Progress Update
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Postmaster
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 3,730
Likes: 13
From: Waynesville, OH
Progress Update
I finally got a chance over the past couple weeks to edit and update Earl's World to reflect all the work to date. Fixed a bunch of little stuff on various pages, added an engine rebuild, reassembly, and installation chapter, and added an updated cost table on the project to date.
Those of you who aren't telling your significant others how much our hobby costs will want to view that last item when he/she is away.
Those of you who aren't telling your significant others how much our hobby costs will want to view that last item when he/she is away.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 1,072
Likes: 25
From: San Mateo, CA
Too late...she was reading over my shoulder. (We just checked Megamillions numbers and....we didn't win ......so progress on my truck stays slow.)
Great news about updating Earl's World. I'm headed there now to read all about it. Your website is an invaluable resource for those of us who are trying to learn as we go. Thanks again for taking the time on it.
Great news about updating Earl's World. I'm headed there now to read all about it. Your website is an invaluable resource for those of us who are trying to learn as we go. Thanks again for taking the time on it.
Postmaster
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 3,005
Likes: 2
From: Santa Clarita
George, just got done reading Earl's World. Great job. The first thing that came to my mind was ,"How in the heck did I get involved in this?" It's amazing, when I look at the picture and see before and after, I get flashbacks. You know, I've been discouraged several times and thrown my share of wrenches, etc. When it's put together and it's all clean and lookin good. It's all worth it. Keep the great job. I'd love to see the final result.
Ed
Ed
Posting Guru
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 2,070
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From: Boise, Idaho
George, you have a very detailed web site. I'm impressed by the amount of documentation and pictures that you've presented.
I'm also a little suprised that you seem to be doing a completely stock rebuild on the engine. No overbore to 292, no stroker crank, and a stock cam. Did Fetters zero-deck the engine? Looks like ECZ-B heads. Is that right?
- Paul
I'm also a little suprised that you seem to be doing a completely stock rebuild on the engine. No overbore to 292, no stroker crank, and a stock cam. Did Fetters zero-deck the engine? Looks like ECZ-B heads. Is that right?
- Paul
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 6,328
Likes: 124
From: Iowa
OMG! I just sat through the painful long time my dial up ISP takes to download your cost breakdown. Watching the numbers not so slowly rise. You may have passed my up buddy. Congrats. Time for me to add up the folder full of receipts I guess. And yes, I will add handsomely for consumables.
Site looks just outstanding. What a valuable resource.
Site looks just outstanding. What a valuable resource.
Thread Starter
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Postmaster
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 3,730
Likes: 13
From: Waynesville, OH
Thanks guys, I appreciate your comments very much.
Paul,
Fetters did deck the engine and had to remove just a little material - so it's not back to exact stock height. They also asked me what in the world I was doing having all that work done on the engine - just to get it back to stock condition.
I guess I've always felt like an odd duck as far as how I'm doing my effie. I've never been really passionate about cars. Being poor over the years, I just had to continually fix up old junkers 'cuz I needed a ride to work and school. My wife says I get my jollies from the technical challenge of my hobbies. I guess the challenge I'm working on is getting Earl as close to stock as possible. Maybe by the next vehicle, I'll let my hair down a little and do something wild and crazy - like Fergie. But I wouldn't count on it.
BTW, those are ECG-D heads. I know the ECG-D heads were supposed to have been used on 1955 engines, but by now I've come to realize that Ford used up anything left over from previous years. It's also possible that the heads were changed at one time. We know they have had knurled valve guides installed at some point.
I'm also a little suprised that you seem to be doing a completely stock rebuild on the engine. No overbore to 292, no stroker crank, and a stock cam. Did Fetters zero-deck the engine? Looks like ECZ-B heads. Is that right?
Fetters did deck the engine and had to remove just a little material - so it's not back to exact stock height. They also asked me what in the world I was doing having all that work done on the engine - just to get it back to stock condition.
I guess I've always felt like an odd duck as far as how I'm doing my effie. I've never been really passionate about cars. Being poor over the years, I just had to continually fix up old junkers 'cuz I needed a ride to work and school. My wife says I get my jollies from the technical challenge of my hobbies. I guess the challenge I'm working on is getting Earl as close to stock as possible. Maybe by the next vehicle, I'll let my hair down a little and do something wild and crazy - like Fergie.
But I wouldn't count on it.BTW, those are ECG-D heads. I know the ECG-D heads were supposed to have been used on 1955 engines, but by now I've come to realize that Ford used up anything left over from previous years. It's also possible that the heads were changed at one time. We know they have had knurled valve guides installed at some point.
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Junior User
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 69
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Hello George,
I don't post much here, but I do make it a point to check in on "Earl" to see how he's coming along. I enjoy the read and happy to see the progress on your truck. By the way I noticed you didn't add aspirin and beer to your spread sheet. I would have thought of a sharp increase in consumption on both items since starting the project.
I don't post much here, but I do make it a point to check in on "Earl" to see how he's coming along. I enjoy the read and happy to see the progress on your truck. By the way I noticed you didn't add aspirin and beer to your spread sheet. I would have thought of a sharp increase in consumption on both items since starting the project.
