In With The New!!!
The Turnaround Point
I had ordered a new frame from an outfit up North (everything's up North down here....). It was a Marsland frame and was supposed to have a bolt on crossmember. Well, the crossmember was welded on. Nevertheless, it was a solid frame, and I had gotten a solid deal on it. Probably because of that crossmember. It took two strong men to manuever it into place, and a third man would have been helpful. Of course the springs did not line up. I had removed the rubber bushings with a torch, carefully hacksawed the metal sleeves away and installed Old Man Emu polyurethene spring bushings. With a little gentle to moderate persuasion and a bit of leverage and a lot of cursing, the springs went into place.
Once I had the frame bolted down, the engine slid right in. I was able to get it installed in a morning's time and returned the cherrypicker early again. Man that clean engine looked good!
When it came to the bulkhead, Murphy had a field day. The large bolts at the bottom would not align! The bulkhead was about a quarter inch to narrow. There was nothing to do but grind out the holes, twist, test fit, curse and grind some more. When it finally fit, I used hotdipped galvanized bolts, nuts, and washers. Then I liberally applied the Lava Liner. Then I celebrated. My wife even agreed I just may get it together again.
Once the bulkhead was in place, I did a few details. Things I could accomplish easily to keep me going. Note the wires exiting the frame here, near the right rear tire. I used the type of cable that truckers run between their truck and trailer. Very durable, that stuff. The easiest way I could find to get it through the frame was with a plumbers snake.
Next
[ Electrical Considerations ] [ Bulkhead Removal ] [ Car Wash! ]
[ Engine Painting, Bulkhead Prep ] [ Rotten Frame ] [ Clearing The Shop ]
[ The Galvanized Frame ] [ Running Wires & Brake Lines ] [ I Drive It Again! ]
[ Finishing Up ] [ Rover Home ]
