My tow vehicle repower - Page 6

boxhead · #**101** (**permalink**) 02-19-2012, 05:46 PM

Here are some pics from Friday night.

Deep pan sump holds an extra 1.5 litres of oil and improves cooling.

Saturday morning I headed up town, only to discover that Mufflers also had not arrived at exhaust shop, so I could not make a start on making my own exhaust system.
I had a retail job booked in so I did that Saturday and left George on his own.

I had a car club meeting on Saturday night, so went down with the Cobra, only to find another Cobra there.
Forgot to get any pics during the daylight as I was too busy talking to the owner.
It is a Classic Glass car out of Adelaide. registered with Ford efi small block.
As is typical of a Ford powered vehicle, it needed a Holden powered Cobra to get it going.

Sunday morning I had some things to do up town, and was into George around noon.
I modified the radiator and radiator support to fit the later model larger radiator in, made auto trans cooler pipes and plumbed in auxuillary cooler.
Made new selector linkage to clear the headers and retain colomn shift.
Made a fuel pipe from pump to carby and fitted the battery.
Filled with fluids as needed and pulled the coil lead out.
Cranked him over (all good), checked for spark (all good), and could see that fuel was in the filter and carby.
I screwed the throttle stop in a couple of turns and refitted coil lead.
Cranked him over and boom, he was alive within a full turn of starter.
Looked under car for oil leaks, none there.
Adjusted timing, bumped the idle speed up to 2500 and grin like an idiot, George is alive (and no pipes).
All going well, looked under car again and I see a small pool of oil near the power steering box, Fark, switch him off. Up in the air and take a look, the stupid pipe from side of the block (were the yanks month the oil filter).

It is the pipe on the left.
I tried to tighten it but no luck.
I have some Wurth sealer on its way, so will need to drop the pipe off and seal it up.
But George was alive.
Did not get a chance to test the power steering or the auto though.

Philm · #**102** (**permalink**) 02-19-2012, 07:11 PM

I hope you bought him flowers in town that morning before you " was into George around noon."

Loving it Boxhead.

Phil

Rog246 · #**103** (**permalink**) 02-19-2012, 07:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Philm

I hope you bought him flowers in town that morning before you " was into George around noon."

Loving it Boxhead.

Phil

ROFLMAO..........'What..no chocolates !??!

Rog246 · #**104** (**permalink**) 02-23-2012, 09:47 PM

So Dave, what's George's plans for this weekend then mate?
Is he going out for a drive or what ?

Rog

boxhead · #**105** (**permalink**) 02-24-2012, 12:45 AM

Sealant arrived in todays mail run.
I also made a start on the exhaust system last night.
2 1/4 twin system with mandrel bends and X pipe, straight through mufflers.

I will put the sealant on tonight (not looking forward to that) as it will most likely end up taking 3 or 4 hours to get together.
And if before about 9pm, I will fire him up again and break in the cam.

Will try to get a video, he is loud with no exhaust.

Rog246 · #**106** (**permalink**) 02-24-2012, 01:32 AM

Well lets hope that he steps out sounding fine and strong-çause he's looking good my man ! lookin goooood!

boxhead · #**107** (**permalink**) 02-26-2012, 04:31 AM

Righto, First up, George is alive and has been around the block under his own power.

Ok, first up was to fix the damn oil leak, after resealing with a worth product,

It still leaked. So out it came again, this time though to be replaced.
I ducked up town and grabbed a few bits and pieces.

Then when home assembled it all and fitted to vehicle.
Tested and all was good.

I made a start on the exhaust on Friday night, got as far as headers through X pipe and R/H muffler fitted (It is a 2 1/4 inch mandrel bent system with straight through mufflers).
Saturday morning I finished off the L/H side.

By this stage Ronda was threatening a cold shoulder in bed, so I stopped here and went to spend some time with Ronda (I had forgotten what she looked like).

Sunday morning into it again, Finish making the exhaust with twin system through to the back with stainless tips.

Fitted a coolant recovery tank and bled out cooling system.
Bled the brakes, only to discover the master cylinder is shagged (will pick up or order a new one tomorrow), it got the better of me and I had to take him for a spin (Really wanted to test the auto) Backed him off the hoist and off I went (hand brake only), drove like a dream, auto shifted spot on and steering is super light (needs alignment).
I knew the tank was low as I need to drop it out and replace a leaking hose, but he ran out before I got home (fark, George is killing me).
Got some fuel and got him going, drove home.
Back on the hoist and all is good with no leaks and noises and no sign of rubbing anywhere.

