Hey All,
Wednesday Morning Update:

Checked with NAPA's website for Pushrods, Intake Valve Stem Seals, Exhaust Valve Stem Seals, and KD Tools Valve Spring Compressor. Came up empty.

Did the same with AutoZone with the same results.

Did the same thing with O'Reilly Auto Parts and wonder of wonders, they have:

Sealed Power Brand, 225 Slant Six Pushrods, 9.954" long, Part Number: RP3036, for $2.99 each.

Sealed Power Brand, 225 Slant Six Intake Valve Stem Seals, Part Number 1771C, for $0.29 each.

Sealed Power Brand, 225 Slant Six Exhaust Valve Stem Seals, Part Number MV1918, for $1.49 each.

KD Tools Valve Spring Compressor, Part Number 3271 for $46.99

Will be going to Livingston tomorrow and will stop at O'Reilly Auto Parts and order all this stuff. It's all that is available in the area.

How about THAT Slant Fans?

JC

_________________
Lorrie Van Haul - 1967 Dodge - P200 Post Office Vehicle - 225 Slant Six - Torqueflite A727 Automatic Transmission - Right Hand Drive Steering - Big Three HEI System - Frantz Oil Cleaner System - Bendix Stromberg Model W Carburetor

Been reading the novel here about the epic journey to restore a Lorrie Van Haul. Glad you were able to find some pushrods and valve stem seals locally. Hope it won't take to long for them to get em for ya.

Robert

Hey Robert,
Have been working on Lorrie Van Haul for two and a half years.

Have the two part journey journal on another Dodge Forum. Part One has 2,000 posts and almost 80,000 hits, and Part Two has just over 8,000 hits and 814 posts. Lots of JPGs and bunches of strange and innovative techniques. If you'd like to take a look, PM me and I'll send you the URLs. (Don't know if SlantSixForum allows mentioning other Forums by name)
Me too.
The O'Reilly Auto Parts Website says 24 hours which is almost two days!

We'll just have to wait and see. Am going to be ordering them when we (Ms. American 3.14159 and I) go to Livingston , Texas (which is 13 miles East of here) tomorrow.

Anyway, hope you are having as nice a day as am I.

JC

_________________
Lorrie Van Haul - 1967 Dodge - P200 Post Office Vehicle - 225 Slant Six - Torqueflite A727 Automatic Transmission - Right Hand Drive Steering - Big Three HEI System - Frantz Oil Cleaner System - Bendix Stromberg Model W Carburetor

Hey All,
Wednesday Afternoon Update:

Got out the Craftsman Angle Grinder and an Abrasive Wheel and denuded Lorrie's Gas Tank of the major portion of external rust. Then gave it the first of a number of coats of Ospho. It's drying even as I type.

Once Lorrie's Gas Tank is all cleaned out, and its interior sealed, will be painting the Exterior. Am thinking about going Hurculiner Bed Liner to match Lorrie's Cargo Bay Floor. BTW, Lorrie's Roof is also coated with Bedliner, but not Hurculiner. It's has Rustoleum Bed Liner. Not as textured but the same toughness.

Got the Pickup Tube extracted from its threaded hole and cleaned up with the Craftsman RotoTool. The Brass Fitting at the top of the Tube looks BRAND NEW!

Am going to have to see if the strainer/filter that Daniel referenced can be found and acquired. There wasn't a strainer/filter on it when the Pickup Tube was extracted, but there was lots of strange looking crud on the bottom inch of the Tube.

Have finally arranged for a MasterCard Debit Card so that the Stuff that Daniel says to get can be obtained over the Internet, as you can see by the Brass Nut debacle that very little is available out here in the world's largest Pine Tree Forest where more than just a few of the folks look like ZZTop and Pappy Yokum of Lil Abner fame!

BTW, how does one test a Fuel Level Sending Unit to find out if it will activate a Stewart Warner Fuel Gauge? That's the next thing on the agenda. Have the wire that goes from the Sending unit to the Gauge available, and am assuming that the Sending Unit is grounded through its Mounting Screws through the Gas Tank, but where is the power source? And where does it attach? To the Gauge?

Any enlightenment would be GREATLY appreciated.

TIA

JC

_________________
Lorrie Van Haul - 1967 Dodge - P200 Post Office Vehicle - 225 Slant Six - Torqueflite A727 Automatic Transmission - Right Hand Drive Steering - Big Three HEI System - Frantz Oil Cleaner System - Bendix Stromberg Model W Carburetor

A fuel Tank sending unit is a "regulated" path to ground...
Therefore, it needs a good ground "strap" and a single wire, leading to the fuel gauge.
DD

Hey Doc,
And that's all there is to it?

