Getting Closer

[lake_harley]

I still have a bit of work to do to the body panels, and a short list (for now) of other small items to finish up before a 1st fire up to see if my FED will move on it's own power. It's been about 16 months to go from what I envisioned to what you see here. I want to thank everyone who gave me ideas and guidance along the way with what has seemed like an endless series of questions and head scratching.

Lynn

[THE FRENCHTOWN FLYER]

That is a nice job, and for only taking 16 months that was a quick build. I predict many happy times with the car.

[lake_harley]

Thank you! As it goes to the track it might be a "test-and-tune" Friday night car to just make some passes and (hopefully) sort out any bad habits I might have built into it.

Lynn

[Rat]

  Awesome job, must be so satisfying to seeing reach this stage. I have enjoyed following along with your story so far. I have a saying i use regularly - "The only silly question is the one not asked" so keep asking those questions

[JEFF/21C]

nice going! there are no silly question you just have to filter the answers. you should not have any problems looks similar to our car the first time out. make sure you purge the air out of the cooling system, it has to be vented at the intake any time the rad is lower than the intake.

[lake_harley]

make sure you purge the air out of the cooling system, it has to be vented at the intake any time the rad is lower than the intake.

Thanks, gentlemen. Fair warning....I'm probably not out of questions yet. I just don't know enough to know what they are yet!

I think I have filling the cooling system covered. Instead of a "normal" water outlet, I built an aluminum gizmo that mounts at the regular thermostat location that incorporates a regular radiator cap and water outlet tube to the radiator. I bought a neat Dedenbear water outlet/expansion tank at a swap meet but it wouldn't clear my fuel line and carburetor inlet position, so I fabricated mine to fit and serve the same purpose with the cap at the highest point of the cooling system.

Worked on the cowling and a method to incorporate a windscreen. I think I have some polycarbonate around here somewhere......now finding it might be a whole 'nuther issue.

Lynn

[slingshot383]

Depending on your intake, the rear water ports in the head need to be vented (burped) to make sure there isn't any air trapped. If the intake has a rear water crossover, great, if not, drill and tap for 1/8" pipe and get a part of AN to 1/8" pipe fittings and a pair of AN caps.  When filling the cooling system, crack the AN caps open and let the system burp the air out.

[lake_harley]

Thanks. I'll take a good look at the intake tomorrow. I appreciate the tip.

Lynn

[tcoupekyle]

Great work!

[lake_harley]

I have hopes of firing up the engine tomorrow to see if the wheels go round and round and both directions. I built the engine last Spring/Summer and ran it about 30 minutes on an engine stand to break in the cam. My plan is to pull the spark plugs to take the load off the Pistons and rods and crank it to build oil pressure before putting the plugs back in and actually doing a engine start. I'm praying that everything goes well.

Lynn

[JEFF/21C]

since the late 60's I've always primed the oil system either removing the dist. and using a mechanical adapter and drill or air over oil system that way you don't have any moving parts that might be dry.

[lake_harley]

Since the engine was run before I thought I'd get by with not removing the distributor again to prime the oil system. I did do that prior to the initial fire-up when I built the engine and ran it to break in the cam for about 30 minutes. Granted, it's been sitting for about 7 or 8 months since that initial run. Since the timing is set I hoped to avoid that "one more thing" to do when I fire it up now and by cranking it for just the few seconds to build oil pressure with the plugs out I thought I'd be OK. My thought is I'll be plenty busy in the first minute or two checking for leaks, monitoring temp and oil pressure and finish filling the transmission (new converter partially filled per converter company's instruction and freshened transmission) once the engine running. If the consensus is to pull the distributor and re-prime with a drill and priming tool, I will. Probably not going to get around to firing it today anyway.

Lynn

[JEFF/21C]

alot of people get away doing it your way,alot of pressure starting up a new build, been doing it since I was a teen and now 75 and I still get nervous

[masracingtd1167]

Nice work !