76 Edgemonte Build

Matt Colie said:
Paul,
I know you mean well, but trying to do a peek-in diagnosis at this time is probably a wasted effort
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I only said I'd be tempted--not that I'd do it. Curiosity killed the cat, after all.
Dropping the trans does line up with the out-the-bottom option for engine removal, doesn't it? I may be misremembering. If that was the selected option, it's not much wasted effort. It's the difference between pulling the oil pan or not. The pan zips off quite quickly with power tools. If the chosen engine removal method doesn't require dropping the trans, then it's a huge amount of wasted effort, and definitely not worth giving in to temptation.
 
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Well, It has been a while since my last update. Picking up a freshly rebuilt 455 Saturday. The shop doing the rebuild will be doing the initial break-in for me on the dyno. I've purchased three THM425's from various years including one 67 with the switch pitch and 3.21 final. Going to open those up and rebuild them into one super transmission including the powerdrive from Manny. Also going to use the SP Controller from Bruce in IL. Fitech GoStreet 400 is going on to the motor along with a PowerMaster 150A 12si alternator and March Performance 16045 Serpentine Pulley kit. Hope to have the beasty operational by the end of February.
 
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odintech said:
Well, It has been a while since my last update. Picking up a freshly rebuilt 455 Saturday. The shop doing the rebuild will be doing the initial break-in for me on the dyno. I've purchased three THM425's from various years including one 67 with the switch pitch and 3.21 final. Going to open those up and rebuild them into one super transmission including the powerdrive from Manny. Also going to use the SP Controller from Bruce in IL. Fitech GoStreet 400 is going on to the motor along with a PowerMaster 150A 12si alternator and March Performance 16045 Serpentine Pulley kit. Hope to have the beasty operational by the end of February.
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I know it is a bit more expensive but have you looked at the CVF 1 belt serpentine system? It comes with the Alt, PS pump, and AC comp all in the kit with lifetime warranty.
 
N2hcky said:
I know it is a bit more expensive but have you looked at the CVF 1 belt serpentine system? It comes with the Alt, PS pump, and AC comp all in the kit with lifetime warranty.
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I did look into it. But frankly, I don’t particularly like the design of that one. I think it is a better system simply because of the auto tensioner but I didn’t like the huge chunky all in one bracket. Plus even with the included accessories such as the alternator power steering pump and AC compressor it’s still five to $800 more.
 
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Received all of my accessories for the March Pulley Kit, Melling Camshaft arriving Friday at the machine shop and the engine should be dynoed next Monday or Tuesday. Getting this going is great. Looking forward to the installation and cleanup of any substandard PO work. Probably going to drop the tanks and run hardline fuel lines all the way forward ala Emery Stora. Not sure if I'll do the in-tank pumps like his presentation or Carter P4070s on the frame rail. Got my DaveL Copper manifold gaskets and will be blasting & leveling the manifolds. Probably going to coat the manifolds in Aluminum AntiSeize ala KelvinD, kinda think copper antisieze would look great too ;). Lots to do but enjoying the journey.
 
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I've got a coach that experiences vapor lock if stuck sitting at a light on the hottest days of summer, even with a frame-rail Carter pump and insulated fuel lines. It's not a fun experience when it happens. I'll be going with in-tank pumps when I switch to fuel injection. If you ever have the tanks out, I think it's a worthy upgrade.
 
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Spent 3.5 Days with my little brother clearing out garage space to allow emptying the driveway to bring project VagnHeim home. Getting up my driveway was "fun", had to put down a good 5" of 3/4 plywood on the driver side to clear the rear bumper over my stupidly designed driveway entrance (previous home owner thought it was a good idea to have a 4' rise in under a 10" run in show country). Also left a 3 foot patch of rubber from the driver side tire but all is well that ends well. Now to start the disassembly and front clip pull to get the engine out and ready to rebuild/replace. More to come, hopefully soon.

Also ordered Keith's MicroLevel System yesterday.
 
odintech said:
Spent 3.5 Days with my little brother clearing out garage space to allow emptying the driveway to bring project VagnHeim home. Getting up my driveway was "fun", had to put down a good 5" of 3/4 plywood on the driver side to clear the rear bumper over my stupidly designed driveway entrance (previous home owner thought it was a good idea to have a 4' rise in under a 10" run in show country). Also left a 3 foot patch of rubber from the driver side tire but all is well that ends well. Now to start the disassembly and front clip pull to get the engine out and ready to rebuild/replace. More to come, hopefully soon.

Also ordered Keith's MicroLevel System yesterday.
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Holy moly you are making a lot of changes at once! Good luck with your build, I hope it all goes back together as seamlessly as possible. You are much braver than me :)
 
tmsnyder said:
Holy moly you are making a lot of changes at once! Good luck with your build, I hope it all goes back together as seamlessly as possible. You are much braver than me :)
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Thanks!, Although I don't think its all that many changes at once. Just a front end pull to remove the engine/trans for rebuild and while I'm there Ill replace anything that needs replacing. The MicroLevel will go in once the engine is back in and running normally. Primary goal is to get this beasty mechanically sound before July so I can ride it to Oshkosh on my annual aviation pilgrimage.
 
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Just received the microlevel today. Looks to be an awesomely well designed kit. while walking around the rig, I noticed one of the aluminum panels seems to be delaminating from the seam between the living area and the kitchen and I’m wondering if anybody has used some kind of panel bonding agent to reseal/reattach that. it only has about an eighth of an inch gap, maybe a 16th but it is concerning to me
 
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