Bluelight

When I got it last fall, the right rear bump stop had rotted and fallen off, leaving just the base plate. I was going to replace it with one of the original 2.9" bump stops that I took off of my '99. I went to take the base plate off, and as expected, broke one of the bolts

Today, I intended to finally drill, tap, and replace the missing bump stop. I got the hole drilled out, but found my tap was dull from cutting through hardened weld-nut, bolt material and fragments of "ez-out." I also didn't have a spare bolt handy, so I'll have to pickup a new tap and bolt, but at least the drilling is done

Bluelight

After swinging by the hardware store for a new tap and bolt, the bump stop is installed.

Also got the turn signals working. Cause was a misprint in the owners manual. The book lists space #8 is the turn signals. In my box, space #8 has only one contact. However, space #10 has two contacts, but is not listed as being anything in the book. Tried popping a fuse in and the turn signals worked!

Bluelight

Today I did a little cleaning in preparation for closing the engine up. I pried the broken remains of CCV valve, elbow and petrified grommets out of the valve cover. I picked up a pair of new grommets, a new CCV valve, and a set of coolant hose clamps. I than degunked the valve cover and made sure the mating surface is clean. Finally, I installed the new grommets.

Bluelight

Head bolts arrived today!

Today I picked up a new throttle body mounting gasket. I took the throttle body off for cleaning. I than started degunking and cleaning the intake manifold. I only had a large brush, so there were some spots I couldn't get to. I still have to take some throttle body cleaner to the insides of the runners and injector ports. It's not perfect, but it's a lot better. At least I don't need fast orange after touching it anymore

Also ordered the front CCV breather elbow from Summit Racing.

Bluelight

Dropped the head off at the machine shop to be welded, surfaced, and the valve seats machined. Should be ready Friday.

Bluelight

Front CCV elbow arrived today, so I went ahead and popped them into the valve cover. Not much going on right now, but I do have things in place to close the engine up. Should pick the head up Friday, do a final cleanup on the deck, and it should be ready to close it all back up.

Bluelight

Picked up the head from the shop. Welded up, flattened out, ground valve seats, and a fresh coat of AMC blue paint! Now if only the rain would let up...

Bluelight

Productive day today, at least between rain storms. Got the deck cleaned and cylinders cleaned out. Got the head on and torqued down. Installed the pushrods and rocker arms. Finally installed spark plugs and wires.

I was dreading trying to get the head into place by myself, but it wasn't too bad. I placed bolt #14 in the head, with the bottom flush with the bottom of the head. I used a pair of vice grips to keep the bolt from dropping all the way down. I had a step stool against the front bumper. I stood with one foot on the stool and the other foot on the left motor mount, and was able to hold and lower the head into place, looking down through the bolt holes to ensure alignment.

Bluelight

After a long night of putting the head on, I got a phone call bright and early the next morning. Work trip and Heep on hold, again. After I had closed everything up, I tried cranking it over and though it sounded good, it sounded like it was compressing on only 5 cylinders. A colleague suggested that since it hadn't been run in so long, the problem could be a lifter that had collapsed and hadn't pumped back up yet. Back at home, today I tried cranking it, and after about a minute of straight cranking, it sounds like the lifter had pumped up enough to work and there was compression on all 6

Next up is to order a radiator, hoses, and an exhaust manifold. I can also put the valve cover on now.

Bluelight

Picked up a new radiator, upper hose, lower hose and a radiator cap. Will start putting them in once the rain lets up.

Bluelight

Well, it only took all summer, but I finally bought the last of the new tires for my '99. Got them put on this evening. This means I could put the wheels I borrowed from this one back.

Also picked up new upper and lower heater hoses. Since I had to replace them, I bought 97-01 style formed hoses that go from the front of the engine all the way to the heater core, without the vacuum bypass valve.

Bluelight

Didn't really do a lot to it today, but I did get the old heater hoses removed and the new ones installed. The upper one is only hooked up at the heater core end, since the thermostat cover isn't installed yet.

Bluelight

Picked up two gallons of antifreeze and a gallon of distilled water. New temperature switch arrived and installed today. Radiator replaced. New hoses in, but loose at the thermostat end.

Bluelight

Been busy with a lot of things, but also got a lot done with the Heep. I kinda fell behind on the updates, so here they are.

09-07-2014
I took the opportunity to install an engine block heater before putting the manifolds in. Next, I put the thermostat housing back on, but realized I forgot to put the thermostat in first, so I pulled it off and tried again. My nephew welded up the crack in the exhaust manifold, so I put it on, followed by the intake manifold and fuel rail. I than prepped the cork gasket and put on the valve cover. Next I cleaned up the throttle body and put it on. Finally, I hooked up the electrical, fuel and vacuum lines. I went to fill the radiaor and discovered that when I put the thermostat housing back on after forgetting to put in the thermostat, it didn't seal properly, and will have to be redone. Next I changed the oil. Finally, I have the key two turns to prime the fuel system and check for leaks. Unfortunately, fuel was spraying from the fuel rail connectors and the pressure regulator. I worked hard to get it ready to start, but starting it wasn't going to happen today

Bluelight

09-14-2014
Picked up some new fuel fitting O-rings, and a new thermostat gasket, as well as a set of picks to help with changing the O-rings. Got the connector O-rings replaced and took off the regulator. Under the regulator I found a bunch of brown grit. My O-ring set didn't have one that fit the regulator, so I just cleaned it up and put it back together. Topped off the coolant, pressurized the fuel system and checked for leaks. None found, so I cranked it over. It's alive!

It sounds good, with only a light cold slap from #1, and some hesitation on throttle. I haven't replaced the thermostat gasket yet, so it still leaks. After a test run, things weren't looking as good. It was still missing on one cylinder. On the open road, it would get up to speed, but shook badly, and couldn't hold 55 up a small hill even with a downshift into 4th. It's running, but there's still some work to do yet.