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At Last! Some progress on 'The Rumbler'
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Posted by: Brootal

It's been off the road almost two and a half years now and due to apartment living, lack of a decent garage, starting work for myself and spending too much time having fun instead of working on my car, I've decided I really have to extract the digit.

I've got a deadline (June 19) to at least get the car running hard and driveable. Why June 19, Nostalgia Drags baby! I'm going to take my brand new engine and CANE THE CRAP OUT OF IT!

After all, that's what they're for isn't it.

Here's how she looks at the moment. Not too bad thanks to being under cover for most of the time, but there's definitely a lot of work to do.

The motor is about 75% done. Still waiting on the correct pushrods to come. You wouldn't think it would be so hard...

I've decided to paint the engine BRIGHT RED. I know it's been done a million times before, but I think with the polished rocker covers and other shiny bits it'll look pretty cool.

It's already got the oil mod...

...and a set of Comp Cams roller tip rockers.

I also decided that it would be a good idea to make a fan shroud. In the past I've just run twin thermos that were attached through the radiator core. Radiator guys hate that and since I've just picked up a brand new 'Triple Flow' radiator from Aussie Desert Coolers, I thought I'd do the right thing.

After a bit of stuffing around I drew up the design on a piece of aluminium sheet.

I then had it bent up and welded in the corners and a couple of BIG ASS holes cut into it. All I did was dress the welds a little, which is pretty easy with aluminium.

Here it is on the radiator. I still need to drill the mounting holes and shape the side flanges. It will then be powder coated black.

As I didn't want to put a nice shiny motor into a well used engine bay I thought I'd get it tidied up a little. There were always holes that I didn't need that never got filled the first time and after 10 years or so of pretty regular driving it was just starting to look a little second hand in spots.

I'm also going to change the master cylinder to an alloy unit instead of the mullet-mobile plastic unit.

So in an absolute miracle of biblical proportions I found a panel beater that was willing to do it. It took ONE DAY and cost $120!!!

I think it looks OK.

That's it for now. More next week hopefully...

Posted by: The OLE MAN

Hey Brootal,

You know I like CLEAN................ now, get out there and color sand that BITCH and polish it up a bit more. I wish I was there to gvie you a hand

. The finish part is what I like the best. Just remember, when you open that hood, you never get a second chance to make a first impression

. This is what I mean..............

The OLE MAN

Posted by: skeezix

Looks yummy Brootal!

Posted by: Mr. P

I was going to say, you need some advice from the Ole Man on that engine compartment, but I see he's already delivered round one to ya.

"Now get out there and color sand that BITCH", ha ha

Get it running a week ahead of time, make sure you can run it in a bit, and get it tuned up, then let it scream for glory.

Mr. P

Posted by: MikeT

wow! man you've been one busy bloke. Its really looking good!

I wish I had the paitence to do that kinda stuff.

Posted by: Brootal

Quote:

Originally Posted by The OLE MAN


	Hey Brootal, You know I like CLEAN................ now, get out there and color sand that BITCH and polish it up a bit more. The OLE MAN

Mate... the paint on the body is over 12 years old and it's two-pack. After the motor goes in I'll see what I can do about fixing the dents and rust and giving it a new coat of paint.

Last time I checked colour sanding didn't fix dents (or rust!)

Posted by: Mr. P

This is a hilarious thread when MikeT uses the term "bloke" ha ha ha.

But Broot, you better get that posterior in gear, because the "Ole Man has spoken". He isn't in the habit of repeating himself either. Hint hint.

Mr. P

Posted by: The OLE MAN

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brootal


	Last time I checked colour sanding didn't fix dents (or rust!)

Hey, I didn't want to seem to BRUTAL, BROOTAL

I thought the engine compartment WAS painted after it was cleaned (looks like a different color(slightly) to me). My mistake............... and YES, you should have fixed the dents in the compartment (along with filling in all the extra holes you don't need) WHILE the engine was OUT.

The OLE MAN

Posted by: Brootal

I sorted out my brake booster/master cylinder yesterday. Bought a new alloy m/c and had the guys at the brake shop modify the booster so that it mounted level.

Before...

After...

