TOPIC:

Checking in. Not dead.
New updates soon to come!

Glad you're not dead
To much fun following your progress.
Eric

Hello Folks,
I'm writing this update to share a major goof up I recently committed, which I have to say paints me, given my experience as a professional mechanic, and the fact that i should know better...
I hope that by sharing this experience, someone will be able to pick up this information and avoid committing the same stupid mistake in the future.
Anyhow... if you have been following my thread, you will know that I recently attempted a valve refresh job on my fleabay head. Everything went smoothly, valve train disassembly, surface preparation, valve lapping, seal installation, etc.
Where I messed up was at the time of checking my valve clearances.
While manually turning my exhaust cam I did not notice that my intake valve on cyl #1 was at full extension. The exhaust valve opposite to it extended itself as I was turning the exhaust valve, right into the intake valve, proceeding to bend it. Not a major bend, but just enough to ruin the sear, and certainly ruin my day...
Moral of the story... either turn your cams simultaneously, install and check one at a time, or just look around the head to avoid that this stupid crap doesnt happen to you...

On to fleabay for a new INTAKE VALVE!!

I will soon have a stretch of a month of so, where I will be able to dedicate time to my project. School, work, and general obligations have certainly taken my free time, but I'm itching to get back into the swing of things.
Until then...
Ed

Damn.. Three months since my last update...
Not acceptable...

Ed_in_Miami wrote:
Moral of the story... either turn your cams simultaneously, install and check one at a time, or just look around the head to avoid that this stupid crap doesnt happen to you...

Ed

In the world of F-ups, that one qualifies as the baby sh*t variety.

Remember: it's only a MISTAKE if you do something wrong TWICE!

hahahaha
Good point!
Can't help but to kick myself over it though...

Nessism wrote:

Ed_in_Miami wrote:
Moral of the story... either turn your cams simultaneously, install and check one at a time, or just look around the head to avoid that this stupid crap doesnt happen to you...

Ed

In the world of F-ups, that one qualifies as the baby sh*t variety.

Remember: it's only a MISTAKE if you do something wrong TWICE!

Ed_in_Miami wrote: Moral of the story... either turn your cams simultaneously, install and check one at a time, or just look around the head to avoid that this stupid crap doesnt happen to you...

Bummer. I'm glad you posted this because I could see myself doing the same thing trying to save time.
Question. I am at the same stage with a fresh valve job. Where did you start with the shims? I was going to put all mine back together the way they were (with the shims that were there before) and then go thru the complete valve adjustment exercise. I can't think of another way to do it.

I kept all shims, buckets and valves labeled. and re-installed them back to the place i pulled them from.
Surprisingly I had to adjust a couple of them only. The others were well within tolerance, even after lapping the valves.
The only one that was a PITA to nail down was the replacement valve, since it was way out of whack. I had to eyeball it, but ended up buying several shims until I got to the sweet spot.
As a result, I now have lots of shims to play with in the future.

Well, I figure it's time for another update.
I lucked-out and was able to pickup this beauty (with no title) through my local CL ads for only $200 bucks... SCORE!!


Thanks to this find, I was able to cannibalize all needed parts (or at least I think so) for my build. It came complete with brakes, nice wheels, a tank, electricals, etc...
Unfortunately the motor was beyond saving, so I don't feel too bad about taking this one apart... the rest of parts will go en ebay to recoup some of my investment.
Crapped out motor:


My bud Al, giving me a hand!

But the fun doesn't stop here.
I have updates regarding the motor...!
How about we button this thing up?
These o-rings are $9 bucks a piece...


Head on and torqued!


Cams installed!


Timing.. timed!

Now you see it!


Now you don't!


I liiiiiiike!!!!

The frame!!!!!

This mess is waiting for me... nothing a bit of elbow grease won't cure!