certainly sped things up. Rocky has been a huge help and a wealth of knowledge. I'm certainly learning my way around a 220 for certain. He's tied up today, but should be able to be here tomorrow. That's been one of the issues getting this done, is having him find the time to help me between calls from his regular customers.

Progress!! Today's handiwork, sleeves, crank, piston/rods, cam and heads!! Tomorrow, injector timing and further exterior assembly. It was a good day!

Thanks!! This was a huge set back. Wasn’t trying to get away from doing the engine, just thought I had a good one to go with. Now, there’s not a single item on this truck that I haven’t been through thoroughly, which gives me a great piece of mind going forward.

Just about ready to start the assembly and seeing a big pile of empty parts boxes!! Ran into some technical difficulties with the liner protrusions, necessitating locating shims that are .002" thinner than what we had to attain the proper deck height. I pre-assembled and organized everything I possibly could to cut down on time. If everything shows tomorrow, Wednesday should be the day we start. I used our warming oven in the basement to heat the pistons to allow the wrist pin assembly. Everything else is set to go. Using the next couple of days to clean and paint some parts that are being replaced on the exterior that came off the donor engine. The engine has become quite the Frankenstein assembly. From the donor we used the block, two heads, rods, camshaft and various small parts. From the original engine we used the crankshaft, cam timing gear, one head, front timing cover and most of the exterior parts and accessories. One head had to be swapped due to it having oversized valve guides that we couldn't locate.

Yup, still here. Just haven’t had much to add lately, but should soon!

Try Don's Starters and Alternators( www.gener-nator.com) in Lane County, OR. They do generator to Alternator conversions using the original case. Although, I would do the compressor/pump arrangement and then convert to an alternator. I think you'll be happier with that set up.

Those are going to look great when they’re all on the truck!!

I'm the same way. I knew better then to go to that first shop. But it's done right now and should be for a very long time!!

Long day driving. Headed to Boston early this morning to get my heads from Hillside Machine, then continued up to Brentwood, NH to Mahoney & Sons before heading back home. They're letting me borrow their PT timing fixture and I received a short class from Dan Mahoney on setting it up and things to look for when timing the cam. Also met Tom Mahoney while I was there. It was great to finally meet them both after so many phone conversations. Hillside did a remarkable job on bringing the heads back to life. Their work is spotless and they have great attention to detail. They replaced all the injector cups and the thermal fuses (Something the other wasn't going to do). We did have to swap out the #3 head from the donor, as it had some oversize valve guides that are no longer available. It was absolutely the right thing to do in leaving the other shop and going to Hillside. While it was costly and time consuming, I have no worries about this shop. Rocky should be at the shop this week and I’m thinking two days of his help should get all the big items done. The smaller stuff I'll do on my own. So, we'll start the assembly this coming week. It certainly took a lot of parts from both engines to make one complete one, as both had worn or deteriorated parts.