Refitted the grille, refitted a/c pipes (no compressor fitted yet) and other odds and ends.

Rog246 · #**108** (**permalink**) 02-26-2012, 01:39 PM

"By this stage Ronda was threatening a cold shoulder in bed, so I stopped here and went to spend some time with Ronda (I had forgotten what she looked like)."

Maaaate..............you gotta picture of her hanging up in the shed ! ( I know 'cause you put it up on here !

) How could you forget what she looks like !??!

Good job Dave............maybe you should write a book "The Adventures of George the Goon as told by his friend Dave "

Gav · #**109** (**permalink**) 02-26-2012, 05:19 PM

Glad the auto went well, they go well in cobras too!!

boxhead · #**110** (**permalink**) 03-01-2012, 10:21 PM

Another part turned up in the post yesterday, machined it a little to suit the Goon.
So I went home at lunch time just to fit it

Rog246 · #**111** (**permalink**) 03-01-2012, 10:24 PM

So Dave what is George doing this weekend then ?

boxhead · #**112** (**permalink**) 03-01-2012, 10:46 PM

Fit master cylinder and bleed brakes, refit bonnet and adjust. (Friday night)
Pull out fuel tank and replace hoses, refit glovebox and other bits and pieces (may refit bench seat) Lots of driving around my block (needs wheel align and rego check and MVR check for engine number swap) so cant drive too far.
And that is ablut all that is left on George, so I also plan on a big clean up in teh shed.
I also have to pick up a 1957 Chrysler Royal (I forgot to get a picture) that is pretty banged up and rusty around the front, but I plan to cut the back off and make a couch for bar area in shed.

Forgot to mention, I also am picking up a pair of CxC seats (Chrysler limo), in Australia you could get them in white or black vinyl or gold Brocade trim.
These are the same seats as fitted to a 1973 Lincoln Continental, and I will be retrimming in blue brocade, will look like these.

Rog246 · #**113** (**permalink**) 03-02-2012, 12:20 AM

Mate that shed is gunna be as Flash as a Rat with Gold Tooth by the time you finally finish it !

boxhead · #**114** (**permalink**) 03-04-2012, 09:00 PM

George is now registered and insured as a V8.

I have done about 60 miles so far, drives nice apart from hangs on in second a little before sliding into 3rd.
No biggy at this stage as with a trailer on the back, it is probably beter that way, I will have a fiddle with the kick down cable to see if I can adjust it out a little.

He drives very nicly and relaxed, looks like A/C will have to wait till I return as I doubt I will get time to fit before I leave.
I may also fut an auxilary fan to the front, as temp creeps just over half when stopped and idleing.
I fitted a 160F thermostat, It should open at about 1/3rd on the gauge but it isnt till right on half, so may replace this as well (may be incorrectly stamped), but I will test on a longer (100kl) non stop drive tomorrow morning, and see if the gauge stays happy at half.
I will test it with trailer on Wednesday morning if all goes well tomorrow morning on longer drive.
Here he is all done and bonnet refitted after about 3 months off.

And so for the first time in as many months, I got the chance to clean up a little.

Now I just need to hope the rain and floods stay away.

Rog246 · #**115** (**permalink**) 03-04-2012, 10:41 PM

Good job Dave, have enjoyed watching George getting his makeover-he'll be really clicking his heels now.
Enjoy

Rog

alffie · #**116** (**permalink**) 03-05-2012, 06:56 AM

Hi Boxy
A little off topic but what do them lights cost you to run?

boxhead · #**117** (**permalink**) 03-05-2012, 04:39 PM

No idea at all Alffie.
I normally only switch on the centre and R/H lights, but had them all on when cleaning the other night.

I havent noticed a "jump" in my power bill that is abnormal to previous years.

I gave George a bath last night after picking him up from wheel alignment. He is now jokingly being reffered to as a trailer queen (except he is dragging the trailer, not sitting on it)

I did about 90kls this morning for a little shake down run.
Here is a short crappy video from iPhone.