55 239 Y-Block Restoration Thread
#392
03-22-2014, 08:54 PM
Here is my setup for starting it now. I put the solenoid on the frame and wired up the ignition switch. The wires are long so I can shut it off quickly from behind the wheel when I get a warm free weekend.
Notice I have a 12 volt battery. Well so is the solenoid and coil, but I'm thinking of staying with 6 volt when the time comes. I want to keep the generator and the costs down on...well everything. I'm still a ways from a final decision on that though.
At first it wouldn't start for me. It wasn't even trying. I wired the coil directly to the battery and that didn't help. I pulled a plug and it was a bit dirty so I cleaned all of them.
I noticed that one jet in the carb wasn't spraying gas, so that could have been part of the problem. I wanted to see if it was squirting while the engine was running, but I have no desire to visit a hospital if it backfires.
The plugs all looked about like this, I think I'm running a bit rich, but I'm not the best at reading plugs.
I got a brief video of it running. I will see how good it is an maybe post it.
Notice I have a 12 volt battery. Well so is the solenoid and coil, but I'm thinking of staying with 6 volt when the time comes. I want to keep the generator and the costs down on...well everything. I'm still a ways from a final decision on that though.
At first it wouldn't start for me. It wasn't even trying. I wired the coil directly to the battery and that didn't help. I pulled a plug and it was a bit dirty so I cleaned all of them.
I noticed that one jet in the carb wasn't spraying gas, so that could have been part of the problem. I wanted to see if it was squirting while the engine was running, but I have no desire to visit a hospital if it backfires.
The plugs all looked about like this, I think I'm running a bit rich, but I'm not the best at reading plugs.
I got a brief video of it running. I will see how good it is an maybe post it.
#393
03-22-2014, 08:55 PM
Oil seemed to be flowing down the pushrods pretty good. On this run I was getting some oil splashing on the exhaust manifold so I'm pretty confident things are working well. Lots more testing to come though.
#394
03-30-2014, 07:50 PM
I drove it today!!!!!
Great day guys. I wish you could have been there.
I managed to sneak out and get the truck out of the garage and it moved under it's own power for the first time since 1972. I was 4 the last time it drove.
There are a couple of problems. I have a couple of small leaks in the radiator and the thermostat housing is leaking bad at the bottom. It wasn't doing that before I put the thermostat in. I used a little RTV, but it looks like I need to do a better job.
Here are a couple of pictures before the maiden voyage. The video is still uploading, so you will have to wait a few minutes.
I managed to sneak out and get the truck out of the garage and it moved under it's own power for the first time since 1972. I was 4 the last time it drove.
There are a couple of problems. I have a couple of small leaks in the radiator and the thermostat housing is leaking bad at the bottom. It wasn't doing that before I put the thermostat in. I used a little RTV, but it looks like I need to do a better job.
Here are a couple of pictures before the maiden voyage. The video is still uploading, so you will have to wait a few minutes.
#397
03-30-2014, 08:16 PM
OK the video finally loaded.
My passenger is my 15 year old son. At about 1:15 I shifted into second for a short period.
I would have driven further, but you might notice the road disappears down a hill not too long after my house. I didn't want to risk that. There is a big field behind my house, but my wife nixed that. (I guess I will have to do it when she is gone. She commented on it not being our field.)
It's odd that the video looks like a old time video. Not sure why my camera did that. My nephew (the owner of the F350) was my videographer.
My passenger is my 15 year old son. At about 1:15 I shifted into second for a short period.
I would have driven further, but you might notice the road disappears down a hill not too long after my house. I didn't want to risk that. There is a big field behind my house, but my wife nixed that. (I guess I will have to do it when she is gone. She commented on it not being our field.)
It's odd that the video looks like a old time video. Not sure why my camera did that. My nephew (the owner of the F350) was my videographer.
#398
03-30-2014, 08:58 PM
#399
03-30-2014, 09:08 PM
Abe, yep HUGE grin!
We got it back in the garage and Sam said if I get it finished in 3 1/2 years he can drive it his senior year. (I need to work with him on math....2 1/2 years is the start of his senior year.)
Now it's time to make a bigger list of items.
Fix water leak
check out gas tank (I think it's fairly clean) and hook it all up.
Start looking at body parts.
The old barn wood thread got me thinking. I want to build a wood flatbed. Well, I'm hoping I can find enough old wood at the family farm. The same farm that this truck lived most of its life. There is a chicken coop that needs to be torn down. I will see what wood I can salvage from there and search through the old barns.
We got it back in the garage and Sam said if I get it finished in 3 1/2 years he can drive it his senior year. (I need to work with him on math....2 1/2 years is the start of his senior year.)
Now it's time to make a bigger list of items.
Fix water leak
check out gas tank (I think it's fairly clean) and hook it all up.
Start looking at body parts.
The old barn wood thread got me thinking. I want to build a wood flatbed. Well, I'm hoping I can find enough old wood at the family farm. The same farm that this truck lived most of its life. There is a chicken coop that needs to be torn down. I will see what wood I can salvage from there and search through the old barns.
#401
03-30-2014, 09:24 PM
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Harrier,
You have probably already tried this, but have you planed the mating surface of the thermostat housing? I had a similar problem on my 1966FE 352. I took the thermostat housing and used a large file on the bottom to make sure it was straight. Any thing large enough to cover the base will do. It is best to do it by hand so that you don't mar the mating surface. Ensuring straightness is necessary because the housing can get warped overtime from heat and/or over tightening. Anyway, sorry to go on like this- you've probably already thought of it!
You have probably already tried this, but have you planed the mating surface of the thermostat housing? I had a similar problem on my 1966FE 352. I took the thermostat housing and used a large file on the bottom to make sure it was straight. Any thing large enough to cover the base will do. It is best to do it by hand so that you don't mar the mating surface. Ensuring straightness is necessary because the housing can get warped overtime from heat and/or over tightening. Anyway, sorry to go on like this- you've probably already thought of it!
#403
03-30-2014, 11:21 PM
#404
03-30-2014, 11:36 PM
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Join Date: Feb 2011
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#405
03-30-2014, 11:51 PM
