Seabeelt's head

[seabeelt]

Thought I would show what I started with before BEEK got the head




Looks like Number 1 cylinder was really passing some oil



Also started redoing the dash - going to use solid mahogany.
Here is the old one removed from the car next to the new uncut stock



In progress


More to follow

[SLOSpider]

sand, coat repeat 20 times and should have a nice finish

[seabeelt]

I will be using a marine product called Epifanes. I refinished our butcher block counters a couple of years ago with this product and it has held up very well to the constant washing and wiping as well as the afternoon western sun that pours into the kitchen. I highly recommend it.
R/

[fiat218]

What is the farme time for beek to get your head and send it back.
I need some one to do mine,
Apparently the only place in my city that would do it ,is closing the doors

[seabeelt]

I have been in no real rush, but I am sure you can ask him via PM. Plan on abut $50 each way for shipping via UPS. Cost for the work will be according to the condition of your head and what work you plan to have done.
R/

[BEEK]

assembling the head right now. pictures tonight

[BEEK]

spark plug hole tapped and ready for insert



spark plug insert installed



note the mark on the camshaft, there is one valve seat recessed into the head a bit, it requires a small shim, the head previously had a small shim too, the wear on the camshaft is from the camshaft hitting the tappet cup. this wear will not hurt anything further.


head completed and ready for shipping

[fiat218]

Great

[seabeelt]

Talked to BEEK yesterday. Head should be on its way home I will post pics of the reinstall. Have been cleaning up under the hood some, not a lot, but some. Man there must be 40 years of grease in there that no one else has bothered to even try to wash off. Yuk

[fiat218]

Talked to BEEK yesterday. Head should be on its way home I will post pics of the reinstall. Have been cleaning up under the hood some, not a lot, but some. Man there must be 40 years of grease in there that no one else has bothered to even try to wash off. Yuk

Do your part

[baltobernie]

Michael, be sure and mill the two rectangular dash inserts to the proper thinness. If you use the stock shown in your cluster photo, the assembly won't go back together. A router set to the proper depth, before cutting the inserts to final dimensions, is an easy way to go. If memory serves, these two pieces are only 1/8" or so.

All three sections are of different thicknesses, ranging from the pieces mentioned above to the glove box door. All must be very close to the OE thicknesses to fit. Like you, I used mahogany ... but plywood for me.

[seabeelt]

I have a thickness planer and milled the stock to match each piece. Your dash looks awesome. Hope mine comes out half as well

[seabeelt]

Its been a while since I posted progress. The head is back home safe and sound. I have run a die over all of the studs and the head bolts. As well as run a tap in the block for the head bolts. It is truely amazing, even if you think they are clean, the stuff that the tap and die pick up in cleaning the threads. I did have to drill out this one hole in the front of the head as the bolt was broken off in the hole ( for the belt cover)

And test fitting some of the refurbished parts


I have also finished the dash wood


A close up of the old parts and fininsh - why I did the new ones


This is the stuff I used to finish the new mahogany


Bought a new dash from AR as the old one was cracked - some idiot cracked it trying to push it closer to the windshield


Found this nice little hole once I took of the cracked dash


Luckily I have a good used one in the garage - 40 years of dust dirt and deteriorated foam pad inside the old one though.


New - well used console with no cracks from the old 78 - test fitting the shift cover - note new boot as well


Old one was a real dog and not even the right color
.

Installing heated seat switches - Its funny you would swear that the are crooked, but after measuring three times, they are exactly in the same location side to side and front to back. - Optical illusion I guess


Components have been transferred from the old dash to the new one and the gauges are getting a cleaning and face lift as well. More pictures to follow.

[BEEK]

nice work

[seabeelt]

Thanks BEEK, thought I think your work far surpasses my modest efforts at improvement
R/