Water Pump and Head Manifold Port Clean Up

Time in Garage: 2 hours

Removed water pumps from both engines. Not sure of condition of seal on the '59 engine so I intend to utilize the '57 water pump in the reassembly. Cleaned up the head manifold port area-removed the old gasket...spent some additional time cleaning up the block. Put the manifold hold down clamps and studs and bolts into the Eastwood Tumbler...they came out "looking good"....

More Block and Trans Cleaning

Time in garage: 90 minutes

Temporarily installed oil pan and brought the engine upright again. Cleaned the manifold side of the block and the remaining sections of the timing cover and engine mount that I couldn't get at when the engine was on it's side...then back to the transmission for more clean up...I am about 80% finished now...

More Parts Cleaning

Time in Garage: 2 hours

Sprayed brake cleaner on the block areas that I have been working on...the block cleaned up well...sanded the distributor side in prep for painting....went back to the transmission for additional cleaning...There is some kind of black material on the casing...perhaps some type of undercoating or road tar...takes a while to clean off for sure...

Put the oil pan bolts and washers in the Eastwood tumbler and cleaned them up..

I decided to purchase a new oil pump pick up screen-ordered yesterday and added to the existing order..

My wife asked me last night how I was doing out n the garage and was I making progress...I said "well" and I was making progress..I explained briefly what I was doing and that I hoped to have the drive train reinstalled and the chassis ready by the end of February..I figured this would give me the 60 hours I have estimated for the job taking into account Christmas and my winter vacation and the kitchen reno I am assisting my daughter with at the end of January..she looked somewhat skeptical...I am not surprised...

Oil Pan and Engine Clean Up

Time in Garage: 2 1/2 hours

I finished cleaning up the oil pan including a primary sanding of the finish for final painting. Next I turned my attention to the engine block cleaning the distributor side of the block along with the timing cover area. I have decided to remove the water pump for painting and replacement of the gaskets which I ordered yesterday.

I also inspected the fender beads (on Friday) and determined they are pretty ratty for reinstallation so I decided I would take the new ones offered me at a 30% discount from my supplier.

I am still researching the need to solder the oil inlet screen...

Engine Internals

Time in garage: 3 hours

Last week I refocused on my critical path and decided I wanted to get the engine and transmission installed on the chassis to free up room in my garage. First order of business was removing the oil pan again and installing the new oil pump cartridge. After removing the oil pump I realized the pick up screen was broken at the oil inlet point. Checking the Moss catalogue I noticed a new screen was around $38...figuring I could save $38 I pulled the pan off my spare engine to check out the screen ...it was flawed in the same way. A quick e-mail to my supplier indicated the need to solder the screen. My rational self questions the need to fix the problem based on the fact the solder job would need to be correctly or there could be problems with contamination of the oil supply by loose solder...also it would probably be difficult to get the existing screen clean enough to solder properly....given both engines have the same problem and I am putting on an external oil filter conversion kit onto the engine which may filter the oil better than the stock system I may skip the step...more research is required....

It looks like the transmission input seal will need to be replaced....some oil leaked out when I had the transmission sitting on the bell housing when I was cleaning it...probably an indication the seal has dried up in storage...

I have to pick up some new bolts,nuts and lock washers for the new engine mounts...also new washers for the oil pan...oil pan bolts need to go into the Eastwood tumbler for renewing.

I spent about 30 minutes cleaning up the gasket mounting flange and the outside of the oil pan in prep for paint...

Lots of lugging around of engine blocks and some oil spillage to take care of.

A productive time...

Transmission Clean Up

Time in Garage: 90 mins

I completed my garage clean up and patially cleared off my work bench. Next I focused on removing 53 years worth of grime and dirt from the transmission case. I had previously attempted to powerwashed the assembly but a lot of what is remaining is really baked on and the process was largely ineffective... Last night I used a drill and wheel attachment (not a wire wheel) to tackle the really tough spots. My small scrapper also came in handy... Today I am going to pick up some brake cleaner...it is supposed to work really well for these type of clean ups..

My supplier has located a fender bead kit in his inventory that he has offered to me...not sure of the price yet but it might be worthwhile to look at...

Shocks and Part Sort

Time in garage: 3 hours

Yesterday I fired up the garage heater and spent about 3 hours working out in the garage.

I am in the midst of a sorting and tidying of the space which started last week. Slow going as I sort through the misc stuff that has piled up on the bench and floor from my end of the gardening season work/fence painting/gate fixing activities earlier in the fall...

I have 3 Rubbermaid tubs full of parts that I sorted through and organized into 2 plastic containers, one  for engine and the other for the chassis. All related parts are now together and ready to reinstall. I also put together another container of "spare" parts plus sorted a number of fasteners into a compartmentized box so I have easy assess to nuts. bolts and washers...it felt good to be handling the parts and doing some pre-work on the project...

During the sort I determined ( I have been sitting on the fence about doing this for a while) to replace the aftermarket shocks that I spent a couple of hours refurbishing last spring...I figure for $28 and change each it is not worth trying to make the other ones fit (I tried a couple of times last winter) when I can have an OEM style new shock that should just bolt in...I placed the order with my supplier and enquired about the floor to chassis mounting strips that I will need to remount the body....

For the last couple of weeks I have been daydreaming (a fair amount) about getting back to the project, also  doing project planning while walking my dog Lily, which is a good sign I am finally getting back into the right headspace to continue the project.....