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We received a pretty good snow today so I played outside most of the day.
In between playtime I managed to knock out some restoration work. I am getting a rebuilt steering box ready to swap in while we have the engine out. I started setting it up today and noticed the housing shifting while I turned the shaft. I must have warped the shaft while installing the worm gear. We tried to use this box in our 52 build a while back, but it had tight spots so I went with a new shaft/worm there. That’s probably why it was tight. Anyway, I had a NOS shaft/worm that needed to be cleaned up. It’s just been sitting around so why not use it. I soaked it in evaporust using a pvc pipe and painted it. Should be ready to setup tomorrow.
I also cleaned up the new clutch equalizer and plated a few parts: the equalizer bracket, oil plug, bolts for the shift bracket, grease fitting for the shift housing, and some backing plate bolts.
Hopefully tomorrow we make a little progress on tear down, itching to get the new engine in.
Ran into an issue on the engine today I think. I put the fan hub on the water pump snout and I have a misalignment issue to the crank pulley. I need to mount the generator to see if it’s the water pump pulley or if the crank pulley is set in too far. If it is the water pump, I will have to press the snout on further. Thoughts here?
We worked on it this evening and have it pretty close. Had to press the fan hub further down on the shaft, I think it’s pretty close to lining up exactly now. Glad we caught that now vs later.
We have the hood off as a start. Debating if we take the front end clip off in one piece or piece by piece.
It's a ton easier to remove as an assembly than take it apart on the truck. It's only a half dozen or so bolts vs hundreds of rusty ones in near impossible to get to places.
I think we are going to take the clip off in one piece and keep the work contained. Taking the equalizer off last night I realized I have a cobbled up rusted frozen pedal linkage and need to address all that. The adjustment clevis are all frozen as well. Some parts I had and some I had to order.
All day job but we were successful dissembling the front clip and removing the motor. Very fortunate in that we did not break anything and all the bolts came loose with the help of some penetrant. Addressing the steering box and pedal assembly is next while we can get to everything easily.
Thanks bud. Going through the mechanicals has been long over due, so glad I am doing it as I think I was nearing some safety issues. The motor mounts were totally worn out, the rear transmission mounts had no pins on the castle nuts, I had a fuel leak on the rubber hose at the fuel pump, and the pitman arm was in really bad shape. Going to address all the stuff I can while the engine is out and access is easy.
Best part of the weekend was that I was able to spend some time with my new pup Ranger. He is a golden retriever and I know he is going to be big help in the shop working on the trucks.
Had a little setback on our project. I was cutting a rubber flex line so I could add a filter between the tank and hard line, the razor blade slipped on the cut and I sliced open my leg. Had to get sewn up yesterday and take it easy.
Back at it this evening though. The hard line is in and added a filter at the tank. Shift linkage repair grommets should be here tomorrow so I can finish the column and install the steering box.
I went to the ER and it was a 6 hour wait so I came back home and bandaged myself up Monday night. I went to a clinic on Tuesday and they wouldn’t put more than two due to the time window, she didn’t really want to do more than one. Guessing probably 8-10 were called for LOL. It was deep, the only thing that saved me was the seam in my jeans. If it hadn’t been for that to slow it down no telling what I might have cut into.
Good to go now and back in business. I have the pitman arm painted and various chassis bolts / pins plated and ready to go back in. Practiced on the shift grommet peening tonight and ready to go when my parts get here tomorrow.
