'68 L79 body off start-up sanity check

[Joe C.]

Re: But seriously folks....

Dave:

Look at my post "Fun Restoration Pictures". above. Pay particular attention to the "Engine Test" photos. They might help you somewhat.
If you do this, keep a close eye on the temp gauge. Without an effective fan shroud, much of the air bypasses the radiator.

Joe

[Dennis C.]

Re: The Beast?

#14 let bids on supplying a never ending supply of cheap beer - and - Milwaulkie's Best was, by far, the low bidder and won the contract. #14 is nice about sharing.

[Dennis C.]

Re: The Beast?

#14 let bids on supplying a never ending supply of cheap beer - and - Milwaulkie's Best was, by far, the low bidder and won the contract. #14 is nice about sharing.

[Dave F.]

Re: But seriously folks....

Joe:

Great photos - all - really liked the Gantry. Build that yourself? I'm with you on the fan shroud, as I planned to have all in place for the test. Don't know about C2's, but my 68 has a lower metal baffle under the shroud that closes the bottom fairly well. Thanks for posting the pics. Helps to boost the courage.

Dave

[Dave F.]

Re: But seriously folks....

Joe:

Great photos - all - really liked the Gantry. Build that yourself? I'm with you on the fan shroud, as I planned to have all in place for the test. Don't know about C2's, but my 68 has a lower metal baffle under the shroud that closes the bottom fairly well. Thanks for posting the pics. Helps to boost the courage.

Dave

[Terry M.]

Re: The Beast?

Ah yes, some great times around the tailgate. Hopefully some more to come.

[Mike M.]

Re: The Beast?

its sat. am and i'm happy to report that ole "Farm Use" is packed with the Beast and we've off to Windsor.mikie

[Joe C.]

Re: But seriously folks....

Dave:

If you're going to test sans body, then you can't use the shroud, at all. If the temp starts to climb, you can always get an old electric fan to push thru the rad. It helps.
Glad you liked the pix. Yes, I built the gantry myself, as well as the dolly. If you need instructions for the dolly, most anybody here can fix you up.

Joe

BTW: After I moved the car out from under the gantry, I "strung up" a homemade dummy "Texas style". The neighbors loved it.

[Dave F.]

Re: But seriously folks....

Joe,
Thanks for your advice. It is very much appreciated. Body is already on a dolly at my painter's shop, stripped, and ready for drop to frame.

I'm not quite "there" yet, but had imagined some way of getting the shroud in place, maybe temp braced off core support. Temp bracing the top of the core support is another challenge. The bottom baffle will be in place, as that mounts between frame horns and sway bar. That won't work per your experience ? Already have a couple of shop fans ready for supplemental cooling

[Joe C.]

Re: But seriously folks....

Dave:

If you can successfully brace the core support, so that is is entirely rigid and failsafe, then it should work fine. I would hestiate to do that, because, God forbid, if the shroud moves just a bit, then you will have a disaster with the live fan spinning.

I didn't mount the core support, nor the shroud, and went with the electric pusher fan.
Either way, good luck.

Joe

[John H.]

Re: But seriously folks....

Dave -

I've done this countless times over the years - I wrote an article for the "Restorer" about two years ago that detailed the process; can't tell you the issue number, as I'm at Windsor right now. The article used my tube-frame Grand Sport replica as the example.

[Dave F.]

Re: But seriously folks....

Thanks John - I ordered the CD covering 30 years worth of The Restorer, so I should be able to find the article. As a side note, this process has been fun inspite of the inevitible delays, expense etc, and I am actually looking forward to another body-off project. I'd hate to let the learnings acquired through my initial project go wasted ! The insanity has sunk completely to the bone!