lil bit of an overshare right now, but... Painted my valve covers (which were previously bead blasted), and I put a coat of aluminum colored paint on my intake. When the current engine is pulled, I'll be getting the air cleaner all spruced up.
Greetings: I've really enjoyed reading your posts. It will be nice to see your experience with Burtonsville unfold. It is always good to learn of another Buick competent mechanic and one that's close too!! If there is anything specific that you need help with, I would be glad to help. Glen Burnie is not too far... Keep the updates and the pics coming! Philip66
Hi, Any updates on your project. Was following it closely. You're doing exactly what i'd love to with my '76 Electra 4 door. Gorgeous car btw! Hope its all going smoothly. Taimur
Hey Taimur, No real updates as of yet. My Mallory ignition components should be arriving today, so I'll drop them off to the shop tomorrow and see exactly what stage the build is at. Last time I popped in the shop was one week after I made my initial payment. They hadn't started any work yet, as they had a couple engines ahead of me. In the meantime, I've been enjoying the car as-is for now. The next step will be getting the engine pulled and shipping the carb off to be rebuilt. Lately I've been seriously contemplating upgrading the rear end from the 2.56. I'll probably wait to see how things feel once the new engine is in before making any major decisions in that regard. I'm so very anxious. In the meantime, I've been taking care of miscellaneous maintenance items. Last thing I did was replace the brake pads & master cylinder. I have to get the window track fixed for the left rear window as well. I'll be sure to keep the updates coming.
Ok...update. Bad news: As suspected by posters in this thread, the ebay timing chain cover is no good. Too much wear in the oil pump cavity. Bummer, but it only cost me $100 to give it a shot. My builder said he has a supplier for aftermarket front covers, but I am pretty sure that it would be the "made in China" unit that other have reported possible fitment issues with. With that being said, I'll just buy the TA unit. Costly, but worth it (IMO) to support one of the few vendors that specifically supports us. (A side benefit is NOT having to worry about fitment issues/adjustments for the fuel pump with my double roller chain.) The shop is about a week away from needing to pull parts from my current motor. So I will begin the coordination to drop the "B'U-boat" off for them to pull the necessary components that are going to be reused. When I drop off the cover, I hope to get some pics of the progress. Added: Just got off the phone with TA. They are currently machining more covers, so they're on back order. The unit should be ready to be shipped out within a few days.
Side note: Thieves (unsuccessfully) tried to steal my Jeep last Friday. Luckily I still have full coverage insurance on it. It is at the shop for repairs now. My insurance set me up with a rental Nissan Altima, just in time for our next round of snow :-/
In the meantime, I ordered new struts for the front & rear. Went with KYBs for both. I also ordered new motor mounts, a new power steering pump, and a new radiator. Got these parts from Autozone...20% off, free shipping.
I popped-up at the shop today. The manager of the machine shop/engine building side of the house wasn't in, but I was able to get a peek at my heads... I spoke with the repair shop manager about the coordination for drop off so they can pull the current motor from the car. Things are moving along well. Still waiting for my timing cover to ship from TA. My next action item will be to ship the carb out for rebuilding. I've already touched base with carmantx on the phone about this.
They may be already there but are the exhaust x-overs in the middle of the head plugged? You want to plug them all and then drill something like a 1/4" hole in one plug on the side nearest the carb choke. The small hole will still allow for reasonably fast intake warm up but not superheat it. The cooler the air getting to the cylinder the more power you can make plus less chance of spark knock. If it is a warm day cruiser only you can even consider not drilling the small hole. The intake gets plenty hot even without them.
New shocks for the front & rear, new motor mounts, new (reman) power steering pump, and new radiator.
Coming along nice. I have so many parts I had to buy some inudstrial strength shelving units because my garage floor was gettin hard to see. Only problem is when they go on the car it will be time for another project to put the shelves to good use.:grin: Can't wait to see a good video of it running.
Yeah I know the feeling. The parts pile up quickly. I am already looking forward to the next project. I've been in contact with monzaz for options for my rear end. And I'm looking at getting my vinyl top replaced next year, and touch up body work. We'll see what the budget looks like for 2016. Never ends, but I love it. I was at the gas station this afternoon. A guy walks over and says "76?". The head-turn factor never gets old. I literally get comments, compliments, "thumbs up" every time I'm out & about. Like I've mentioned before, my grandfather had a '76 Limited which he gave to me as my first car. What I HAVEN'T mentioned before was that my dad had a '72 Electra, and before my grandfather purchased his '76, he owned a '70 Electra. Anyways...TA timing cover should be here soon.
The single-most expensive part has arrived today. $500 for this freshly machined timing chain cover. To think, I got a bored block, reconditioned rods, and crankshaft all for the same cost. lol I dropped the cover off to the shop today. I am now waiting for the mechanic side of the shop to get the car in there for engine removal. The builder cannot go any further without some critical components such at the harmonic balancer and flywheel. As I wait for this phase, I'll just continue to enjoy the car as is.
Engine gets pulled tomorrow. The mechanic who was slated to perform the removal & installation has yet to clear a time to get my boat in his shop. The engine builder is waiting to get the motor pulled & disassembled before the building of my new motor can proceed. In the interest of keeping this somewhat on schedule, I am having my local mechanic pull the motor. The world doesn't stop turning for one mechanic (who just cost himself an easy chunk of money). My local mechanic's labor rates are cheaper anyways, at $75/hr. So I drop the car off tomorrow to get the engine pulled. I'll have them load it in my jeep, then I'll deliver the motor to the builder so he can proceed. Despite being only rated at 205hp/345tq, I've been having a blast with the stock motor. On the open road, it just continues to pull. Nothing like seeing the needle buried on the right side of the speedometer.
So I was supposed to drop the car off at my local mechanic shop to get the motor pulled. I checked in on Tuesday to make sure things were still on schedule for me on Wednesday. He was still working on another big repair, so he said bring it by Thursday. Ok, cool...no problem. This morning I get there ready to drop it off. They guy with whom I was coordinating isn't there due to a family emergency. I was speaking with the other mechanic, explaining the coordination/scheduled we already established. He was doubtful that they'd be able to get to my car today. He offered to have me leave the car, and they'd call me. Meh...no thanks. I told him I'd let them know when I could bring it back. In my mind, I'm getting annoyed. I'm trying to be patient...but its frustrating when you're giving them relatively easy money to do the job. On to the next prospective shop to do the labor... I went to a shop where I've had a bunch of work done on my previous cars. I explained what I needed done. Just pull the motor and load it in the back of my jeep. "That's it?" the shop owner asked. "Yes. Just pull the engine, and push it out the shop, and load the engine in my jeep." "ok...$350" SOLD. So the car is there now to have the engine removed. It is scheduled to be ready for pick up tomorrow. I asked him about installation as well. I explained that I would have the motor completely built, tuned, and ready to install. He gave me a ball-park estimate that was much to my liking. So these delays by the first two mechanics are resulting in me saving a decent amount of money in labor costs. To add the cherry on top, I can SEE this repair shop from where I keep my Buick stored. Very convenient.
Got the engine loaded in my jeep. I'll be delivering it to the builder on Monday. Added bonus: The shop that pulled the engine has storage for my car, so I don't have to worry about towing it to/fro.
Good news, looks like you'll be driving it with a new engine very soon. But what about cleaning under the hood that you wanted to do with the engine out? You didn't forget did you, or does that shop have a steam clearer and you're having that done there? Derek
