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Mercury Bobcat wagon

block and head are back from the machine shop. Bored .040" over and decked. The head was milled, (was warped from blown head gasket). They straightened it as much as possible and milled .004" to make it flat. Did a valve job too. New cam bearings installed. New cam and lifters. New freeze plugs. etc. etc. So today we cleaned up the other parts and started painting stuff. Assembly this week.
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So did you make/let the boy build his motor with just your guidance? Gotta think he'd be all over the chance.
 
Horseplay said:
So did you make/let the boy build his motor with just your guidance? Gotta think he'd be all over the chance.
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yes, he is doing the work. I am just the coach. I am teaching as we go. I usually do or show him one time on some steps and then he does the rest. I had him tear it down, mic the crank, cut the ridges from the cylinders, etc. Then we took the block and head for machine work. He installed the bearings, set the crank in, verified clearance with plasti-gage, etc. I had him install the rings, put in the pistons with ring compressor, etc. he is doing the assembly. Of course he is doing all the cleaning and painting too! When I travel I leave him with some assignments. It's a little slower than we hoped since I travel and he works too and we have to find time when we are both able to work on it. It may be ready to drop in this weekend though. The mechanical advance on the distributor seem funky, we need to take that apart. We had one bent head bolt. We went to the pick a part but all the 2.3L's are in Rangers and they are TTY bolts so you can't reuse them. So he ordered new head bolts. I think his water pump is in, just need to pick it up. You know how that stuff goes!
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That's awesome. Best part of this project is the father/son aspect. The more he does the better off he will be long term...and the car. He'll respect it more.
 
Thanks, I agree. It has been a lot of fun working together. He is learning and he will know this car inside and out. And as you said he will respect it and take care of it. He will have pride in knowing he had a hand in building it. It is a car that will already draw attention so it should be fun for him to talk to people about.
 
between my son working two jobs, starting his freshman year at college and my travel schedule we haven't had much time to work on Bob the cat. But we did get some time this week. Yesterday we tore down the C4. He ordered a rebuild kit. It probably would have been fine as it didn't look too bad butwhat the heck, lets rebuild everything!
We did manage to get the engine from the basement into the garage as well. I moved my 65 outside so we could bring the wagon in the garage too. And today before he went to work we set the engine on the mounts, primed the oil pump and set the distributor. Tomorrow we will try to get the PS pump, alt., and carb on and hook up a lot of the wiring and fuel lines. He is still waiting for the new radiator to arrive and the trans kit also so that's about as far as we will get until I get back from Asia.
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Careful if you teach him too much, he may steal your big block out of red while you're gone.

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I know that I do not have to say it, but you are making a lifetime of memories for your son. I cherish the time I spend with my dad wrenching. Social media was not a thing back then, so I do not have many pics of us wrenching. Just at the car shows. Just say'in...

fd
 
thanks guys! yes, it is the best feeling I can think of. I did this kind of stuff with my dad it has made me who I am. Spending this kind of time with my kids is a real blessing. They talk to me about more than just car stuff when we are working too. I just can't put it into words what it means. Glad you guys see it too.
 
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