So what's up at the Doghouse these days?

[nutz4c4]

Nice work Friz....

[SQUIRMIN VERMIN 84]

Nice work! Looks like you have it well-planned out, especially the carb strategy. Promises to be a fun teardown and rebuild. I always loved engine work.

Yes, the "easter egg" was interesting-looks like the centre pattern was recessed to lower compression ratio and that piston was just grabbed to replace a bad one. (Bubba?)

Back in the 50's when Stude started supercharging their
289's, they had to lower the compression ratio and used recessed pistons to accomplish that. You never know what you'll find when you crack them open!

Good luck!

[WW7]

Originally Posted by Frizlefrak

Thanks Sweets. Should keep me out of the watering holes and houses of ill repute for a while.

Yea, Right...WW

[Frizlefrak]

Originally Posted by SQUIRMIN VERMIN 84

You never know what you'll find when you crack them open!

Good luck!

Quite true....this car has been a treasure trove of surprises....some good, some not so good.....

Originally Posted by WW7

Yea, Right...WW

Well, it should at least minimize the leg humping.

[Sweet 90]

Originally Posted by Frizlefrak

Well, it should at least minimize the leg humping.

Of which the posse is eternally grateful for

[socalman]

Nice pics Friz-should be alot of fun!

[Frizlefrak]

Originally Posted by socalman

Nice pics Friz-should be alot of fun!

I'm having a ball so far. Simple car, no electronic bullshit to contend with, piece of cake compare to Vettes and Fieros. If I get ambitious this weekend, I'll get the block and crank off to the machine shop and see where I stand. Hoping it's good and doesn't need to be punched too far. If all goes right, it will come back bored and honed with new cam bearings and the crank ready to drop in.

[WW7]

Wish I had a winter project , this cold weather is driving me nucking Futs..Can't go out because there's 1/4" of ice on everything.. I envy you Friz, I really do........Maybe I can come down and help you out with the restoration, Texas isn't really that far...Really......WW

[Sweet 90]

Originally Posted by WW7

Wish I had a winter project , this cold weather is driving me nucking Futs..Can't go out because there's 1/4" of ice on everything.. I envy you Friz, I really do........Maybe I can come down and help you out with the restoration, Texas isn't really that far...Really......WW

Way to go Wayne, keep feeding the dog with cold storys. He's intolerable enough during the winter season

[Frizlefrak]

Originally Posted by Sweet 90

Way to go Wayne, keep feeding the dog with cold storys. He's intolerable enough during the winter season

Well, if it's any consolation Sweetsie....it's only supposed to get up into the low 60's here today...

[Sweet 90]

Originally Posted by Frizlefrak

Well, if it's any consolation Sweetsie....it's only supposed to get up into the low 60's here today...

Thanks for that and if it's any consolation to you (and I know it is) we are supposed to get almost into the 40s this week may have to take the air conditioner cover off

[nutz4c4]

Updates Please....

[Frizlefrak]

Originally Posted by nutz4c4

Updates Please....

Not much to report, but here goes.

Finally scraped the carbon off the pistons....the block is punched .040 over already, but with no ridge, the machine shop may be able to just tank, magnaflux, hone, and install cam bearings and send it back to me. Will take it down tomorrow...should know soon if it's a builder. I hope so....1969 blocks don't grow on trees.

Meanwhile, I'm cleaning.....and cleaning and cleaning. This thing has 42 years of grease and mother earth attached to it. The transmission crossmember alone took me two hours to get cleaned up....it was that nasty.

Getting the underhood degreased as well....found a crack in each shock tower. One is about 1.5 inches....will weld those hopefully this weekend.

Also going to order the kit to convert from Armstrong steering to power. $900, but has new box, pump, and lines and 16:1 ratio....no control valves or slave cylinders etc. MUCH easier to do with the engine out....so that will happen soon.

Will keep you guys posted once there's something else worth reporting.

[Taurus]

Originally Posted by Frizlefrak

Finally scraped the carbon off the pistons....the block is punched .040 over already, but with no ridge, the machine shop may be able to just tank, magnaflux, hone, and install cam bearings and send it back to me. Will take it down tomorrow...should know soon if it's a builder. I hope so....1969 blocks don't grow on trees.

Do you trust your shop? If not, get a second opinion if they say they can't. Unless it's been rode hard chances are good they can salvage it especially if the last rebuild was not too long before it was parked. The car looks clean, I bet you're OK.

[Frizlefrak]

Jon....the #7 hole has some odd colorations in it, but with this being a C90E block, I will have them sleeve that lung if necessary. They've done some good work for us lately.

[Taurus]

Originally Posted by Frizlefrak

Jon....the #7 hole has some odd colorations in it, but with this being a C90E block, I will have them sleeve that lung if necessary. They've done some good work for us lately.

If you sleeve one, sleeve them all so it lasts and your wear is even and it will be your last build on that block. Since is already .040 over, I might go ahead and sleeve it all anyways because I don't know if I can even find a correct date code block for that and I have some good Ford contacts.

[Frizlefrak]

If the price is right, I may do that and just have it all brought back to standard size. I was amazed to find the car still had the original block in it. I was halfway expecting to find a late 70's Granada or Bronco engine in it. This was a pleasant surprise.

[Taurus]

Originally Posted by Frizlefrak

If the price is right, I may do that and just have it all brought back to standard size. I was amazed to find the car still had the original block in it. I was halfway expecting to find a late 70's Granada or Bronco engine in it. This was a pleasant surprise.

The only bad thing is you really can't do your own sleeves. If your shop will let you supply parts let me know. Perhaps I can rustle up a set of sleeves at warehouse cost, about 50% of retail.

[Frizlefrak]

Thanks Jon....block going to machine shop this PM.

[PLRX]

Originally Posted by Taurus

50% of retail.

I need a new short block LT1, how much