It started with a gascap - Project Arntz Restoration

[renovationinnov]

are you planning a dark side [ chebbie ] replacement leigh
heheh
rob

[spookypt]

Seeing that a certain Mr Marsh's car is parked out front may be a very good hint Mike and Rob as to what Mr Leroy may be up too I reckon.....?

[Aussie Mike]

That would make sense. The big block shares the same engine mount locations and bell housing bolt pattern to the small block. The Big block is wider and hangs a bit further forward bit will bolt directly in place of it's little brother. Obviously it'll require new headers but lots of other stuff is interchangeable. Water pump and distributor are the same. Radiator hoses etc should match straight up.

Cheers

[leroy17]

Spooky, you remember that I already got a TKO600 (4617) from you, but thanks for your offer as it is a cool box that you have there, your shed is plenty big, how about another project there. Actually, I say that you are to blame for all this engine swap as once the TKO was with me, the ideas just kept coming.

You're right Mike in that a BBC would be a straight and easier, however a match for the TKO will have a front mounted distributor and has been run in already courtesy of this Arntz previous owner.

[750hp]

Originally Posted by leroy17

...soon to be member of the red big block cobra club.

I love the sound of that!

Some interesting other things to see in the background in the most recent photos.

[Towmaster]

Originally Posted by 750hp

I love the sound of that!

Some interesting other things to see in the background in the most recent photos.

That was so obvious.... May as well have written it on a billboard.....

[spookypt]

It's like Christmas every day this build!

[spookypt]

Originally Posted by leroy17

Spooky, you remember that I already got a TKO600 (4617) from you, but thanks for your offer as it is a cool box that you have there, your shed is plenty big, how about another project there. Actually, I say that you are to blame for all this engine swap as once the TKO was with me, the ideas just kept coming.

You're right Mike in that a BBC would be a straight and easier, however a match for the TKO will have a front mounted distributor and has been run in already courtesy of this Arntz previous owner.

Just think if you had of bought the Jerico first where you'd be?

Really keen to see what you have planned for that engine.

Any ideas as to a build date completion??? Lol

[spookypt]

Um is that a car ramp holding up the sill of your car there Lee? That's a bit of an upgrade from the milk crate mate.

I know what you need for Christmas now.

[leroy17]

Originally Posted by spookypt

Um is that a car ramp holding up the sill of your car there Lee? That's a bit of an upgrade from the milk crate mate.

I know what you need for Christmas now.

Yeah, correct.... the milk crate is on the other side, cut it in half to spead the load, it also doubles as a saw bench, gearbox stand, diff stand, seat, soldering iron heat tester, toolbox and now with some strategic placed cuts - its a mitre box.

Also, its not a sil.... its a gurder. These Arntz chassis's were made from offcuts off the Golden Gate Bridge.

Anticipated finishing time is 2016, that give me about 340ish days.

[spookypt]

Originally Posted by leroy17

will have a front mounted distributor and has been run in already courtesy of this Arntz previous owner.

Your putting in a Austin Healy Straight 6???

[Aussie Mike]

So BB Ford by the sounds of it. An FE motor or a 385 series donk?

Cheers

[Aussie Mike]

Jeez I'm dense today. It must be Friday.

I think I just worked out what you are putting in there and I reckon it's the Big block out of Craig's Falcon. It all added up once I remembered seeing a pic of it without a motor in the engine bay.

Cheers

[spookypt]

Never mind you Mike what was I thinking!

[750hp]

Originally Posted by leroy17

will have a front mounted distributor and has been run in already courtesy of this Arntz previous owner.

If the distributor location is the only requirement, you should put this in!



This is a fun game of "What is Leigh spending money on". It's so much more fun when it's someone else's money!

[leroy17]

Not much of an up date of progression, but more of removal of the old and prepare for the new or modified. Please note, there are no sexy motivational pics here.

First was the dash, now if you look at the dash pic below (look really carefully) , you may be able to see an access panel to get to the wiring and back of gauges (check second pic with panel open). Anyway, i didn't really like what I saw and trying to trace wires was somewhat difficult. The wires were hard and brittle and the insulation split when I bent some to move. Once removed, the back of the dash was no prettier. There were nearly 100 zip ties all through the wiring with a number of these just around 1 wire.










My plan was to tidy up the engine bay wires a bit, however this was best stripping out all wires and start a fresh. this way I can run what circuits I want, hide wires and also know what it what.




Dash out and this opened up another issue of an abundance of holes in the firewall in what appeared to be Steady Eddies first attempt using a drill. There are holes in what feels like everywhere. Have started filling these to be sanded and painted over. Will also make a panel to cover the firewall and other parts.



I was also starting to work with the dropped footbox by cutting out the floor enough to suit. The left hand outrigger will also be cut and welded to have an angled side on it so its more comfortable for the side of my foot when not using the clutch.



And finally the front UCA mounts and shock mounts were cut off. This pic shows that the upper shock mount was a washer welded to some thin plate. Also looks like the plate was cut with a tractor as there is bugger all finesse to this.

[leroy17]

Looking back at some pics, I can see where there has not been lots of car time and plenty of time with my little helper who is growing up fast.

Pic at nearly 1 yr, and another now at 5, yup she loves cars.

[David Hodgson]

Wow Leeroy, doesn't look like much on this car won't need attention. Bet you can't over look the wiper system as your fixing the fire wall.

That pic with your girl in the car reminds me of one of the first times I backed mine out of the shed. The wife came to have a look and sat our 12 month old in the drivers seat. I waved at her through the windscreen and she had her very first giggle fit that lasted a good two or three minutes, egged on by me of course. She's now 18.

[muzzza]

Keep on 'Keeping On" Leroy....good on ya. Muz

[Aussie Mike]

Hi Leigh,

Just on the subject of wiring. I just bought a couple of connector kits off eBay. Pretty impressed with the quality. The connector kit comes with the crimp tool to suit. The connectors have silicon seals to keep dust and moisture out. They look very OEM and in fact one of the kits I bought is the connectors used in Harley Davidson motorcycles.

I bought This kit and the pins are rated to 7.5A per pin.

Deutsch DTM Connector Kit

I also bought this kit which has larger pins rated to 13A per pin.

Deutsch DT Connector

The project I'm currently working on is cleaning up the engine loom and the rest of the wiring. I originally used those cheap Narva plastic multi spade connectors as that was all that was readily available. I'll keep you posted on how these work out.

Cheers