Engine disappointment

Well, like I said last time, it was about time to test-fit the engine into the frame. It did not fit; not even close. The power steering pump interfered with the front suspension and the steering shaft. I simply could not get it lowered into place as it was configured.

So, I had to pull the engine back out and I decided to buy an engine stand since I was not going to have to do more work to it. I got a medium priced one at the old Cummins Tool store on Watson, but it turned out to be junky. It did not go together as it should and left the engine pointing up at a 13 degree angle. Plus the legs did not clear the legs of my engine lift. So back it went for a smaller, cheaper model. That one has the legs clearing, but does not swivel as well as it should and points down about 5 degrees. Good enough I guess.

From there, I removed the power steering pump, its mounting bracket and belt. Easy enough. I will have to get a different bracket to move the pump up and in, but it is not completely clear what will work. It did give me easy access to mount the fuel pump that I had gotten a little while ago. That went okay, save for not having the right bolts to mount it to the block and not having enough room to get my torque wrench in there to make sure I had them properly tightened. If anything, I may have overtorqued them, I think. We will just have to check later to see if motor oil leaks around its seal to the block. I also drilled the last hole for the brake line that runs under the engine since I did see enough to be confident of where it needed to go.

For the upcoming week, I hope to get the PS pump bracketry issue resolved by talking to Keith Craft Racing who built my engine. Ideally, I will also try to get out to Troop C and get them to okay the Bill of Sale I drafted for the engine. I also will probably try to terminate my hard fuel line near the engine mount and the eventual location of the fuel pump. Oh, and I will try to take some pictures. Sorry.