Also had the rocker covers polished by professionals. I did it once then stuffed them up by putting POR-15 clear on them. They came up pretty nice for a shitty old set of covers.

Posted by: Mr. P

Hey Broot, is that kangaroo or dingo shit on those rocker arms, or is that just a little booger? Also, buddy, it's supposed to be a "lifestyle" and not a car, so if you've been a year and a half without it, and you take it out and break it, "you're basically fucked", as they say "up here" in the Northern Hemisphere.

Good luck by the way,

Mr. P

Posted by: Brootal

It's rust because the mechanic left my car out in the rain and it didn't have a boot (trunk) seal. Of course, I had the roller rockers, my carb, fuel regulator all in there. Can you say CHALK!

I also finished off my fan shroud. Just got to take it to the powder coaters (black) and she'll be finito!

Posted by: The OLE MAN

Hey BROOTAL

just remember,

good things come to those who wait

.

At my age, I don't have time to do another one

I use to figure THREE years from start to finish and was pretty much on time. It's the little things that take the time and if you don't have the means or the ability to do it all yourself, you have to wait on others

.

Have fun bending those stainless steel brake lines

I noticed you didn't change the shocks, is that on your list?

The OLE MAN

Posted by: Mr. P

"at my age I don't have time to do another one"..........my ass!

I like those rocker covers, nice, real nice. Very similar to the ones I have on my speedboat.

Mr. P

Posted by: Brootal

Quote:

Originally Posted by The OLE MAN


	Hey BROOTAL I noticed you didn't change the shocks, is that on your list? The OLE MAN

You noticed wrong. New shocks, but I pulled the washers and rubbers so that they didn't end up painted in two-pack. Put them back on last night. I can takek a photo if you want.

I've got new shocks for the back too but I couldn't put them on because they don't come supplied with nuts. Is this normal?? They're KYB shocks.

Posted by: The OLE MAN

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brootal


	After...

If there NEW, then you painted them

The OLE MAN

Posted by: Brootal

Finally got some paint on the engine and started bolting a few bits on this weekend. Colour is basically straight red tinter (two-pack) and the other bits and pieces are either HPC coated or powder coated metallic silver.

Had some major dramas getting the intake to fit. I know it says it's for a 70-up AMC engine, i.e. NOT a 290, but who ever believes everything they read!

Had the four centre holes re-drilled, but that didn't help much at all. In the end it took me TEN HOURS to finally get the thing bolted down. Must've had it off and on 20 times in between die grinding each and every bolt hole.

Not sure if these heads have been milled a heap, but NOTHING seemed to line up. Hopefully it's all sealed and won't give me any drama (but I wouldn't bet on it!).

Anyways, here's how she looks as of tonight...

...and some of the clearancing I had to do around the centre bolt holes. Ended up having to use header bolts. PITA!!!

And finally, proof that I was actually there and got my hands dirty.

Also got the fan shroud powder coated and put it all together. Come up alright I reckon.

Posted by: Mr. P

Hey man, you're making me jealous with all that fun you're having. Now that I have my "honey DO" home remodeling project done, I have negotiated the entire rest of the summer off, and next summer too. Heh heh.

Good looking work. I know what you mean with that intake, let's hope you got everything torqued down and bedded in evenly.

regards, Mr. P

Posted by: skeezix

10 HOURS to bolt on an intake!!!

You must have the patience of Job.

Looks good!

Posted by: Mr. P

That would be "Jobe", Skeez

Mr. P

Posted by: The OLE MAN

I don't know Brootal,

having to drill out holes like that doesn't sound to reassuring to me. Best of luck to you.

The OLE MAN

Posted by: skeezix

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. P


	That would be "Jobe", Skeez Mr. P

Sorry I thought it was the bible, "Job"!

Posted by: Brootal

Quote:

Originally Posted by skeezix


	Sorry I thought it was the bible, "Job"!

No... I think you're right Skeez.

It's spelt Job, but pronounced Jobe.

Posted by: MikeT

Wow, its looking great! Hopefully it won't leak oil all over that nice purdy clean motor.

Posted by: Brootal

Got some more done and even if I say so myself... That's one hell of a good looking Rambler motor!

Motor is pretty much all together and I've now got the car in the workshop. Touched up some of the paint on the crossmember etc. and hopefully we'll be able to put it in tomorrow some time.

