XC Cobra #140

[Paull]

The engine is now mostly complete. I still have to clean up the rocker covers and then it will be ready for paint.

From the start

Upon arrival at home last week - block, heads and crank




Getting everything ready




And before the rest of the pics, here are some detailed shots of the block.

When the block was stripped, I noticed that number 5 cylinder had a hole in the bore, not happy! Anyways, after having the block acid bathed, it was found that both number 1 and number 5 cylinder had sleeves fitted. I am not knowing when this was done but obviously, number 5 had to be removed. It was agreed that both 1 & 5 would be sleeved and the rest (currently at 0.030") would be taken out to 0.040". However, upon machining, it was seen that the cylinders were no cleaning up. Soooooooo, all 8 cylinders had to be re-sleeved, an expensive deal. However, I think it worth it so as to keep the car as original as possible.

Here are the pics of the sleeves






Moving along, camshafts ready to go (two there as I was doing the XD 351 at the same time)




Crank is ready to go


And the bearings


And in she goes


Next was getting the pistons and rings ready. Both the XD and the XC had to have some of their rings filed so as to make necessary clearance so this added a lot of time to getting this part done.





First piston going in


With the first bank in




And now with the rest of the pistons in




And now getting ready for the timing gear/cover and water pump




And tapping out the three new holes as well.


Timing gear in


And water pump on


Bottom end mostly done and ready for the oil pump


Oil pumps, pick ups and drives ready


And on she goes


Followed by the sump


And now for the heads




Heads on


With rocker gear


And lastly for the inlet manifold.


This is as far as I have gotten as I now need to get the rocker covers on and it will then be painted. Speaking of which....

[Paull]

I got some paint stripper on the air cleaners and rocker covers this afternoon but they may need to doing again. At any rate, they will be cleaned up and then painted accordingly.



I have also had all of the exhaust manifolds sand blasted as well


And then painted


I also managed to buy some bearings for the Ac idler pulleys, will be interesting to see if these can be repaired.



The FMX is also home too. It will be painted as well.

More pics to follow.

[Paull]

Clinton, manifold????????

[Snake Bite]

Hey Paul, you know tyres life spans are only recommended for 7 years?
.[/QUOTE]

Hi Paul looking good mate, I dont think I would worry to much about the age of the tyre, I think its just tyre companies trying to increase sales. I just got a new set of tyres for my car on Friday and they said the ones on the car were on it since 1984! I had it for 10 years now and the only reason I got new ones is I saved some loose change for a year and I went a bit fatter otherwise they could have lasted another 10 years. Good thing also is there seems to be lots of places you can buy the old size tyres now.

Keep up the good work

[gcg2503]

Love the detail Paul.

Especially how methodical you are with your engine build. Like a surgeon!

Keep it up mate. Nearly there

[Stefan]

Top stuff on the engine rebuild....There is something I'm going to try very soon. Does not seem overly difficult if doing just a stock rebuild.

Well done keep it up!

[XD 351 Ute]

A/C pulleys rebuild quite easy. A little bit of loctite & a couple of centre-pops just to make sure, and they'll be sweet!

Ed

[jaydee]

Originally Posted by Paull

The whole time all of the tyres have been double wrapped in black plastic bags. The only time they came out was when the tyres were put onto the rims and then straight back in again.

I am not knowing if age alone will perish the tyres??? I know that they will suffer quite badly from UV, that is, being left out in the sun.

Mate, I dont think it's that they perish or the UV damage (which of course stuffs them up) but I think it's a case of the rubber denergrating over time. The compound breaks down. Thats how a guy at a tyre shop explained it to me once. They do have a shelf life apparently.
I'd be ringing a professional tyre shop to make sure.

[Paull]

The rear seat is in, well kind of. I need to get some more pinch weld for the B pillar and once that is done, hopefully the seats can go in.





Steering box is also in as well. Had to wait a while to get it but all is good now







FMX is also now ready as well. I had to come up with a way of painting the whole assembly and thought, "this should work"



Masking up for the centre section


And painted


Same again for the bell housing and extension housing


And painted


Engine is now also complete. Last things remaining were the exhaust manifolds and lifting brackets




And ready to come off the engine stand


And this is where it sits now. I have put in the rear oil gallery plugs as well as the camshaft core plug followed by the sandwich plate and flex plate



A nice NOS emissions cannister has also gone in as well




And lastly, one small problem - "old versus new" new stuff. I bought a couple of engine mounts quite some time ago and they have sat in the draw up until now. Recently, I bought another two sets, all Mckay products. See if you can spot the difference (which are the old new ones and which are the new new ones???)

[MAV50L]

The lower ones are the new new ones.

[Geez Louise]

Exactly what I was going to say.

[Paull]

Originally Posted by MAV50L

The lower ones are the new new ones.

Yep, cheap and nasty.

I went into Superoo today and i was speaking with one of the guys there: he made mention that he too had also had problems with them. Will now try and get Kelpro ones to see if they are any better.

