I’ve run the engine now through 4 heat cycles. The water pump leak has greatly diminished but not 100%. I’ll run it a little more before I take it off to solve the problem. In the meantime I began cutting some new aluminum to replace the old pan. It’s too big for my powder coat oven so I’ll be taking it to Electro tech in San Marcos. With Bella italia coming up it’s time to spend some time detailing the GTS.

Okay enthusiasts, it’s back to work. After fun and sun in Mexico I mellowed out after all I’ve been called worse than that. For those of you who find this a bore or redundant just tune out, it’s really that easy. There are others here who would get way more praise than I do if they would post. Jim S. made a whole new wiring harness on his own. Now I find that amazing. John C. bless is soul showed how things could be done on your own and inexpensively. We all have something to give here if we take the time. My contribution is photos of every part on our cars. I wish I had the knowledge that many of you have on here. I’m SLOWLY learning. Okay enough of that. I really thought I was going to start the engine today. I put the last parts on and connected the battery and then filled the radiator. Guess what?? Wouldn’t you know it a slow drip drip drip from the water pump. I spent the day taking it off and taking it apart and back together again. I couldn’t see why it was leaking and so reinstalled. I filled the radiator again in great hopes. The Dino Gods were not with me, probably because of all the hubris here lately. The same drip drip drip, only a little slower. Will have to sleep on it.

More engine pornography! Getting closer to see if it runs.

Today’s work on the engine. Hopefully will fire it up on the test stand in a few weeks.

More engine work today. The heads are on and torqued and will be checked tomorrow. Tomorrow I’ll tackle the timing.

Today I spent the ENTIRE day working on the heads. It’s the first time I put the shims in and got everything adjusted right. A few shims I had to surface grind as those were the ones I didn’t have on hand. 2 buckets had to be slightly surface ground also, so the shim was above the bucket. I couldn’t imagine doing it without the tool that allows for removal of the shims without taking off the camshafts. It was hard enough having the tool and getting all the right shims in place.

I finally have all the parts for the engine and started that as well as finishing the gearbox. A few steps on the engine aren’t done in the exact order. because i forgot to get the new bushings hones so the wrist pins would fit. I ran them over to the machine shop and had an hour to kill so started working on the timing chains. I went to the cad plater yesterday in LA so I took the front hubs apart so I had more for the load I brought to him. He’s great. Drop stuff off, go to lunch come back and it’s all done.