Baby steps. Also t-rex arms. (and a wedding pic)

Engines are hard.

Last time on Mike's engine build: (scary announcer voice)

When we last left off, our ultra novice engine builder forgot to chase the used crankshaft's threads and regretfully, fused the crankbolt into the crankshaft. Upon impacting the bolt out, 1/4 of the threads came with it.

But guess what, I just grabbed a 5/8-18 tap and chased those threads! BAM  I still got at least 1-1/4 good threads left and damn it, I'm using them.  By the way, here is what the ARP bolt looked like after we got that stupid thing out:

Also, next time I do this, I'm getting a friggin crank-snout SOCKET to use instead of using the bolt.

Anyway, moving head....slowly. Baby steps people.

Timing Cover and Water Pump

New cover on the left, old cover on the right.

I took the dipstick tube from the old one and hammered that into the new one.  So the engine rebuild book told me to use sealer on each surface before putting on the gaskets to ensure no leaks would happen.

So I did that.  Poorly.  I owe Jim(my boss, friend and man-cave owner) a whole new tube of rtv sealer.  Not only did I over-apply it poorly but too much of it.  Yes, I know that will clog all my water tubes.  So I did my best to clean up any excess before it cured.

OH. Also, I didn't check before hand but these 429/460 timing covers have a "back plate" that the water pump rests on.  I also didn't have any bolt hardware for this.  After two trips to Summit Racing, I was finally golden.

Once you apply sealer to all the surfaces, put the water pump on the timing cover, then put the timing cover on the block...hopefully you are done and don't have any missing parts.

Then, the oil pan and gaskets.  They are cork gaskets - so that means you tighten all the bolts progressively, one by one, several times.  Because after you tighten them once, the cork rests and then you have to re-tighten everything again.  Rinse and repeat FOREVER until they remain firm. Then you are finally allowed to torque them down. Why so little and so long?  Because if you over tighten too soon, the pan rests incorrectly and leaks will occur.

Anyway, fast forward:

Things I've done wrong in the last two updates:

1. Didn't chase ALL the threads - just some.  (Because the one bolt you will have trouble with will be the one you didn't chase first.)
2. Put the second woodruff key in before I put the sleeve on the crankshaft.
3. Didn't verify I had all bolts before proceeding.
4. Probably over torqued one of the oil pan bolts.
5. Hammered the crankshaft oil seal in with too small of a cylinder, then hammering it in crooked at first.  (get the RIGHT TOOL FIRST)
6. Being impatient.

But hey, it looks good...so far....right?  

Next up:  Heads; PUSH RODS - measuring, geometry to the rockers, yelling.

BUT WAIT - THERE IS MORE

I put that new steering column in!

That's the thing that connects the column to the steering box.  The coupler or 'rag joint'.

And above, there you see my steering box, naked, with it's shaft sticking out.   Let's fix that, shall we?

A nice solid connection to the steering box.   Now let's put that original steering wheel on!

Yes. Much better. Yes, I have mismatching trim - that trim was actually missing before - I yoinked that from another LTD of another color.  I'll either dye it later on or just replace it if I find matching trim.

Anyway, let's do before/after.

Before:  Look at all that exposed column/wiring, etc.  Ugh. (btw, those old gauges are mechanical gauges, with actual engine oil being pumped to the gauge pod. Yeah, I replaced those.)

Bad picture below but look at that exposed column and trim below the steering wheel!!

Ugh.

But....(again),



Much better.  No more exposed column, no wires sticking out, original steering wheel (minus a the center badge but I'll find one soon).

So now, I'm in the process of removing that stupid floor shifter.

Pros - I have MOST of what I need to do it.
Cons: I need to go to home depot for a make-shift bracket to hold the shifter linkage in place under the car.

Also, putting plastic grommets in holes are a nightmare when you're reduced to T-Rex arms underneath the car.  Hell, doing ANYTHING under a car is a nightmare.

I've dropped these things on my face today while under the car:

1. The plastic grommet I was attempting to press into a bracket.
2. A socket.
3. The wrench that the socket was attached too moments later.
4. Dirt.
5. The plastic grommet again.
6. The socket again.

It was a fun day. Until next time....more engine stuff hopefully.

PS - I GOT MARRIED!