Facebook AI has decided I'm a hacker and logged me off my own profile for almost a week now. It won't let me back in. So this thread is for the Stovebolters who were following my updates there. I will still be posting the monthly log entries but this will be a more up-to-date thread.
October 22nd 2026 Cleaned and organized the shop a bit, then turned to the passenger side exhaust manifold. The flange studs still need to be repaired but I want to see if there is any interference between the '54 manifold and the '57 generator bracket before I paint the bracket. Ran the 3/8-16" thread straightener die and a drop of oil thru the manifold bolt holes. Went over the manifold mating surfaces with Scotchbrite cookie in the small drill motor.
https://www.laroke.com/larryk4674/2026/ds102226am.jpg The generator bracket clears the manifold but I can see I've got some Deep Ponder Mode thought in my future when it comes time to connect the Stingray side pipes that are going under Deerslayer's running boards. The manifold outlet is close to the oil filter cannister. The task at hand is to grind the cast spark plug cover a bit more. It skews upwards a smidgeon in front.
https://www.laroke.com/larryk4674/2026/ds102226bm.jpg Mocked up the Eelco Weiand spark plug covers with the stainless 5/16-18" studs and acorn nuts and determined how far the studs had to be screwed in which I marked with masking tape. Set the covers aside and put the acorn nuts on the studs with threadlocker blue. Applied threadlocker red to the cylinder head ends of the studs and screwed them in to set up. Mocked up the valve covers with gaskets to measure for studs as I'm going a different direction from the hex bolts supplied with the stainless bolt kit. Beer of the day is Brickway Brewery's Oktoberfest Marzen-Style Beer. Background music was Loud, Fast & Out of Control, The Wild Sounds of the '50s Rhino Box Set.
https://www.laroke.com/larryk4674/2026/ds102226cm.jpg
