We can file this under "things that never go as planned"

I've been working on my intake swap from 2bbl to 4bbl for about a week now in my spare time. Yes, a week but most of that time has been stripping and painting all the related parts so that everything will be pretty when finished. First I had decided to go with a cast iron '69 intake with a '72 Rochester. Closer examination of the Rochester revealed that it's pretty much junk so I opted for plan B- An Edelbrock intake with a 600 Holley (new).

1st problem: A stripped stud hole in the intake. Fixed.

2nd problem: I remove the thermostat housing from the 2bbl intake and... there's no thermostat! I buy new Tstat. Fixed? We'll see...

3rd problem: I just realized this carb is dual feed. I price out correct dual feed line from Holley at my local Carquest (for some reason this takes a non-common feed line). After picking myself off the floor after getting a price quote (trade pricing no less!) I take a deep breath and hand over my credit card. 2 days later it arrives in a package covered in dust. Fixed.

4th problem: The carb doesn't clear the screw in vacuum fitting for my power brakes and transmission. Nothing a little shave with a Dremel can't rectify. Fixed.

5th problem: I set rags into the valley while I cleaned the gasket surfaces. That went well. I removed the rags and shone my trouble light into the valley to check for debris. I get a knot in my stomach. There, sitting in the valley are the remains of two pushrods! What the..!!??. A closer look shows a lifter retainer also sitting in the valley. I quickly check all the pushrods and notice 3 are shiny while the others are well aged. One of them is sitting in a lifter with a crooked cap. Now I know where that retainer came from! This one is #2 intake. I was shocked as the car ran well. All spark plugs look fine. I call Ken (a member on here) who bought the car from the original owner. He had two pushrods fail and another bend. He replaced the pushrods and never had a problem. I call a good friend who is a fantastic tech. His advice: replace the lifters. They could be collapsed causing excessive pushrod movement. Funny I never heard any ticking. "Don't take chances. They are cheap" he says. So.. to be on the safe side I'm going to try to find a set tomorrow. The parts stores here in town are closed so I hope there's a set to be found in London.

I'm still trying to figure out why the t-stat was removed....
The saga will continue...


Todd

-- Edited by 69Laurentian at 23:13, 2008-05-16

-- Edited by 69Laurentian at 23:15, 2008-05-16