Getting The Red Chev Back on The Road after Covid

 During Covid in Melbourne I have been starting the Red Chev once a week but only had one drive on the road between the first and second wave.

One of the reasons apart from lockdown was a water leak in between the front of the head and the water inlet / thermostat housing.

Two weeks back I retorqued the head, water leak was still happening, so I pulled off the water inlet this afternoon hoping this may solve the issue.

Cleaned the contact faces, fitted a new gasket with sealant on both sides, refitted, water leak gone.

Now running with no issues I then

Changed the oil and oil filter

Changed the coolant

Replaced the bottom radiator hose

Checked plugs and points.

Tomorrows job is to refit rubber to drivers side running board as water has seeped in between  and caused significant rust since fitted some 14 years back. Several coats of rustbuster, a wire brush on the angle grinder and primer surfacer, which will be finished with full gloss black.

Looking forward to the first drive

1928 Chevy Touring - Smith Classic Cars

No change in Radiator water level in last 8 months

The picture below has not changed since 2010, but I take a new one every so often.

The radiator level remains constant and I have not added water for at least the last 8 months.

The benefits of modifying a 28 Chev water pump with modern internals, that still looks very similar on the outside, combined with an overflow tank and a very low pressure sealed cooling system allow motoring in all temperatures with no concern about overheating or loosing water.

In addition by running a very low pressure system I can use modern coolant with anti corrosion additives.

I only would panic if I saw green water under the car.

Cheers

Ray

New Batteries Installed

Fitted 2 of these bad boys, should be trouble free now for the next 4-6 years?

Since the 90's when I installed the twin battery set up I have been using a common 6 volt truck battery that is also used in Walkie Stackers , and at $170 AUD each they are a reasonable price.

The two thinner cables at the bottom of picture are for the concealed in floor charging point, no lifting floor boards to charge the battery

Time for a Battery Replacement

The Red Chev's dual 6 volt batteries were installed early 2014 and are now dead and will not hold a charge.

Pulled them out today new ones hopefully will be installed tomorrow 14th March 2020