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Covalt - "Project 65 Valiant"
https://slantsix.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=35632		 Page 127 of 128
Author:  Rick Covalt [ Sat Mar 28, 2026 2:16 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Covalt - "Project 65 Valiant"
We have lift off! :D :D got enough stuff back into the engine bay to fire the engine up. I have oil pressure and I ran the transmission through the gears while it was still on the stands. Monday I'll get the antifreeze back in and set the timing for real. Get it all warmed up and check for leaks. Then maybe a test run out on the highway. I have a couple wires that I am going to replace in my bulkhead connector. I had to order the special wire ends for that and they should be here Tuesday or so. After I get that fixed up I think the only thing electrical I need to get wired is my back up lights. Makin progress. :mrgreen: Hope to go to Mason Dixon mid-month for a test run!
Author:  Charrlie_S [ Sun Mar 29, 2026 4:00 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Covalt - "Project 65 Valiant"
Nice going, Rick.I wish I could make that kid of progress on some of my stuff
Author:  Greg Ondayko [ Mon Mar 30, 2026 6:00 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Covalt - "Project 65 Valiant"
Nice. Now you can drive it to Carlisle, put it in the show, and then look for $0.05 bargain Slant 6 Headers and performance camshafts!

Greg
Author:  Andrew Shank [ Mon Mar 30, 2026 6:09 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Covalt - "Project 65 Valiant"
Quote:
Nice. Now you can drive it to Carlisle
Maybe he can borrow your suction cup roof rack for anything larger he finds like wheels/tires or a spare engine :lol: - It's Rick, what could go wrong?! :lol: :lol:
Author:  Dart270 [ Mon Mar 30, 2026 6:25 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Covalt - "Project 65 Valiant"
Sounds wonderful, Rick. Congrats. Maybe I will cut into the white 62 sometime soon...

Lou
Author:  Greg Ondayko [ Mon Mar 30, 2026 7:22 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Covalt - "Project 65 Valiant"
Quote:
Quote:
Nice. Now you can drive it to Carlisle
Maybe he can borrow your suction cup roof rack for anything larger he finds like wheels/tires or a spare engine :lol: - It's Rick, what could go wrong?! :lol: :lol:
:D :D :D :D :D :D

https://www.seasucker.com/collections/car-racks
Monkey Bars would be best. but since he has a '65 I would go with Thule as they have rain gutter mounts that are more rigid and could likely hold those things.

Greg
Author:  Rick Covalt [ Mon Mar 30, 2026 4:07 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Covalt - "Project 65 Valiant"
Pretty sure you won't see any monkey bars, sea suckers, trailer hicthes, or tire chains on my car.


Got all the fluids on board and ran everything up to temperature. Didn't find any leaks! Oil or anti-freeze! I'm sure they will show up tomorrow. :D I had to put in some GL5 gear lube in the transmission temporarily. Brewers recommends the GL4 so I have that coming. I got the timing set and I ran it up and down through the gears a few times. After my new wire ends arrive and I get them installed I will take it for a ride and break in the clutch. The actual clutch "feel" at the pedal seems good. By that I mean the engagement / release point seems about right to me.
Author:  Rick Covalt [ Mon Apr 20, 2026 12:07 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Covalt - "Project 65 Valiant"
I finally took the car out the road several more times to begin the clutch break in routine that McLeod recommends. I won't get near as many clutch cycles in as they recommend but I will get a good many in.

My problem is that the transmission shifts very hard / clunky when shifting gears. Any gears. It does not grind at all when shifting, and I can go from 1st into reverse with no grinding, so I think I have enough clucth release. (I have a hydraulic clutch) I installed the Brad Penn fluid recommended by Brewers and thought maybe it did not like the gear lube. So I drained it out and installed fresh ATF and took it out for another run and it was just about the same. Again, if you are just shifting slow it would be Ok, but there is no way a person could race with this. All the other 833's I have run have been silky smooth shifting. I don't know if this will improve with more running but I'm not hopeful. It feels to me like it is something in the scynchronizer assemblies itself. Not the brass rings because I get no grinding at all.

This was one of Ryan's transmissions. I thought it came from Chris Evrard and had been rebuilt by Brewers some years back. If it is not that one then it is the one out of his Dart and we had rebuilt that one ourselves. Plus I know that one did not shift this way or he would have never run it.Any recommendations? Yeah I know, Leave the automatic in!!! :D
Author:  Rick Covalt [ Tue Apr 21, 2026 9:41 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Covalt - "Project 65 Valiant"
I would really like to try a little more clutch engagement, but with the hydraulic clutch you have to remove the transmission and the hydraulic throw out and rotate that assembly to move it closer to the fingers of the clutch. That is a lot of work!
Author:  Greg Ondayko [ Tue Apr 21, 2026 11:03 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Covalt - "Project 65 Valiant"
Quote:
I would really like to try a little more clutch engagement, but with the hydraulic clutch you have to remove the transmission and the hydraulic throw out and rotate that assembly to move it closer to the fingers of the clutch. That is a lot of work!
Hi Rick,
I am guessing your setup does not have the threaded collar to change/lock the TOB Height?

I think some of them have that.

Greg
Author:  Rick Covalt [ Tue Apr 21, 2026 1:25 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Covalt - "Project 65 Valiant"
Yes it does, but the threaded insert fits pretty snug on the original bearing collar and you rotate the whole throw out assembly to move it in or out. There is not enough room to get inside and just move the threaded collar.
Author:  Dart270 [ Tue Apr 21, 2026 1:30 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Covalt - "Project 65 Valiant"
Can't you remove the lower BH cover and reach up in there to rotate the collar with it all assembled? Or maybe just back the 4 bolts trans-to-BH out by 2 turns each and back the trans out to give enough play to reach up there and rotate the collar? You just need there to be no pressure on the fingers/TOB. I remember doing this on my T5 setup way back when.

Lou
Author:  Rick Covalt [ Tue Apr 21, 2026 2:11 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Covalt - "Project 65 Valiant"
This is a fully enclosed Blow proof bell with no cover to remove.
Author:  Dart270 [ Tue Apr 21, 2026 4:27 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Covalt - "Project 65 Valiant"
Dangit! I forgot that...
Author:  Andrew Shank [ Wed Apr 22, 2026 5:14 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Covalt - "Project 65 Valiant"
Looks like Ryan and I will be coming over for a transmission removal and re-installation party! :lol:
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