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1968 Valiant Ruster Racer IRWIN PA
https://slantsix.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=36132		 Page 90 of 90
Author:  Greg Ondayko [ Mon May 04, 2026 8:17 am ]
Post subject:  Re: 1968 Valiant Ruster Racer IRWIN PA
Quote:
Greg, I see you have Allen adjusters on your Goodman rockers.
Do you remember where you got those?
Hi Stan, I don't remember for sure; they likely came with the rockers, but I could be wrong. I have a few sets of these rocker arms.

Either way, buy this style of ball rocker screws from Smith Brothers Pushrods. Measure the length of the current parts you have before ordering.
If you poke around on their website, you can find sets of rocker screws with jam nuts, too.

Greg
Author:  hyper_pak [ Mon May 04, 2026 1:10 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 1968 Valiant Ruster Racer IRWIN PA
OK, Mine are flat screwdriver style.
I don't like that.
I will check out smiths
Author:  Greg Ondayko [ Mon May 04, 2026 2:34 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 1968 Valiant Ruster Racer IRWIN PA
Quote:
OK, Mine are flat screwdriver style.
I don't like that.
I will check out smiths
Agreed, I remember having flat screws somewhere, too. They are harder to be delicate with for fine adjustments, and the tool often slips out of the slot.

Greg
Author:  Greg Ondayko [ Tue May 05, 2026 8:17 am ]
Post subject:  5/5/26
5/5/26:
I began making electrical and fluid connections on the engine and bolting the block to the bell housing. I still need to bolt the flexplate to the torque converter, but progress is being made in my late-night shop sessions.
I found a broken transmission mount! (I had recently replaced this, but it got destroyed again!)
Time for a new Imperial Services mount! The last one I had was an energy suspension piece, and as you can see, it failed.

Image

Image

This all looked totally fine on close inspection, but the broken bits could be detected.
Parts are arriving to build my heim joint-equipped fore/aft limiting struts.

Greg
Author:  Greg Ondayko [ Sun May 10, 2026 4:38 am ]
Post subject:  5/8/26
5/8/26:

I got back to the shop for an hour or 2 of work after a concert here at school.

I was working on some more fiddly bits, connecting the maze of oil, pan evac, and coolant lines. Many of the Heim Joint/rod end parts have arrived to begin preliminary measure-up / fab up.

I still need to install the intake/exhaust, revise the fuel line routing, and get the torque converter bolted to the flexplate with a liberal application of Loctite 271 red schmoo!

Lots to do, but it is possible!

Greg
Author:  Dart270 [ Mon May 11, 2026 7:50 am ]
Post subject:  Re: 1968 Valiant Ruster Racer IRWIN PA
RUSTAAAHHHHHH!!!
Author:  Greg Ondayko [ Mon May 11, 2026 9:25 am ]
Post subject:  5/11/26
5/11/26

After getting the driver's side limiting strut sorted out, I sat in my thinking chair and began some mental engineering whilst rubbing my chin.
I like using the shock tower for the frame attachment point, and I am going to repeat the same idea on the passenger side. With no stock oil, pump, coil, alternator, fuel pump, distributor, or other pesky stock bits hanging out on the passenger side of the engine, it is pretty wide open for attachment points.

Hmm.. where to attach? I have this cool 1964 Dodge Truck Alternator bracket that is stamped steel, not cast iron. It is not the same as the 1977ish and newer stamped 2-piece units.
Image
Image

I also got a new Transmission mount sourced and installed. (will be replacing that one with one from Imperial Services later)

Hope to get a few more hours in the garage tonite after voice lessons etc., before midnight.

Greg

It captures the 3/8" bolt at the front of the block and the 3/8" bolt on the head, as well as the 5/16" bolt between cylinders #1 and #2.
Image

Some Slicing and dicing is done:
Image

Adding some more metal for a larger weldable surface area for the rod end "ears."
Image
Image
Author:  Greg Ondayko [ Tue May 12, 2026 1:16 pm ]
Post subject:  5/12/26
5/12/26:

I made some more progress. The passenger side "strut" / engine plate limiter is all done. These turned out very nice in my opinion.
I was able to fire the engine and run it for a while. Of course, there is an oil leak to take care of, but I should be able to get some Brakleen in there and paste some RTV schmoo over the crevasse, and hopefully it will slow down.
:!: On 2nd thought, I ran the engine without the forward-most alternator bracket bolt in place. Hopefully, it was just spurting and leaking from an open threaded hole in the side of the crankcase.

The lash will also need a hot adjustment.
Some pictures:
Modified '64 Truck steel alt bracket is done:
Image

Mock up the strut tube to the right side shock tower:
Image

I am not sure how I got in there with the MIG gun, but apparently I did.
Image
Image

Parts ready for the paint booth:
Image
Image

In the "paint booth."
Image
Author:  slantzilla [ Tue May 12, 2026 8:04 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 1968 Valiant Ruster Racer IRWIN PA
Nice work Greg!
Author:  Dart270 [ Wed May 13, 2026 6:50 am ]
Post subject:  Re: 1968 Valiant Ruster Racer IRWIN PA
Very clever and thorough work, Greg!
Lou
Author:  Greg Ondayko [ Wed May 13, 2026 8:11 am ]
Post subject:  Re: 1968 Valiant Ruster Racer IRWIN PA
Thanks, hopefully no more broken trans mounts or bent engine plates.

Time and time slips will tell if I made good decisions or not!

Greg
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