engine bay cleanup

[Chris66]

Michael, those springs .......!!

[Linda]

I feel like I'm watching an episode of "Intervention" only for "while-I'm-there syndrome for roadsters".
Yikes.

Linda

[notoptoy]

My carb leak led to me taking off the head to have it checked out. I found out is was warped a bit, then I decided to check out the rest of the engine. Engine came out and rest is history. "While I am at it, I wanted to clean up the engine bay but I why only do it hafl way so I ended up taking the body off the frame and had it powercoated. Ten years in the making...

The positive thing now is there really isnt much more to pull apart so I need to start putting it back together.

HAHAHAHAHA!
I took my engine out to replace the rear main seal, ended up with the engine in the Machine shop, a "new" 5-speed in 10,000 parts, and the engine bay cleaned and painted.
I hope to get mine back together and running some day. I refuse to put a time on it or I'll just get depressed when I miss it!
T

[cktrap]

man you guys are all making me look bad. I'm glad i didn't get bit by the while I'm there bug though. I'm really wanting to drive the thing.I've had it about a year now and i want to hit the road. I'd love to take the time to do the frame off, but from the way you guys talk, it must be an epic journey. i think I'll stay focused on getting it on the road first. Keith

[jamesw]

I don't think I'd ever consider a frame-off restoration UNLESS I had a second roadster to drive while restoring the first

Cheers
James

[cktrap]

here here i second that, but first i need to make one road worthy

[notoptoy]

man you guys are all making me look bad. I'm glad i didn't get bit by the while I'm there bug though. I'm really wanting to drive the thing.I've had it about a year now and i want to hit the road. I'd love to take the time to do the frame off, but from the way you guys talk, it must be an epic journey. i think I'll stay focused on getting it on the road first. Keith

Believe me you are thinking the right way!
Stick with your plan!!!

[Mr Half of Me]

I just started working on my engine bay as well. The roadster spent the summer having the the engine rebuilt. Now, this piece of candy can't go back in a dirty box, so... You would think I would have done the engine bay in the three months the engine was out, but I had lost my motivation. It's back now. The engine bay was painted black, car color is yellow. So I'm having stock 665 Yellow paint matched (thank you Vic Laury) and mixed up in rattle cans to paint the bay. Then, later on when I can afford it, I'll paint the car the same 665. I tried using an abrasive pad on an angle grinder to get the old paint off. That worked great on the flat areas. Then I used a soda blaster on some of the more intricate parts. Messy, and takes some time, but it works. I think I'll try a stripper (not sure how Marnee feels about that) then use the soda blaster for what doesn't come out.





This is going back in. Yes, I was curious, so I weighed it. Let's have a contest to see who comes closest to guessing the weight of the
engine in this form. The one to guess right, gets bragging rights. My mechinic was way off, but he did a terrific job anyway.

[datsun1500]

285 pounds would be my guess.

[notoptoy]

I'm voting 315!
And, it will hold 1768 average sized gumballs.

[spl310]

I recall seeing that the engine weight was supposed to be around 354 lbs, but forget where I saw that...

[Mr Half of Me]

You're the closest. It's 339 lbs without the starter or alternator.

[Curtis]

Got some of the primer on today. That epoxy primer is really toxic. Pushed the car outside and used a respirator. Finished spraying it, took the respirator off and it's pretty overwhelming. Gave me a headache just being near it. Still sitting outside under plastic.

I'm beginning to think I may leave it in the primer black instead of shooting the red on. Going to strip some day anyway if I keep this one.

[EScanlon]

Primer IS porous which means water can be absorbed.
Top coated with anything is better than just primer.

E

[Curtis]

Primer IS porous which means water can be absorbed.
Top coated with anything is better than just primer.

E

While generally true I'm sure, the guy at the auto paint shop actually suggested that I might like it and leave it. If this epoxy stuff is porous you sure can't tell by its appearance. Once the hardener sets in it buffs up like paint.

Quite different for me as I come from the days of lacquer primer. Didn't dare leave that uncoated. While the epoxy goes on nice I think I still would prefer using lacquer for ease. Easy to feather out and blend.