72 IH + ‘85 Alaskan = Questionable Judgment...

[Nailhead]

Still at it.

Got the interior “reconfigured” for access to the transmission:

What a battle: that cover just BARELY came out with the seat and A/C in there.

Got the transmission all sealed up:

Installed a new distributor bushing to replace the one that came out with the old distributor:

Real easy with the front cover off for painting & resealing.

Found out the old jackshaft and the new one do not have compatible u-joints:

Today, the 304/T-19 come out.

Onward.


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[Nailhead]

How did you clean the valve covers? Chemical or abrasive? They look great.

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Thank you for the compliment, BTW!


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[Nailhead]

Engine buttoned up:

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[Nailhead]

Woo hoo!

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[Nailhead]

The engine is pretty much ready for installation:

And the transfer case lever mount made:

The green stripe is from my layout tool:

Getting the required accurate measurements would have been a real PITA without that laser.


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[Nailhead]

Staged for transmission install & the big lift:

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[Nailhead]

Success!

Gotta get a new jackshaft made, and button things up.

The road awaits!


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[Nailhead]

Check that off the list:

Thank you to Ron at Drive Line Service of Boulder, CO for the good work.


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[bj70_guy]

Just read all 21 pages - awesome job, super cool truck and especially camper. Love it!

 

[Nailhead]

Just read all 21 pages - awesome job, super cool truck and especially camper. Love it!

Right on— thanks!

More to come…


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[Nailhead]

Gotta get caught up— I was locked out for several weeks. Who knows…

Swapped out the cover I fabbed up for the shift tower:

That idea was critical to making this happen with the exhaust system in place.

Got the interior back in:

And I installed a filter in the old radiator hose:

So I can hopefully clean out the rust in that engine using this:

BG makes good stuff, in my experience.

I also swapped out the exhaust donuts I bought flying blind with the correct ones:

These have metal flanges on them, which I think is essential.

Everything is pretty much ready for startup, but the wind is blowing like stink and I can’t really keep the shop door open when it’s doing this without filling the place with leaves, candy wrappers, plastic bags, etc.


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[Nailhead]

Tried to start the truck on Wednesday and still have had no luck doing so after countless checks of timing, ignition wiring, various distributors, fuel delivery, voltages, etc.

The closest I’ve gotten is an instant or two of running accompanied by exhaust and gas spewing out the FI.


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[Nailhead]

Got the truck started finally, after realizing I’d connected a wire wrong to the coil.

Went for a cruise with a buddy:

That new engine is amazing, the transmission— not so much. The oddball shift pattern requires concentration that I need for dealing with the lack of synchronizers. A crashbox with a normal shift pattern is no big deal; I had a couple military Dodge Power Wagons and a ‘59 Fiat 500 with them and had zero problems, but this:

Is proving a real PITA, going against 40 years of habit.


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[ITTOG]

I have never seen gear placement like that. I would struggle with that as well.

 

[utherjorge]

I mean....what's the possible explanation for that pattern? A plan to be able to easily rock it if and when you get stuck? Lots of slow speed vehicle placement in close quarters?