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Brett Foote
Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 2,156
Likes: 5
From: Akron Ohio
Wow, That cost table you made is impressive! There's no way I could keep track of every trip to lowes. Sounds like I'm on track though with With about $14k in ours with the motor rebuild. Buckeye stocker for life, -4speed
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 6,328
Likes: 124
From: Iowa
"My wife says I get my jollies from the technical challenge of my hobbies."
That is more than evident to me. And Earl would cease to be Earl in my eyes the day he gets a cam, headers or IFS.
And if I dare suggest it. It seems to me you "let your hair" down around here through the projects of others. You are usually one of the first to jump in and help us out on a technical problem for a mod that isn't going just perfect. A mod you will never even consider for Earl.
Some of us here probably possess certain automotive talents that you do not. Many of us have no more than a cursory knowledge of engineering principle or basic physics. It's nice to get the book answer on what will or will not likely work better. Sure there are times when I think to myself "STHU George, I've been doing it like this for 28 years, and it works better this way you big egghead". But FAR more often, I can add the MIT answer to my experience and make things work better.
Appreciate it and "Stock On!"
That is more than evident to me. And Earl would cease to be Earl in my eyes the day he gets a cam, headers or IFS.
And if I dare suggest it. It seems to me you "let your hair" down around here through the projects of others. You are usually one of the first to jump in and help us out on a technical problem for a mod that isn't going just perfect. A mod you will never even consider for Earl.
Some of us here probably possess certain automotive talents that you do not. Many of us have no more than a cursory knowledge of engineering principle or basic physics. It's nice to get the book answer on what will or will not likely work better. Sure there are times when I think to myself "STHU George, I've been doing it like this for 28 years, and it works better this way you big egghead". But FAR more often, I can add the MIT answer to my experience and make things work better.
Appreciate it and "Stock On!"
Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,002
Likes: 2
From: Midland, Texas
There's alot of things that you could say about the special world George has created on his pages called Earl's World. I like it. I like the self deprecating tone, the gentle kidding, and occasional hilarious character that pepper the adventure. I'm a big fan of Mr. Pipe.
Whether George is explaining the Euler elastic buckling load or helping with "tailpipe" carburetor tips, there is always something solid and useful in the information. It is never condescending. It is always offered with humility and humor. I'm glad Earl is back.
Don't go getting the big head, George... this nowhere near matches the tribute I wrote to celebrate John's post #1000. He's REALLY something. best. himmelberg
Whether George is explaining the Euler elastic buckling load or helping with "tailpipe" carburetor tips, there is always something solid and useful in the information. It is never condescending. It is always offered with humility and humor. I'm glad Earl is back.
Don't go getting the big head, George... this nowhere near matches the tribute I wrote to celebrate John's post #1000. He's REALLY something. best. himmelberg
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 6,328
Likes: 124
From: Iowa
"there is always something solid and useful in the information. It is never condescending. It is always offered with humility and humor. I'm glad Earl is back."
Very well said Peter. I wish I could express myself with your style. That is exactly why he was missed so much here. But he's right George, this tribute was a little weak compared to John's.
Now I gotta go get busy on my F100 Cost Spreadsheet.
Very well said Peter. I wish I could express myself with your style. That is exactly why he was missed so much here. But he's right George, this tribute was a little weak compared to John's.
Now I gotta go get busy on my F100 Cost Spreadsheet.
Posting Guru
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 2,244
Likes: 1
It was good to re-aquaint myself with Earl's World, but I couldn't find the cost table....
Probably doesn't matter too much, cause George seems to keeps the costs down considerably by never buying new parts, just sand blasting the old ones to look new.
One other nit on costs George - everbody knows you don't count the cost tools in any project vehicle as you'll always be able to reuse them on the next project of fixing something in the home....Lard knows I'm always welding drywall or some such thing around the house. And you don't count sundries, cause their sundries. If you start counting all those things, heck there's no way I'da gotten this far with $7.4K, it'd be more like $20.K ($10.K went for the garage to do the project in, but if it's ever finished, I'll be parking a licenced vehicle in it, so that shouldn't count....right?) You need to take some accounting lessons from folks like Berny Ebbers or whats-his-name at Tyco....
I do enjoy Earls' world though.
Probably doesn't matter too much, cause George seems to keeps the costs down considerably by never buying new parts, just sand blasting the old ones to look new.
One other nit on costs George - everbody knows you don't count the cost tools in any project vehicle as you'll always be able to reuse them on the next project of fixing something in the home....Lard knows I'm always welding drywall or some such thing around the house. And you don't count sundries, cause their sundries. If you start counting all those things, heck there's no way I'da gotten this far with $7.4K, it'd be more like $20.K ($10.K went for the garage to do the project in, but if it's ever finished, I'll be parking a licenced vehicle in it, so that shouldn't count....right?) You need to take some accounting lessons from folks like Berny Ebbers or whats-his-name at Tyco....
I do enjoy Earls' world though.