So I've pretty much resigned myself to the fact that I'm going to have to drill out this pain in the something something broken lower water pump bolt. Whatever the previous guy put this thing in with was something serious. There's no backing it out, running it all the way through, or even releasing it with liquid wrench, CRC, whatever. The easy out will break out a couple of threads of the bolt at a time, comes out as an itty bitty little doughnut maybe 3 mm wide. The flipping thing just keeps sheering off. 
It's time for a cobalt bit and a tap. I bought a helicoil kit too just in case I bugger it up right good.
Haven't had time to try using the impact gun I borrowed to release the balancer bolt, but that's the last hurdle of my disassembly. Unless someone here tells me thats a stupid idea...
Will pull the carb shortly too. It's a Holley 1940, non-SCV. She'll get broken down, soaked, and rebuilt. I've done some digging around and the dizzy that I have is a 73 Ford with a Pertronix that my Uncle and I installed 15-20 years ago. She's still got a lot of git up and go - never fails to start. I figure why fix what ain't broke. Might be time for a new cap, wires, and plugs though. Simple maintenance there.
New parts to go on will be the new balancer, replacement stock timing chain/gears, water pump, and engine mounts (tranny mount was just replaced a few months ago).
I don't want to get into the block or rebuilding the head at this point. The head has to cracked exhaust mount bosses (the front one and the back one). The front was half a hole (if such a thing can exist) with a psuedo-stud welded into place. It's held for 20 years, my guess is it'll hold for a few more till I decide whether or not to mod a different log head or go the more expensive aluminum head route from CI.
So aside from the afore-mentioned updates, anybody have any suggestions for relatively economical upgrades that put me on the path towards my end goal of a solid street/strip ride? I'd love to go with the headers and exhaust but I don't think I could explain that sizable of purchase away to the wife-lady this year. I feel like I'm missing something simple that will tick me off that I didn't think of while I've got her half torn apart. The radiator is the larger V8 unit so that's solid.
Maybe I should consider upgrading my coolant overflow tank from a 20 yr old Fosters can to somethin that's more purty. But that would probably decrease performance...
It's time for a cobalt bit and a tap. I bought a helicoil kit too just in case I bugger it up right good.Haven't had time to try using the impact gun I borrowed to release the balancer bolt, but that's the last hurdle of my disassembly. Unless someone here tells me thats a stupid idea...
Will pull the carb shortly too. It's a Holley 1940, non-SCV. She'll get broken down, soaked, and rebuilt. I've done some digging around and the dizzy that I have is a 73 Ford with a Pertronix that my Uncle and I installed 15-20 years ago. She's still got a lot of git up and go - never fails to start. I figure why fix what ain't broke. Might be time for a new cap, wires, and plugs though. Simple maintenance there.
New parts to go on will be the new balancer, replacement stock timing chain/gears, water pump, and engine mounts (tranny mount was just replaced a few months ago).
I don't want to get into the block or rebuilding the head at this point. The head has to cracked exhaust mount bosses (the front one and the back one). The front was half a hole (if such a thing can exist) with a psuedo-stud welded into place. It's held for 20 years, my guess is it'll hold for a few more till I decide whether or not to mod a different log head or go the more expensive aluminum head route from CI.
So aside from the afore-mentioned updates, anybody have any suggestions for relatively economical upgrades that put me on the path towards my end goal of a solid street/strip ride? I'd love to go with the headers and exhaust but I don't think I could explain that sizable of purchase away to the wife-lady this year. I feel like I'm missing something simple that will tick me off that I didn't think of while I've got her half torn apart. The radiator is the larger V8 unit so that's solid.
Maybe I should consider upgrading my coolant overflow tank from a 20 yr old Fosters can to somethin that's more purty. But that would probably decrease performance...
