Ok, I have a mini-update for you guys, with a few questions as well (of course).
First off, I've been prepping the 235's oil pan and sump pick-up for installation onto the engine. I've wire-wheeled nearly the entire pan to remove old paint and a little surface rust. After getting a better look at what I'm working with, I've found a few more small dents and dings I'd like to remove. Jim also recommended ensuring the mating surface of the pan to the gasket is also flat, as sometimes the fasteners were over-torqued, causing high spots on the top lip of the pan, which may lead to leaks. Makes perfect sense to me, so I'm gonna do that as well. My first question is: Do you recommend installing the pan, then painting everything at the same time? Or... paint the pan separate, then install it? I don't see a reason to paint the gasket mating surface, but if you guys recommend I do that, then I will.
Second, I want to ensure that the oil sump pick-up is as clean as it can be. Even after soaking it in several solvents (including in a parts washer), I still get some gunk out of it. Can someone please recommend a thorough way to get all of the nasties out of the pick-up before it's installed? The last thing I want to do is ruin a new engine with dirty oil and bits of gunk.
After those two jobs are done, I'll be ready to test my oil pumps to determine which one I'm going to use in the engine. After the pan and sump pick-up are installed, I should be ready to paint the block. I'm looking forward to that!!!
Next, the crew finally showed up to begin construction on my garage addition. It's a pole barn that I'm attaching to my existing garage. After the addition is up, I'm going to open up the wall of the existing garage and be able to move back and forth between the buildings. Unfortunately, it's colder than a witch's +!+ right now, so I'll have to wait until spring to pour the concrete floor of the addition. Construction is going well so far, and the crew anticipates being finished sometime in the next week or so.
Finally, there's been another addition made to my fleet of old trucks. The day before the first big snow storm hit us here in the mid-west, I brought home another fire engine. This one is original to my department, and it holds quite a bit of sentimental value. The rig is a 1964 American LaFrance pumper truck, with a capacity to move 1,000 gallons of water per minute. Years ago, my dad's favorite job was being assigned to drive this engine. In fact, as the senior fireman on his shift, he always chose that assignment first. I became good friends with the previous owner several years ago when I found out who had purchased this rig (a former fire chief's son). He lives in the Chicago area and invited me to come up every summer to travel with him to a fire engine rally held down town every year. I can sure understand why my dad enjoyed driving that rig! Big Continental Red Seal straight-six engine, non-synchronized manual transmission... it sure keeps you busy! Anyway, when my dad passed away, the firemen set-up a little surprise for us. As the funeral procession passed the fire station, they had this rig (Engine 4) sitting out on the front apron, idling with the emergency lights on and his fire coat hanging on the door for his last alarm. It was a very touching surprise.
Anyway, that gives you an idea of what's going on right now (sound like enough, Zig?
). The garage addition is primarily being built to house the new pumper truck, but I will also move my parts storage shelves (both fire truck and Chevy AD) to the new building after the concrete is poured. I'll try to get some photos posted soon.
Damon
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