not a bad first day's work

[BarryK]

well, I ran into just a couple snags but got pass them and I think for my first time doing this I managed a decent days progress.

what do you think??

 

[Subfixer]

Looks like you are well on your way!! Like I said, it's just nuts and bolts...... Good first day's work.

 

[IH2LOSE]

Great job Barry.

I also see from your other post your keeping things orginized,That makes for a real easey re-asembely.

 

[JL66REDCPE]

Barry -- looks like you made real good progress -- good job !! I'm confused, why did you put shaving cream or maybe whipped cream in the intake ports ?

 

[jims427400]

Barry, looks like your going to be busy for awhile. by the way,whats your plan for the rebuild.Jim

 

[Bwmurph]

Barry,

You obviously got the coolant draining situation solved; what did you end up doing ?

Bernie O.

 

[Sting Ray]

Barry,

Good progress and way to work through the small obstacles, put an old bath towel over the motor now to keep all the dust in your garage out of the galleys, and make sure you get all the old gasket material off. John had a good article in Corvette Enthusiast last year sometime on putting the intake back on, you might want to dig up a copy to look at.

Tom M

 

[BarryK]

Paul, yes it is which isn't bad, it's just a learning experience since it's new for me

Larry, if I don't keep things organized I can't work. Linda thinks I a bit anal at times with organization. she laughs how I have to have my office perfectly orderly.

John, it's shaving cream - makes shaving the gaskets off easier!

Jim, I'm just sending the carb out for a rebuild than going to glass blast the intake, valve covers and exhaust manifolds to clean them up so they look new without stains, rust, etc. I want a factory fresh look to everything.

Bernie, I ending up clamping a pair of visegrips to the wings on the draincock. That compressed it enough against the threads to allow it to turn and open the drain.
The end of the threads with the wing eventually broke off which now makes it easier to get to the nut with a socket to just remove the ruined draincock completely for replacement.
I still haven't touched the exhaust manifolds yet though............. I know you say don't worry about them but i've seen too many threads with people shearing off the bolts in the head or the connection with the pipes and I'm still a little gunshy about getting in there with the wrenches!

 

[BarryK]

Hi Tom

yep, a towel went over everything as soon as the pic was taken.
I do have Johnz's article.
I went out a week or two ago in anticipation of this project and got a couple razorblade scrappers to get the gaskets off cleanly.

 

[BarryK]

Hey, question for whoever or anyone............

I noticed after I got the intake off and was stuffing the papertowels in the holes (galleys??) that a number of them, especially the corner ones, look rusty inside. I wouldn't think they would supposed to look rusty - especially since the motor had supposably been rebuilt only about 500 miles before i bought the car.
is this normal or is that an indication of a major problem?

 

[magoo]

Bravo, Bravo Barry, good job. Whoever said it was just nuts and bolts was right on. I believe someone down there already offered to help put it back together, but I'd make a trip to Delaware to help if you need me.
The end ports in the head and intake are the ones where the coolant flows through. I believe you can expect to see a rust color in the heads since they are cast iron. But if you scrape in there with your finger and come out with rusty sludge, I might be a bit suspicious after only 500 mi. Again, great job and you're learnin all the way.

Mike

 

[studiog]

Great progress Barry. If you sent it out to the shop it would probably sit for a week before they even got to it plus you would have a nice bill at the end also. You'll have plenty of help here putting the intake back on and dropping the distr. back in.

 

[BarryK]

thanks for the offer Magoo. I have a couple people offering to help that are nearby but i'll never turn down a helping hand
where in PA are you? are you close?


Gary, yep, I saved a bunch of money already doing it myself and it's a LOT more satisfying too.
The re-assembly worries more more but I figure i'll do it the same way - step by step and slowly and ask questions if I get confused or run into snags along the way.

 

[magoo]

Hi Barry,

I'm in Boyertown PA, about 40 mi. NW of Phila. I'm sure I've been through Newark on my way to Ocean City MD so it can't be too far. Also, got a small plane, maybe there is an airport nearby.

Mike

 

[1KULC7]

Barry,

So nice to see you twisting wrenches...I don't know if anybody told you this, but I take digital photos of every little thing before I start removing anything. I have found this to be very helpfull during the assembly process. My memory is not like it us to be... FYI at Auto ZONE they sell GM or Goodwrench tools, on thing they sell are a set of long shafted scrappers different sizes. I bought a set of those and used them removing all old gaskets...also I use a couple of WHITE plastic bags to put in the upper motor cavity when scrapping off all the old intake gaskets, and a good old shop vac. I removed the bags (put don flat) and then used the shop vac to pick up remnents of the gasket on the outside of the motor.\ One other thing did you disconnect battery leads....I do just for saftey...
\

Couple of small tricks I learned...but photos do make a difference.

 

[BarryK]

Magoo,
well, you are probably about an 1 1 1/2 hours away I figure.
I'm going to TRY the re-assembly by myself as much as possible when I get all the parts ready to go back on just so I do everything myself so I can learn, but if I run into trouble and need help I may take you up on your offer.

 

[67HEAVEN]

It's good to see you getting your knuckles dirty, Barry.

 

[BarryK]

Hi Collin
yep, taking pics of everything to keep track of the details for re-assembly. took over 30 pics just for what I've done so far.
already got the long handle scrapper for the gaskets two weeks ago.
the battery cable (negative lead) was the very first thing I disconnected before touching anything else
Thanks for the idea of the garbage bag in the cavity - I was planning just a towel but your idea I like more.

 

[BarryK]

It's good to see you getting your knuckles dirty, Barry.

Bob, this job is already becoming dangerous. each time I look in the engine compartment I see something else I want to clean up or improve.
The "might-as-well-do-this-too" affliction has already set in and I've added a number of extra parts to my parts order list that weren't originally planned.

It's a REALLY good thing I don't own an engine hoist............... I already planned retouching up the orange paint on the block but the more I look at it the more tempting it is to just pull the entire thing out completely to repaint it properly. But I'm NOT doing that because I KNOW what would happen. If it was pulled out I'd start getting too tempted to just store this original motor, drop in a 383 stroker. And since I went that far I'd have to swap in a Keisler 5-speed too.......
nope, ain't pulling the motor.......... at least not this year!

 

[Bwmurph]

Barry,

How you making out; appears to be going well at this point.

If you haven't already I can stop by late this afternoon and help you get the exhaust manifolds off.

Let me know,

Bernie O.