Pictures

I am very guilty of forgetting to photo document along the way. Here are a few.

Front end troubles got you down?

Jezebel and I are on to our next project, bent wheels, bearings, bushings and king pins.  Yay! Kinda.

I love learning about everything that this girl throws at me, but I was having tons of fun being back on the road.  However, I do already have the king pins and bearings, now just to track down one more wheel, maybe.  I somehow ended up with two bent wheels after getting new shoes.  My friend, Thom, was able to track down some replacement wheels...but the shop seems to have replaced one non-bent wheel, leaving one bent one still in place.  Whew!  Confused?  

When the bent wheel was discovered, it was also noticed that I needed to replace some bushings.  Then, when the wheels were being switched, the king pins and bearings were noticed.  You know how these things go!?

I can't wait to see how she drives with a tuned up and tightened front end!  Keeps getting better and better.  Did you know air shocks require air?  Gasp, it is true.  That made a big difference, thanks dad!  

Other things to note, Indian head gasket sealer: old school crazy, messy goopy stuff that I love.

Torque wrench usage: they should make these for those of us with less than amazing arm strength.  I looked like a battered woman after that job.

Next, before starting a task, consult someone familiar with your particular engine.... For example, did you know that all the head bolts on a 324 rocket engine do not need to be loosened and re-torqued just to take the rocker arm assemblies off?  Yeah, neither do most non-Olds people.  Too bad Tony mentioned that after I had already done it.  Teehee. 

Lastly, sometimes dad's should think to tell their daughters really descriptive instructions when helping work on a car over the phone.  Such as: after you start the car to see if it is oiling with your new push rods, you must rev the engine to build oil pressure.  Slight oversight, but an important step.  Lessons learned.  Thanks to helping and patient friends for making this project successful!

Push rods and lifters, whew!

I got the 4 push rods and 4 lifters in in the corners that I got from Ross Racing to help the pesky non-oiling issue with the rocker arms.  11 hours, lessons learned and lots of bruises, but I did it!  She is running fantastic and I have been out on the streets lots lately.  Missed that sooooo much! 

Has it been that long?

I have done soooooooo much lately with Jezebel.  I will add all of my photos and experiences on my nice five day weekend up ahead.  I am feeling much more confident and productive as of late.  Ready for cruisin as the weather cools somewhat! 

Really?

So, one rocker arm shaft assembly is lost and all the bolts to them are lost.  Drats.  The only thing stopping me from re-assembling poor Jezebel.  $195 for new one.  Where could they be?  On another note, the heads look fantastic!

One new arm

Check out this Olds at Lonestar Roundup in Austin!  Inspiration!

Between me having the distributor cap on backwards, oopsie, and these shiny heads, I should be running like new....in about three weeks.  :(

Almost back in action!

My dad and I got the heads pulled and they are at the machine shop.  Get them back tomorrow!  This has been a really great learning experience.  It was actually much easier than I expected.  We are even completing this without air tools, so in my opinion, we are making excellent timing.  Although my dad does like to mention how much easier this would be with them repeatedly.  :)  After inspection, the two bad valves were not getting any oil.  Plus, one head had been rebuilt and the other had not.  Why would someone do that?!  While I wait for the return of the heads, I am scraping gaskets (which really sucks), degreasing and dealing with other minor issues.  I seem to be permanently oil stained from the elbow down, even after four washes with orange yumminess and multiple Dawn washes.  What the H?  I have also discovered how you memorize tool sizes and can guess which size you need--the cleaning of the tools and putting them away after each days use. It is starting to stick now!  I am so appreciative that I have so much support.  So many silly questions answered, tools loaned and encouragement given--thanks guys and gals!!

It isn't a day in the garage with Jen if something isn't spilled on the floor.  Antifreeze mess.

 

 

 

Bad valves and oil gunk...

Biggest job yet

At the end of the month, my dad and I will be pulling the heads due to two bad valves.  I am upset to be off the road until then, but kind of happy that she will run with full power soon!  It was a great learning experience trying to trouble shoot, although Doug told me what it was...I hoped he was wrong, alas, he was not. So I still went through the motions (changed the plugs, wires, cap and rotor...then did the compression test).  All was going great, saved the bad ones for the end, and of course, the compression test showed 4 and 6 at 0-50.  Bad news because I need help to complete the job, but good news because I finally know what is wrong.  Also, it will be fun to work on the Olds with my dad.  While we are working, I will try to hunt down that pesky tranny leak yet again, change the oil, maybe have the carb rebuilt and any other maintenance I can get done. 

Sometimes, things are bad, but they are learning experiences and kinda fun, even if they are bad!

New tires and hubcaps look fantastic!  Thanks to Dallas and Doug (East Coast Garage-look it up)!
I didn't take a day picture yet, too busy driving.  :)
How strange is it that the drivers side lug nuts tighten counter-clockwise?

On to the bad, but opportunity type stuff.
 The rough ride does not appear to be timing, distributor cap, wires or the plugs. I changed them all and not much change.  Thanks to Miss Jade for her strength and getting those evil distributor clamps back on.  Doug seems to think the problem is a bad cylinder.  I hope he is wrong, but know he is probably right. Tonight, I will teach myself to do a compression test.   After that, my dad will be visiting and we can disassemble, have it machined and get it back together if need be--learning opportunity.  :)  While we wait, I figured it would be a good time to hunt down the transmission leak, again, and beat that pan back into shape.  Might as well be productive, especially when I have my most trusted mechanic around to supervise and advise, yay dad!

Sad part, don't think poor Jezebel will make it to Billetproof March 17th.  She is already registered and it was my first goal.  Always next year, right? 

Haven't been keeping up here

New tires, new wheels, sweet bullets!  This week, Jezebel should get her new shoes.  However, things are not going well in the not-so-fun hydramatic world.  I still have a leak.  It stops, it starts, it taunts me.  My goal over the next two weeks will be to locate the actual leak and to adjust the timing.  It is riding quite rough and needs some love.

She did successfully make it to Sanford for the Groundhog Gala!  Then to Tampa for the Ruckus.  So, she is doing a great job, just not smoothly.  Back to lessons in timing.

While in Sanford, watched a top get cut off, fun!!

I also still have inadvertent horn honking.  This can be fun, but not at two in the morning.  I know something else goes where the tape is...

  On a good note, I think the exhaust leak is fixed.  As you can see, really bad.  Now it sounds and smells so much better.

 And they also welded the brackets to stop that pesky grille rattle.

But I got the new/old Oldsmobile grille, needs chrome though.

While it was on the lift, it was noticed I was missing a bolt in my drive shaft, eek!  So, thanks to Owen, who just happened to have one, I got that put in.  Also, he put on the new antenna!  Not that I have a radio that works, but it looks better.