RadiYAYtor!

I finally got the radiator to the radiator shop. It's so cute. It's this little shop behind another shop that's behind The BurgerMaster on a small side street.  The one guy that is there is really nice.  And it appears that they don't take credit/debit.  I saw paper ledgers.  I don't recall seeing a computer anywhere.
Then he asked, you know, why I was bringing it in.  He asked if the radiator was overheating.  I explained that the head gasket blew in my car so I was rebuilding the entire engine.   Well, he siad, maybe there was a block in the radiator that caused the gasket to blow.  Heh?  A new problem?  Now what?  So he's going to boil the radiator, clean it up and see if it's salvagable.

I brought the oil pump gear to the macine shop.  The guy there was very happy to see it.  But he said it looked like it was in really good shape.  So he went and grabbed the cam shaft to show me what had happened to it.  Seriously, all the teeth were ground down half way.  I wish I'd thought to take a picture.  He didn't want to keep the gear since it was fine.  Maybe when the cam is fixed I'll have more power in the Hondamatic. 

So he was going to go ahead and get started on the head.  But I asked him to wait.  I want to make sure the radiator is fine since I don't think I could find another one that is exactly for the Hondamatic.  Plus Collin and I are planning on getting the block out this Saturday during the garage sale.

Week Tenthousandeighteentrillion

Ugh.  It feels like it's been forever since I started this project.  At first I scoffed at the adage that a car rebuild/restoration "always takes longer and costs more than one originally thinks."  I thought for sure that I would be the one to throw that notion into the garbage bin that sits in the same driveway as the Hondamatic.  Well, I was wrong.  So wrong.
I called the machine shop yesterday just to check up on the status of the head there.  The conversation went somewhat like this:

***

Me:  Hi, I was just checking on how my 78 Honda head that I brought in about 4 (?) weeks ago is coming along.
Machine shop guy:  Oh.  Well we have been waiting on the block.  We thought you were going to bring the block in.
Me:  Oh... (pause) yes.  I am going to bring it in.... (another pause) Once I figure out how to get it out of the car.  Were you also waiting on the fuel pump gear?
Guy:  Yes.  We didn't want to start working on the head and then get the block and find out that there was something wrong with it.  It wouldn't make much sense to have a good head and a bad block.  And it's the oil pump gear.
Me:  Of course that's what I meant (I always say that and get oil pump and fuel pump interchanged in my mind).  Ok.  I'll, uh, figure out how to get the block out and bring it over.  Sorry it's taking so long.  I don't know how to get it out.
Guy:  No problem.
Me:  Ok. Thanks.

***

Man.  I have got to get that block out of the car.  Argh!!
Nice of them though to not work on something that's over $400 and then absolutely useless to me if the block is bad. 
Collin and I are going to a wedding today and we have to leave in a few hours.  I have a few light chores to do, but I was hoping to crack open the degreaser I bought and clean up some of the parts and nuts and bolts we took out already.  And maybe wipe down the engine compartment.  Too ambitious for today?  Maybe.  Gotta go.  Parts don't get degreased on the internet machine.

Very Little Progress

Look at this engine compartment!  So empty.  It's so nice.  I almost wish that the Hondmatic would run on so little.  Alas, we do eventually have to get all of the parts and pieces that we took out back in.  I ache to drive the Hondamatic again.  One hold up is the block.  Haha!  I'm blocked by the block!  I really don't know how to get it out.  Really the only thing I can think is to get the Hondamatic to Collin's friend's garage and work on it there.  He has an engine hoist, the know-how, a flat space to work on vehicles.  I'm very frustrated now since this seems to be taking so long.  Not only that but I have a garage full of stuff, not including all the random engine parts and pieces lying around.  This stuff is certainly getting in my way and I am certainly letting it block my mind from the task at hand.  I am still waiting for word from the machine shop on the status of the head and valves.  I wonder when they will be done...  In the meantime though I bought some degreaser and plan on using it to clean up all the parts and pieces and bolts and even the to wipe down the engine compartment a little.  Collin thinks that will make me feel a little better about the whole process if we have clean parts to reinstall.  That and he wants to replace all the hoses too.          

Radiator Is Out!

Last Thursday I attempted the daunting task of getting the radiator out by myself.  It was extremely frustrating and I accomplished nearly nothing except getting myself worked up.  The instructions didn't make any sense and they honestly made it all seem a lot easier than it, in reality, was.  I managed to get two electrical connections undone and nothing else.

Look at this ugly sucker

Say what?

On Saturday Collin helped out while I started breakfast.  He finally unhinged the hood.  I was trying to avoid doing that this whole time.  Then he took off the grill and was able to get to most of the bolts and electrical connections.  But that wasn't enough.  No.  We needed to get another panel off the car to get underneath to access the radiator. 

Naked front end

After much tugging and coaxing, and after breakfast, we did get the radiator out.  Now the engine compartment looks so empty.

The radiator void

Beware the Nothing

Phone Call

The machine shop called...

Yes, the Hondamatic head is still in good!!  Yay!
They said the cam is bad though.  Blown?  Something.  This is a result of a oil pump gear that needs to be repaired or replaced.  Ha!  I tried to give them the oil pump rod and gear when I dropped the head off and they said they wouldn't need it.  So I get to bring it back when I bring the block in. 

Collin can help me get under the car using my new jack and stands to get the oil pan off first, then we have to remove the axle and get the block off the transmission...  I'm not sure in which order.  The manual will tell us.

This is great.  Once the car is up I can get the wheels off too.  I bought some nice gray spraypaint to make the rims look nice too.  I tried to clean them up but it just wasn't working.

I feel like we're so close but there is so much left to do.

Delivered

I brought the top end of the engine to the machine shop this last Saturday.  That's really the first step in determining how much further to go. 

If the head is good then we can go ahead (no pun intended) and order the gasket set.  After that I can use my newly purchased jack and stand set to get the block off the transmission and get it out  of the car to have it checked and machined as well.

The word on the street is that copper radiators are no longer made.  Actually, that's what the parts guy told me.  So we need to get the radiator off and get it dipped and boiled (and plated in gold) etc...

After all that, I guess we just need to put the Hondamatic back together...

I'm excited to hear what the shop has to say.