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Jul 21st, 2025 | | | | Joined: Dec 2001 Posts: 14,522 Moderator: Welcome Centre, Southern Bolters, Legion Hall | | Moderator: Welcome Centre, Southern Bolters, Legion Hall Joined: Dec 2001 Posts: 14,522 | Ready for a good laugh? Read on....I think I'm getting to old for this!
Rebuilt a '56 truck 261 engine for my 50 coupe and finally got to start it up today and then things got exciting.
Everything on go...or so we thought. Put the gas to it and after it turned 2 or 3 rounds there was a little "ka-pow" like a rifle. OK, gas getting to carb. Turn it again and "ka-BOOM, like a cannon. Ok, OK, so the distributor is 180 off. Reset the distributor and it started right up. 50lb of oil pressure (had already primed it up) and temp rising. Saw temp gauge drop back a little and figured OK, the thermostat just opened. Ran it for at least 15 minutes and the gauge started climbing. Mmmmm, I'm think its getting a little too warm....lets stop and check things. Then POW.....the radiator hose blew off the water pump about the time I turned it off.
...well, wouldn't you know it was something stupid. I had pulled the cardboard from the engine side of the radiator that I had protecting the nice aluminum fins. I THOUGHT my Nephew's son was pulling the cardboard off the front of the radiator. Nope, cardboard still there. Problem solved.
Mopped up the mess, and wondered if very much got in the carb. Hit the starter and it fired right up. Man, does that 261 run sweet. Very good throttle response and the engine seems strong and just chewing at the bit's ready to go. How sweet it is. Am I smiling? you bet.
A little fine tuning and we're good to go.
..and the reason the hose came off?? Since heart surgery and some recent health problems my upper body strength has suffered pretty bad. The hose clamp was just not tight enough. My fault.
Still, a bad day in the shop is better than a good day in the house! This is my "tale for the day". Hope you enjoyed my adventure as much as I did. Man, it runs so sweet.
Last edited by Achipmunk; 03/20/2016 4:23 AM. Reason: clarification
| | | | | Joined: Mar 2004 Posts: 6,189 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Mar 2004 Posts: 6,189 | Way to go Alvin, glad to hear you're having fun in the garage  Mike B  | | | | | Joined: Jan 2009 Posts: 1,644 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Jan 2009 Posts: 1,644 | | | | | | Joined: Mar 2007 Posts: 4,185 Moderator | | Moderator Joined: Mar 2007 Posts: 4,185 | So it's good even if it's bad, right? You should be very happy with that 261. Congrats. | | | | | Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,262 Bubba - Curmudgeon | | Bubba - Curmudgeon Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,262 | | | | | | Joined: May 2012 Posts: 574 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: May 2012 Posts: 574 | glad it was a happy ending to the story!!
1949 Dodge Coronet 1955 2nd Chevy 4400 1.5 ton 1955 2nd Chevy 3100 1/2 ton 1955 2nd Chevy 3100 1/2 ton 1957 Chevy 5400 LCF 2 ton 1966 Dodge D100 Sweptline 1968 Chevy P20 stepvan 1969 GMC LWB pickup 1972 GMC Sprint 1974 CP30 shorty bus There are three things that I've learned never discuss with people: religion, politics, and the Great Pumpkin.----Linus Van Pelt Trying to understand the behavior of some people is like trying to smell the color 9  | | |
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