Am going to have to see how the Stewart Warner Gauge is wired (I just don't remember at this time). Should the SW Gauge have a wire to the Fuse Panel?

Will check this to see if that's how it is hooked up.

Anyway, thanks for the information.

Hope yo are well.

JC

_________________
Lorrie Van Haul - 1967 Dodge - P200 Post Office Vehicle - 225 Slant Six - Torqueflite A727 Automatic Transmission - Right Hand Drive Steering - Big Three HEI System - Frantz Oil Cleaner System - Bendix Stromberg Model W Carburetor

Hey Doc,
Just got through checking how the Stewart Warner Fuel Gauge is wired.

It has a Wire connected to the Wire that goes TO the Ignition Terminal of the Alternator Regulator.

When the "Run" Switch is ON, there is current going TO S&W Fuel Gauge.

When the "Run" Switch is turned ON, the S&W Fuel Gauge pegs above "Full"

When the "Run" Switch is turned OFF, the S&W Fuel Gauge goes to the "Full" line.

Connected the Fuel Level Sending Unit to the Wire TO the S&W Fuel Gauge, turned "Run" Switch ON, grounded the Mounting Flange of the Sending Unit on the Engine, moved the Arm that holds the Float, and it had NO effect on the S&W Fuel Gauge.

Set the MultiTester on OHMs.

Put one lead of the MultiTester on the Flange of the Sending Unit, put the other lead on the Threaded Terminal on the Sending Unit, and got a reading of 80.

Moved the Arm that holds the Float, and there was no change.

Swapped leads and still got an 80.

Moved the Arm that holds the Float, and there was no change.

Don't think that the Sending Unit is functioning. But, it is all cleaned up and LOOKS GREAT!

It is useless to reinstall the Gas Tank till a NEW Sending unit is acquired.

Will have to get the proper Sending Unit for the S&W Gauge or a proper Gauge for the Sending Unit.

Here is yet another delay.

Anyway, what do you think?

JC

_________________
Lorrie Van Haul - 1967 Dodge - P200 Post Office Vehicle - 225 Slant Six - Torqueflite A727 Automatic Transmission - Right Hand Drive Steering - Big Three HEI System - Frantz Oil Cleaner System - Bendix Stromberg Model W Carburetor

Your correct, its not working even though it looks good... You again are correct, IF you are wanting a functioning Fuel Gauge.
I did find some interesting info, just FYI while searching for the OHMS requirement of said gauge. Stewart Warner Date Codes

Year of Manufacture

A - 1933
B - 1934
C - 1935
D - 1936
E - 1937
F - 1938
G - 1939
H - 1940
J - 1941
K - 1942
L - 1943
M - 1944
N - 1945
P - 1946
Q - 1947
R - 1948
S - 1949
T - 1950
U - 1951
V - 1952
W - 1953
X - 1954
Y - 1955
Z - 1956
A - 1957
B - 1958
C - 1959
D - 1960
E - 1961
F - 1962
G - 1963
H - 1964
J - 1965
K - 1966
L - 1967
M - 1968
N - 1969
P - 1970
Q - 1971
R - 1972
S - 1973
T - 1974
U - 1975
V - 1976
W - 1977
X - 1978
Y - 1979
Z - 1980



Month of Manufacture

1 - January
2 - February
3 - March
4 - April
5 - May
6 - June
7 - July
8 - August
9 - September
10 - October
11 - November
12 - December

BUT here is where it gets tricky, we have no way of knowing the original values of resistance that the sending unit supplied, and to complicate things more none of the values are close, but I did find values.
General Motors : 0 to 90 Ohm's
Ford and Chrysler: 73 to 10 Ohm's
AMC and Stewart Warner: 240 to 33 Ohm's.

After re-reading your post, I have another question. Was the fuel gauge working correctly before its long slumber? Because with no power I would think the gauge should read empty and NOT full as you indicated. But either way you do know for a fact the sender isnt working properly, but no need to make an extra trip for a fuel gauge if you know one is needed before hand.
Hope I didnt make YOUR day worse.

_________________
MRO....

Cheap, Fast, Reliable.... Pick 2...

Hey Mr. OF,
But there is STILL a use for it! When the Tank is ready to be cleaned out, the hole where the Sending Unit goes is going to have to be plugged. Will cut the "shepherd's hook" off of the unit and use the Flange to seal the hole!
Which is desirable.
Have saved the information.
Yes, but not properly. It never did register what the REAL fuel level was in the Tank.
What I have in mind is: Now that I have a MasterCard Debit Card, will get on the Stewart Warner Website, find a Fuel Level Gauge to match what Lorrie already has, find the matching Sender Unit and just buy a whole NEW setup. Seems that THAT would be the easiest, most efficacious route.


