Bummer - I don't have a low mileage engine in my wagon

[Luva65wagon]

As I have always thought, based upon the overall condition of my wagon, it must really only have the 45,000 miles on it the odometer reads. Well, to my chagrin I'm pretty sure now it might have turned over.

:(

I had over the past few months pulled a bunch of parts off of it to test and then ultimately transfer onto Gina's car and was putting it back together so I could better test a few of these carburetors I'm building (and should have recently tested before sending off). So as I was installing the DuraSpark distributor I pulled from the Ranchero motor (was gonna do this anyway) I realized I could turn the crank almost 8 degrees forth and back without moving the cam at all, which was making it hard to engage the oil pump shaft.

So what was to be a reassembly has turned into a disassembly. Gene and I pulled the motor last night and after some inspection I found the timing chain was very close to jumping ship. I don't think that can happen in 45,000 miles.

The plan is that I'll be pulling the $600-800 worth of bits I'd put into the Ranchero motor (crank, bearings, timing chain, oil pump, ignition, Weber carburetor (eventually) and the far-better 4-speed) into the wagon.

For those unaware, ever since I've owned the wagon it has had a teeth chattering clutch chatter that I have tried everything to try make go away. It's had two different transmissions, 3 clutches, 3 drivelines and u-joints in all three, rebuilt transmission mount assembly, new motor mounts, different rear-end. None of these have ever changed this chatter. Maybe this will help!

Of course there will be some while I'm at it things, there always are, but I have to stay on budget (as in spend little to no money) for this one. Found a full set of Felpro gaskets for $30 on ebay. So that's hopefully all I'll need - fingers crossed.

:banana:

[doghows]

Well the good news is any of those "while I'm at it" things that need powder coated will not cost you anything. Just need to get them over here.
My way of returning all the help you've given me with the delivery over the last five years. :BEER:
Maybe I can make a trip over to help you instead!!! I could bring the parts back? We'll see how your progress goes. Keep us posted cause I think my thread us almost done. :banana:

[SmithKid]

Steve, if your thread is "almost" done, you'll have to start another. As I've found out, the projects don't ever go away just because it's on the road! :D

[doghows]

True. There are still a lot of "little" thing to do. As I am sure Roger has a lot of little things to do.


Like how I tied that back into the original post. Sorry Roger for the partial hijack.

[Jeff W]

Actually that is great news... I wasn’t sure these things would go 145,000 without the terrible blow-by, leaks, knocks and general crankyness.

I would celebrate and say "Nice Work Mr. McNamara!".

[ew1usnr]

I would celebrate and say "Nice Work Mr. McNamara!".

The Ford engineers would have gotten a kick out of Roger having to rebuild his engine ..... in 2014!

3578

[Luva65wagon]

Oh yeah - they'd have loved that, but I suspect they're probably not around any more.

Yep, Steve, Making a pile. Maybe I can do this on a Friday and just come to the shop and do it all and bring it back the same day? :BIRTHDAY:

Jeff - take care of it and it'll last a long, long time. Newer oils too... help.

[doghows]

As long as the pile gets here early we can always stay late. Depends on the size of said pile.
We need to check our red so I can make sure I have it in stock. Is it the same as your parking meter?

[Luva65wagon]

It'll be similar to that red, Steve. Ford Red engine enamel is what I used before. This will be for the air cleaner and valve cover, so as long as they are the same color - what color red isn't as important... unless if leans toward pink! :WHATTHE:

Most everything will be satin (low gloss) black, the red as above, or something close to silver/aluminum as possible. I have a couple bigger parts (the oil pan) I'll need to sandblast there, but will try to have it all blasted and ready if I can. It's not a huge pile by any means.

And I really do appreciate all of this more than you know.

[doghows]

Right on I think we got it all in stock and if most of it comes clean well just get it all done easily then. Just confirm you date and I'll be ready.

[Luva65wagon]

Have been digesting down the best parts of the old Ranchero 200 (the one with the cracked block, but had been rebearing'd when I built the Ranchero) and the wagon 200. After a week of disaasembling and degreasing parts Gene and I hauled a huge pile out to Steve to powder coat Friday morning.

After what turned into a full day for us all (don't let anyone tell you powder coating is easy work) we loaded up the truck with a transformed pile of parts (and Gene's old tool chest I hauled up from Oregon) ready to assemble. Thank you Steve for fitting us into what appeared to be a pretty hectic day.

