My tow vehicle repower

[boxhead]

I went looking, as I thought I had a thread on this, but it appears not.
As most of you know I have a VH Valiant station wagon that used to be a hearse.
The car was left to me as part of a deceased estate.
After trying to sell it and thinking about dismatling it for parts, in the end I fell in love with it and it now serves duties as my tow vehicle for Cobra racing.
The car (known as George the Goon after my wifes Uncle who left it to me) was built in 1972 and sold through the Tamworth dealership, the original color was fountain blue with blue interior, 3 spd manual colomn shift with 215 Hemi 6 with 4 wheel drum brakes and no booster.
George was painted black for use as a hearse and had the rear seat removed with slide added and timber paneling.
In approx 1979/80, George bought the car as he was planning to open a "cut price" funeral service in Alice Springs.
When he arrived in Alice Springs he contacted the franchisee and they advised that after doing some research they had decided there was not a "large enough market" for a second operator in town.
So George became the local DHL courier rep, had the car repainted back to its original color and usd the vehicle to cart freight around Alice Springs.
Uncle George was getting a bit too old to drive such a large car by about 2000 so the Goon was parked up. Sadly my wifes cousin told me nearly all the little dents in the car happened in the last few months before George stopped driving it.
Here is a pic when I first went to pick it up.




And after getting him home and a quick clean up.








After deciding to keep him I had to get him roadworthy, replaced tyres also replaced the vinyl flooring, converted to disk brake bossted, repaired air con and repainted grille.




I removed the slides and fitted a flat floor in the back to allow more storage for race trips.




And with white wall tyres finally fitted.


George the Goon has now done Nationals and ShelbyFest towing the Cobra, only "issue" is a lack of power when trying to get moving (has a 2.92 auto diff fitted).

So having decided I will keep George, next phase of his conversion is to fit a small block V8 (318) convert to 727 auto trans, and fit power steering, I want to retain the colomn shift as I am undecided if I want to keep bench seat.
This week I rebuilt the gearbox, new clutch plates, steel plates, full seal and gasket set.




I have now started rebuilding the engine, it is basically stock apart from 4 barrel manifold, 60thou over pistons and a cam, also converted to electronic ignition



Also fitting extractors and open exhaust system.

As work progress's I will add more info and pics.
Plan is to be done by mid Feb 2012, in time for ShelbyFest.

[charles roybal]

So...what go's on behind the shire white "peek a boo" side curtains?

[Rog246]

Originally Posted by charles roybal

So...what go's on behind the shire white "peek a boo" side curtains?

Maybe per-chance a " Shaggin' wagon" ..............well maybe once in a while

[Rog246]

Good to see you breathing life back into the Old Boy Box.
When I was a kid the Val said your old man was doing ok.

[boxhead]

The curtains are long gone, although some Venetian side blinds may find there way on, and maybe a dark window tint.
I also have a mate who is going to send a factory air con vent assy.

[Donunder]

What a transformation! George looks very smart with his new white sidewalls.
The heart transplant should provide the extra oomf for towing.
I'm wondering though Box -- that first pic of the nasty scars along George's driver's side flanks-- did they come out OK?
He'll look very schmick with a dark tint too.
Great job! He'll be the coolest towcar in the paddock.

[boxhead]

No body work has been started yet, I do have a very good electric tailgate assy.
Also have a full set of rust free dent free doors.
The dent in front guards will be easy fix, the major one will be a crease in the L/H rear quarter.

[KirkV]

Very nice, sad to say that maybe you were drinking during re-assembly and put the steering wheel on the wrong side of the car??? lol

The ol gal looks nice.

[Rog246]

Originally Posted by KirkV

Very nice, sad to say that maybe you were drinking during re-assembly and put the steering wheel on the wrong side of the car??? lol

The ol gal looks nice.

Why is it that our Amurican friends always say that ?
Our steering wheel placement is always correct that's because they're
RIGHT

[Toecutter]

It'll make a nice change to all the F350/yank tank (it's a term of endearment) "battle trucks" so common at most events these days. I always have a little giggle when folk roll up towing 1500kg with something that looks like a modern version of a Thunderdome vehicle

Go classic, nice one.

[Towmaster]

I'm toying with the idea of dropping an LS1/2 into a 2007 or newer Rodeo / Colorado.... with a 3 tonne towing capacity. We have one with the new 3.0DT engine but they just don't tow comfortably at 110 when it comes to hills or overtaking. My SS sportwagon does it easy but is lumbered with a 2100kg towing capacity and my car / trailer is right on that limit with fuel on board the trailer. The Colorado (same but for a different badge) in the USA comes with a 5.3 LS engine as an option...... and there are quite a few guys doing the conversion in the states...

[boxhead]

I had the factory A/C outlets arrive in the post today.


Combined with one of these up under the dash.
AIR CON / HEATER UNDER DASH CHEV FORD HOLDEN VALIANT | eBay

Should keep the cabin cool.

[Rog246]

Jeez Box you AND george will be travelling in BOTH style & comfort now

[boxhead]

I started reassembling the bottom end on Sunday, only got as far as parts would allow me.
Crank is in, pistons too, then I slipped the cam in, waiting on a new oil pump and was waiting for cam retainer before I could slip the timing chain and cover on.




Then yesterday some more presents arrived.

They are NOS cam retainer plate and valve springs, all are only stock but supplied by a good mate.
My mate (Rob) rang me out of the blue and asked if I was replacing the springs, he said "after all, some of them have been held compressed for a long time"
He has many new parts that he has collected over the years and posted these out to me.

[Modena]

Dave, excuse my ignorance, but why are those pistons cut for 4V?

[boxhead]

The pistons are notched on the upper edge, this must point toward the front of engine during assy.
I think it is easier for piston makers to make one set that fits both sides of block.
Original fit pistons are dished through its entire surface so there are no valve reliefs required.

[boxhead]

Got home from work tonight and out to the shed (no concreting this time), so I spent a few hours assembling the engine a little more.

Here is how it sits tonight.




Intake manifold has to come back off yet so I can weld up some of the water jacket (it hasnt corroded through but is not far off).

Once that is done it will be painted red as well, and teh rocker covers and air filter will be done in wrinkle finish for the factory look.

[Rog246]

Gee wizz Dave, George will be clicking his heels when the transplant is done. It's looking good mate
He'll be bit of a sleeper to a lot of people on the Hwy. I can imagine the looks he will get when he is finished, as I reckon there will be a few WTF's happening !
Good job.
and have a happy new year to boot

[boxhead]

Pulled apart more of the donor yesterday.
K frame, torsion bars and suspension/steering out.


Then it was time to pull George's old heart out.
Before.


After




Later today I will pull the steering colomn, brake pedal & Booster out and if time permits front end out of George.

[Rob. Smith]

Strange looking padding on the dash ! The one that really freaked me was a Valiant with pompom trim around the windows....door windows as well. I thought Ok ! to each his own. Then at the next set of lights I pulled up beside the proud Italian family in their beautiful Valiant and spotted the dash. It was covered with hundreds of tiny glass animals. You know the ones. They're made out of blown and drawn glass by some arty farty hobbyist. These were glued to the entire dash...right across. Nice and sparkly in the sun but just like one of those broken bottle security fences in a crash. Don't worry about going through the windscreen. The dash would shred you to pieces before you hit the windscreen. Any way your dash looks much more cuddly !