That's good stuff.
I used to do the installations at Cole with a fellow named Jim Lang.
We lived next door to Jerry "The Hammer" Hanks who drove "Spooky", Coles BFF.

 

So am I

 

Roger that Mike.
I can remember making a few cross country hauls with Spooky down your way.

 

I was involved with a Boat out of Texas when ever he made his west coast swing, I would help crew for him...Dave Norton's "FIRE WATERr". Also crewed on a Boat called CAL PERF.. owned by Phil Magana, he was a Lake Ming Regular.... My Boat is Named "AFTER YOU?" ....Phil was blown alcohol hydro, and Dave is Top Fuel Hydro... Watched Dave run 239mph in the eight, at Long Beach Marine Stadium, about 10 years ago.... Hence the name Fire water....... Best I ever did was 128mph at Lake Ming.. Good lord that was fun!!

 

Stuck in a new push rod this morning.
Was only able to find 2 of the different lengths, so pulled out another good rod to match to.
Had one longer and one shorter, of course no match. So I put in the shorter one just in case there is a physical reason for the bend.
It runs beautiful.
And yes I tightened according to manual.
No more tick, life is beautiful.

 

Ah ha good news then>>>>

 

Yeah great news.
Now I can take my time gathering parts for the top end rebuild. Drove it over the hill to work and it's really running great.
Next for the engine will be some choke adjust work and some timing work. Haven't even looked at it yet except to get it running. Need to check the physical condition of the distributor as well as the curve.
Also found a small puddle of red under my steering assist ram. End seal is leaking now that it's getting a workout.
All in all I'm very happy with how it's coming along.

 

Glad to hear it all worked out! Funny I floated my valves four days ago and bent both push-rods on my number 1 cyl. Similar to you I had a hard time finding the same length replacements. Got lucky and out of 20 or so found two that worked.

Running normal again is a good thing!

.

 

Roger that.
Considering how far it's come from not running to running normal.
SWEET.

 

Yeah I know that feeling... I rebuilt my rear end today, along with new brakes, and I mean everything new.... man what a Difference... The gear oil was pure sludge. Now she is squeaky clean!

 

Since I'm using the truck daily I worked on the instrument panel.
Got the lights working (fuse) and the radio. Radios light was burnt out. The speaker was hilarious, and the indicator needed repainting. Not to mention general clean up. Originally thought the radio ***** were corroded beyond repair but soaked them in a bowl of soap and water over night and viola, it was just scum, they look damn near brand new.
Upshot is the whole instrument panel now works.
Think I'll see if I can get that chrome striping back in shape.

 

That's a speaker?????

 

Forgot to say I had to put a new antennae in also. The replacement seems to work fine but what a piece of crap compared to the original.
Gonna do some research and see if I can't get the old one rebuilt. Anyone heard of such a thing?

 

Hi Turbo, I think you can get just the main mast and cable from Dennis Carpenters. I had to the buy the whole enchilada because my base was pitted, but if all you need is the mast, they are suppose to be original tooling. It might serve your needs.

Here is the link: http://www.parts123.com/parts123/yb....5Z5Z50000024D#

 

Thank you very kindly for the lead.