Waiting for HM1103. Might as well build a motor!

[jwd]

While Evan was massaging the alternator, Kerianne put the water neck in.

[Spuddyboy]

Oh, We'll fix that later!

Are you serious? I've never heard of that? How big?

Kerianne did remember to tell me to put the thermostat in backwards, is that OK?

I've got the heater kit from Hurricane, who needs a radiator? :-?

Regards,

E and K

[HM1104]

Evan, drilling a small hole in your thermostat ensures  that should air get into your system, it will still open.  Air will not open the thermostat, so if air gets into the system, it can pass thorugh the thermostat and let the water in.

This is the explaination I was given.  I've never done this, but I know alot of chevy guys that do. :-/

[jwd]

!

Are you serious? I've never heard of that? How big?

E and K

1/8" hole and mount the thermostat so the hole is at the top. The purpose is so you can  bleed out the air when you fill the cooling system. Otherwise you'll get air pockets in the heads and it's hard to get all the air out of the cooling system.

Jim

[Spuddyboy]

Hmmmmm.

I do seem to remember something like that from way back, but I think it was a "cure" for overheating.

[Spuddyboy]

Ok. Is it really April? Are my taxes really done?

[Spuddyboy]

K & I are itching to hear this thing fire up.  We bought some wire and a battery and went to work.  Here I am wiring up the starting and ignition circuits.  

[Spuddyboy]

The ignition and starting circuit are done. We added 9 quarts of oil to the big assed oil pan and we can now check the starter and prime the oil pump.

[Spuddyboy]

Doncha like Evan's really purty wiring job?  (He has a thing about wire ties at work too!)  

It may be messy, but it works. We filled the coolant system at this time. We just used water as we will be draining it later and it is easier to dispose of.  Plus if there are leaks, we are not spraying antifreeze all over K's garage.  

[Spuddyboy]

We hooked the battery up and pulled the spark plugs.

[Spuddyboy]

Next we added gas to the fuel system.

[Spuddyboy]

Got the air cleaner on correctly....still no fuel pressure.

Started checking the fuel hoses which were all dry.  Even at the tank.    

Checked the tank pickup, which was fine.  I then remembered that the fuel pump did not have the inlet or outlet marked.  Kerianne and I decided to reverse the hoses...and GEE....fuel pressure!  I had hooked the pump up backwards, and it was trying to suck gas out of the carb.   This photo shows the hoses in the correct position.  

[Spuddyboy]

We set static timing to 14 degrees BTDC.  We put the plugs and wires back in, and tightened down some leaky fuel fittings and lines.

....then we ran to Sears for a battery charger, because it wouldn't turn over anymore.  

[Spuddyboy]

We have compression.  We have spark.  We have fuel.  If it all comes together at the right time, this pig should start.  The first 3 or 4 times we turned it over all we got were a few puffs of black smoke.  

We decided to vary the timing a bit to see if it would catch.  We loosened the distributor slightly and advanced the timing slowly as the engine cranked.

SHE FIRED!  Looks like we didn't tighten the headers enough.  We also sprung a coolant leak through some of the hoses.  But DAMN, she sounds GOOD!!!  

[Spuddyboy]

I knew I built that test stand for a reason!  After fighting the coolant leaks (we had some loose clamps and the heater bypass plug burst.)  We let the engine break in at 1100 rpm for about 20 minutes.  Having the motor on a stand made it much easier to fix all the leaks and tighten everything up.  And it kept the frame all nice and pretty.  

NOW we are HAPPY!  

....video at 11.