I have seen funky delivery times from Amazon too. Yesterday morning something for my son said it was in a suburb of Atlanta, this morning it says in California and then 2 hours later it’s back in Georgia at a totally different location. Now it’s showing out for delivery. Insane already and not the holiday shipping rush.

Hopefully they will get it and make quick repairs and back in the mail to you quickly. Shipping gets any crazier and you might not get it back till after the first of the year.

 

The Eagle has landed! Head arrived at WMW yesterday. A friend is stopping by today; we're going to prep the block for reinstalling the head. Jumping the gun a little on that but want to do it before it gets too cold.

On Thursday, I tried to buy a new crush washer for the chain tensioner retaining nut. Went to two local parts stores. At the first, the only guy in the store didn’t seem to know what a crush washer is and then walked away to answer the phone. At the second, I was informed that copper crush washers no longer exist, they’re all plastic now. That’s why I typically avoid the chain stores for anything more unusual than brake fluid. In the end, I ordered a new nut online. The old one was a little chewed up and the new one includes the washer. Problem solved.

 

Cleaned the top of the block with lacquer thinner and a scotch brite pad, wiped out the cylinders and applied a fresh coat of lithium grease. The block surface doesn't look pristine -- there are some areas of discoloration -- but it feels completely smooth. I think it's a good surface for the gasket.

I also decided to get the timing chain out of the way. It was already marked for the cam sprocket. I added a mark for the crank sprocket, marked the sprocket and marked the block to ensure that everything will line up for reinstallation. I then marked the new chain to match the one removed.

 

I heard from Way today about my cylinder head. Unfortunately, it's bad news. There's a crack on the front (timing end). Way said it was the worst he's seen. So that's a bit of a bummer but better to know and address it than reassemble the engine and continue to have problems. On the upside, he's trying to find another head to combine with mine to make one good one. I hope that works out.

The crack goes all the way to the interface with the block so Way suggested that I check the block. Any ideas on how to do that?

 

Dang man I'm sorry to hear that.
It least you found your problem and hopefully there is nothing wrong with the block. Fingers crossed for ya.
I found this on youtube:

 

Thanks, that looks promising. I don't see why I couldn't use that kit without tearing down the rest of the engine. That would be a win.

 

I ordered a penetrant dye kit to check the engine block. Maybe that test result will be good news.

 

Fingers crossed for you!

 

Used the penetrating dye kit today to check the block for cracks. It looks good to my novice eye so it seems that the damage may end with the head. Yay, good news!

 

Yay !! That is good news. Hopefully Way can get you hooked up with a good head and then then the fun of reassembly.

 

That's good to hear! So, right now, you're looking at a rebuilt stock head, or some work? I know it's a bit costier of an option, but have you thought about a bigger valve head? Just curious.

 

Thanks guys. The original head isn't salvageable so I'm looking at a rebuilt head or a new head (a distant second-choice option). In general, I'm in the restoration rather than restomod camp so my instinct is to try to keep the car as stock as possible. It's something I struggle with because I like the idea of upgrading brakes, exhaust, etc. So I guess I'm open to considering options.

 

I hear that. I will never track my car, so Brembos make no sense to me, but I do like quickness, so those mods do. It's a tightrope walk!

P.s. Don't ever become Faculty Senate president. It's such a time sink.

 

I won't track either -- when this car is ready it will be fair-weather only and just for fun -- but I do like the look of nice, powder-coated brakes. I'm with you on quickness. Speed doesn't do anything for me but I like quickness and handling.

Condolences on being senate president but way to take one for the team. Last year I was chair of a couple of committees and that was plenty. I've decided to retire at the end of the academic year; burned out after too many years of 65-70 hour weeks. I'll keep doing research (pro bono except for soft money) but stepping back from other duties. The list of projects I've planned for my first summer of freedom should keep me busy for years.

 

Finally some news... Way had a donor cylinder head that he could rebuild with the valves from my head but it wasn't a JCW. I really want a JCW head -- not for any additional power but to keep the car as close as possible to it's former self. So Way checked eBay while we were on the phone and saw a JCW head there. The seller and I agreed on a price and he is having the head pressure tested. If it passes, we'll complete the transaction and he'll send the head to Way for rebuilding. Then it will come home to me. I hope we have unseasonably warm weather in early January or I'm going to get really cold out in the garage.

Huge kudos to Way for being willing to help me find the head I wanted rather than trying to sell me on the one he has.

 

Thats awesome news!!
Going to be close to freezing the next 2 nights here. I hope for a warmer winter too, only because I hate winter anyway. I hope you get the warmer weather you need to get your ride back together. I have been driving my Escalade this week but I am having Mini withdraws so I am driving it tomorrow. I can only image what you are going thru.

 

The head passed the pressure test! The seller will pack it on Friday.

One small bummer is that the JCW red dot (what was left of it) came off when the machine shop hot dipped the head. What are the community's thoughts on repainting the dot after the rebuild? Seems to me that it is OK but this is my first restoration. Assuming it's not a violation of the restorer's code, does anyone here know what paint to use?

Happy Thanksgiving all.

 

Yay some good news!!
From all the car restoration shows I have watched, as long as the circle is in the right place and real close to same color it shouldn't matter that is was a redo.
Happy Thanksgiving!

 

Yes good news! One step closer…def following

 

Hope you had a great Thanksgiving!
Any update on the head?

 

We had a very good Thanksgiving. Hope you did as well.

The head arrived at Way Motor Works this morning. I hope that Way will have a chance to take a look at it this week (and that he'll like what he sees!).

 

Great news from Way this evening. He plans to be done with the head tomorrow! Valve job using the best valves from the two heads, new guides and seals. Merry Christmas to me. My oldest son arrives home tomorrow for a couple of weeks and he wants to work with me on putting everything back together. The timing is perfect -- as long as the weather isn't ridiculously cold.

 

Supposed to the like the 3rd warmest Christmas day on record here, 40's is not a heat wave for lows but it's usually below freezing on Christmas morning. Hope you have warm weather so you can do some wrench turning.

 

The head arrived this morning (Sunday delivery!). Unfortunately, I don't yet have the head gasket. I needed to wait until the head was done to know what thickness gasket to order. It and other assorted gaskets shipped before the head did but FedEx was very efficient and got the head here sooner. The gaskets are in Minneapolis and should arrive tomorrow. If so, reassembly will begin in the afternoon.

The head looks great -- Way did a great job. I reapplied the red dot that came off in the chemical bath and finished prepping the valve cover for installation. Everything is ready to go when the mailman arrives.

 

That does look really nice, I hope you get it together with no issues!! Looking forward to seeing the progress.