Wynona the wagon's resurrection!

[HRH]

I did not, but haven't ever experienced that issue. I don't see how it could change the circle unless the rod bolts had to be pressed in or something. But maybe I'll install and torque and check them for good measure. Might just call the machinist too after the holiday. Pretty sure it'll be fine though.

[HRH]

Going out to finally yank the oil pan on Wynona and pull some pistons, see what carnage I find in #6.

[wayno]

I hope you have someplace warm to do that.

[HRH]

I do! Took all day to get it warm for 2 hours worth of work. Uninsulated garage but between the propane heater and the wood stove, got it pretty toasty. Definitely comfortable to work in. I thought maybe I could weasel off the pan from the Maxima without removing the crossmember and steering rack. Alas, I was wrong! Going to get a support bar for the top, then drop the rack and crossmember out. Got the pan off, but can't weasel it around the pickup tube. Just as well, I realized even if I could get it off, I still then wouldn't be able to torque stuff down. Probably should have just yanked or dropped the entire motor/trans out, but oh well. Not enough space to do comfortable. So we'll get a brace for the top, then yank the stuff out of the way. But that will be another day, probably the vacation I have coming for this project.

Also confirmed if I decide to use SUs, I'll need to have the Maxima injector holes welded up before port-matching. That extra circle is a problem for non-efi. Could use the 260 head, but then I wouldn't have the high compression peanut head. Either way, she'll be good.

However, I'm using Ugly Betty tomorrow for the Hangover Rallycross at Spokane Raceway Park. I may not be able to bring myself to cut her up depending on how fun it is tomorrow.

[wayno]

I was able to drop my oil pan without removing the cross member on my 521 work truck, what I did was drop the 620 pan as far down as it would go which was a little over an inch, then I took my trusty 12mm wrench and took one of the bolts out holding the oil pick up tube on, and I loosened the other one, then I was able to twist the oil pick up tube enough to allow the oil pan to be removed, I put the proper 521 oil pan back in reversing the process, but I did drop the rack to remove and install the engine with the wrong oil pan on it, when I tried re-installing the rack is when I figured out I had the wrong oil pan on the engine.
I wish I had more room, I have to work on my rigs in the driveway.

[HRH]

No more automatic in Wynona. That trans is a heavy turd. Have a shit ton of work to do now. Need to run the hard clutch line from Betty, then put in the new crank and rods, then yank the drivetrain out of Betty and put the 5 speed up in Wynona and the head from Betty on Wynona's bottom end. Really wish I had a lift and a proper shop. Would be much nicer than butt cold and snow. At least I'm indoors though.

[wayno]

Air jacks are the cheap way to go, won't get your backside off the ground(a creeper will), but it is a lot easier than using floor jacks and jack stands.

[HRH]

Hmm, wonder how much those cost?

[flatcat19]

Harbor freight has a really nice, fairly inexpensive scissor lift.

[izzo]

I just use jacks and jack stands. A small scizzy lift would be nice tho. Something like what they use at the tire shops

[HRH]

Yeah but then you can't move stuff out from underneath it easily. Jacks and stands work fine. Until I get a lift.

[wayno]

This one is kinda expensive.
http://spokane.craigslist.org/tls/5937626130.html
This one is expensive also.
http://spokane.craigslist.org/tls/5889709088.html
Here is another one, not as nice type as the others, but I have one myself, it works great, just doesn't go as high as the others.
http://spokane.craigslist.org/atq/5887465587.html
I believe I paid $100.00 or less for most my air jacks, but did pay $250.00 for a real heavy duty one with all the bells and whistles.

[izzo]

Yeah but then you can't move stuff out from underneath it easily. Jacks and stands work fine. Until I get a lift.

Yeah, for doing trans/exhaust/driveline work it's not really good for that. front end work, rear end work is good.... I never like being under a car really unless it's on a drive on style like an alignment rack or what not

[HRH]

Well, I had a good think, and after identifying all the little issues associated with putting carbs on an efi manifold, I realized I'm not going to have enough to in the week to get things done. So, I'm going to put ugly Betty's head on Wynona but I'll send delta Wynona's original can to regrind into a more pleasing profile, just not so much that I'll have issues with vacuum and idle. Then I'll eventually work over the 260 head, or maybe Wynonas original head and plan carburetion at a later date. For right now, I'm happy just to get more displacement and a 5 speed, not to mention a running car again.

[flatcat19]

Running by gatoland?

[HRH]

Not a bad idea, but at this point I'm going to be happy if I just get her back together. We'll see.

[HRH]

So here's the problem, as I suspected. Cylinder got too hot, I suspect 6 has the propensity for running lean, although it could also be a crapping injector. Either way, lean/hot=melted piston. Rings are stuck to the piston, they don't expand out, which explains the lack of compression. I'd say it was just the heat actually. I've lean detonated pistons before and usually the ring lands are broken when that happens. But anyway, the newer injectors from Ugly Betty will be snagged for Wynona, and after lunch I'll commence pulling all the rest of the stuff.

Also reinforced a rickety previous owner's shelf in the basement for Honda parts for Rose's dad. Can't remember if I started to tear that workbench out at one time or what, but it was missing a few uprights. Put in a couple 2x6s this morning so I could get the Honda mess out of my way in the garage.

[HRH]

Alright, didn't get as much done as I would have liked today, but I have the crank ready to install tomorrow morning so that's good. Here are some pictures for you all:

[HRH]

And some more. Last one is poor Ugly Betty waiting her re-purposing.

[Laecaon]

For a second I was like, when did you get a Cherokee and slam it, and make it 4 lug?

You definitely do lots of engine work.