Good evening Jamie and Robert, thanks for your excellent replies!
Ranchero50 wrote:Good plan, nothing like being rushed to make things go wrong. Suggestion being use the satellite views on google to familiarize yourself with the area around his shop in case your directions or the garmin send you down a dead end street. Been there, done that.
You know, that's a great idea, thanks! I'll do that. I heard from Tom that his place is very easy to find, so hopefully I won't get too lost!
DuckRyder wrote:I agree with getting as much paint as possible off of it before taking it to Tom.
Of course it will still have to be thoroughly degreased when it returns, but I t will be easier to clean and take if the paint is off already...
I think you're right; removing a bunch of paint makes sense at this point! I spent some time this afternoon stripping a bunch of the paint off, yet naturally, it wasn't easy to access shrouded surfaces (like under the water pump).
The paint itself came off quite easily though. So easily (after brake cleaner), that I'd call it
rubbing or
blowing the paint off! After soaking in brake cleaner for a few minutes, I was able to literally blow the paint off many areas (using the brake cleaner aerosol).
The paint came off so easily, that I'm thinking of asking Tom to go ahead and remove it while he has the parts all separated from one another. All he'd need to do is hit it with brake cleaner and brush the paint off with a wire brush--it comes right off!
Here's the driver's side of the block after a mere twenty minutes of effort (much of which was simply spraying the cleaner on).
I made another bare patch on the back:
Perhaps this is the most impressive. 95% of the removed paint on this side was
blown off with the force of the brake cleaner can!
Knowing that I had only a few hours of daylight left, I cut the paint removal activity short and began removing the March pulleys. I placed the V belt pulleys on the engine just to keep track of them.
Despite my measurements I wasn't sure whether or not I'd be able to sneak the engine in without removing my camper shell.
Just barely made it!
With the engine in the truck, I began reminding myself how to tie knots! I only remembered how to make two real knots: the bowline and the figure eight. So I tied bowlines and used figure eights to form a stop on the bitter end, to keep the bowlines from coming undone. Here's the bowline:
The main trouble I've had with the bowline is that it seems difficult to adjust the rope tension once the knot is tied (or even immediately before). It's hard for me to make a snug tether using these knots.
Does anybody know of another simply knot that might better suit this situation? I'll posts photos of exactly how I have the ropes tied tomorrow.
Tomorrow is FE Specialties delivery day!
Thanks for all the outstanding, generous help!
Robroy