Getting things rolling even faster.........

Well a lot has happened since the last post about Engine 1. No, it didn't die in the driveway, and no, the new engine hasn't blown up. In fact, things have only gotten better!

With the truck all back together, hood and all, we've been doing idle tests on the engine in the driveway. After being concerned that the truck was overheating, I installed a combo temperature, oil pressure, and voltmeter gauge into the cab. We found that at idle speed, the truck heats to about 210, and when at 1000 RPM she drops to about 170. So we at least know the water pump is working. I'm not too crazy about 210 at idle....I think she's getting way to hot, but my father seems to think it's ok. I'm debating if I should change the water pump pulley to the smaller ones I have laying around. It would cause the pump to turn faster at an idle speed (right now the pump pulley is the same as the crank....the newer one is about 2/3 the size of the current) and hopefully lower her idle water temp. Seeing as that the truck is going to be doing a significant amount of idling at parades, it might not hurt to do it.

After our drive up the street we decided it would be best to check the timing with a timing light. We discovered that my hand timing when we put the dizzy in was about dead on....off by a degree or so. After a quick adjustment to be at zero degrees TDC, we were playing with the carburetor and noticed that we couldn't get it to adjust right. After a little diagnosis with starting fluid around the gaskets, we found that they were leaking pretty bad. We took the carb off, and found that I had also put a gasket on backwards, covering the intake holes about half way. DOH! After a bit of permatex gasket sealant, and putting the gaskets back on the right way, we were able to adjust the mixture screws properly and set the idle. A new throttle return spring was added as the old one had "lost it's spring" and was not returning the engine to idle after a stab of the accelerator. She now idles at a purring 500 RPM without a hiccup.

Last Thursday was spent changing the front tires. The original tires cracked pretty bad while sitting out in the sun for the last year or so, and were no longer road worthy (although they were saved as "emergency spares"). After a search, I found a pair of new Power King 750-20 bias ply tires for $148 each with tubes and flaps. I ordered them Tuesday, picked them up Wednesday, and the were mounted Thursday. After borrowing the 3/4" drive socket set from the Candia VFD, I was able to jack up the front with a 20 Ton bottle jack and take the lug nuts off with the 18" ratchet and 4' PVC cheater bar :). Worked like a charm, but my back was screaming after lifting 120 lbs tire/rim assemblies into my Jeep. Brought them to Stratham Tire in Brentwood, NH, where they did both tires in about 30 minutes! Back to the house, put the new tire/rims on (PITA when you have no help around), and we were done! Now we're cruising on new rubber!

Today we went out for another drive around the block. Wow, what a difference timing and a full-flowing, adjusted carb can make. After pulling out of the driveway, the truck was in second gear 1/4 of the way up the hill, and in third about 3/4 of the way up, without so much as a cough! Much much better than last time, when we cruised in first all the way, lacking power, and couldn't get above 20 MPH in third on the flats! After hitting the top of the hill, I was able to pop her into fourth, and we cruised down the street at 40 in a 35 :). Around the block, and back, no problems to report!

Tomorrow (or today, rather, now that I looked at my clock) it's off the the town clerk for registration, and then to the inspection place down the street for a sticker. After that, to the gas station, and hopefully off to the car wash for a bath (because she's gross- you would be too after a year and a half under a tarp!).

Almost there!