ok, here’s what I’m planning on doing in the very near future. Please let me know if I’m forgetting a step or if there’s another small adjustment I should add to my list or something. Thanks!! -new fuel filter – NAPA #3001 -new hoses w/ connections for oil filter – ChevyDuty – 84-151 -new oil filter cartridge with oil change (HOT!) ha -grease zerk fittings (including brake and clutch shafts) -clean and bake PCV valve and breather tube -valve adjust -currently in the process of rebuilding master cylinder, so if anyone has any words of caution or tips and tricks, please let me know. I already replaced all 4 wheel cylinders, plus redid shoes and bled and adjusted brakes. Thanks guys! Oh, also if you guys know of anymore awesome forums like this one where I can ask stupid questions, I’d really appreciate those links. Thanks again!! jon
Check, check, check and double check. So far, so good. Here's some more things that you might want to check. Radiator flush and refill with anti-freeze mixture. Check the thermostat for proper operation. Check and clean road draft tube if necessary. Clean and re gap plugs. Points and condenser. Check dizzy cap for cracks. If you've got a compression gauge, check compression in each cylinder. check timing. (i sound like my grandfather, huh?) I didn't ask if this was a rebuild, did I? You may have already done all of this, but it's definitely worth repeating. And last, but not least, have a couple of band-aids in your pocket and let her rip!
Tune Up Day Jon ; You're right on track ~ try to hunt up a dwell / tachometer , they turn up @ yard sales for cheap (under $30.00) and are just the ticket for tuning these old tech engines . look for a vacuum gauge too as that's helpfull in both tuning and trouble shooting . So : spark plugs out for testing , connect dwell meter and remove dizzy cap and rotor , ignition on , crank engine and adjust the points gap as the engine is cranking until the dwell meter reads 33° on the _6_cylinder_ scale_ , then gap plugs to .035" and re-install , start engine and set timing to ball in flywheel to the stationary pointer in the little window in the bellhousing just above the starter motor ~ look for it with a flashlight , it's there . kinda tricky to shine the timing light in the hole correctly whilst draped over the fender and not geting your hair or the timing light wires caught in the rapidly turning fan but it's all do-able with patience . loosen the slotted screw on the dizzy base and turnt he whole dizzy to set the timing , re-check it after you've tightened up the screw again as it often drifts . Idle speed _MUST_ be 600 oir LESS RPM's . Now , the engine is prolly idling better as it's all warmed up so shut if off and remove the valve cover ~ if that's stuck , DO NOT PRY IT UP ! (you'll warp it and cause incredible oil leaks) if it's stuck in place , lay a 2 X 4 against the upper side of it and whack with a dead blow mallet.... it'll pop loose after a bit ~ I had one _glued_ to the head on my '49 when I bought it so I had to use a 6 X 8 to not bash in the side of the rockerbox I had to hit it -so- hard to break it loose . Adjust the vlves and then carefully scrape off the old gasket from both head & rockerbox cover , using a metal bladed scraper and a wire brush untill there's _no_ trace of old gasket left behind . no need for glue or gaskacinch , if you're hopelessly addicted to gasket glues , glue it to the rockerbox and allow to dry before installation . Keep up the good work ! Look in older posts ad I've written up tune up how to's many times before , I'm juyst waiting for my brother to show so I can hit the road for a week . C-ya guys ! .
Oh No!!! You're leaving us for a week???? What on Earth will we all do???? Prolly get ourselves into all kinds of trouble. Have a great time with your Bro'. Andy
From Flagstaff , Az. I'm sure you'll all be just fine without me blathering on about nothing... Saw quite a few vintage tin here & there in the desert to-day , good thing I'm not rich..... Bro. is O.K. , kinda nervous as this'll prolly be the last time we ever see Moms alive....
Good luck Nate, going down the same road with my dad at the moment, best wishes, hurry back before the site goes into meltdown without you! ________ O370
Thanx . Mom's isn't looking good . I've not been to Sta. Fe in over 10 years and it's now a city , and a big time tourist destination at that so not good like it was before . (Southwest cuisine remains most excellent though) I found a 4 door '53 Chevy 210 next to the hotel last night as I was walking , folks tell me there's an " old truck like yours " in there too but I don't see it.... must be locked in the garage ~ sounds right : leave that worthless old sedan outside but lock up the truck Who'd want all that perfect stailness steel BelAir trims , skirts , visor & etc.? Be good fellas .
Nate, I know how it feels. She'll have a prayer coming her way from Texas. Whatever you do, make sure she's comfortable. Let me know if there is everything i can do.
We're back , thanx for the good thoughts Ken . She hada nice day out , my sister has been her primary caregiver so I took over for most of to-dy and gave her a rest , Moms enjoyed having her ittlest take care of her but ran out of steam bout 60 minutes ago so we brought her home , I'm taking her to sunday meeting to-morrow , I allready looked up the location here in Sta. Fe .
Big Thanks ok, i'm slowly working on all that stuff. i've got to take it one step at a time between work, home, and significant other, but thanks!! nate, sorry to hear about your mom. is that Santa Fe, NM?? that's only 3 hours from me here. thanks again, you guys are a godsend for an idiot like me who had to take computer classes instead of shop class. i have learned so much already, i can't wait to really dig in!! jon
Hmmm. I guess that's a part of getting old? I've been married 14 years, but my significant other has rounded fenders and a split windshield!
Yep , Sta. Fe ~ it was nice , we went to McGaffney , NM to-day , the pavement stopped but we kept on going , the road turned into a goat track with deep mud but we pressed on , eventually we passed some pre-historic (?Anasazi?) houses up in the side of the canyon...... really picturesqe and the fun thing is this : we are driving a 1981 Mercedes 300SD..... The one_ rancher we passed who was out mending fences in his new Chevy 4X4 had eyes like dinner plates ...... the muddy ruts were simply amazing and we passed through one mud bog were the rancher couldn't drive and so had skinned the bark off the two trees straddling the narrow path we were on with the fender of his 4X4.... We simply drove on through , the car is all filthy & muddy now , & will need serious detailing when we return to Sta. Monica So , as you can see , I am working my way through my greif with the help of some stately mountians and deserts , meditation , they usual but I wish I was in my own sweet '49 3100 Chevy pickup .
I wish I was back in the States driveing my 63 GMC 3/4 ton I love the Torque the 305 V6 puts out and I can't forget that 4 speed Trans with the Compund Low gear
Hey, Mad Scientest, keep your head down and get back here soon. Thanks for being there and tell the rest of the boys there that we all salute you!
