Another addition to the fleet

[joefrazer]

Some progress being made...after about 40 hours work on the dash I finally have it looking presentable. It's now the correct color - although the picture makes it look too dark - and it no longer has large chunks of peeling paint to contend with.

Next up, to get the engine painted and everything under the hood back together.

[mbflemingkf]

Looks great Jim!!   

[joefrazer]

Added a 'before' shot of the dash.

[joefrazer]

Taking advantage of a nice day to get the rims primed and painted.

[darrin502]

Looks like the steering wheel is body color it should be white. I personally like it body color in the champagne white car but not original.
Lee

[darrin502]

About the oil line havent had to do one yet but will soon , i am going to see if the local hydraulic hose shop can do it. Just a thought.
Lee

[joefrazer]

Finally had some time to devote to the Darrin. The engine has been painted and reassembly has begun. I'm now looking for suitable hood gasket material. The old gasket on my car had long ago turned to dust so I don't have any sample with which to work. Near as I can tell, the gasket should be 3/4 x 1/4 in size. Can anyone confirm...and if you replaced yours, where did you get the replacement gasket?

[MarkH]

                               

                  Very nice!

[darrin145]

If I remember correctly, I bought a weatherstrip 'kit' from Rudy 8 or 9 years ago. Most of it seems generic. The hood w/strip appears to be the same as # 4675 from Restoration Specialties, a "universal-fits most cars" design!  It works but I'm not sure it's 100% correct.

Gary.

[joefrazer]

I think the hood weather strip is closer to this material, at least from what I could tell by looking at the four Darrins present at this year's national meet ->https://www.metrommp.com/index.cfm?f=type_detail&ModelNumber=LP%2031634&Type=Adhesive%20Backed%20Weatherstripping

Item 4675 from RS is for the trunk and top lid - that's what I used and it was a very close match what came off the car.

[joefrazer]

The weatherstrip I ordered arrived today and it's a match to what's on several restored cars. It's Metro Moulded Rubber's #31634. In the meantime, I've been getting the engine back together. Anyone have current numbers for the upper and lower rad hoses?

[joefrazer]

Well, things have not gone according to plan. I tried to start the Darrin and it would only hit on two cylinders. I checked compression and four of the six were low but not low enough to prevent starting. I figured the valves were either sticking or there was excess carbon in the cylinders. After repeated attempts I gave up and pulled the head. What I found was a real mess. It looks like something got into a few of the cylinders and caused some real trouble. I haven't looked to closely to see if the cylinder walls are gouged but if they are, then it's time for another engine.

So, if anyone has a running six cylinder f-head they'd like to sell, I would be interested.

[Gordie]

I bought an engine from Rudy about five  years ago and I am not going to use it. It is stored in my garage in St Joseph MO and would need to be picked up.  I would like to get my $700 back that I paid Rudy if you can use it.

[joefrazer]

Does it run?

[MarkH]

Wow, that's not good news at all, especially after you got it looking so good & installed.

Just for your comparison, I bought everything from Egge to rebuild my F-head including valves, springs, guides & extra gaskets for the "post break in" re-torque & adjustments...... but not the phenolic timing gear, cam, lifters, push rods & crank....... $1477 delivered.

Machinist & I had to literally drive the pistons (stuck rings) out of the block with an 8lb sledge hammer even after soaking a couple months with Kroil. Machinist still only went .030 over to get the bores clean & round. I think Egge has pistons up to .060 over, your block would have to be gouged pretty bad to go that far.