Not at all. Have pretty much resigned myself to just working through each and every niggling detail as they arise without becoming emotionally invested in the result or timeframe. Afterall, this IS just a hobby, and Lorrie is one of the loves of my life. The end result is that I will have become an dilettante expert, having done EVERYTHING at least once!

So it's off to Livingston this morning.

Will be ordering the Pushrods, Valve Stem Seals, KD Valve Spring Compressor, and the 2.25" Gas Filler Pipe Hoses from O'Reilly's.

Will be getting a sack of Rocks from Lowe's with which to clean the Gas Tank.

Already have a supply of Acetone, Lacquer Thinner, Xylol, and Paint Thinner.

Might even get the Herculiner Bed Liner with which to coat the exterior of the Fuel Tank.

Will have to be making another trip to Livingston next week to pick up all the stuff from O'Reilly's and will be able to get some stuff while there at THAT time.

Am generally pretty fatigued after doing the monthly shopping in Livingston, so cleaning out the Fuel Tank might have to wait till tomorrow.

Plan on putting the Rocks and a mixture of solvent in the Tanks and agitating it profusely. Then emptying it out and taking it to the local car wash and using the high pressure Wand, Detergent, and Rinse to get it clean.

Once it is dried out, will decide which Sealant is needed.

In the mean time, getting the proper Fuel Gauge and Sender Unit from S&W will be in the works.

While waiting for all that, the work on the Valves can proceed, along with removing the Bendix Stromberg Carburetor to drain it of the OLD Gasoline in the Float Bowl.

Am thinkng that the purging of the Fuel line can be done simply by blowing on the Fuel line after it is removed from the Carburetor, and all the OLD Gasoline will go out of the disconnected Fuel Line back by the Fuel Tank.

So as you can see, there's plenty at which to keep busy, plus there's always cleaning up and organizing everything.

Am looking forward to doing all this stuff.

Anyway, thanks for all the good S&W info. Your efforts are very much appreciated.

Hope you are well.

JC

_________________
Lorrie Van Haul - 1967 Dodge - P200 Post Office Vehicle - 225 Slant Six - Torqueflite A727 Automatic Transmission - Right Hand Drive Steering - Big Three HEI System - Frantz Oil Cleaner System - Bendix Stromberg Model W Carburetor

Hey All,
Ordered 12, NEW 225 Slant Six Pushrods, a set of 6 Intake Valve Stem Seals, and a set of 6 Exhaust Valve Stem Seals from O'Reilly Auto Parts this morning about 10:00 a.m.

Oscar, the Counter Man said that they would be ready to be picked up at 3:00 p.m. today.

Also purchased a Valve Spring Compressor and a 1'-0" length of 2.25" ID Hose with which to connect the Gas Tank Filler Tubes together and to the Gas Tank.

Will be getting out tomorrow to pick up the Pushrods and Seals.

Have also written an E-Mail to Stewart Warner with all the infomation about the Fuel Level Gauge, the dimensions of the present Sender Unit, and the orientation of the "shepherd's crook" to the Flange Holes. Will hopefully hear back from them tomorrow.

Got a sack of Lava Rock from Lowe's with which to clean Lorrie's Gas Tank. This Rock is like little pieces of sponge, but REALLY hard and REALLY sharp. Should do a GREAT job of scouring the inside of Lorrie's Gas Tank.

So thing are moving along. Will keep you all posted.

JC

_________________
Lorrie Van Haul - 1967 Dodge - P200 Post Office Vehicle - 225 Slant Six - Torqueflite A727 Automatic Transmission - Right Hand Drive Steering - Big Three HEI System - Frantz Oil Cleaner System - Bendix Stromberg Model W Carburetor

Quite happy things seem to be progressing in the right direction for you finally.
myself will be starting down the long restoration road for my 66 valiant I picked up three months ago. It will be a slow labor of love for old A bodies I have come to love. I hope to be as patient as you in this endeavor.

Good luck tomorrow and hope all the parts come in as expected.

Robert.

Hey Robert,
The Lorrie Van Haul project has become a one step forward, two steps back situation recently. Not taking down the Gas Tank to start with was a BIG faux pas.
FIRST thing, CLEAN OUT THE GAS TANK! I'm serious!
Keeping in mind that this is a hobby makes things happen for the best. Keep telling myself that the more things that go wrong, the more fun there is to be had fixing them. Also, am getting a VERY liberal education with this project. Am doing stuff that was never dreamed had to be done.
If you aren't already, it's something that you will learn over the span of the time that it takes to do the deed.

