'59 Plymouth Forum

Michael's headed straight for the panhandle - I hope that by now, Dick, you are headed south to Palm Beach Gardens, and not still driving US 10. Send up a flare, will ya?!?

I think I'm going to go ahead and order those long J-bolts from Vans, on the likely prospect that your straps are not for a (rare) 23 gallon tank.

Just got home a couple of hours ago. Let me find the straps and get back to you.
Dick

Nope - Mine measure the same as yours. All you need is a coupling nut and a short piece of threaded rod. At my ACE we have coupling nuts up to 3/4" and threaded rod 3" and 6" long or longer.
Dick

Thanks Dick! I think if I were going to use a coupling nut, I would just use a bolt at the right length rather than all thread and a nut. But I ordered the longer J-bolts before I saw your reply, so let's see how I make out with those.

Glad to hear you are home safe and sound from "Cruisin' the Coast. Post some pix in "It's Show Time"!

There's a chance the J-bolts will arrive tomorrow. Meanwhile, some more tinkering in the engine compartment...

Oh yeah! What's this fitting for in the last pic? I seem to recall it from before, and wondering what - if anything - goes there. Is it for servicing? I don't think I had anything connected to it.

Rechromed. Rebuilt. Renewed!

(*Tap*, *Tap*...) Hey, is this mike on?!?

What's this fitting for?

It's the vacuum connection to the vacuum advance on the carburetor. This picture is from the 2 bbl. On the convert.
Dick

This is a picture of Greenies 361 four barell carburetor, it's the vacuum connection to the vacuum advance.
Dick

D'Oh! But of course. I have to hunt around in my stash of parts for that male fitting, and replace the rubber tubing. Here I was thinking this doodad - a thin little tube off of the rear vacuum line for the power brakes- was where the vac advance had been plugged into. But now I realize, that's for the dashboard heater control switch. I'll have to put a cap on that until I'm ready to redo the heater controls.

I never got to hang the radiator today, but I did finish the power brake hoses and install the radiator core. In the process, I also managed to snap a bolt It's in an inconspicuous spot, and wouldn't be noticed - but it's bothering me now. I guess I'll drill it out... (*sigh*.) Nibbles of the elephant.

I would suggest that instead of rubber hose you use the white poly tubing, thats what is on Greenin and zero chance of collapsing. Can be sourced at ACE.
Dick

More nibbles. I'm beginning to like the taste of elephant!

The J-bolts arrived from Vans, and they are quite longer! Now to reshape the straps, and bolt the tank in.

Faulkner wrote: ↑Fri Oct 19, 2018 3:38 pm The J-bolts arrived from Vans, and they are quite longer! Now to reshape the straps, and bolt the tank in.

Yeah. Well, maybe tomorrow - the best laid plans, and all that.

I did find the vacuum fitting for the carb - and it was attached to the metal vacuum tube! I bought some of that white poly tubing to make up the connection to the vacuum advance - I recall it being black, but I think I tossed it because it was dry-rotted.

I expect in a week or two, I'll be firing up the 318 - after I crank it for a while with the coil wire disconnected to get the juices flowing. I plan to first strategically put drops of oil on the valve guides before lashing down the valve covers. Hey, should I also put a few drops in each cylinder? It will make for a helluva smokey mess when I fire it up - but maybe it will be so loud without exhaust, I won't even notice

...and the tank is in! Those extra long J-bolts were what I needed.

I think next weekend is the big crank - first without a coil wire. What do folks think of my "oil in the cylinders" idea? Not particularly helpful?

Oh yeah - question #2: How many inch-pounds on the valve cover bolts?

Do it...but just ground the coil wire, do not leave it out.
valve cover bolts are torqued to 50 inch pounds.