I will be finishing planting seed tomorrow morning to noon in the garden. Later tomorrow, I will be FINALLY hoping to put on the new gaskets on the engine. Unfortunately they are predicting a moderate risk for strong storms possibly tornado's. I will need to keep an eye out.
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Age : 49 Join date : 2016-09-06 Points : 15444 Posts : 10860 Location : Oklahoma
Got my seeds in the ground, still have room for 2 rows of something.
Decided the front yard needed mowed, so I went up to the gas station where they have 100%. While there I saw this. Thought I would share. Looked cool with Yosemite Sam on the door.
I did get started busting open the engine. I had hoped to just open the bottom. Ended up having to take the side access off too. When I slid the sump off the governor fell into the block. Fun stuff.
Inside the block looked good!
Oil pan was pretty nasty, but I figured it would be. The gasket was hard and disintegrating. Obvious source of oil leak. The bottom oil seal looks bad too. Glad I got a new one.
Gasket cleaned, and polished. New gasket installed on this half. Just need to finish cleaning the other half and figure out how to put the halves together without dropping the governor back into the engine.
Like the gash on the crank where the original pulley was cut off? LOL
Didn't get much else done, had company over for a cookout and later some storms came in.
Hoping to button the engine back up tomorrow and bolt it down on the frame.
These 2 boxes contain my new taillights! LOL, I'll save those for a later reveal.
This little package has some diodes that will make some of the wiring easier for later! I do plan on directional, hazard and brake as well as regular lights! I'll have a relay from the original tractor in there like in Doc's video on relays. I'll be using that for the brake light using the saftey switch as the trigger.
Here is a couple pix of the weather yesterday. It was rather stormy around last night. Almost everything had some rotation in it. Only one tornado in the state. That is a good thing! They are predicting more tomorrow.
Got the bottom of the engine cleaned up and ready to install. I didn't today, I was sick some of the night and didn't have the energy beyond cleaning today. I didn't feel that I had enough coordination today to put the 2 halves together. I'm all better now, it was short lived.
The bungee cord was holding the post on the starter in place as I epoxy'd it back on. The plastic broke, the cable inside was intact. It hardened nicely.
Currently, I am thinking of putting on an 8 inch pulley on the engine. I hope to have the engine on the chassis this weekend sometime.
LOL, I will say they don't stick up to make fins. They do stick out the back a little bit. I'll also admit they don't go to a "car". Street rod show is not this weekend but the next weekend here in OKC. I hope to look around a bit. Maybe get some ideas or maybe parts?
Nothing done tonight other making sure my engine mounts lined up. They did.
I also unloaded the Murray into the back yard by the shed ready for the next build. Torn between figuring out why the transaxle is frozen up, or modding another trans into the tractor. It has a peerless 2348 I think. I think it weighs way more than a Suburban. Thing is HEAVY!
Not happy.... not happy at all. Kinda upset actually...
I was buttoning up my engine and when I thought I was about done I hear a "POP!" Stupid HF torque wrench isn't working right. Not good when I do not know my own strength.
I think I can use the Murray sump on it. Not sure at this time. They are both 16hp. I need to figure out how to get that oil seal out without damage. I may get lucky.
Decided that I was not motivated enough to pull the sump from the 82 murray. I think I want to keep that engine as whole as possible. I will use it in my 2018 build.
Purchased an already cleaned up one from fleabay for $20.
Yeah I know, I was hoping to have it sat on the frame today so I could run my fuel lines. That was a no go. I did find a nice cleaned one for $20 including shipping last night. The seller even started the shipping process on it. So it may come pretty quick.
I also purchased a red pan seat that I think will look good on the finished tractor.
I also purchased a fuel shut-off that is mountable. I'm hoping to have the fuel shut-off in my lower dash tower so I do not have to open the hood to shut off fuel! If this works well, I will be using this idea on the rat-rod next year.
Its all good, I needed some seat time on Li'l Red yesterday. I also got the torque wrench "unstuck" so it clicks properly now for pounds of torque.
So, I am kind of at a "pause" on the build until some parts come in. It cooled down, so jumping ahead and painting some exterior parts is out of the question. I don't want to cause any runs in the paint.
I have come to an interesting idea about my busted sump. I don't think I was "cranking" that last bolt too hard as previously thought. Bear with me and follow my thought. I think this has the been the culprit of my oil leak from day 1.
History, this engine came out of an old Murray that I do not remember how old. My cousin smashed that murray trying to play bigfoot over it for who knows why as the tractor was in good shape before. Fast forward, my dad got the tractor off my uncle for some axle parts, I took the engine. When I got the engine, it looked ok except for a busted carb, and some other physical damages to the tins and air box. Please note the arrows and side of the damage...
When I got the engine running, I also found the intake was busted in two just under the carb, that split did not show itself till later after new carb install and a few hours of running. I jacked the intake from the 82 Murray last year when it was still at my in-laws. Fast forward to this week. I replace gasket on the sump and oil seal, when reinstalling the sump snaps on what would be the front left of the engine (looking from seat with carb forward).
Basically the same side and general location to the original damage to the engine. I wonder if it was already weak and reinstalling the gasket "finished the job"? I have checked over the block and I still need to better check the sleeve for the piston (circled red area above) better as there is still some buildup there from the oil leak. Don't want to find another "consealed" crack.
Well this has been an interesting weekend. Got a call yesterday morning if we wanted to go to a weenie roast with my wife's parents. That's where we were most of the day yesterday. When we got home I decided to burn our brush pile in the back yard since it was going to rain last night. Keeps the worry of it spreading away. Got it started and about 5 minutes in the rain started. Perfectly timed. Piled burned down nicely. Last night when I was done keeping an eye on the coals (heavy rain started) I decided to check on three packages I ordered last week for the tractor. Namely the sump. I checked and it said two of my packages were delivered mid day when I was gone. ?!?!?!?!
I don't remember seeing them on the porch? I ran out and checked. Not there. I was a little peeved at this point and unfortunately it was time for bed. Needless to say I did not get much sleep last night. About 9:30 this morning the doorbell rang and it was my neighbor from across the street. She had my packages. She said they delivered them yesterday sometime and she didn't see it until she went to work last night. YES!
The sump looked like old new stock! Also it had a new oil seal installed. I was like sweet. Slipped right on and tighened with no issue.
Got that buttoned up and sat the engine down on the frame. I have not screwed it down yet.
Now to repaint some tins and finish cleaning up the rest of the engine. Repaint the flywheel and intake manifold too. Good time to check on the magnets I had to jbweld back on.
My next step I want to complete is the beginning of the wiring , fuel, and dash. Things are starting to roll along now!
Because im too lazy to go out and look, and if I did go out id probably forget... will you be able to see the painted flywheel?
When the shroud is on, you cannot see it with the cooling fan attached. I may not repaint the actual flywheel. Still going to pop it off and check the magnets. :-)
That is was I was hoping for. The "red" pan seat came this weekend (one of the mis-delivered items). Well it isn't red as hoped. It is "plum" looking. LOL, I'll paint that the same red as all the accents I have added.
It was pretty well blown just off the exhaust valve. You can see the scorched spot between the bottom right screws. I finished cleaning it up and installed the head cover.