Engine is in
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Joined: Feb 2000
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From: Sun River St. George
Engine is in
390 CI engine is in and being fine tuned.
Sunday: After working about 14 hours to remove the core support (it was a rusted mess), and pulling the old engine, installing the new, I was ready to fire my new rebuilt motor. I filled it with water and removed the heater hose to let out air. I was surprised how much air gushed out until water showed up. I set the timing, checked my firing order and mentally went over every nut, bolt and clamp. I decided that I had forgotten nothing. The battery had been on the charger while I was finishing up and was fully charged. I used a squeeze ball and dribbled a little fuel in the carburetor, double checked where my fire extinguisher was hanging got in the truck and fired it up. Not! Added a bit more fuel, advanced the distributor and tried again. This time the engine sputtered and tried to run. Added a bit of fuel, advanced the distributor and tried again, closed but no cigar. I’m thinkingProfanity Removed! Added another shot of fuel, advanced the distributor again and pulled the choke out and tried again. This time it fired, would not idle but I kept it revved up with the choke out and just let it rip at about 1600 RPM. Ran the engine 30 minutes to break-in the camshaft. Shut the engine down and checked the drive belts to locate the cause of the really loud squealing noise I’d heard while running in the cam. This shrieking noise was so loud I could not determine where it was coming from. Belts were tight and I knew then I had a vacuum leak somewhere because it would only run with the choke out. I pulled the carburetor and hot water spacer and replaced both those gaskets. Started it again, more choke, would not idle and shrieked something awful. I took a rubber hose, put one end on my ear and the other at the base of the carburetor, man what a shrieking noise. This noise was coming from the rear of the hot water spacer. Took it off and immediately saw the problem. My new gasket did not cover the entire base of the spacer. I plugged off the opening with tin foil and silicone. This is late Sunday afternoon and I plan to drive my old bug to work Monday. Reinstalled the carburetor, fired it up and it ran beautifully, idled like a dream. I reset the timing, air bleed screws, drained the water, tightened one bolt (coolant leak) added antifreeze and water and quit for the evening.
Monday: Looked under the truck for leaks and saw a sickening sight. Large puddle of oil. Pushed the truck back and to my delight it was water from washing the family sedan. Wheew! Fired the truck and set off to work. Runs fine and I am listening to every squeak and groan. On long hills under load I hear a slight detonation. Everything else is great. That evening I reset the ignition timing to 15 initial advance. Ordered a new spacer gasket.
Tuesday: Looked under the truck with a flashlight saw two tiny oil spots. Crap! Still diagnosing this, may be a gallery plug, rear main seal, intake or valve cover gasket, (I hope it’s the valve cover). No detonation under load, 87 octane, 190 degree thermostat and iron heads. So far so good.
Sunday: After working about 14 hours to remove the core support (it was a rusted mess), and pulling the old engine, installing the new, I was ready to fire my new rebuilt motor. I filled it with water and removed the heater hose to let out air. I was surprised how much air gushed out until water showed up. I set the timing, checked my firing order and mentally went over every nut, bolt and clamp. I decided that I had forgotten nothing. The battery had been on the charger while I was finishing up and was fully charged. I used a squeeze ball and dribbled a little fuel in the carburetor, double checked where my fire extinguisher was hanging got in the truck and fired it up. Not! Added a bit more fuel, advanced the distributor and tried again. This time the engine sputtered and tried to run. Added a bit of fuel, advanced the distributor and tried again, closed but no cigar. I’m thinkingProfanity Removed! Added another shot of fuel, advanced the distributor again and pulled the choke out and tried again. This time it fired, would not idle but I kept it revved up with the choke out and just let it rip at about 1600 RPM. Ran the engine 30 minutes to break-in the camshaft. Shut the engine down and checked the drive belts to locate the cause of the really loud squealing noise I’d heard while running in the cam. This shrieking noise was so loud I could not determine where it was coming from. Belts were tight and I knew then I had a vacuum leak somewhere because it would only run with the choke out. I pulled the carburetor and hot water spacer and replaced both those gaskets. Started it again, more choke, would not idle and shrieked something awful. I took a rubber hose, put one end on my ear and the other at the base of the carburetor, man what a shrieking noise. This noise was coming from the rear of the hot water spacer. Took it off and immediately saw the problem. My new gasket did not cover the entire base of the spacer. I plugged off the opening with tin foil and silicone. This is late Sunday afternoon and I plan to drive my old bug to work Monday. Reinstalled the carburetor, fired it up and it ran beautifully, idled like a dream. I reset the timing, air bleed screws, drained the water, tightened one bolt (coolant leak) added antifreeze and water and quit for the evening.
Monday: Looked under the truck for leaks and saw a sickening sight. Large puddle of oil. Pushed the truck back and to my delight it was water from washing the family sedan. Wheew! Fired the truck and set off to work. Runs fine and I am listening to every squeak and groan. On long hills under load I hear a slight detonation. Everything else is great. That evening I reset the ignition timing to 15 initial advance. Ordered a new spacer gasket.
Tuesday: Looked under the truck with a flashlight saw two tiny oil spots. Crap! Still diagnosing this, may be a gallery plug, rear main seal, intake or valve cover gasket, (I hope it’s the valve cover). No detonation under load, 87 octane, 190 degree thermostat and iron heads. So far so good.
There is nothing like a job well done!!!
