Thread: I bet you thought.....

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Hey Don .... this sounds great. Don't forget the YOUTUBE when it's fired.

Paul

My fuel system parts showed up this morning from Summit so we went to the shop and while Dan was working on his RPU I got the electric pump, filter, and progressive linkage installed. Finally tonight we fired it back up for the first time since I tore it all the way down. THERE WERE NO STRANGE NOISES THIS TIME!!

Not sure what the knocking was the last time, but I strongly suspect the mechanical fuel pump eccentric. Even with the exhaust capped up the motor sounds just like it should. Even that "stroker knock" Keith Black and Scat told me I might have didn't exist when it was cold or hot. My mufflers are a little quieter than I would like, but I can address that later on.

I let it run for about 20 minutes, oil pressure is right at 50 lbs idling, and it never got over 180 degrees. Now I can start sanding the body and getting ready for paint. I think I'll sleep pretty well tonight. And just for you Paul, I'll do a YouTube.

Don

Well done Don! Now post a video, but without any head scorching!
I still remember Don Jr.s fireup! Ouch! It is great to hear problem solved. What a relief. I was just talking to a few hot rod locals in the show today about your last project and how nice it turned out. I think I even convinced a friend to buy classic 27 roadster for sale!

Thanks Steve. Yep, Don still remembers that little burn on his head. We were replacing his brake light switch on his T yesterday and he kept reminding me to stay away from the hot headers. I told him he sounded like the voice of experience.

Don

That's one of the best things about this forum, helps keep us safe!
I just remember little stuff that I file for later thinking, better remember that!
Maybe you'll get a chance to do a video soon, tomorrow I'm out to the shop to work on the poor neglected truck, nothing like a car show to inspire us to work on our own stuff!

Good to see you re-focusing on this ..... Let me know when the tube is up. I love stroker engines. They sound soooooo kewl.

Paul

Steve, yep, going to a car show gives us a little kick in the tail to get moving on our own stuff.

Paul, I have to admit, this isn't the quietest engine I have ever seen. Yesterday it was quiet but today after it had cooled down I fired it up again and there are definitely some mechanical sounds going on in there. Once it got up to a higher operating temp it did quiet down, but it looks like Scat and Keith Black might have been right about stroker noise when cold. I can see how that would be, the pistons are so short and hang about 30% out of the bore when all the way down, so they have to rock a little in the bore.

But oil pressure is great, it rpms like gangbusters, and the cam sounds nice and lumpy, even with capped up exhaust. I let it idle again today for another 20 minutes or so, and I guess if there were a problem I would have seen it by now. So I'm done worrying about it, just going to get the body done and start driving it.

Oh, by the way, Dan and I went to the local PPG store yesterday and he bought the etch primer and DP90 so we can start shooting his body. I think once he sees the body in some color other than the bare metal it has been for a long time it will push him to get it done faster.

Don

Good to hear on all counts. Keep us posted!

Pops car sounds great!

And yes I can still hear the sizzle of my head hitting the hot lakes header................ Or was the the sound of laughter from Dan and Dad when it happened...........The memory is a little fuzzy now

I'm down to the part of building a car that I hate the most.........BODYWORK! I hate sanding the worst, and today I attacked getting the Slick Sand primer that the fiberglass shop put on for me sanded smooth. Actually, Dan did most of the sanding.........thanks Pal. He gave up his day working on his car to sand mine for me, and that really helped a lot.

Now we have to fill a few little pin holes with spot putty and then lay on a couple coats of high build primer. Once that is sanded smooth I can figure out what I am going to top coat the body in and what color it will be. Right now suede is in the lead, maybe blue, but that will probably change a few times more.

Here are some shots of the body after we sanded it today.

Don

Wow Don ; Looking good and I'm looking forward to following your progress.
I love watching these builds like this. I really enjoyed Robinsons builds as well.
Kurt

They color is always such a final decision! think we all oscillate on this one!
I thought your were seriously considering red there for a while. ( though I'm sure whatever you choose, your car will look great!
I'm envious of how far you are so far. Just the bed of my truck has me cringing! I think I'm going to have to build a frame support to put it on for bodywork, it will be alot easier than hefting it on and off the body of the truck!
Ask Dan if he wants a free trip out to cloudy Northern California, for sanding detail!Just kidding Dan!

Thanks guys. Yep Steve, red was on the table for a while but a couple of things are making me lean toward satin of some shade. Money is one. Since I am now unemployed for a while I can't lay out money like before to have this one professionally sprayed, so shiny is out. I also want to get this one running asap, especially since the engine and running gear are all done and ready to go.

Another reason is laziness. Building these things is becoming less fun as the years go on, and since I hate bodywork so much I don't want to expend tons of effort into making it good enough for shiny. I also like suede on some cars and maybe it would be best to let the motor be the focal point of this one.

Mainly it's just laziness though.

Don

Don,why not a red with a satin finish??There is a Willys coupe down here with a fairly bright red with satin finish,,looks kool,and different..A mile or two of pinstriping would set it off too..Are you running the same wheel/tire combo as in the earlier pix??
Hey,nothing wrong with satin finish,,less hassle come cleaning time at the local display,,just use a dry towel...

That's true, I never thought of that. Might be a good way to go.....thanks for the suggestion.

Don