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Rebuilding An Old High School Friend!

Discussion in 'Builds and Fabricators Forum' started by Fly Navy, Feb 11, 2015.

  1. Dec 27, 2018
    ITLKSEZ

    ITLKSEZ Hope for the best, prepare for the worst

    Liberty Lake, WA
    Joined:
    Aug 13, 2015
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    Oh man. That stinks.
    Is that something that could be found on eBay?
     
  2. Dec 27, 2018
    Fly Navy

    Fly Navy Member

    Emerson, IA
    Joined:
    Jun 6, 2014
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    361
    I've searched eBay and web extensively and I've called a couple of obsolete Buick part places. So short of searching junk yards for one that would probably break the same way, I think I'm out of luck finding a "new" one.
     
    ITLKSEZ likes this.
  3. Dec 27, 2018
    browncoat

    browncoat Member

    Maitland Australia
    Joined:
    Sep 1, 2016
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    410
    If welding it back together is not an option then I would go with the flare and hose replacement option you mentioned.
     
  4. Dec 28, 2018
    Norcal69

    Norcal69 Out of the box thinker 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Northern California
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    Mcmaster carr may have some kind of banjo bolt fitting that would fit in there. They are perfect for tight spaces where you cant rotate the fitting.
     
  5. Dec 30, 2018
    Fly Navy

    Fly Navy Member

    Emerson, IA
    Joined:
    Jun 6, 2014
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    Great idea. I'll check them out. Thanks!
     
  6. Jan 22, 2019
    Fly Navy

    Fly Navy Member

    Emerson, IA
    Joined:
    Jun 6, 2014
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    361
    A belated Happy New Year to everyone! I've been chipping away at my build. My first and biggest victory this year has been my custom pilot bushing.:bananatool:

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    I scored a 8" hobbyist lathe during the holidays and was able to use it to turn my new pilot bushing. Maybe not the greatest of feats but I was proud given my novice machining abilities. The first thing I did was build a mandrel to chuck it up... ironically it was also the second thing I had to do because I messed up the first one.:) Thankfully it only took one attempt to turn the bushing itself so I must be learning.

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    And it even fits...

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    With luck my clutch will arrive today and I can see if that fits. Worse case scenario, I will have to re-drill the mounting holes but from all of my research it should be really close to fitting. I ended up ordering a 9 1/4" clutch for a 83-86 Mustang/Thunderbird SVO with the Turbo 2.3L. It will fit my input shaft and within my bellhousing... and with luck will work with the ~10.562" bolt diameter already on the flywheel. If not, like I said will just re-drill the flywheel.

    Otherwise, it has been a very slow process of rummaging around to find a part, clean the part, paint the part, install the part and repeat... I really enjoy searching for a part for an hour or more only to find it in the bottom of a box I've already gone through three times. It's the best! (y) Almost as good as having to search high and low for the tool you JUST had in your hand. Regardless, this is where I stand with the engine now.

    [​IMG]
     
    Dphillip, 73 cj5 and ITLKSEZ like this.
  7. Jan 22, 2019
    ITLKSEZ

    ITLKSEZ Hope for the best, prepare for the worst

    Liberty Lake, WA
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    That's gorgeous.
     
  8. Jan 22, 2019
    sterlclan

    sterlclan Member 2022 Sponsor

    exploring the...
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    I musta missed it but how did you address the motor mounts? A neighbor has a supercharged fwd regal cheap.
     
  9. Jan 22, 2019
    Fly Navy

    Fly Navy Member

    Emerson, IA
    Joined:
    Jun 6, 2014
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    361
    Motor mounts are covered back on page 5. Nothing overly fancy, motor mount cushions from Speedway and some homemade brackets. Although they are not utilized in the FWD applications, the mounting locations are there. I could have probably used factory mounts for 96-02 Camaro/Firebird with the 3.8L (same engine in a RWD application) but build some instead trying to save a little bit of money.
     
  10. Jan 24, 2019
    Fly Navy

    Fly Navy Member

    Emerson, IA
    Joined:
    Jun 6, 2014
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    361
    Good news, my clutch finally showed up today... bad news is I do have to re-drill the flywheel. So after spending all afternoon/evening laying out X/Y coordinates and forming my plan of attack I think I'm ready to bolt it down to my mill and start drilling... Now I just need to find the courage.:) Oh how I wish I had a DRO!
     
    ITLKSEZ likes this.
  11. Feb 3, 2019
    Fly Navy

    Fly Navy Member

    Emerson, IA
    Joined:
    Jun 6, 2014
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    361
    Big Day! My brother came up today and helped me stab the transmission/transfer case/PTO assembly for the last time. Installed for good!:bananatool:

    [​IMG]

    I ended up spending $40 on a new pressure plate. I was all set to drill & tap the flywheel to accept the Mustang pressure plate when I realized no matter how I lined things up one or more bolt holes were going to hit the holes they cut when they balanced the flywheel. So I got a GM pressure plate that fits everything from a Fiero to Camaro with a V6 to the old Iron Duke's.

