Ready for new pushrod tubes and seals.

Lots of oil on the seals before rolling them onto the tubes, and then I pushed the tubes into place.

I even remembered the pushrod retaining wires.

After lubing the rockers, shafts, spacers, pushrods, and adjusters, I put everything together and torqued the new high-strength retaining nuts. And then I gave the adjusters a quick clearance setting. One side done!

I just got started on the other side today, when the weather outside proved too tempting.

We took a 3 hour hike in the San Juan Mountains, and the aspen colors were stunning.

Those pieces look fantastic, may I ask the process?

That is the one thing I do miss about Colorado, Fall is so beautiful

Easy process! Just clean the old parts and send to FPS (www.fpswi.com), and specify what finish you want. They are quick and cost-effective.

Left side valve gear in place and quickly adjusted.

OK, finally--time to keep going on engine assembly.

I reached into the powder coat part box, with everything still wrapped.

Pretty valve covers and new gaskets.

Valve covers in place--looks more complete!

Oil filter mount and new filter. Gotta remember to fill this later when I get close to startup.

Then it was time for the oil cooler. I bought a new "Original Equipment" version from Pelican.

A test fit, and interference with the bracket for the EFI Hall sensor. So the sensor and bracket had to come off.

I also found very minor interference with the upper nut on the oil filter mount. That led to a quick re-contouring of the cooler frame. It is all aluminum so pretty easy to adjust.

Then new cooler seals.

New oil cooler mounted, but...

The replacement cooler has extended edges on the outer wall. Compare to the dirty original.

The wall is also aluminum, so pretty easy to trim with a new blade.

Same on the other side.

Good clearance now for the bracket.

There's some debate about this. Jake Raby advises not to fill the filter first...so maybe one less thing to do Everything looks awesome, as usual!
http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?sho...p;#entry1595700

Thanks Ian. And interesting info on pre-filling the filter.

Next, the engine mount brackets and bushings.

Done.

Then the thermostat. Here are the old and new parts.

I installed the pulley and mounting bolt with some teflon dry lube.

New thermostat. I hope this is not the operating temp.

And new cable, which looks very suspiciously like a bicycle gear shift cable.

Assembled on the mounting bracket (another powder-coated piece).

Installed.

Checking the whiteboard--making progress.

Next up: the blower housing. I had this lightly blasted to remove the PO red paint. Instead of leaving the magnesium bare, I plan to paint this with epoxy matte clear. Any opinions?

I think the epoxy matte clear is the perfect choice. Your car and work is just amazing.

Great work here - is that the Awesome Powdercoat thermostat bracket or OEM?

Thanks, guys. The thermostat bracket is OEM, done by a local shop, Evolution Powder Coating in Durango--highly recommended.

Got to Tucson today, after stopping in Lake Havasu City yesterday, to drop my trans off at California Motorsport.

Here is the alternator rebuilt by Tucson Alternator Exchange.

Complete rebuild for $150.

Thats a very reasonable price and the product looks great

Good value and spending your $$ locally.

Can't beat that with a stick

I like to take advantage of resources in Tucson, since I visit here frequently. This city still has lots of grass-roots shops and other old school automotive resources.

So far, besides the alternator, I have used Tucson vendors for bumper rechroming, upholstery work, fuel tank boiling out, and attempts to save my original cylinder heads.

No work to report today, but I want to celebrate the 2 year anniversary of my first post.

Here is the car when I picked it up in September 2019.

First day in the home garage.

Interior stripped out.

Engine out. Red paint!

Right front inner and outer fender gone, front panel and floor work underway.

Rear panel off, right rear outer fender off. Test fit of rear trunk floor--first new sheet metal.

Rear back together.