Eric O's Journal

I got quite a bit of time to work on the car today.

I pulled the car out on to the driveway to provide more room and to be a bit safer in case something happened. I ran down my list of things to complete before the first crank of the engine. I hooked up a battery and made sure there were no issues with my wiring, I'm glad I tested it yesterday with the power supply as it all went smoothly.

I hooked up the throttle and adjusted it, I also got the choke hooked up. I modified one of my previous failed attempts and it finally worked well. I also tested that power was going to the starter cable when I pushed the starter switch and then hooked the cable up to the starter. I then took the plugs out.

Everything was ready so it was time for the first engine turn over to check for oil pressure. After about 30 seconds, the oil pressure gauge was showing a strong 75 psi with the motor turning over.

I then finished up the preparation by replacing the plugs and hooking the ignition and plug wires back up. I then hooked up the fuel jug setup (91 Octane, ethanol free) and made sure the system was pumping fuel to the carbs by cranking the motor over. I noticed a small leak on the line from the rear carb to the front. I thought initially it was a crack in the hard line that I was so careful to bend, so I took it off and did a pressure test on it and it was good. So I reinstalled the line and tightened the clamps and made sure they were squarely on the tube this time. I turned the motor over again and it was good this time, no leaks.

With that, I gave the motor one more look and checked all the connections. It was ready to go, so I turned the ignition on and turned it over, after a few seconds it popped. I tried again a bit longer and it popped a couple of times and the starter disengaged itself. I pulled the choke out about a 1/2 inch and tried again. It started almost immediately and took up a steady idle at about 2000 rpm. I reached in and pushed the choke in just a tad and it settled to just about 1900 when I looked at the radiator and noticed the fan was jammed up against it and stopped! What the heck! I turned the motor off immediately and noticed water running out of the top of the radiator where the fan blade was set. Dang I need to head over to the radiator shop with another one, they are going to love me after all this.

Sadly no video running as I was alone and didn't think of setting up a tripod, you'll have to trust me that it runs . It sounds pretty good too! Smooth and a nice sound even without a pipe and muffler.

I got the radiator off. It looks like the fan clutch came off the press fit end of the water pump. I tried putting it back on and it barely held on when I tried to pull it back off. It looks like the inside diameter of the clutch is too large to gain a good pressed fit. My suspicion is that once the motor got up to speed the force of the blades pulled it off the shaft and it jammed into the radiator. The rotating end of the pump ground some of the aluminum off the back of the clutch while it spun as well.

I think it is time to just go to an electric fan setup (note, ordered one on 9/8). I am done messing with this fan arrangement. It was a PITA to get it ready in the first place, I had to also go through the trouble of getting throng water pump in my rebuild kit and having to order a new replacement, just too much trouble for a little originality. Also a new electric setup is not much different in price than a replacememt clutch and fan which has a big gouge in it as well.

That ends this attempt at an engine run until I get the radiator repaired and the electric fan setup. It was a good week of progress, just a little snag in my current plans.

Tomorrow will be spent looking for parts to order, stopping by the radiator shop and probably getting back to the shower tiling I've been putting. My wife will be happier.