The SAGA Begins - '66 300 Convertible

[Zymurgy]

The leak you describe is exactly the same symptom I have. I was hoping to remove the tank yesterday, but its just too damned hot to do any work. I'll have another go at the leak when it cools down (it was almost 100 degrees yesterday. In the meantime, I'll syphon off a couple of gallons and see what happens with the leaking.

I was going to recommend siphoning off some gas. Hopefully that is the problem, Scott recommended this place for an old retaining ring, in case you have a new crappy repop. National Moparts

Call him directly, he knows of the problem and can throw one in the mail, and at a very reasonable price.

Also I would not remove the tank if you find out the sending unit seal is the source of your leak. Removing the tank is the easy part. The tank is easy to reinstall too, but not the filler neck. I actually had to take my car to a shop, with a lift. I could not enough leverage on my back to get it reinstalled.

 

[Ripinator]

I was going to recommend siphoning off some gas. Hopefully that is the problem, Scott recommended this place for an old retaining ring, in case you have a new crappy repop. National Moparts

Call him directly, he knows of the problem and can throw one in the mail, and at a very reasonable price.

Thanx a lot, Mike. Stay tuned. . .

 

[Zymurgy]

Ironically yesterday, before I went to Nats, was literally the first time in nearly 4 years of ownership that I actually completely filled my tank. It had given me that much grief over the years. I finally diagnosed the retaining ring leak last summer.

Next it was leaking from the cap, I thought initially it was seal at the neck and tank, so I would never fill it past 2/3rd of a tank. I didn't want to open that can of worms again. The cap ended up being an easy fix, I was not fully tightening the cap. I was hitting resistance and thought it was closed, but found I need to turn it about another 30 degrees.

Drove it 130 miles yesterday and still have over a half of tank of gas.

 

[Ripinator]

I purchased this car (the '66 convertible) in May over a year ago. You all may remember I've been working on it off and on ever since. Some time during the effort to get it running reliably, I discovered the engine in the car is a 383 - not the 440 TNT engine that should have been there. Being totally pissed, I embarked on a search for a date-code-correct 440 engine. That is when I found the "Parts Car" last October.

My original intention with this car was to swap engines, since it had a date-code-correct TNT 440. BUT the car turned out to be just too nice to do that. And I lapsed into "lets just wait and see" mode. At the Carlisle meet last month, I guy named Matt strolls into my tent. We said hello; I offered him a seat and a cold one. Then he sez: "Is anybody here looking for '66 date-code-correct 440 engine?" I **** you not! That is what he said. Long story short: I said: "ME! ME! ME! We tentatively made the deal, and I took a ride with John (@75LandYacht) up to Matt's house / shop to check it out. We finalized the deal, and two weeks later my son and I went to Matt's to pick up the engine.

The engine is complete from the pan to the air cleaner. I'm as happy as a sissy at the YMCA!

Got the engine home to the Garage Mahal, where we spent some time with the power washer.

Looks like the block was cast during the fourth hour of the day shift. . .

Last Sunday, we took the engine to the machine shop. This shop is an amazing place:

The machine shop is in a building next to the machinist's house. He is supposed to be just about the best there is around here. I found him through a mechanic I've used for many years. I should hear from him in a few days, after which I'll report back here to the collective.

 

[commando1]

 

[bluefury361]

Its a great journey your on Rip. I love the stories. Well told. I remember you talking about going to get this engine while at Carlisle. Did you not obtain some additional stuff while there...? Hopefully will see the new engine in the convertible sometime.

 

[Zymurgy]

That is freaking awesome! What a great story.

 

[Ripinator]

Its a great journey your on Rip. I love the stories. Well told. I remember you talking about going to get this engine while at Carlisle. Did you not obtain some additional stuff while there...? Hopefully will see the new engine in the convertible sometime.

I just got the engine, Wil. John did pick up some stuff too, but now I can't remember what it was. . .

 

[Ripinator]

I went to see Mr. Mancini yesterday. He is the machinist who is working on the rebuild of the engine described in my above posts. Looks like the engine will be done in about two weeks or less. Here are a few shots that illustrate the progress:

Here is the block fresh out of the cooker:

Here are the old pistons:

Another shot of the block and the mains:

And another shot of the block and cylinder bores. If you look close, you can see the ridge at the top of the bore on No. 2:

Here is the new pan:

The heads are almost done:

Here is the rebuilt carburetor:

This is the new cam and other valve train parts:

That is all for now; I'll have more progress pics in a coupla weeks.

 

[Ripinator]

Got a call from Mr. Mancini who said: "Your engine is ready. . ." So, this past Saturday, I enlisted the aid of No. 1 son, and we went and picked it up. The engine was in the back room of his shop:

After a visual inspection, the engine was bagged up for the trip back to the Garage Mahal:

And lifted across the shop to the back of our truck.

Home safe.

Now that the engine is back and ready to go, I thought: "Oh! ****! Now I'm gonna hafta yank out the old 383, and install it. No more talking and dreaming. . .Things are gonna start to get real and very manly now. . . Stay tuned!

 

[Zymurgy]

Sweeeeeeeeet! We will be watching your progress Rip.

 

[GJS]

Nice one, man! Looking forward to seeing that mill run!

 

[65sporty]

That's a nice, clean machine shop, your engine looks great.

 

[live4theking]

Things are gonna start to get real and very manly now. . . Stay tuned!

Looks sweet Rip.

 

[70bigblockdodge]

Tire smoke by this Sunday?

 

[Ripinator]

Tire smoke by this Sunday?

Maybe. . .

 

[Ripinator]

Alright, boys. . . Enough of the bikinis and T&A. This past Sunday we finally pulled the old 383 out of the '66 convertible. I've been pickin' at this engine removal project for weeks. I'm old, so I'm slow. . . But just like @Big_John sez: Get a little bit done at a time, and soon the elephant has been eaten. Here are a few shots to chronicle this important (to me) milestone.

So. . . Now to begin working on some of the fun parts: Getting the rebuilt 440 all dressed up and ready to go in to the car, cleaning up the grungy engine bay and make things as pretty as I can. I'll chronicle that stuff too. Stay tuned, slackers!

 

[Zymurgy]

Get after it Rip, I have been waiting all winter for some news. Nice to see the ball is rolling.

 

[Wollfen]

Come on, get those old bones working! Hey where are the bikinis? I keep missing the bikinis! By the way, on a less important note than bikinis, can you post a pic of the 383 engine cast date and pad stamp date? Got me curious.

 

[commando1]

I admire you, Rip. I took 2 Alieve just thinking about your bones afterwards.