'68 Satellite 4-door light refurb...and big fat engine swap.

[cudak888]

Just installed new lifters today - and they all pump up as intended.


Granted, one of the lifters is rough in the bore - I'm going to exchange it for another - but this project is back up on the move


-Kurt

 

[cudak888]

Returned the one offending new lifter, and got a replacement. Pumped up all the lifters, installed the pushrods/rockers, and checked the hydraulic pressure against each rocker - no give on any of them.


After installing the valvettrain, I pressurized the system again to check for oil at all rockers. Results A-OK.


Here's where I am at the end of today. Decided not to rush it and to get a new pair of intake gaskets tomorrow. These are completely oil soaked.

-Kurt

 

[cudak888]

SUCCESS! One running LA 360 turned Magnum!

Only problem I'm having is copious smoke from the right-side exhaust manifold, which was doused in oil more than once by the original LA roller lifters. I wiped it down top and bottom, but it still smokes to a rather alarming extent.


-Kurt

 

[cudak888]

One last thing was plaguing the build - a very leak-prone transmission pan gasket. Since fluid had been leaking out steadily, I decided this was a golden opportunity to replace the gasket with a new, steel-core Chrysler resuable gasket - and upgrade the pan to the latest one used on the A904's modern offspring, the 42RH/42RE. The filter needed an extension (like a fool, I didn't photograph it), but the install went flawlessly:

Original filter. Front band clearance was A-OK. New filter sits lower with the adapter sandwiched between the valve body and the filter I used a modern 42RH/RE filter, so only two screws were used to hold it up (instead of three).

Rubber gasket coated with RTV on a rough pan that was tightened down with 80% factory bolts and 20% whatever was on the shop floor that would fit. Work of a true hack.

A bit of ATF+4, and it should be good to go.

-Kurt

 

[cudak888]

Finally swapped the driver's door latch today - the nylon button on the latch had worn too far for the second tooth on the latch pawl to engage. The new latch from eBay was slightly different, and allows the latch to be opened from the inside without first pulling the latch button up.

I documented the findings on a separate thread:

http://www.forbbodiesonly.com/mopar...ants-identification&p=910384281#post910384281

Also, now I know why the genius who "restored" this car before me gave me all the keys except those for the doors - the linkage between the lock cylinder and latch is missing. Anyone have one for sale that'll fit the 4-door?

-Kurt

 

[roadrunnerh]

I just got done reading this for the first time. I'm impressed with your intestinal fortitude!

 

[cudak888]

This is more a shopping list/reminder to myself, but I'm presently looking about for some 4-door weatherstripping. Not as easy as it looks:

Door weatherstripping:
2860492-3 - Front door (4-door) - x2, available as reproduction; difficult to find unless you know that most sellers advertise it for 1966-67, despite same part number for 1968.
2811448-9 - Rear door (4-door) -x2, ditto as above.

Door glass runs - to my knowledge, not reproduced, though the main runs may be based off a cut-to-fit part:
2570244, Front door (4-door) window glass run, L shaped - x2
2570243, Front door (4-door) window glass run at vent window - x2, this part is SHARED with 1967-69 4-door and 2-door Valiants; possibly also the same on '70-73; maybe '74-76.
2664198, Rear door (4-door) window glass run - x2

Window weatherstripping - to my knowledge, NOT reproduced:
2570238, Front door window felt (inner) - x2
2860040-1, Front door window felt (outer) - x2
2811452-3, Rear door window felt (inner) - x2
2811454-5, Rear door window felt (outer) - x2

-Kurt

 

[cudak888]

Couldn't resist a bit of "Generation Gap" photography today:

And lots of love for the More Doors:

-Kurt

 

[tallhair]

Great updates CudaK. I enjoy reading your progress and seeing the photo's

 

[ralphie361]

Nice pics, nice cars! I took a few pics of my sedans last summer too!

 

[cudak888]

Ralphie, you can pack up that Fury III and your GTX and send them my way whenever you like

* * *

It's back to the weatherstripping today.

I ordered two NOS pieces of 4-door weatherstripping last week (because it was freakin' dirt cheap - I think I paid less than $40 shipped for both parts); it arrived today. One 2570244 window run, and one 2570238 front door inner felt.

I'd never seen what this rubber-and-felt piece looks like when off the car and in a pre-installation state, so this was a perfect opportunity to photograph it to see if the pattern is reproduced as a generic piece of trim (rather than model/door specific) for a 'effing sane price.

And since

, here are a whole bunch:

Thanks to FABO, I found the answer reasonably quickly - Metro Moulded Parts part #WC 33-96 is a 96" version of this window run that can be cut to fit, and is $22-$26.70 wherever you find it (Jegs, Amazon, eBay). Now that's more like it, price-wise.

One auto interior place has it for $18, but tries to tack on $35 shipping (for more details about this seller, see dictionary definition: "Loser"). That same site also lists fitment applications as follows, so this is definitely not a Mopar-specific piece of rubber:

This product fits 91 vehicle variants.
American Motors (AMC): 1 models, 1 variants for 1965.
Cadillac: 1 models, 1 variants for 1965.
Chevrolet: 1 models, 3 variants between 1965 and 1967.
Chrysler: 6 models, 18 variants between 1965 and 1967.
Desoto: 1 models, 1 variants for 1965.
Dodge: 8 models, 21 variants between 1965 and 1967.
Ford: 1 models, 1 variants for 1965.
Gmc: 2 models, 4 variants between 1965 and 1967.
Imperial: 4 models, 10 variants between 1965 and 1967.
Lincoln: 1 models, 1 variants for 1965.
Mercedes Benz: 1 models, 3 variants between 1965 and 1967.
Mercury: 1 models, 1 variants for 1965.
Oldsmobile: 1 models, 1 variants for 1965.
Packard: 1 models, 3 variants between 1965 and 1967.
Plymouth: 9 models, 21 variants between 1965 and 1967.
Pontiac: 1 models, 1 variants for 1965.