Am looking forward to hearing back from Stewart Warner about the Fuel Level Gauge Sender Unit today. Will not be able to reinstall the Gas Tank without it.

Anyway, sent you a PM with the URLs to the entire Lorrie Van Haul Saga. Watch for it.
Thanks. Me too. Will be finding out in an hour or so.

Hope this finds YOU having as much fun as am I.

JC

_________________
Lorrie Van Haul - 1967 Dodge - P200 Post Office Vehicle - 225 Slant Six - Torqueflite A727 Automatic Transmission - Right Hand Drive Steering - Big Three HEI System - Frantz Oil Cleaner System - Bendix Stromberg Model W Carburetor

Hey All,
Friday Morning Update:

Was looking at the Valve Spring Compressor Tool, and picturing how it functions. Have a question.

QUESTION: After the Rope is put into the Cylinder through the Spark Plug Hole, and the Engine turned to where the Piston locks the Rope up against the Valve Head, then the Valve Spring Compressor Tool is put onto the Valve Spring Assembly and is tightened down, compressing the Spring, what generally happens to the Valve Keepers? Do they just sit there waiting to be removed? Or do they somehow "jump" out?

They are tiny pieces and if one of them all of a sudden decided to get lost, it would NEVER be found again.

Read in another post (can't remember where) that Rags should be stuffed into the holes where the Push Rods go to keep the Valve Keepers from getting down into the Engine. This has led me to believe that the Valve Keepers are NOT the docile little things that they at first appear to be.

Am thinking that maybe cutting an old Sweat Sock off and slipping it over the Valve Spring Compressor Tool just prior to compressing the Spring might be efficacious. Then if the Valve Keeper DID decide to "leap" off the Valve Stem End, it wouldn't get very far.

Help me out here. Being fore-warned is to be fore-armed.

TIA for any information.

JC

_________________
Lorrie Van Haul - 1967 Dodge - P200 Post Office Vehicle - 225 Slant Six - Torqueflite A727 Automatic Transmission - Right Hand Drive Steering - Big Three HEI System - Frantz Oil Cleaner System - Bendix Stromberg Model W Carburetor

"FIRST thing, CLEAN OUT THE GAS TANK! I'm serious!"

I replaced mine with a new Spectra premium Canadian made tank. Figured price was no object when buying a quality gas tank. I did find a good price on ebay before I purchased and it was well worth the time to search for it instead of the Taiwan made tanks on there.

Hope today finds you well and your project goes the right direction.

Hey Robert,
Good for you! A NEW Tank is GREAT!

Am all ready to begin cleaning Lorrie's Gas Tank, but that is going to be AFTER Lorrie's Valves are all cleaned, NEW Valve Stem Seals installed, and NEW Pushrods in place. Have until the Stewart Warner People get back to me about the NEW Fuel Gauge Sender Unit to get Lorrie's Gas Tank reinstalled. Am imagining about ten days to two weeks for THAT to happen.

Got back from Livingston already this morning.

O'Reilly Auto Parts came through with flying colors. The Pushrods and Valve Stem Seals were in just like Oscar said they would be.

Have removed Lorrie's Spark Plugs and Sleeves this morning.

Am getting ready to make sure that all the holes that go down into the Engine are stuffed with cloth so that the Valve Keepers can't get down into the Pan.

Have the 1/4" Nylon "Magic Rope" ready.

Am going to go out and see if the Number 6 Cylinder's Valve Spring Assemblies can be removed and the Valves free up.

Then will be reassembling them with the NEW Valve Stem Seals.

Am going to do the Number 6 Cylinder first because it is the easiest to access.

By the time that I get to Number 1 Cylinder (the hardest one to reach), the routine should be pretty much learned.

Anyway, am still concerned about how the Valve Stem Keepers act when being removed. Asked about that earlier this morning, but have not as yet had any enlightening comments. Will have to just find out by doing it.
While in Livingston this morning, dropped by my Primary Care Physician's office to see if the results from my latest Liver Function Blood Test was in. They were! This is the best set of results that I've had in YEARS! EVERYTHING within the NORMAL range.
Me too. Thanks for the best wishes.

Hope that you are also doing well.

JC

_________________
Lorrie Van Haul - 1967 Dodge - P200 Post Office Vehicle - 225 Slant Six - Torqueflite A727 Automatic Transmission - Right Hand Drive Steering - Big Three HEI System - Frantz Oil Cleaner System - Bendix Stromberg Model W Carburetor