Winter 2020 (Now Spring 2023) 350 Fresh-Up Project

Yep, it completely slipped our minds. He went and cleaned them while I was getting the steel gasket and the china wall seals setup. I can brush them after the fact.

 

My crank pulley looks pretty gnarly. I soaked it in vinegar overnight, washed it in dawn and let it dry in the sun for several hours. Next, I put Eastwood rust converter on it and shot a few coats of black on it. Still looks rough. May shoot some flat on it to hide the ugly until the GS Nats when I can maybe find another one. None of the 40 pulleys I have are a 350 crank pulley.

Also, my clutch fork boot is shot. I should have a new one here Friday or Monday. We are hoping to set the engine in the car this weekend if possible though I don't have headers back yet. About everything else is ready. I figure if I can get the drive train in and setup, the headers won't be too hard to do since I have a lift and the engine isn't bolted down yet.

 

There is something that always slows you down on getting done, I wonder if a 3D printer can make that boot?

 

They are widely reproduced and available. It will be here in a few days.

 

The clutch fork boot arrived today but the headers aren't coated yet. We are planning on setting the engine in the car tomorrow and getting it ready to fire as soon as the headers are done.

 

Maybe better inquire....with most ceramic coatings on headers, they don't want you doing an engine break in with them. Idk if they need to be seasoned in slowly or what the reason is?

 

You think I'm going to have to do this with manifolds? That would be my only other choice as I have nothing else to use and certainly not on short notice.

 

Ask the ceramic coating place. Make damn sure your timing isn't retarded or those headers will glow red!

 

You absolutely Do Not want to break in an engine with new coated headers. That is a no no unless something has changed with coatings.

 

I think Mart’s point about over heating them is the whole story.

 

OK, we put the manifolds back on it for now. They aren't hooked up to anything as the old 2" exhaust was rotted out. I have the manifolds with just enough pipe to make the turn so it will be loud but at least I can break it in.

We didn't get it fired today. Ran out of time for another event. Motor is in the car, lots of stuff is hooked up. I'm missing the clutch return spring at the clutch fork. If I can't find it, I'll order another one.

We filled it with oil but didn't get around to priming and getting the radiator in it. Man, I'm sore.

 

You're close. Take your time at this point and triple check that everything is right. No point in making a foolish mistake now (ask me how I know).

 

It'll be fine. I broke in a cam with open headers and then drove it around like that even without a hood! You'll get the full effect!

 

OK, clutch return spring is on the way. I'll trip over the original as soon as we get the new one in.

The drive shaft is being shortened and a new yoke put on it. The old one is pretty pitted and would probably wipe the seal and/or leak pretty quickly.

A new clutch fan is on order as the old one was wobbly.

The headers will be done tomorrow so as soon as it is broken in, it can be setup for permanent exhaust work.

It is full of Lucas SAE 30 break-in oil and I'm waiting to prime it until we are closer to firing it up.

I just need to get the carb on, wire up the starter and sort out the radiator. I have the stock 2-core but I have a better 4-core with the wrong outlet. It angles up and is too big. I'm hoping the radiator shop here in town can work something out for me.

It might make it to the GS Nats yet!

 

You don't have a/c, 2 core worked when new.... use it!.
You're only a couple blocks from BG, you could push it there ..

 

It's a lot harder to push with the engine and trans in it. I should have EV'd it from the get go. LOL

It came with a 4-blade fixed fan and the 2-core radiator but the cores look pretty gummed up. I'm taking it to the radiator shop tomorrow to see what they can do.

I have the 4 core and I have the clutch fan. I was thinking they would be additional headroom during break in at least.

 

I dropped off both radiators, the original 2-core and the 4-core. The guy has been doing radiators for probably 40 years and said the original had lots of pressure leak issues. He could clean it and try to fix it but he said after a few heat cycles with a 16psi cap, it would likely have issues again.

The 4-core, he can swap the outlet nipple on it and that's the radiator I'll run. It will not get hot under any circumstances with that puppy up front. Sure, it is a little heavier but I've already put headers and an aluminum intake on it to compensate. LOL

 

My drive shaft was too long so I had it cut down and a new yoke put on it as the old one was really pitted. I've filled it with antifreeze and only need to prime it, time it and put some gas in the carb. My buddy is coming over tomorrow morning so we'll have more eyes on it when we fire it up. Cross your fingers.

 

Much better. Take it for a little dig after breakin, since you got the driveshaft in and done....
Good luck!

 

Well, getting things ready for initial fire up tomorrow and I discovered my June 2010 battery won't hold a charge higher than 10V. I suppose that means a dead cell. I did keep it on a battery tender for the last 2 years.

Oddly enough, the June 2013 battery in my 70 Stage 1 isn't holding a charge above 10V. I see 2 new batteries in my future.