I think it came up alright. Just hope the sucker runs!

Posted by: Mr. P

Hope it runs as good as it looks. Got to love that Offenhauser valve cover, that is the crown jewel for this motor, and I'm surprised you could find one for an AMC motor. Normally you can find "anything" for a small block Chevy, but "anything else" seems to be tough.

Had I seen the Offy for my 327 powered speedboat, I would have jumed on that like a duck on a June bug (old southern USA saying). Instead, I got one that looks very similar, but it says "Edelbrock". Finned cast aluminum is the "ONLY WAY TO GO" (if ya can find em for your particular motor).

Hey, that's not much of a header you got on there, what's the scoop on that? It would appear a nice tube job would help things along, eh? I have a tractor that has one like that, lol.

The carb looks pretty big, what kind of a cfm/jet combo are you running on that thing. It's pretty common to overcarb an engine, and if you do, all you get is accelerated bore wear from all the raw gas that you're wiping by the rings. Just wondering.

All the best, thanx for the update.

Mr. P

Posted by: Brootal

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. P


	Hope it runs as good as it looks.

You and me both!

Quote:


	Got to love that Offenhauser valve cover, that is the crown jewel for this motor, and I'm surprised you could find one for an AMC motor. Normally you can find "anything" for a small block Chevy, but "anything else" seems to be tough. Had I seen the Offy for my 327 powered speedboat, I would have jumed on that like a duck on a June bug (old southern USA saying). Instead, I got one that looks very similar, but it says "Edelbrock". Finned cast aluminum is the "ONLY WAY TO GO" (if ya can find em for your particular motor).

There's stuff around for the AMC stuff, you just gotta know where to look. Definitely not as much as Chev/Ford/Mopar, but it's out there... somewhere...

These particular covers I got off a mate for the princely sum of $150 Aussie. Polished them myself then put a clear coat on them and it looked like shit, so I spent $240 getting them professionally polished and cleared. Look much nicer.

Quote:


	Hey, that's not much of a header you got on there, what's the scoop on that? It would appear a nice tube job would help things along, eh? I have a tractor that has one like that, lol.

Just a stock exhaust that I had HPC coated. Have you priced a set of headers for an AMC? Then figure out how much it would cost to get them to Oz, no-one does them here and I can't afford to have a set made.

No guarantee US ones would fit either due to the RHD etc... It'll do for now.

Quote:


	The carb looks pretty big, what kind of a cfm/jet combo are you running on that thing. It's pretty common to overcarb an engine, and if you do, all you get is accelerated bore wear from all the raw gas that you're wiping by the rings. Just wondering.

It's a 600cfm Edelbrock (i.e. Carter AFB). I've had it on the car for quite a few years and it's never given me any grief. Pretty sure the jetting and everything is OK.

Posted by: VETTKLR

Looks damn good, Brootal.

Posted by: Brootal

Just got back from the exhaust shop. Hadn't heard from them so I thought I'd drop by on the way home (even though it's 20 minutes out of my way

)

Got there and the car was outside... is that good or bad... As I got closer I could see a couple of pipes sticking out the back... it's looking good... got even closer and noticed that he'd put angle cut chrome tips instead of the straight cut I'd asked for... as I pulled into their driveway and got a real close look at the pipes and it actually looks really good.

I didn't want the angle cuts as they're a bit reminiscent of the '70s or '80s... not really a bad thing if you're into that kind of mullet-mobile look.

BUT...

On the American, the angle cuts are just about an exact match for the angle of the rear bumper and it actually looks really, really cool.

Enough of the girlie stuff. How does it sound?

AWESOME!!!

It's got a very sweet note and definitely lives up to its 'Rumbler' name.

Just got to sort out the brakes and thermos and take it for a bit of a test drive. Just idling I could feel a bit of a vibration, but I'll inspect that further tomorrow.

But boy does it sound sweet...

I've got a digital tape recorder. Might see if I can get a half decent recording of it tomorrow.

Posted by: Mr. P

Break it in right, so in other words, "don't break it". It's always a lot of fun taking a new motor out and finding out what it can do. Hope it runs like a scalded Dingo and stays together for ya.

Mr. P

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