Maybe I'm just getting old, but after spending the last 3 days working mostly on my new project '61, I feel like an old man that got hit by a truck! Here's what I got done this weekend:
Cleaned the engine bay and motor (it literally had an inch of grease/dirt in some places. I hate working on a greasy car).
Spot painted the engine
Rebuilt the carb
Replaced all hoses, some gaskets (put the heater hose back to stock routing)
R&R the radiator. Had to modify the mounting brackets because I used a '71 390 rad (the motor is a 390 and he had some screwy hose routing for the original rad.)
Re-did the throttle linkage (Looked like a Goldberg design) and built a new spring return bracket
removed the window regulators
re-wired the dist. and some of the alternator wiring. Re-routed some other wiring.
gave it a total tune up
re-plumbed the fuel lines and replaced all the filters
scrubbed the entire outside of the truck
Spot painted some rusy areas on the exterior

I'm sure I've left some stuff out, and I still need to change the oil and filter and replace the exhaust gasket/donuts and finish painting some more of the front core area before I put the rad. in for good.

It's been fun though and I can't wait to get it rolling again! Then on to the mods phase: lower it, headers and exhaust, new wheels & tires, repair some body damage and finish touching up the outside. Then I'm running it for awhile!

 

Wow, sounds like you got alot done. Like I seen on another website, must have been national "WORK ON YOUR SLICK DAY". I know several people with these trucks and it seems everybody was working on them this weekend. I helped a friend take a front end off, welded in some patch panels in my cab, blasted my engine perches and dropped my 352 off at the machine shop to be tanked, bored and thoroughly massaged.

 

After all that, you deserve to feel old! Sound like what I feel like. I just did head gaskets on a 93 Ford taurus, 3.8 engine. These cars are notorious for these. When I was with Ford, the dealer I worked for did 8-10 per week! One guy did them in 6-7 hrs and it was running. It took me 2 weeks! helps to have a lift! That is a nightmare to do. I am so sore from that job, I'll never do another 3.8 as long as I live!

Barry

 

What's your tip for cleaning the engine bay, Comet?

 

Suggest take a break, may have to undo some if intend installing headers. A solution called Marine Clean, i found worked good. Also, from reading other members post, tried the oven cleaner and was surprised, if you have access to pressure washer even better.

dave

 

Sounds like I wasn't the only one working myself to death. Good work guys!

Nealpage, I used a combo depending on the severity and area of grease. In order of effectiveness (ie strength of cleaner), I used the following:
-Gunk engine heavy duty cleaner. That got most of the big stuff, but left the hardened grease and stuff in the nooks and crannies.
-Then I shot the whole thing, including underside of hood and firewall with Castrol Super Clean. I really like that stuff and it removes most everything, except paint. I would be careful with getting it on a nice paint job though. It will certainly remove any wax and possibly more. Read the label. I also washed the entire truck with this (my paint is very...shall we say patina'ed and had deep ground in dirt and grease. Cleaned up nice though).
-Finally, for the real tough stuff and in places that I either didn't care about the paint or where there was no paint, I used CRC carb cleaner. That stuff removes everything. I mean everything, so be careful! I like to spray that on engine bay parts that I'm later going to paint.

 

Damn Comet did you sleep?

I can remember when I could do that much work in a weekend. Now I just take it slow and easy..

Have fun

jd

 

Ha, ya not much. One of the benefits of getting older (at least for me) is the lack of sleep I now require. 5-6 hrs is the norm. it seems. When I got done in the garage and showered up, it was on the computer learning more about this project and ordering parts! I have been lazy butt lately and I kept telling myself I need to have a big push on my projects like when I built my house. Also, the spring weather in Seattle gets my energy levels up there. Even though it's still winter, it has been really nice lately.

 

Wow. 5-6 hours. Just like college....

 

Ya....the god folks at CRC carb should advertise it as a paint remover too....hehe....but I do remember one thing...years ago when I was cleaning the valve covers on my 67 Buick I had, the covers got so clean...and attacked the paint...but the red paint splattered on firewall....was hard to clean off the splatters too...need bivs around areas you want protected....


-cs65