[Paull]

Originally Posted by Snake Bite

Hi Paul looking good mate, I dont think I would worry to much about the age of the tyre, I think its just tyre companies trying to increase sales. I just got a new set of tyres for my car on Friday and they said the ones on the car were on it since 1984! I had it for 10 years now and the only reason I got new ones is I saved some loose change for a year and I went a bit fatter otherwise they could have lasted another 10 years. Good thing also is there seems to be lots of places you can buy the old size tyres now. .

I will still send off the question to Yokohama but it is pretty much a moot point for now as I wont be buying new ones again (any time soon that is).

[Paull]

Originally Posted by Stefan

Top stuff on the engine rebuild....There is something I'm going to try very soon. Does not seem overly difficult if doing just a stock rebuild.

Well done keep it up!

Doesn't matter how many times I re-build a clevo, I always refer to the 'bible'

[Scooter]

Hey Paul, looking good as always. Top job yet again. Do your rear door trims have the spots for the seatbelt buckle bitties or do you still need to drill/secure these to the trims? Or are the holes there and I am blind? I assume you bought the NOS carbon canister recently off Ebay like me?

[gcg2503]

Love the Charcoal Canister!

If only it would fit my landau I would buy one. This has connections top and bottom. Mine only has them on top :(

[Geez Louise]

We had a copy of that Engine rebuild book but lost it. Trying to track down another one now. It is definitely the bible for engine rebuilds.

[Paull]

Originally Posted by Scooter

Hey Paul, looking good as always. Top job yet again. Do your rear door trims have the spots for the seatbelt buckle bitties or do you still need to drill/secure these to the trims? Or are the holes there and I am blind? I assume you bought the NOS carbon canister recently off Ebay like me?

You mean this one here


I have actually fitted P6 LTD rear 'retractable' seat belts so I wont be using those buckle receptacles. And no, the door trims did not come with them nor did I ask for them.

[Paull]

Originally Posted by MAV50L

The lower ones are the new new ones.

Correct. Cheap and nasty unfortunately

I am now trying to source some Kelpro ones to see if they are any better.

[Paull]

Originally Posted by gcg2503

Love the detail Paul.

Especially how methodical you are with your engine build. Like a surgeon!

Keep it up mate. Nearly there

Certainly am

The engine and gearbox are now together awaiting fitting to the car











There are a few more items that need to be fitted;

- Active cable to RH engine mount
- AC evaporator drain hose
- Power steering return line
- Earth strap
- Window wiper motor
- Fire wall grommets
- 2 brake line clips plus the speedo cable and brake line clip
- Hand brake assembly (2 nuts on the fire wall, much easier to get to whilst the engine is out)
- Steering coloumn and rag joint coupling bolts to be done up



Tomorrow will be doing all of the last minute fiddly bits and all going well, engine and gearbox will go in on Sunday.

[Paull]

Originally Posted by Scooter

Hey Paul, looking good as always. Top job yet again. Do your rear door trims have the spots for the seatbelt buckle bitties or do you still need to drill/secure these to the trims? Or are the holes there and I am blind? I assume you bought the NOS carbon canister recently off Ebay like me?

Yes, I have recently bought 2 of them, one for the XC and on for the XD. I will see if I can get another one for the LTD.

[Paull]

Originally Posted by gcg2503

Love the Charcoal Canister!

If only it would fit my landau I would buy one. This has connections top and bottom. Mine only has them on top :(

Yours is the older style George (pre March 1978). I have never seen an NOS one unfortunately.

[Paull]

Originally Posted by Geez Louise

We had a copy of that Engine rebuild book but lost it. Trying to track down another one now. It is definitely the bible for engine rebuilds.

Well worth whatever they cost to buy and heaps easier to read than the factory manuals.

[maccas66]

Originally Posted by Paull

Well worth whatever they cost to buy and heaps easier to read than the factory manuals.

what a great job you are doing Paull, where do you get those unmarked rocker covers?

Geez Louise, try this link for the manual, different cover but same author!
http://www.penguin.com.au/products/9...engines-used-f

[Scooter]

Man, she is almost ready to turn the key! You gotta be getting excited now?
She is looking real good mate. Love the way you are keeping the original look with the engine, A/C and P/steer set ups etc.

[Paull]

Originally Posted by Scooter

Man, she is almost ready to turn the key! You gotta be getting excited now?
She is looking real good mate. Love the way you are keeping the original look with the engine, A/C and P/steer set ups etc.

Currently trying to fit windscreen wiper motor, not having much fun.

[Stefan]

WOW

Fantastic!!!!

[1967xrute]

cant wait to see it completed. great photos

[Stefan]

Originally Posted by Paull

image

I've seen those at swap meets before, I'll be sure to invest in one of those next time I see one..

[Geez Louise]

Jack used that book the first time he put together his 460 BB. Went together like a dream. Really need to track down another copy.

Thanks for the brilliant updates Paull.