Spent most of yesterday assembling the motor enough so Gene and his son Christopher could help drop it back into the wagon this morning, to which we did with only slight issues such as breaking a pressure plate bolt (swapped flywheel instead of messing with it) and while getting the motor over and ready to sit on the mounts.... uh, mounts? Oops, I didn't put on the mounts. Quick, get the mounts. Once installed we set the motor in place, replaced the hood, and I bid them adieu.

The rest of the day was spent hooking up all the underneath stuff and then calling it a week. I have to track down the connectors for a Duraspark II setup this week somewhere and hope to have it running again this week.

Unlike me... I took no pictures yet. :confused:

[SmithKid]

I suspect that the reason Roger took no pictures is because I made him have kind of hectic day to get the 200 in place. I had a previous engagement that put us on a short schedule. And besides, I've seen the powder-coated parts and that 200's going to be worth the wait to see!

Roger mentioned my freshly powder-coated vintage tool chest, and It's gonna be nice to see when I get the picture of it on here too. Thanks to Steve from me also!

[Luva65wagon]

I suspect that the reason Roger took no pictures is because I made him have kind of hectic day to get the 200 in place.

You ain't kidding! After 4 straight days of disassembly and then standing at the solvent tank, a day living what Steve does for a living, a long day assembling the engine and working to make the best 4-speed out of two, and another long day yesterday - I feel like a freight train run me over today. I also could have used that extra hour we lost - for sleep this morning! :bicker:

[BillP 98201]

Wow! And I missed it? Sounds like it's gonna be awesome!

[Luva65wagon]

OK, since you all made such a fuss, here are a few picture taken tonight.

Oddly there is an anomaly appearing in each picture. I don't get it. What could it mean?

;)

[ew1usnr]

Wow! That looks really nice.

What kind of battery do you have and what is that cable with the green knob? Why is there an extra cable connected to the solenoid?

3617

[Luva65wagon]

The heavy cable with the battery shut-off is my ground cable from the battery to the engine block. I have battery shut-off (disconnects) on all my cars that sit more than they drive. Twist the knob - OFF. Tighten - ON.

I have an Optima battery in the wagon and a 140 amp one-wire alternator. All to feed my ears. That extra cable runs inside the car to feed 1400 watts of power to serve that purpose.

:shift:

[BillP 98201]

Maybe those stickers will make your motor sound like a "saws all " :rocker:

[Luva65wagon]

Maybe those stickers will make your motor sound like a "saws all "

I hope not!

I did make it out to the local Pick-n-Pull last night before they closed, braving a raging torrent of water flowing across the yard (caused by some clogged culvert they were not able to unclog), which made me very wet because it was flowing right where I needed to work! Anyway, standing on tip-toes and fighting against a 5 PM closing time I managed to hack-out :sawzall: a DuraSpark II wiring harness and a coil for $16 with tax. That I can afford. ;)

Afterward I spent most of the evening just cleaning it all up and removing the unnecessary wires. I'll get all that hooked up tonight. I hope to have it all done before the GF comes back from her Caribbean cruise on Saturday evening. [thumb]


Let's see.... Caribbean cruise or working on my Falcons?
Silly question. :rolleyes: :3g:

[Luva65wagon]

Lacking a base gasket for the Weber (on its way from Amazon) it's all together and almost ready to start. Apart from having to remove the valve cover because it leaked when I added the oil, and it dawning on me as I went to sleep last night I needed to cut a wire in the DuraSpark harness I made up -and laying on my back to hook up two wires and replace a heater hose - it went together well. Crossing my fingers that it runs now.

[AGREE]

[doghows]

Looks like you fixed that anomaly in your camera. :ROTFLMAO:

Just kidding looks great Roger, now you have to figure out which car to take to each show!!:rocker:

[SmithKid]

Wow! Pretty motor!

[redfalken]

That's a good looking six Roger! What coating do you have on the headers? Mine should be ready Monday at Performance Coatings in Auburn. I went with the Satin Tungsten Gray. $210 and I should have done it from the beginning.

[Luva65wagon]

Same place Kenny, but can't recall the exact price or color now, but $190 rings a bell and I think it was a satin black that has changed to what you see. Still holding up well though, though not tons of miles on it, you know. If the clutch chatter has ended... I will drive it more than I usetacould.