At any rate, that solves window run issues for framed 4-door A-bodies and B-bodies from this era; not sure if the same trim also applies to the '71 redesign.

This does not, however, solve the problem of the window run that slides into the vent and quarter window channels. The front ones are listed as Mopar 2570243 in the '68 parts manual; shared with the Valiant and Dart. To my knowledge, they are not reproduced. At present, only one is on eBay right now - NOS, for an insane $224. Time to find out if that one also comes in bulk; unfortunately, the eBay photo doesn't really show the cross section too well.

-Kurt

P.S.: Soon as I have enough for one door, I'm going to clean up and install one of the stainless Ventshades I bought for it. Nice little period piece - and it really screams "county fleet car from the '60s or '70s." Someone please help me find a pair for the back windows; I only have the fronts.

 

[ralphie361]

Thanks for the tips on the weatherstrip, I need to do the same on the GTX! When the funds recover from the paint last summer, I need to do the same thing and round up all of the soft parts.

 

[cudak888]

Thanks for the tips on the weatherstrip, I need to do the same on the GTX! When the funds recover from the paint last summer, I need to do the same thing and round up all of the soft parts.

Good to know that the research will help us both.

One other thing of note - my window runs are original, but there isn't any evidence of weatherstripping glue holding it down - at least on the left driver's door. I'll probably use a bit of weatherstripping glue to hold the new piece in place, but it seems to rely on the snap fit from the rubber itself.

I'm really concerned about the availability of the run strip that fits in the A-pillar though. I haven't found a match for it yet, and the passenger's side original is so utterly dryrotted that I can't get it out without it crumbling to pieces in my hand.

-Kurt

 

[ralphie361]

What about B van or 80's truck stuff? Maybe Lmc truck?

 

[cudak888]

What about B van or 80's truck stuff? Maybe Lmc truck?

B-series van. Good point; the channel should be pretty similar for the vent up to 1997 (wouldn't you know, I had a '98, so no luck there).

Let me do some Googling. Be back in a moment.

-Kurt

- - - Updated - - -

This seller shows the weatherstripping as a single seal along the entire window channel, front and back for 1971-97:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/2-Piece-Win...ash=item48631d9fe9:g:nIQAAOSweW5U~qXs&vxp=mtr

The pattern in the first photo looks dead on though - but who knows if that stock photo really represents what you're getting? Arrrugh.

Steele Rubber, on the other hand, has a set for "1980-1997" that virtually emulates the B-body framed windows, and two very similar runs are in the kit:

http://www.steelerubber.com/beltline-weatherstrip-80-0936-57

Does anyone have a spare vent window kicking around that they can slide the rubber out of and take some measurements from it? Might check with FABO too.

-Kurt

- - - Updated - - -

UPDATE #2:

The stock photo doesn't look quite right, but if Steele shows the B-body style rubber for '80-97 B-series vans, this seller is probably selling the same thing:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vent-Window...ash=item48631d9c2c:g:ZdoAAOSwA4dWKztx&vxp=mtr

Might have to take the plunge here and order some. Not to mention that I still don't know the length difference between this and the B-body weatherstripping.

-Kurt

 

[cudak888]

Snapped a few shots of the original, rubber. The window run at the vent window has dried out and compressed, but it was once the same shape and pattern as the main window run, just smaller:

The way the original, dryrotted main window run appears, by comparison:

I'm going to order some of the van weatherstrip when I get a chance; see if it's a direct fit or not.

-Kurt

 

[jeepers007]

Holy smokes on the prices for these!


"Door weatherstripping:
2860492-3 - Front door (4-door) - x2, available as reproduction; difficult to find unless you know that most sellers advertise it for 1966-67, despite same part number for 1968.
2811448-9 - Rear door (4-door) -x2, ditto as above."

 

[cudak888]

Holy smokes on the prices for these!


"Door weatherstripping:
2860492-3 - Front door (4-door) - x2, available as reproduction; difficult to find unless you know that most sellers advertise it for 1966-67, despite same part number for 1968.
2811448-9 - Rear door (4-door) -x2, ditto as above."

Yep, $150 a pop if you shop right. Ain't cheap.

Then again, they're probably some of the slowest parts to move.

-Kurt

 

[cudak888]

Not an update on the weatherstripping, but I snagged a great deal on a reproduction 340 unsilenced air cleaner. Just the crown for this Frankenstein of a 360/Magnum 5.9/something-or-other.

Best part - I can't see the Edelbrock plate on the carb anymore

Come to think of it, I can't recall anyone trying for this look in a 4-door B-body before; has to be from all the big block love.

-Kurt

 

[cudak888]

Wingnut and carb stud arrived. Baby steps...

Also found one of the LH bolts missing on the left rear drum, and one missing on the RH front because of damaged threads - plus one rounded-out bolt and a third loose. Reaffirms my belief that the previous owner was feeding me various different loads of baloney when I bought it.

The tie rod ends and joints are all pretty horrible up front, so it doesn't really matter. Just sitting around, waiting for enough play money to:

1. Replace the tie rod ends and idler arm, order ball joints + master cylinder
2. Get Viper RT/10 badged calipers
3. Swap big bolt A-body drum spindles onto car
4. Install Viper caliper kit
5. Replace master cylinder
6. Plumb proportioning valve into rear line - probably will require fabbing my own line too, as I know better than to try double-flaring a steel brake line with cheap tools.

-Kurt