my shipwrecked '63

[shipwrecked]

Took the head to the machine shop to recheck all my valve guides.

[shipwrecked]

All pistons out. they all look great. Intended to gap the pistons one more time and check everything.

All pistons floated nicely on their wrist pin.... but #1. It wont move but a hair.


I suspect when the piston crown took a kiss from that exhaust valve back when- it crunched down on the bushing.
Off to the machine shop with that one!

[shipwrecked]

Got my cylinder head back.


They changed 3 exhaust valves.


Piston back as well, wrist pin bushing replaced.

All my gaskets were delivered. Maybe today I can get out there. I am sailing in a few days after the generator on the ship is back together and running.

[shipwrecked]

Piston installed


Consulting the manuals.



Valve bridge back in. Next to check valve lash.




Have a weekend or two left before deployment

[shipwrecked]

Got my registration in the mail. 5th one Ive put on this truck. That's coming up on my 10th year of ownership (weekend of thanksgiving timeframe)

She's registered till 24. Been considering jumping to Virginia registrations- I am tax exempt with my OR residency. And if I do a Antique vehicle on the F100, I dont have to pay it again. It is already 60 years old- in VA I think the requirement is 25 years.

I was doing valve lash and standing on my little ladder to reach #5 and #6, I slipped cause it started raining. I came crashing down with just below my ribcage on to the core support. Ouch. It did leave a mark.

I have valve lash set. Will put the rest of the intake, exhaust and find a way to route a better fuel line to my carb. I hate how I have a temp one set up now.

[My wife's nightmare]

Sorry to hear of your rough luck with your engine. That is definitely something to cause you to lose interest after all of the time and money originally spent on it. But it can also be "just another challenge" in giving one of these old things new life. Keep at it and hopefully your upcoming tour is a smooth one!

[shipwrecked]

Spent today just putting things on like exhaust, intake, carb, throttle linkage, oil pan, flywheel cover thermostat housing, and an oil filter.



It got too hot, too muggy, and I just got exhausted from that and moving the lawn.
.

Need to hook the new distributor wires up, coil, battery and add some coolant and oil still.

[shipwrecked]

Haven't had a day off in 2 weeks. Found time to put oil in the engine, set distributor and prepare my new electric fan set up.



Water and fuel hook up tomorrow. May even start it.

[shipwrecked]

Dual electric fan set up about ready to go in.

Also, mechanical fuel pump struggles.
She fired up with the fuel I put in the carb. But died.

Need to do valve lash again.

[grump]

You are persistent April, keep it up you're going to beat all these gremlins.

[Jerry D]

Nice job! You just lost your excuse for not showing up at Slickstock. hehe

[My wife's nightmare]

Sounds good!! Wish I'd kept my 223 so many times.
Hopefully all the bad vibes are gone this time

[shipwrecked]

I'll get it figured out.
Just got back from a 5 day training shakedown cruise. Imagine my old ship circa 2019 when everything was going nuts and breaking. Just 5 days!

No days off yet, but soon enough.

[shipwrecked]

Spent some time in the garage.
Figured out my fuel pump problem... I just need more fuel in the tank!

I did another valve lash and tightened everything up. Sounds way better in person than in the video.

She runs on turn key!

[shipwrecked]

I spent a little time trying to seal my oil pan. The oil is escaping at the timing chain cover where the oil pan meats. And appeared to be the rear main seal too, but after putting rtv on the oil pan, and started the engine after putting oil in, there is a slight leak on the pushrod cover.

In between the rtv setting and me running it, I decided to install the dual electric fan set up I bought a long time ago from Champion Radiator (where I got the radiator from as well)..
It had a hair clearance between the pullg bolt heads and the electric fan. I loose Ed the radiator, pushed toward the driver side best I could and tightened. Gave a second hair width clearance.






This system has a relay which I spent too much time trying to find a good place for. I settled on the forward passenger fender by the core support.

I have to get the wire to the ignition switch, which is harder than it should be. It's a tight fit, and I will get to it later.

I aired up the tires. They were at 20psi, needed 35. I took the rear wheels of the dollies and I will take the front off tomorrow.

Took 4 days off and it wasn't enough. Gotta hold out another week till I can take more time off straight.

[shipwrecked]

She .lives on turning the key. Have to take the front a part again. The timing chain cover is leaking bad.

[shipwrecked]

Took today and got to the bottom of my timing chain cover leak.

Drained coolant
Removed radiator
Lifted engine (transmission jack was the lifesaver)
Removed alternator and bracket
Removed front engine bracket
Removed balancer

Could see daylight between mating surfaces of the front engine block and timing chain cover.
Pulled it, rtv makeover and put it all back together in reverse.



Took truck off the dollies. Like a dumb dumb I forgot to put the wheel chock under first before lowering backend. The driveway is slightly sloped.... it started rolling. Got that chock in quick and pushed her back into her spot.

[JeffinMooresville]

I love your truck April, I have tracked your thread since joining. Your YouTube on the steering column was extremely helpful when I rebuilt the 63 “blue truck. Keep at it!

[My wife's nightmare]

Sounds to me like she's wanting to get out on the road!!

[shipwrecked]

Little tinkering today. I found my oil filter assembly leaks- tattle tale showed me it was leaking there, not the front timing chain cover. I slightly remember installing that assembly like 6 years ago. I had to get it from inside the block. It's not so bad I want to tackle it this week.

I got the truck timed, I had to add more turns to the accelerator pump screw because I could just not get the carb dialed in with the idle mixture alone. I put a few turns on the accelerator screw, then started it up. Super rich- so I backed it off a little and it settled. Holds 19hg vacuum.


Was trying to get my electric fans to work. I am going to try one more thing tomorrow night. I am going to rewire to the sensor from the relay. It just isn't gonna make it the way it is. I double checked everything else and had good connection, good temp rise that should have triggered it to turn on. I jumped the switch and the fans both work.

Tested the heater. Sure as heck works!
I installed a temp control from an early bronco. I need a little section of throttle cable to finish this off. I can mate the short wire that is on this controller with the other section and attaching it to a fender mounted valve.