[Va68goat]

QUICK-SILVER,

This is the oil filter that was on the car when I received the motor. The oil wasn't changed after being on the dyno. To make it easier on everyone helping me...When I get home tonight. I will repost all the videos and pictures on one thread.

[Va68goat]

Well torqhead...

Looks like I'm going to have to dig into my wallet some more. None of my friends were available to help me switch out the flexplate. I just don't have the experience with these old cars to switch it out on my own. I have way too much money invested in this motor to do something out of desperation and make a mistake. Guys have their own cars to deal with and family stuff etc. I called a couple of local shops and at $105.00 an hour, I was told this was a 7 hour job. I think it's about a 3 or 4 hour job really..but thats what a few shops told me. I'm not even 100% they even know much about these old cars so I'm worried about that as well. I can tell you for certain that I wish I would have gotten into these old cars a long time ago so I could do this stuff on my own... Hopefully, I'll be able to get this done soon.

[mgarblik]

I certainly don't want to act like I am telling you what to do but a friendly warning. Typical repair shops have NO CLUE how to work on these old cars. There may not be a single person in the shop who was alive when it was built. I would be concerned their $105.00 per hour "mechanical skills" could introduce new and different problems to further complicate your issues. An example would be the almost certain blasting on of the flex plate with an air impact and no use of a torque wrench on anything. They are getting paid to get it in and get it out fast. I would recommend waiting if you have to for your friends who have been guiding you along and have a stake and interest in helping you fix it. Wish you the best.

[Sirrotica]

The transmission doesn't even have to come out of the car to change a flexplate. If you know how to do it just sliding the transmission towards the rear and working on it through the gap. I can change one on a lift in an hour. Seven hours is excessive labor. If you look at an older flat rate manual I believe even R&R transmission and change flexplate is right around 2 hours.

I agree with Mike, most wouldn't have a clue, unless they actually own one of these cars.

[torqhead]

Originally Posted by Va68goat

Well torqhead...

Looks like I'm going to have to dig into my wallet some more. None of my friends were available to help me switch out the flexplate. I just don't have the experience with these old cars to switch it out on my own. I have way too much money invested in this motor to do something out of desperation and make a mistake. Guys have their own cars to deal with and family stuff etc. I called a couple of local shops and at $105.00 an hour, I was told this was a 7 hour job. I think it's about a 3 or 4 hour job really..but thats what a few shops told me. I'm not even 100% they even know much about these old cars so I'm worried about that as well. I can tell you for certain that I wish I would have gotten into these old cars a long time ago so I could do this stuff on my own... Hopefully, I'll be able to get this done soon.

Guess I was assuming you were going to do more investigation before swapping parts. So you weren't able to get it on a lift for further inspection or was no one able to make it this past weekend? If that was the case it's worth the wait for some of the guys to get a chance to come over and have a look again. I wouldn't pay or pull the trans and replace the flexplate unless you know that's the cause.

BTW, you have been showing some major patience and probably has to do with getting older. You would be surprised how fairly straightforward these old cars are and with the right patience (yours), you can work on them and figure stuff out. You've got more knowledge at this point than a lot of people do. I learned many years ago by my best friends grandfather giving me a little guidance and a manual. Sometimes you just have to go for it, never too late...Life is about learning all the time!

[Va68goat]

dataway,

No news yet. I'm in the middle of processing my retirement so I haven't had much time to work on the car. I'm also waiting for the carburetor that Jeff Koerner is building for me so I can replace the flexplate and switch out the carb at the same time. I've been waiting for the carburetor since June but it was supposed to be shipped yesterday...I haven't heard anything yet about it. The carb that he's building is supposed to be the same carb that Paul dyno'd the motor with when it made 550 hp. So I don't have to bother my friends too much, I figured we would wait to switch out the flexplate whenever I get the carb that Jeff built. I will update this post soon!