Operation: Gertrude. Kendelrios M715 restoration thread

Ok, final update until I get home....

In a nutshell, I pulled the engine three times. The last time I pulled it, it was because the timing was WAY out..... I ended up finding the spiral gear for the oil pump was ganchy, so I pulled my OF one off, then it was various other issues until I pretty much stripped my OG block and rebuilt the donor block.

I learned how to time the engine from a factory setting, my kid learned how to use a torque wrench, how to set valve lash, fuel pump settings, distributor adjustment (rough AND fine), install and troubleshoot clutch, pressure plate, transmission, open the transmission and troubleshoot it, and a couple friends of mine have decided that @m715mike should retire his moniker and give it to me.....

Currently, the engine/transmission is back in the truck, I've started her and got her running, I'll be checking oil pressure and removing air from the cooling system and hopefully buttoning her up for good when I get home..... Enjoy more pics!


The shape of the spiral gear on the donor truck



Everyone who worked on her got to sign the fan









He's the Charlie Daniels of the torque wrench!




*NOT* the spousal approved method of testing thermostats...




Helping install the tranmission cover plate



Learning how difficult it is to install the #6 plug

Great seeing kids in there learning hands on how to do these things.

Cheers

kendelrio said:

Ok, final update until I get home....

In a nutshell, I pulled the engine three times. The last time I pulled it, it was because the timing was WAY out..... I ended up finding the spiral gear for the oil pump was ganchy, so I pulled my OF one off, then it was various other issues until I pretty much stripped my OG block and rebuilt the donor block.

I learned how to time the engine from a factory setting, my kid learned how to use a torque wrench, how to set valve lash, fuel pump settings, distributor adjustment (rough AND fine), install and troubleshoot clutch, pressure plate, transmission, open the transmission and troubleshoot it, and a couple friends of mine have decided that @m715mike should retire his moniker and give it to me.....

Currently, the engine/transmission is back in the truck, I've started her and got her running, I'll be checking oil pressure and removing air from the cooling system and hopefully buttoning her up for good when I get home..... Enjoy more pics!


The shape of the spiral gear on the donor truck

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Everyone who worked on her got to sign the fan

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He's the Charlie Daniels of the torque wrench!

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*NOT* the spousal approved method of testing thermostats...

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Helping install the tranmission cover plate

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Learning how difficult it is to install the #6 plug

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The "fan" is honestly, DAMN AWESOME!!

M813rc said:

Great seeing kids in there learning hands on how to do these things.

Cheers

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He asked for this to be his first truck that he will drive to high school. I told him I had no issue with that, but he will put in sweat equity and learn to maintain it so I don't get calls like "Dad, it won't start". I want him to be able to troubleshoot it and do any type of repairs he will need. I've already got an "ugh oh" box I'm putting together with a spare set of points, plugs, a few plug wires (a #6 so it doesn't matter which one he needs, it'll be long enough), some parts for the carb and a few resisters. There's also a basic standard mechanic tool set under the seat and a hard copy of the -10 and -20 TMs in a waterproof case.

He's learned how to change the tires, bend brake line tubing, check the oil etc.

I want him prepared.

He's under the impression he will be "borrowing" the truck until he graduates, but what he doesn't realize is I plan to give it to him as a graduation gift.

kendelrio said:

He asked for this to be his first truck that he will drive to high school. I told him I had no issue with that, but he will put in sweat equity and learn to maintain it so I don't get calls like "Dad, it won't start". I want him to be able to troubleshoot it and do any type of repairs he will need. I've already got an "ugh oh" box I'm putting together with a spare set of points, plugs, a few plug wires (a #6 so it doesn't matter which one he needs, it'll be long enough), some parts for the carb and a few resisters. There's also a basic standard mechanic tool set under the seat and a hard copy of the -10 and -20 TMs in a waterproof case.

He's learned how to change the tires, bend brake line tubing, check the oil etc.

I want him prepared.

He's under the impression he will be "borrowing" the truck until he graduates, but what he doesn't realize is I plan to give it to him as a graduation gift.

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Poor Kid, doomed already to the "Green Iron" disease, and at such an early part of his life................for shame!! LMBO

kendelrio said:

He's under the impression he will be "borrowing" the truck until he graduates, but what he doesn't realize is I plan to give it to him as a graduation gift.

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That is outstanding!!

Cheers

I am proud of you Ken. I am proud of your Son. He has grown and come a long way since the first time I saw his picture!

Guyfang said:

I am proud of you Ken. I am proud of your Son. He has grown and come a long way since the first time I saw his picture!

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CAREFUL!!! YA know how those sea faring individuals get!!! Just like a PUFFER fish!!! WHOOOP, all swole up!

