Marvel Tappet Silencers - Well not Yet

30th June 2011 - I intend trying these in the next few weeks, and I will let you know how they work out.

2nd July 2011 - Did not go exactly to plan. Pulled out the plugs, off with the rocker cover, removed one adjuster screw, went to fit the silencer, would not fit. Then I remembered that my Bedford truck  valves have oversize stems. So I was not able to fit the valve top silencers, but was able to fit the spring silencers to each end of the rocker arm shafts.

Marvel Tappet silencers put away for the future when and if I change the head over to one with standard valves.

No great drama, good excuse to reset the tappets, and a couple were a bit loose.

End result is tappets are a bit quieter, but as a lot of Chev 4 drivers say "If you can't here them their too tight"

Did not need to clean the plugs. Those Autolite 3077's are great.

The easy part of the whole operation was resetting the tappet clearances. This has always been a job that I never liked doing, very fiddly. However a while back I purchased on EBay a vintage tappet adjuster, made by Snap On Tools. This is a combination socket and screw driver in one, and is excellent for a one handed operation, while you have the feeler gauge in the other hand.

See pictures below.

2011 - June - Vintage Car Meets Vintage Train

The DVHCC  www.dvhcc.com.au  organized a club car display at Mount Waverly station today as part of the commemoration of 81 years since the first rail service to Glen Waverly.

After a brisk (40- 45mph) and windy run down the Monash Freeway from Narre Warren we arrived at the station and very quickly jumped on board for a steam train ride.

Big Toys for Big Boys (and a few girls also)

The passing crowd on their way to and from the Steam Train rides enjoyed the good turn out of cars and viewed them with great interest.

A good day was had by all.

I think I will stick with vintage cars. Those steam engines look so big to work on, and what would the neighbours say?

My Reccomended Rust Converter

Over the last 4 years I have achieved excellent results with Ranex Rustbuster.

http://www.bondall.com/rustbuster/Ranex_Rustbuster.html

Its a clear liquid that can be brushed on, or in my case soak the part in Rustbuster for up to several days. The finished surface can either be wire brushed before priming or left to dry prior to painting.

The first time I used the product was to clean out the rust from the engine block cooling system areas. I completely filled the block with Rustbuster and let it sit for about 1 day then flushed several times.

Rustbuster can be re-used time after time, filtering through a cloth after each use.

Below is a before and after photo of the same part, which is still to be wire brushed.

Here are some more before and after shots

Applications that I have used Rustbuster on are

Steering Wheel Frame
Steel Radiator surround
Radiator surround inner panels
Water Pump Housings
Engine Block
Thermostat Housing
Windscreen Surround
Brake Linkages
Transmission Gears
U Bolts
Various nuts and Bolts

And probably more I have forgotten.

The Chev is now entertaining the third generation of my family

My daughter Melanie, and my grand daughter Ashley. The second and third generation of the family that have enjoyed the Chev.

I will let the pictures tell the story.

From the Land of the Good Ol' Boys

Back in 2007 I purchased a complete radiator assembly from the Black Hills of Dakota USA. The main attraction was the steel radiator surround which I prefer to the aluminium. The photo on EBay clearly showed that someone had put a couple of rounds into the side of the surround. I was still happy to buy it as the surround could be repaired, and there was a chance the honey comb core could be serviceable.

When the package arrived it was a bit of a drama, full of black mountain soil. I was amazed it had made it through customs.

After being packed away for the last 4 years, I finally got around to pulling it apart last night (22nd June 2011). Luck has gone my way on this purchase as the slugs had penetrated the surround and glanced of the side of the top brass tank.

So as well as having a spare steel surround, I have the bonus of a serviceable honeycomb core.

Who knows what history this radiator that was pulled out of a Chev commercial vehicle has seen.

I have included a few photos below to show the damage from the 2 bullets.