Aluminum Radiator.

[fatride]

Just took the aluminum rad in to the machine shop to get the mounting brackets tigged on the tanks. I compaired the radiator with one I have from a 60 Impala with a 283 engine. The side tanks on the aluminum cross flow rad. are exactly the same width as the core on the stock vertical flow rad. The tigged mounting brackets will be in the same position as the originals. If you all remember I was having some problems with the engine breaking up around 5200/5500 rpm, when I checked the valvesprings I found a number of the spring pressures were not up to snuff! I had installed the springs at 120 lbs on the seat and 300 lbs open. Well I can't remember if I had checked every one, or after checking a few took it for granted that all the springs were of the same pressure due to time constraints! :doh I found a few springs that were light with only 110 lbs on the seat! All the springs are now set at 130/135 lbs on the seat after shimming. MSD dist. is in, valves are set. Still to go are new 3/8" tank sending unit from Phil Reed , air bags, new 3/8" steel gas line from tank to pump and if I have time electric fuel pump and filter. I still have to pack the wheel bearings on the trailer and make sure the 96 Silverado is up to the trip! This may seem like a piece of cake to some but we are in the process of finishing up on building a new home and moving in. :eek: I may not have everything done by the convention but I'll be there!

[Tom Kochtanek]

Fatride, I wish you luck in building that house and in finishing up the vehicle :)

Wish I could say I was right behind you in completing my '62SS, but alas, the enemy of time is creeping up on me. I keep looking at Bob's counter on the site (days left until the Convention) and then I see Jim's "75% complete" on his icon (makes me totally envious!) and realize I am not gonna be done by mid September (well, perhaps NEXT September?). Phil Reed says I should just trailer out what I have completed, and I might just do that. Works in progress -- we've all got 'em, right?

I'm even farther behind in my "Man Shed" project (that's what the wife calls my new 40' by 60' shop), as we are just now moving dirt and setting utilities and other infrastructures. I spend each day on site working with the D7 Cat and the Track Hoe as they clear the five acres and strip the black dirt off to reveal the solid clay. After that we cut from the high side and fill on the low side. Should be roughed in by Convention time, with concrete being poured for the roadbed sometime in October. Am still waiting to hear from the City Fathers regarding the building permit :(

Here's a pic of what you get for $400 an hour (a D7 Caterpillar ($95 per), a track hoe ($100), and a chipper/grinder to get rid of the organic material ($200 per hour). They (DNR) wouldn't give me a permit to burn in the city limits, so I got stuck paying these guys for five days to clear and grind all the brush/trees. When you do the math (I am afraid to calculate it!) you come up with the most expensive mulch in the known Universe :) Maybe I should put it up for sale on Ebay, along with the 409 grindings I saved from "relieving" my truck block to clear the 427 crank :) :) :) That would go nicely with Wrench's used 409 oil :)

Anyway, here's a pic of what I'm involved in (committed to) these past 3 weeks.

Cheers, and Good Luck with all your projects, both "W" related and building related,

TomK