M3 Restoration

[8683jb]

Looks great Don! I'm looking forward to doing that with mine.

[spec4don]

Got to do some really cool tows at Warbirds over the west. The week end before last! Had a great time until the Tach drive froze up. Then you hire a DUKW to winch you up on the trailer!So a new distributor, intermediate shaft and replacing the oil pump later Zelda’s back up and running! Glad some friends came down to help! Boy she sure runs good now!





A WW2 Vet, pretty girls, and a halftrack. Doesn’t get any better than that!







Thanks to friends Matt and Levi for coming down to help repair Zelda. Went back to standard ignition and she runs great! Really pleased.

Don G.

[8683jb]

I'm glad Zelda's tip-top again!

[Tapper02]

She's keeping you on your toes Don!  Great pics...

-Tom

[beerman]

Sorry to hear about your break down, but glad you up and running again. Do you think you could share with us the root cause of the failure so the rest of us and be on the look out for that type of failure.

Thanks, Jeff

[spec4don]

Hi Jeff, the problem was when the engine came back I didn’t check the grease cup on the distributor to make sure it had grease. I assumed! You know about assume! I was turning it in but my bad. I also didn’t realize there is an oil cup on the nose of the starter. You have to pull the starter to service that!

Don G.

[beerman]

Thanks for the information on the failure. I often worry about these type of failures that can happen and try and keep a few extra spare parts around for times like these. Never can have too many spares.

[emptyhead]

Didn’t know about the starter cup thanks don. Sucks to break down at an event but always someone in the community to help out.

[Smadge]

Don,

How did that cause the oil pump to go out? Did the distributor mess the gear up? I just want to make sure i don't run into the same problem.

Paul

[spec4don]

So the oil pump didn’t go out but the drive was damaged. On the White engine the oil pump is driven by the cam. The oil drives the distributor. When the Tach drive froze it caused the intermediate shaft tab the shear off in the oil pump drive. The intermediate shaft is between the distributor and the oil pump. The main thing is make sure the distributor is well lubed. And purchase a new intermediate shaft to have on hand.

Don G.

[Smadge]

Thanks for the info!

[spec4don]

Zelda had a great play day a couple of weekends ago. Lots of off roading lots of fun!







Don G.

[coreyelliott]

That is an AWESOME pic!  Looks great!

Corey

[spec4don]

Finally got a chance to tear the piece of frame apart and get the roller off of it. Took it to the Machine Shop to have them press the shaft out. 200 tons no go! So they drilled it out. So here she is at the sand blaster, then Zelda will finally have the correct front roller!



Don G.

[coreyelliott]

Well when you get your halftrack done you get to fun things......... like today took Zelda to the Bethel Boosters car show! It’s nice to help educate kids on History.



First outing of the season!

Don G.

Hey Don,

Do you have a close up picture of the sign that you place out in front of Zelda?  We will want something like that and I've been struggling with what exactly to display. 

Thanks!

Corey