Thread: Project Special K

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Today we finaly had beautiful weather. So I drained my gas tank on the truck, the stuff was green inside! It was at least seven years old. Went to the parts store and got some new fuel line, filter and a radiator flush kit since the coolant is that old too. I can't believe how much better it runs! This is a personal testament to Ford Big Blocks. I ordered a compression guage and low profile air cleaner from summit which should get here tomarrow. Then I can find out the ultimate health of the current rings/engine.
I also pressure washed the whole beast. I was tired of crawling under it and getting dirt and cob webs all over myself. It's amazing how well the pressure washer cleaned up the leaf springs! It actually removed surface rust off the old shocks. Next dry day I'll take the wheels off one by one and realy get it clean. Ah what a little sunshine does to motivate the soul!

Steve I used Painless in my deuce. I liked it fine, even though I have a PhD in EE.

There's others to choose from too. Recent thread ......

http://www.clubhotrod.com/forums/deu...d-you-use.html

My advice up front is to carefully plan out the runs. Also I chose to solder all the harder to get to connections. Get a professional stripper and crimper.

Kitz

Sounds like you are making some serious progress Steve. Your 460 should be fine, they are very hard to kill. Shoot us some pictures of your progress.

I agree with you about shying away from the offbrand water pumps. The Summit ones seem ok (I'm using one) and are made for them by one of the bigger companies for sure. I know what you mean about the weight of 460 components. When I started on mine I was used to doing small block Ford engines, the crank in a 460 weighs almost as much as the entire 302 Ford engine. Well, almost as much. The heads are another whopping load. I'm using steel heads too because I came across a set off of a racer whose owner went to aluminum heads. They are totally prepped with lots of good stuff, so they are fine for what I want.

Glad to see you are getting somewhat decent weather to do some stuff right now.

Don

Here are some shots. Note the funky gas tank in the second photo!

Very solid looking body all the way around Steve. Won't take much to make this one a runner.

Don

Hey a friend of mine told me about a posi rear end .Drum brake rear axle from Ford Explorer. 3.73 posi, complete flange to flange. Ideal for Jeep Wrangler YJ or TJ upgrade. Would this work on my truck?

Measure flange to flange (where the wheels bolt on) and compare it to what you need. If you are a little off you can get offset rims both ways to make them fit.

Don

Haven't heard back from the guy with the rear end. But in the mean time my compression testor came from Summit today along with a inexpensive edelbrock air cleaner(anything is better than the stock yellow monster!
Compression is as follows: 1=168, 2=170, 3=170, 4=165,5=168, 6=165, 7=165 and 8=162ish. I noticed that they varied a little depending on how long you crank it over. I had a b...ch of a time getting at number 8 because of how tight the side of the truck is to my storage racks in the garage. I'm pretty sure it would be higher if I did it again. What do you big block ford guys think? I'm going online to see what compressions are posted for a 1971 429 and 460.

is that your Zen garden for when you get P.O.'ed?

Sort of. I have many hobbies including Koi who live in that tank! It's also the view out the window in front of the computer!

Your compression is very even across the board. What is it they say, 10-15% variance? You have a winner there Steve.


Don

O.K. Since the outdoor weather, still sucks, and I need to start planning for the new wiring, The American Autowire HWY 22, wiring harness requires a one lead alternator, which seems like a good idea, anyway since I like the internal voltage regulator idea anyway. So.. amps, summit offers a few choices in the alternator dept. I'm thinking 100 amps, Summit offers a ford 1 lead, 61 amp, for $89, and a 100 amp for $129. What do you think?

Ever wake up excited to get on with your day, only to have that day flop on you, that was today. I got a great deal on a used 20 gallon air compressor, went and bought a 40lb sand blaster and 50lbs of 12 grit walnut shells. Came home and spent a hour and a half assembling the cheap chinese sandblaster, pressure tested it, filled it with the walnut. And...nothing ... yep no walnut came out only air. I think the stuff is too coarse. I thought, at least clean out the hot tub, change the h20 and have a nice soak.... after refilling it and turning on the breaker it wouldn't start!!!!! Not my day!

Pour yourself a nice cold one, then climb back in bed. Tomorrow will be better.

Don

Thanks Don. The day will be better, as my wife's women's club has their annual crab feed tonight, free booze too, only a few for me as I like to keep my faculties!