Re: A Tale of Two Patricians
Posted by Packard Don On 2018/2/26 21:28:15
Although I'll be here for another week, the main objective has been obtained: it runs! Using an ohm meter, I checked that the distributor was grounded and it was so the next thing was to check the point gap and, as I suspected, there was virtually none. Got it to the high lobe, loosened the screw and turning the adjustment to what looked like a good gap, then checking it with a gauge, I had hit it dead-on by eyeball. I used to be really good that and apparently still am!
Once adjusted, the 359 started almost instantly and quickly settled down to a nice idle with absolutely no lifter noise but I ran it only until the thermostat opened and the housing started leaking so it didn't get a good workout. I removed the thermostat housing which is as thick as new everywhere EXCEPT for one area where it is corroded through so will fix that tomorrow. Even the thermostat hold-in spring was still silver steel. By the way, this engine still has the aluminum head but the spark plug and thermostat housing holes had stainless Heli-coils installed. The parts car patrician has the 359 too, of course, but it has a replacement cast iron head.
However, there was a mess of apparently coagulated coolant under the thermostat housing and for now I may start it up again to see if the pump can push it out but I hope someone will chime in to say that that's a terrible idea as I know it will make a mess! In the photo below, it's really not as bad as it looks as much of what you see is just gasket sealant that went into the hole when I took off the housing.
Since there was still some oil in the cylinders, it smoked profusely when it started and for the first minute or two to the point that I had to open two roll-up doors and a window while holding my breath. Worked another 45 minutes or so but by the time I was done my hands felt like ice so I had call it a day and head back to the house.
Attach file:
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Once adjusted, the 359 started almost instantly and quickly settled down to a nice idle with absolutely no lifter noise but I ran it only until the thermostat opened and the housing started leaking so it didn't get a good workout. I removed the thermostat housing which is as thick as new everywhere EXCEPT for one area where it is corroded through so will fix that tomorrow. Even the thermostat hold-in spring was still silver steel. By the way, this engine still has the aluminum head but the spark plug and thermostat housing holes had stainless Heli-coils installed. The parts car patrician has the 359 too, of course, but it has a replacement cast iron head.
However, there was a mess of apparently coagulated coolant under the thermostat housing and for now I may start it up again to see if the pump can push it out but I hope someone will chime in to say that that's a terrible idea as I know it will make a mess! In the photo below, it's really not as bad as it looks as much of what you see is just gasket sealant that went into the hole when I took off the housing.
Since there was still some oil in the cylinders, it smoked profusely when it started and for the first minute or two to the point that I had to open two roll-up doors and a window while holding my breath. Worked another 45 minutes or so but by the time I was done my hands felt like ice so I had call it a day and head back to the house.
Attach file:
(245.19 KB)
(285.78 KB)
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