    [​IMG]

    I did have to modify the clutch fork pivot ball to get the clutch fork a little closer to the fingers. I added about an inch of length and a jam nut to it.

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    My brother and I did op-checked the clutch/modified fork and all BEFORE we installed the transmission, thinking that would be better than finding a problem the first time we went to start it.:) Overall, I am tickled pink! Now I can bust a move on drive lines, the winch and exhaust... then it'll be time for the tub!

    In other news, I had another major victory last week when I was able to weld that broken coolant tube. It took the better part of a day chasing pin holes but I was able to weld it, grind a suitable groove for the o-ring and pressure tested it to 90 psi. Only time will tell but I think it has a chance of working... assuming the o-ring can still seal it.

    [​IMG]

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    Oh, and I also got my power steering lines built... just need a short piece of hose for the return.:D

    [​IMG]
     
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  12. Feb 4, 2019
    ITLKSEZ

    ITLKSEZ Hope for the best, prepare for the worst

    Liberty Lake, WA
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    I love this build. You're getting close!
     
  13. Feb 7, 2019
    Fly Navy

    Fly Navy Member

    Emerson, IA
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    Jun 6, 2014
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    361
    Does ANYONE know where I put the woodruff keys for my PTO shaft??? Spend all afternoon looking for them.:banghead: And I know I specifically laid them someplace where they wouldn't get lost after I got done building the drive shaft... I just can't seem to remember where that was.:(
     
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  14. Feb 7, 2019
    txtoller

    txtoller Member 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Weatherford, TX
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    Well they will be in the last place you look, so I would start there. Thank me later!:whistle:
     
    Fly Navy likes this.
  15. Feb 19, 2019
    Fly Navy

    Fly Navy Member

    Emerson, IA
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    Jun 6, 2014
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    Well I found one of them where I left it. I had picked up some Loctite 660 and primer to tighten up the key slot on the PTO and it's woodruff key was on the shelf with the loctite.... makes sense I guess. So I was able get the PTO shaft attached to the PTO and my homemade pillow block bolted in. It does look like I need a small shim under one side of my pillow block mount. With both bolts tight I can't turn the PTO shaft by hand but if I loosen the lower bolt a half turn it is fine... so either it shifted a little when welding or there was some grit or something under that end of the mount when I fabbed it up. Either way a thin aluminum shim should solve it.

    Unfortunately I'm still missing the key for the winch... and the only sure fire way I know to find at this point it is to buy a new one! Then it will turn up for sure.(y)

    In other news, I have the gearbox half of the winch rebuilt, full of gear lube and it doesn't even leak!:bananatool:

    [​IMG]

    Now I just need some parts from Herm to repair the "A-frame" end. On a side note, I do wish it was a little easier to order things from Herm but it is what it is. In the mean time I guess I will chip away at the exhaust system.
     
  16. Mar 2, 2019
    Fly Navy

    Fly Navy Member

    Emerson, IA
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    Jun 6, 2014
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    Literally two small welds short of completely finishing my exhaust last night and I ran out of Argon... Local supply store isn't open on the weekends... Errrr.:banghead:
     
    Last edited: Mar 3, 2019
    Tom_Hartz and ITLKSEZ like this.
  17. Mar 3, 2019
    Andy Salagaj

    Andy Salagaj Joshua70x7

    Colorado
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    Aug 3, 2016
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    That kids smile is Classic!!!
     
  18. Mar 7, 2019
    Cowboyjeeper

    Cowboyjeeper Member

    Show low az
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    Mar 5, 2019
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    Wow looks good can you run carb on that 3800?
     
  19. Mar 8, 2019
    Fly Navy

    Fly Navy Member

    Emerson, IA
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    That is an interesting question... I don't know. I don't know if an 80's carb intake manifolds will fit these or not. You could probably build an open plenum manifold from the base for the supercharged engines. But then the issue would be how would you control the spark? So although probably not impossible, I don't think it would be easily done.
     
  20. Mar 8, 2019
    Fly Navy

    Fly Navy Member

    Emerson, IA
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    Jun 6, 2014
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    Big Milestone! My drivetrain/chasis is 100% complete! :bananatool:

    I was able to exchange my argon bottle Monday and finish my exhaust. More joints than perhaps necessary (probably why I ran out of argon:D) but I was trying to use up the small off-cuts to save materials.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    I also got the ancillary winch parts from Herm and was able to finish and install it for good. I made a few modifications during the rebuild... namely adding grease zerks to the sliding engagement collar and pull pin in an effort to keep them functioning smoothly in the future. Now I just need to find 150' of 5/16 cable laying around somewhere and I'll be in business. (although I don't look forward to spooling it all:n:)

    [​IMG]

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    So here she sits in all her glory... fluids all full (except brakes), no leaks (as of yet), and ready for the tub!

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
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