sleeektoy

Finally bunged it back in the hole. Carbs to have a birthday, extractors to be stripped/coated and driveshaft needs shortening +10,000 other small things

Chassis fully assembled - with help from my 10 yo nephew who loves hanging out in the shed. Both chassis and body fit with millimetres to spare. onto the bodywork now...

Engine mostly assembled - water pump, alternator, and flywheel/clutch still to sort. Headers might get an acid dip and repaint too.

trial of a Kameari 2T-GEU cam chain tensioner in this 18R-GEU head also happening

Front end back together and on the ground.. back to work now so progress will slow up

So... a little yarn at  @sheepers place about his motor build and also borrowing a large valve spring compressor from him inspired some work on the motor for this.

It has sat a long time and nothing was done - the gear drive became a "too hard basket" and i got put off trying to get it sorted. So it has a chain put back in there for now.

There were valve to piston clearance issues with cam timing and some light touching happened. Big end bearings are now replaced, cam lifter buckets replaced and valves checked for bentness found to be ok.

So in a "roadkill garage" style fix(found on youtube), an old stainless valve was fashioned into a rough as guts cutter and piston cutout reshaping has been done.

Result is a nice reshaping of the cutouts slightly bigger

at the same time - the engine has been blinged up to go into the nice clean engine bay

Chassis all painted in 2K black

And reassembly started with the front engine cross member with new hand-cut rubber insert and plated bolts.

Overdue update - Body spaced off the chassis

then the chassis removed completely

then stripped everything off the chassis

and epotec primed it

Also acid dipped the wheels and straightened them up + painted them

and some 155/80 R12 tyres fitted

Alternator got sorted thanks to Nick the sparky and his dad.

So... the quest for compliance begins..

Main issue is the "rust" which is mostly cosmetic but proving that means stripping off the patina'd paint and proving its not structural.

Radiator support panel = mint

spare wheel well + patches in the sides of the floor = mint

Rear window sill - was dubious about this but = mint

And the only rust hole in the entire car so far is this one along the boot lip

The shitty thing is the chassis needs a good cleaning - so it is coming off the body and getting a proper blast and paint - work in progress...

I fixed a couple of fuel leaks and a brake leak.

Brake check in the video. Popping is the carb running a little lean without the filter.

Alternator Voltage is way way too high at 17v so wont run it too much until that's sorted. 
 

It only took 46 years to happen...

Tools dropping off the front was a  until I realised what it was. 

I got something kinky made last week for it, and fitted it this weekend

Generally copied from what remained of the original - went with a big-bore inch and a half!!!

Downpipe with mega flange

jiggery pokery in here to clear the crossmember, handbrake cables and floor

Oldschool hanger strap used

More dogleg over the diff and out the bum

Not too bad i recon for the 1st ever exhaust system I've done myself.

Bendy kinky stuff done by the local east Auckland Mr Muffler who was superb to deal with and charged next to nothing for it.

Water pump.. all clean and new

I have to say that Gil from Waikato Engine reconditioners was awesome to deal with on this water pump - highly recommended

and promptly fitted

Like just about every other part on this car

.. the water pump seal is made of unobtainium. So a small mod to the impeller and its now got a much more common seal.

Oh and a picture of some fine hooters 

Freshly painted

I put a thing in a hole! It took a lot of convincing but got there in the end

I was debating what to do with the water pump - but the bearing sounds a bit sketchy so it will be sent off for a rebuild.. all new engine and radiator - don't want it ruined.

Getting there..

Head's back - headgasket is a little longer to be made
 

Head Before.

Head After.

The Big Block is back pushing a whopping 877cc  over the factory 797cc. It's also now high compression 9.7:1 vs 9.0:1

I have assembled some of it but awaiting a couple more parts incl the head plus custom head gasket.