Joe's '63 1/2 Tinkering Thread

[Joe Travers]

Man when its over 90 i go sit beside the taters in the cellar!

A week early this year, Fred. Usually starts last week of May. Actually two weeks, low 90s last week.

Back feeling better, buttoned it all back up. Clutch adjustment ritual in the morning before it gets toasty

Joe

[poboyjo65]

Thanks for posting this Joe. I had such a hard time getting the motor just right so the (altered) z bar didnt hit the dougs headers & headers hitting the body or borgesen box,,,,I swore when I took the fender back off I would cut an access door in the apron like these afx's did,;


except I'll make a plate to screw back on it. but that frame pivot was a pita to adjust & tighten back up from underneath.

[Joe Travers]

that frame pivot was a pita to adjust & tighten back up from underneath.

I have to put together four wobbly extensions to get to the frame pivot bolts from the top. I can barely get my hand between the header and frame to get 'em started from the bottom. Yeah, it's a royal PITA. It's a trick getting it all in and out w/ headers. Have to jump up and down about 20 times to line it all up. Got my calisthenics in today. Kinda like boot camp, yelling and all

Joe

[Joe Travers]

Got a nice present for Father's Day. Aluminum hi-po pump to replace my wobbly-shaft pump. Strangest thing, the old shaft has a tiny bit of play but no leaks. Thought it would be a good idea to replace it before it started or locked up. The aluminum pump has 7-vane impeller. Just hope it can handle higher rpms w/o blowing up. Going to order a shroud next week after I get this and new thermostat installed.

Joe

[poboyjo65]

Good idea! get the part & pick the day to put it on.

[Joe Travers]

Good idea! get the part & pick the day to put it on.

98 degrees today. You talked me into getting the cooling system upgraded to try and keep the A/C
Going to pick up some thermal insulation and fill in the gaps around the condenser after the shroud.

Joe

[Joe Travers]

Old cast iron pump was toast. Old 4 row rad has been plugged once & petcock is frozen. New one on the way w/ the shroud.
Everything disassembled, cleaned up & painted. Slap it back together as soon as I feel up to it. Upper 90s all week, might get a thunderstorm downdraft to cool things off a bit.

Joe

[Caveman49]

The new wp will be nice, should definitely help with your cooling. It’s been crazy hot here as well, real feel yesterday was like 104, I probably lost 10 lbs in sweat working in the yard

Looking forward to a little rain supposedly coming soon….

[Joe Travers]

The new wp will be nice, should definitely help with your cooling. It’s been crazy hot here as well, real feel yesterday was like 104, I probably lost 10 lbs in sweat working in the yard

Looking forward to a little rain supposedly coming soon….

Probably could have limped by installing a thermostat and fan shroud. No leaks, temps only climb during idle but I had to open the can of worms.

We're pretty much on the same parallel, Lee. Same weather patterns w/ the Gulf streams in the Summer. Yeah, heat index yesterday up to 107.
Got everything disassembled Weds., re-assembled late yesterday. Have to really pace yourself, work early & late, inside from Noon-late afternoon. Weighed last night before a shower, lost 5 lbs. pacing myself

Joe

[Caveman49]

What temp thermostat are you using, just curious. I put a three row aluminum radiator in our 66 with a 16” puller fan (can’t remember cfm maybe around 3300) 185 degree thermostat. I believe I’m running similar water pump to yours. When I’ve had it out in this heat, running in the yard just to keep it lubed up, it will get up around 180/190, I flip the toggle on for the fan and it’ll pull it down while just idling. When I was able to take it on the road, it cooled just fine.

[Joe Travers]

What temp thermostat are you using, just curious.

180. PO wasn't running a thermostat! Engine only warmed up to 150 on highway in the winter. Never overheated, but climbed up to 215 idling & driving slow around town, w/ A/C turning. The fan shroud should cure that problem.

Joe

[Caveman49]

Yeah the shroud should help. I’ve been contemplating making a shroud if temps get out of control. Gotta run a t-stat for sure. We were at a 105 real feel today, crazy!

[Joe Travers]

Yeah the shroud should help. I’ve been contemplating making a shroud if temps get out of control. Gotta run a t-stat for sure. We were at a 105 real feel today, crazy!

Temps same here, took the day off to rest my back.
I've run a lot of old vehicles w/o shrouds but no A/C. A/C compressor adds about 15-20 degrees to engine temp w/o shroud driving slow.
215 is really not bad but I would like to keep it @ or below 200. The old Ford manuals list stock thermostat fully open @ 182 (cool) to 212 (hot).

Joe

[poboyjo65]

Yeah the shroud should help. I’ve been contemplating making a shroud if temps get out of control. Gotta run a t-stat for sure. We were at a 105 real feel today, crazy!

contemplating adding ac I thought about a shroud,but I always hated having to take the fan off to get the shroud off when working on the vehicle. so I made one that is 4 separate sections ,top,2 sides & bottom ,with the top being a good tool tray. you take the off 6 nuts to remove the top . the sides are slid into slots at the bottom & just lift right out separately after the top is off.
had it powder coated black but it's easier to see in this pic of it in bare alum.

I had to take it off & on a lot when building the mounts for the compressor so I've already gave myself a few pats on the back for making it user friendly.

[Joe Travers]

Nice power vac design!
Bet you have a tornado under the hood

Joe