ROFLMBO

One trip to school with the 5-ton and you'll know you will have no MV's in your garage.

They'll all be in his!

That is so true! My son drove all of my MV’s to school at least once.

This is awesome! Your truck is beautiful, love what you’ve done to personalize it for your family, but the best part is seeing the interest your son has in working on it. Total Thumbs-Up sir!

silverstate55 said:

This is awesome! Your truck is beautiful, love what you’ve done to personalize it for your family, but the best part is seeing the interest your son has in working on it. Total Thumbs-Up sir!

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Remember "WHOOP"........Won't even fit in same room with him!!! POOF!!




LMBO

Well, I'm home and dug into why she wouldn't start.

One thing I failed to mention (maybe 2) was that a: when I ran her on the stand, I didn't have an oil pressure gauge hooked up.
B: she was making a horrible squeaking noise shortly before I shut her down


Well, here's some of lessons I've learned:

A: a tornado engine will run without oil pressure for about 10 minutes.

B: when the engine is running without oil, it won't make any obvious sounds

C: when the cam is seizing, it makes a horrible squeaking sound.

Today I changed out a cam and cam housing. (Fortunately I had a spare laying around), torqued down the head again (I didn't move it and kept the "base" bolts in.







Tomorrow I will take my oil pressure testing g gauge with me to the shop and me and my buddy will turn her over, verify oil movement, then fire her up.

Oh, and physical TMs are worth their weight in gold...

Well, she's fighting me every step of the way....

Got to the shop WAY too early for a day off..



And commenced working...

The first thing i did was hang a needed shop accessory that this old girl taught me I need:



I put the thermostat back in (as I had left it out while I was offshore to allow the system to "burp" after refilling it.)
I set the valve lash and when I spun it over without the ignition on to check to make sure everything was moving, I noticed some water coming out of the thermostat housing, so I investigated.

It turns out at some point a previous owner had wallered out the front stud into the intake, so I had to repair that. (I ended up through bolting it as the stud holes go all the way through. )

Then I put the fan, outer belt pully (I had removed them to turn the engine over by hand) re-gapped the plugs and put them back in.

Now it was do or die time.... I spun her over a few times to prime the carb, hit the ignition and SUCCESS! She fired up!

I immediately started watching my pressure gauge on the dash and no love. It didn't move, so I shut her down and got ready to install my pressure testing kit.



I crawl underneath and go to spin off the oil pressure sensor and:



The "T" that goes from the block to the oil line up to the back of the block and sensor broke GOING INTO THE BLOCK!

I checked my donor engine to see if I could use the one off of there, and it turns out this apparently is a common issue, as that one snapped off in my hands



So, I am going to take a few days off, come back with a spare if I can find one and an extractor kit and proceed.

By the way, not a shill, but my lady got me a ratchet extendor for Christmas and I gotta tell yall... ot absolutely saved my hand from the radiator fins when putting the fan back on!



More in a week or so...

Surprises aren't always good, sort of like Birthday cakes.....looks good from the outside, but dont know till ya cut into it....

Sorry, she's being obstinate......

Time away can make the heart grow fonder.....or so the say.

Best wishes and prayers, Sir!

Hey Ken, keep at it you’ll figure it out!

Yep, that looks like a bad design with way to much weight hanging off those brass threads. Any chance thats a nipple broken off in the tee-block, If so hopefully replace it with a steel or stainless nipple? If it’s a moulded piece of the tee block, consider cutting it off flush, drill and threading it to accept a nipple. May have to go with a reducer nipple if theres not enough meat in the tee-block. Or, just build a whole new block out of steel fittings…

Also, you might want to pull the plugs back out and just use the starter to spin her over while chasing your oil pressure issues.

Anybody know if these oil pumps can be driven manually/externally like the old distributor gear driven pumps could?

Brass is "relatively" easier to remove than going back with steel or stainless if there is another problem down the road. A little heat, some penetrating oil, and a left hand twist extractor should make it a painless operation....

Teflon tape or preferably the liquid /paste sealer not only does it stops leaks in pipe threads but it is also a lubricant to make it easy to disassemble. I don't think liquid pipe sealing teflon stuff was a thing back then.

Looking good and appreciate all the postings. Your goal is to bring this critter to the La Rally in May

That wrench extender is very interesting. I googled it and found it in Amazon. Might need to add to my overextended ( my wife's opinion ) holdings of hand tools.

I got the old one out and new one in. Now my stinking oil pump isn't building pressure. I've posted a thread about it. Probably going to order a new pump as I'm not sure of the condition of the donor pump. If that doesn't get it... I'm repowering. Probably a 4bt diesel.

I have no idea if these are hard to prime pumps or if yours is just wore out, but sometimes packing the gears with petroleum jelly or possibly light grease does the trick…