building a 1438 stocker for a 68 124 spider.

So Cal Mark · Post by **So Cal Mark** » Sun Mar 19, 2006 12:26 am

Hey, you got the head on and the front together! Did the deck clean up okay? If you haven't put the t-belt on yet you could spin the aux shaft until the cams get oiled

spiderrey · Post by **spiderrey** » Sun Mar 19, 2006 10:06 am

timing belt not on. only 2 bolts holding head on rt now. just threw cover on for pics. will torque head down this morning, and spin aux shaft to oil top of motor. then i guess ill start cleaning that engine bay. and if i have time ill tinker with my car

spiderrey · Post by **spiderrey** » Sun Mar 19, 2006 10:09 am

by the way. the book said to put grease on the head gasket, whats up with that

So Cal Mark · Post by **So Cal Mark** » Sun Mar 19, 2006 10:45 am

that is so-last-century! Back in olden times, gaskets weren't coated and the grease kept them from sticking

spiderrey · Post by **spiderrey** » Sun Mar 19, 2006 10:50 am

that book is from the early seventies. never heard that one before. im gonna tork the head rt now and spin the shaft to oil the top end.

ventura ace · Post by **ventura ace** » Sun Mar 19, 2006 11:00 am

Really looking good, Rey. I can tell a lot of time and care went into that! Good job.

alvon

spiderrey · Post by **spiderrey** » Sun Mar 19, 2006 11:37 am

thanx alvon. chris was in a hurry and wanted me to just slap it together, u know how kids r. alvon did u notice the dipstick. makes it easier to see since its down so low

ventura ace · Post by **ventura ace** » Sun Mar 19, 2006 2:36 pm

Did notice the dipstick, and it looks superb. Next time I see you, I'd like to get a real good look at it to see how you did it!

Don't know if I will change, though. I had a little scare with mine when I was trying to work out getting the crankcase vent hooked into my IDF filters. Apparently, the ports that are provided in those aftermarket filters are too small and restrictive, and resulted in my dipstick getting blown out of its sealed position. I discovered it right after it happened, so it didn't make too bad of a mess. I think I drilled out the dipstick tube a little bit too big, and the seal is not as tight as it should be.

On the positive side, I discovered that if I turn the dipstick handle toward the front of the engine, it will "lock" underneath the waffle manifold, which will keep it from ever possibly popping out again. So, until I get all the bugs worked out, I like having this little safety lock in place. Be sure that yours fits tight, Rey. I'd hate for you to have the same problem.

Here are a few pics, showing what I was talking about:

alvon

spiderrey · Post by **spiderrey** » Sun Mar 19, 2006 3:34 pm

mine fits just fine. 1438 so it came with the stick it has, no mods, my 2 liter has a short stick also, no problems so far. and ive reved the crap out of that thing.
what kind and color did u use on ur block

So Cal Mark · Post by **So Cal Mark** » Sun Mar 19, 2006 3:48 pm

if you haven't solved the crankcase vent problem, jamming the dipstick will cause the pressure to vent somewhere else; rear main, front seal, etc

ventura ace · Post by **ventura ace** » Sun Mar 19, 2006 4:25 pm

Rey, the block is painted with Duplicolor Engine Enamel 500 degrees ceramic, 'New Ford Grey DE1611'. I started with a Cast Iron Grey, which I preferred over the Ford Grey. but there were problems, and I had to redo it, so I went with something that I knew worked well for me before.

Mark, thanks for the warnings about oil leaks from restricting the crankcase vent. I have thought of that, and I don't have the crankcase restricted any more. I have always been a little leary of the not-snug-enough fit of the dipstick seal, so that's why I 'lock' the dipstick in place. Presently, I am running the crankcase vapors through a trap and venting the trap to atmosphere down behing the X-member, but I don't like how it works, because the fumes get into the car, and it stinks!! If I stick with the filters that I have, I will cut a hole in the side of one of them to put the crankcase vapor hose. Or . . . I may use a small bump hood, so I can use the stock turtleback air cleaner.

alvon

spiderrey · Post by **spiderrey** » Sun Mar 19, 2006 4:57 pm

yeh i thought yours looked a little different then mine. we used the exact same paint, but i used thier clear over everything ,even the grey. made the grey a little darker and a lot shineyer.

ventura ace · Post by **ventura ace** » Sun Mar 19, 2006 5:21 pm

Rey,
I think the cyclonic trap may be hooked up backwards on your engine. I wasn't clear how it should go, and connected mine like what it looks like in the pictures in my manuals, . . . I think. I can't tell for sure, but it looks like yours and mine are hooked up differently. I think the point is that the vapors enter the cyclonic housing on the outer rim, making a swirling action as the gas is flowing. It then exits in the center, where the swirling velocity is slower and the oil droplets have fallen back down by gravity.

Take a close look and see what you think, and somebody please correct me if I'm wrong.

alvon

spiderrey · Post by **spiderrey** » Sun Mar 19, 2006 6:09 pm

is mine backwards, or is yours? would that explain ur pressure problem? ill have to double check mine against my other motor.

So Cal Mark · Post by **So Cal Mark** » Sun Mar 19, 2006 7:11 pm

it does look like the separater is backwards because the nipple for the air cleaner hose is pointed towards the block. Usually the curved hose will only fit one way, but that looks like an aftermarket hose.

Alvon, I've seen lots of Spiders with dual IDFs only running what is basically an road draft tube since they just hang the vent hose under the car. That is '50s technology that doesn't work very well. Like you said, not only does it stink, but the venturi effect of air under the car isn't prevalent at lower speeds. You may remember how cars of that era suffered from sludge buildup. That condition was virtually eliminated with positive crankcase ventilation.