Last bit for 2012

The last little bit for 2012 was to sandblast, paint and cleanup the accelerator and kick down linkages.

See you all in 2013! Hope you all have a happy and safe new year.
 

Remote oil filter ready to go on

I've cleaned up and sprayed the mounting plate for the remote oil filter to the block.
Once the heads and inlet manifold are on, then the filter and brackets will be fitted as well.

Timing cover

The timing cover is on. I was going to clean up the original, but it was so heavily corroded where the water pump fits on, that I didn't think I'd be able to stop it from leaking. This is a new replacement cover that has the harmonic balance seal accessible from the front so you don't have to strip half the motor to replace it if it should ever leak.
Also, the water pump on the motor is an old spare one as the pump for this motor is the A/C pump, which is currently on the other motor in the car. Yes they are different. Not entirely sure where, but don't want to get them mixed up just the same

Work continues

New Oil pump and screen

Sump almost done

The paints been taken off the sump now. I'll give it one more going over with the hammer and dolly and then its in the sandblaster to remove the hard to get at bits and then a coat of paint.

 

More Goodies

These arrived on Friday in the mail. One of the finishing touches to the motor.

Now getting ready for Christmas day and cleaning up around the house. So may be a few days till I get back to it.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to everyone watching! 

What I can, When I can

I've now got the rear drums all freshened up. Got all those fiddly bits from Pentastar parts on Friday. Had a little bit of time on Saturday.

While I had the rear wheels off, I took the opportunity to give the white walls a good scrub.
Happy with the result.

 

Inlet Manifold Part 5

After the sandblasting I had to wash it down with wax and grease remover as the sand leaves a fine dust all over it. As you can see I've missed a few spots here and there. I'll give it another go in the sand blaster and then it should be ready for a coat of paint.

 

Inlet Manifold Part 4

The manifold getting blasted in the sand box!

 

Inlet Manifold Part 3

The manifold came back from reflex with the pipe removed, but a lot of surface rust under what was left of the paint.
I coated it with rust convertor to stabilise what was there and get it ready for sand blasting.

 

Inlet Manifold Part 2

This the manifold coated in degreaser for the second time after being given a blast with the gernie (high pressure washer)

It still looked pretty rank and I couldn't get the small water pipe out below the thermostat housing. It was time to take it to "Reflex" and get it hot tanked, and leet them get the pipe out before I broke something. (Like a window that the manifold was about to go through!)

Inlet Manifold Part 1

This is the sad state of the inlet manifold as it was when I took it off the block.
Most of the paint had come off and visually it looked ready for the scrap heap.
I wanted to save it as the inlet tubes from the carbie to the heads have a groove in them, making look a little like 8 spider legs coming away from the body of the carby. The newer 318s have a squarer looking inlet without the groove. I liked the look of this and thought I'd have a go at cleaning it up and painting.

Fitting time in when I can

Almost got it straight. Just needs a little more manipulation

 I wanted to try and save the sump because of the stamped numbers on the bottom. I have no idea what they mean, but I figured they wouldn't be there on an after market one.

Sump needs a bit of TLC

The oil sump needs a bit of careful panel massaging. Someone at some point in its life tried to drive over something that I think was about 10mm higher than the sump!
The result is that the bottom has been pushed in and has a nice scrape along it. Time to pull out the hammers, dollies and slappers.

 

The block is now painted

The block is finally painted and I think it's come up really well. I've ordered a brand new oil pump and screen, then it's onto the sump.

  
Masking up those pesky welsh plugs was well worth it! They look awesome against the red.
 

 

Hemi red is on the block

After what seemed like an eternity to tape everything up, the first coat of Hemi red is finally on the block.

Those welsh plugs are fiddly little things to tape up!

Picking up a bit of speed now!

 Engine block ready for masking up and some paint. Trying to get to it this weekend.

Picking up the pace now

Little by little I'm starting to get somewhere now. 2 heads done, 1 block to go!

 

Progress: A little but its another a step forward

Yet again, work seems to be taking up virtually all of my time leaving no time for the Valiant.
The engine is still bagged up waiting for reassembly. 
As I had no time to do anything, I felt it was probably a good time to get the 904 torqueflite rebuilt so it was ready for the engine when it was put back together.
So now for some good news:
The torqueflite is back, all finished and ready to go.

 AND: I've been finding a little time here and there to start painting the motor and heads. I've got the original Hemi red that was used on the motors at the time from Pentastar parts. Here's a little preview of what's to come.

The motor is finally home

I've finally got the motor home. Here's a sneak preview before I get it on the engine stand and painted up.

Engine block nearly finished

I've just been down to reflex to drop a few parts off for the engine rebuild. They're putting the new cam and timing chain in for me and getting the block ready for all the add ons.
As can be seen in the photo below, It's almost ready to come home and get painted. 

Engine

Ok. After a lot of umming and arring, musing and thinking, and in general avoiding the subject all together, I've decided to rebuild the engine.
The purple engine that I put in, I just couldn't get the emissions down. After getting up to temperature, there was a bit of blow back through the oil filter. I was pretty sure I wouldn't get this through on a road worthy.
I looked into the engine numbers and the engine in the car is the original engine from the factory.
Decision made, rebuild the engine.

Here it is stripped down and ready to go and get cleaned, have the cylinders honed and a general check over.

BTW, for a bit of a laugh and to show that the "idiots" left no stone unturned. . . .
This is how you make an undersized thermostat fit in a bigger hole!!!!!

Dart Hubcaps

Shot of the same quarter with the Dodge Dart hubcap. Can't wait to see these spinning in the sun!