We are going to be getting stuck into things over the weekend so get ready for the next barrage of questions
Our general attitude to this is very much to get stuck in and have a go at pretty much anything on the car that needs work, so we aren't short of stuff to do.
All the help and advice is greatly appreciated and we're happy to share our trials and tribulations during the build as we figure that there are almost certainly people out there who are just as clueless as us and they might benefit from reading all about it.
Not much point in being in the club if we don't put a little in and get a little back out, is there.
It takes a whole lot more planning and intelligence to do a budget build than to buy all the best stuff and just bolt it together (that's not meant to be a dig at anyone by the way) so I reckon this thread is gonna see some proper hot rod solutions to building a muscle car.
Can't wait for the next installment!
The pump don’t work coz the vandals took the handles.
Thank's for the kind comments, Gents. It's good to get the positive feedback, it makes it even more worthwhile.
Bit of progress today. With the motor on hold until tomorrow, it was time to start on the business of getting the old one out and seeing what we've got to work with. The front end needs some work to slot a V8 in, so we decided that it would pay this time to make life a bit easier and the view a bit clearer. So a quick conversation and a bribe of a tenner a day bought us the use of the facilities in the landlords workshop. Most important of all, it meant we got a bit more clearance underneath...
24 hours in a day, 24 beers in a case. Coincidence? I think not…
Was a bit strange when we drained all the fluids and didn't get nearly as much coolant as we expected out of the rad. It all looked like plain water too, which we knew wasn't what had gone in. Still, it drained for a while and finally ran out of steam, until there was no more. Buckets moved, the work carried on until shortly afterwards when we realised that although the bottom hose had been loosened, it had inadvertantly been left attached. So it was whipped off in a fit of haste... Ooooopssss.... TSUNAMI!!!!! Just as the landlord walked back in to see his workshop slowly filling up with more water than you'd think would fit in a cooling system...
Fetch the mop, Bro....
24 hours in a day, 24 beers in a case. Coincidence? I think not…
Had a ruddy nightmare trying to get the headers and inlet manifold off, as is the usual particularly one set that just didn't want to separate from the zorst. Several grazed knuckles and dropped spanners later, the thought occurred that the exhaust would be scrapped anyway. It had a bit of flexi pipe in the centre from a previous *ahem* "fix" and we obviously need a twin now anyways, so the decision was made to remove the lot now and have done. With the headers trapping it in at one end and the rear end looping over the axle, a quick solution reared it's head.
24 hours in a day, 24 beers in a case. Coincidence? I think not…
We thought it would be plain sailing from there on in.... and it so nearly was. Boat sailing, that is! fetch the oars, there's more water in that thar block! One of the other reasons behind deciding to hire the workshop is the nice block and tackle set up to save poncing about with engine cranes.
Where the hell was it hiding all that water...
24 hours in a day, 24 beers in a case. Coincidence? I think not…
Shoved the car out, lowered the engine down onto a dolly, lifted up the ramp to wheel the dolly out and would you bloody Adam and Eve it, MORE SODDING WATER!!!
This engine was previously owned by David Copperfield, I swear...
24 hours in a day, 24 beers in a case. Coincidence? I think not…
Need to drop the trans in the morning, then it's off to see Jim with the new block for a bit of honing help, before we start the rebuild.
In the meantime, once the /6 was out it was much easier to see. One of the next jobs is the front end bushings, but can't see the ones circled below in our teardown kit. Are these what is in the manual as "drag strut" bushings? Scuse the stoopid question, if it is...
24 hours in a day, 24 beers in a case. Coincidence? I think not…
You have to buy those ones separately. Get yours off and give 'em the once over, if they are shagged I got mine from Rodleys. They come with the metal discs and bushings. While you are this far stripped whip the steering box off, clean all the crud and paint off the frame rail and check it minutely for cracks. The Ozzie ones always crack there. You can buy a replacement chassis rail section for that over here, or you can just weld a load of plate in if you feel confident. Looking good, have fun and you will be well proud of yourselves when done
Budget build with a garage and 4 poster ramp........Bit of an oxymoron
<center> The name is Kev, nowadays known as Kevvy or Pommie C***!</center>
Kev wrote:
Budget build with a garage and 4 poster ramp........Bit of an oxymoron
Stu wrote:So a quick conversation and a bribe of a tenner a day bought us the use of the facilities in the landlords workshop
We're only in there for yesterday and tomorrow. £20 well spent as we don't have an engine crane and only had this weekend to get this bit done. I reckon that bit of planning and £20 bought us the best part of a week and time is critical with a Baby on the way in May!
Just 'cause the trousers have got elephant ears, don't mean we're daft.
Excellent advice on the bushes and the steering box / framerail. Thankyou very much.
Please, please, please don't be cracked...
24 hours in a day, 24 beers in a case. Coincidence? I think not…
One of the other reasons behind deciding to hire the workshop is the nice block and tackle set up to save poncing about with engine cranes. 
Scuse the stoopid question, if it is... 
Thankyou very much.