Cheating The Reaper
- Thread starter DRIVEN
- Start date
That's what happens when you add alcohol...
This was the engine that was in the truck when it got wrecked. I built it while I was going to Vo Tech school and originally planned to put it in a 240Z. It found it's way into my pickup for a couple years then after the accident I ran it in the Smell Camino for a little while until I broke a rocker stud. I don't remember how long ago that was but I'm thinking about 18 years. I had the heads machined for screw-in studs, put it back together, and wrapped it in plastic. Almost 7 years ago I dragged it out for a fresh coat of paint and it's been waiting ever since.
Here's a little catch-up on the events leading to the start-up last night. Started by hooking up an oil pressure gauge and primed it for about 10 minutes while rolling the engine over. Then I checked valve lash, which was interesting since I couldn't locate my feeler gauges. I ended up using a piece of .030 welding wire.
Next, I moved on the the ignition system. The distributor that was in it used to have a Pertronix kit but it got robbed for another car. I replaced it with an Crane system and used it in the Smell Camino but it did some weird stuff so I decided to use another Pertronix. I left the Crane distributor intact and grabbed an old points distributor from the stash.
Hotwired for bench test. Nice and sparky.
I was expecting the carb to be filthy and need a full rebuild so I ordered up a cheap kit last week. To my surprise, it was really clean inside. The accelerator pump was hard as a rock so it was the only thing that got replaced. Once it was on and running, I found the adjusters seeping so those will need attention.
It didn't fire right up like they do on TV but didn't really fight either. Some drunk idiot forgot to cap the PCV port on the back but after that it ran good, considering how long it's sat.
Here's a little catch-up on the events leading to the start-up last night. Started by hooking up an oil pressure gauge and primed it for about 10 minutes while rolling the engine over. Then I checked valve lash, which was interesting since I couldn't locate my feeler gauges. I ended up using a piece of .030 welding wire.
Next, I moved on the the ignition system. The distributor that was in it used to have a Pertronix kit but it got robbed for another car. I replaced it with an Crane system and used it in the Smell Camino but it did some weird stuff so I decided to use another Pertronix. I left the Crane distributor intact and grabbed an old points distributor from the stash.
Hotwired for bench test. Nice and sparky.
I was expecting the carb to be filthy and need a full rebuild so I ordered up a cheap kit last week. To my surprise, it was really clean inside. The accelerator pump was hard as a rock so it was the only thing that got replaced. Once it was on and running, I found the adjusters seeping so those will need attention.
It didn't fire right up like they do on TV but didn't really fight either. Some drunk idiot forgot to cap the PCV port on the back but after that it ran good, considering how long it's sat.
I pulled all the parts and boxes out of it and got it ready to blow apart. Then I adjusted the coilovers so that the tie rods and lower control arms were level. Ended up raising it about 3.5". Before I started the jack wouldn't fit under the swaybar.
Then I went to work.
Just waiting on a new flywheel then the TKO goes in and I can measure for the driveline.
Hilariously ironic quote from almost exactly a year ago.
Glad you continued to Cheat the Reaper through all of 2020. "Objects in mirror are closer than they appear".
I am in serious covet of that vast, inside, lit workspace. With a smooth floor.
It could be howling outside, but crank up the tunes...and groove!
It could be howling outside, but crank up the tunes...and groove!
It's new; they're NEVER big enough.I am in serious covet of that vast, inside, lit workspace. With a smooth floor.
It could be howling outside, but crank up the tunes...and groove!
If I had a shop like that I don't think I'd ever leave.
