Morgans 68 Charger. Engine #3...

[morgan]

Right. What an update.
So - unbelievably - Charger has just done a 350 mile round trip and 3 days of revving and wheelspin showing off at 'carfest' - the Chris Evans festival thing. She was one of the showcars. To say I was nervous was an understatement but she made it.

Only thing really is a moderate oil leak. Smoked a bit; you can see the exhaust is covered. Elected to press on tough and watch the oil pressure. Used a couple of litres over the weekend. Suspect rear seal - If I am lucky it will be the rocker covers but... Blue did warn me.

Heat still a problem - much better with big-block fan and better shroud but still only got 10 mins in hot sunshine stationery.
Get some airflow and pump and I am fine but... It will be a combo thing of advance and carb I guess. Again; tuning. Hopefully mechnical advance only wont make it unsortable.

Anyway - not too worried - small beans. That can be done now. The main thing is BIG picture she runs, she keeps running, and the gremlins are known. Oh, and she goes like STINK !

[Roger S]

Oh the rear oil seal, such joy. Mine leaked onto the collector offside turned black and smoked like a good un, trailed all the way to the rear and splattered the rear panel & bumper in a mist of oil.The side seals on the seal retainer or lack of them were my issue, just silicon ed up, not good.
All sorted now glad to say. Hope it is the rockers!

Rog

[MattH]

Carfest show car!! Top stuff, how did you manage that?

Sounds like a few words and pics needed for a Connected article.

[morgan]

matt - will do. She did us all proud - 100m slithery wheelspins all weekend

Got some good pics for article.

Actually, it got better than that.
Kids ended up in radio show and became ‘official opener’ - the boy opened carfest on stage with chris !

Will sort something.

[MattH]

Cool, kids will remember that for ever.

[RobTwin]

Cool, kids will remember that for ever.

... after asking "Chris who?"...

[morgan]

Go on then. I know you are all dying to see it... When I referred to 'moderate oil leak' this is what that looks like after 320 high speed motorway miles... My underside is slightly on the stained side !

No wonder it lost a bit - looks like rear main. There is a bit dripping from a rocker cover (I am biting the bullet and fitting the chunky mopar performance ones so that'll sort). But the rear seal is annoying. I should have done it when it was out (I was told) but ahhh. Whayagonnado ? Live and learn. At least its leaking oil out rather than burning oil in !

Look at the exhaust - oil bakes nice onto ceramic headers doesnt it ?

PS - Why does this forum software turn the pics sideways ? Fixing...

[Roger S]

Now that looks familiar! That burnt on oil takes some getting off the headers.Bet your rear tail lights and bumper were also suitably sprayed.

Quite an easy job, not so good laid on back tho.

Rog

[MattH]

I'd call that rustproofing.

[autofetish]

That burnt on oil takes some getting off the headers.

Rog

Oven cleaner

[morgan]

Well, given that the rockers have to come off anyway I took another look at those old finned ones that came on the Bob engine.
(I dont know whether they were actually used on it in anger, as it had orange ones on there when I first saw it - but I guess these were used at some point. )

They are fairly tatty but straight. There are a couple of bits that need a quick tack (the welds on the 'Keith Black' plates dont quite run to the end). The odd holes in the middle need a plate, they need a paint/powder.

Anyway, I decided that in the interests of nostalgia they are worth saving. So today I took them over to a pals and borrowed his blaster-booth. They came up OK - at least I can see what I am dealing with now. I'm going to paint/power them black, rub the fins back to silver, engine lacquer them and put them back on. The whole vintage 'Keith Black' thing stamped crudely is pretty damn cool.

Q - Whats with the holes in the middle of the cover ? Breathers are at the ends like normal so I assume something else was fitted here at some point ?

So - Here we go, blasted up pre-paint. More to follow...

[Pete]

I would guess that the Rocker Cover was cut for 426 Hemi style hi-Rise Breathers...

[Blue]

Old style stand up breakers like I use.

[morgan]

err OK. (googles frantically - see pic)

And I'd want that why exactly ? I think I'll plate it over unless you guys are face-palming at the moment...?

Edit - Ooh ! crossed with Blue. Yes, OK, I see. But is that 'better' or just 'period' ?

[Pete]

Less propensity to spray an oil mist everywhere as you have raised the point of the escape to atmosphere from where the bulk of the oil is...

I run them on the 572 Hemi... but I have modified them and they are piped to the Headers.... sorry, no picture...