My I can do anything mindset often gets me in trouble. But usually after delaying the inevitable project and allowing fear of a pending disaster to build for several weeks, I get up one morning and just dive in.
The 259 is back in the Champ and it runs.... sort of. The tappets sound like a malfunctioning machine gun and sometimes it didn't need ether to fire up. But, it did (qualified) run after I did everything I could do personally in my garage to clean and replace seals, gaskets, freeze plugs, grind the valves, remove carbon etc. etc. and put it back together. However, since it would barely make it around the block in this condition, it was mandatory to either dig into my allowance and call a pro or once again pretend I knew what I was doing.
First kudos to these two links:
Valve adjustment:
Studeblogger or Clark, if you have an alias here, thank you!
On tuning with a vacuum gauge:
Tools: Harbor Freight $15 vacuum gauge, a Craftsman dwell meter/tach that I've had at least 40 years. 1/2" socket and open end, plug wrench and a couple of screw drivers.
I followed the following steps and spent at most 2 hours to accomplish the entire task:
1) Set the dwell with dwell meter.
2) Rough set timing with tach on dwell meter.
3) Set carb jets with vac meter.
4) Set timing with vac meter.
5) Set idle screw with dwell tach.
6) Removed plugs.
7) Pulled valve covers and set valve clearance in timing order sequence. Set #1 TDC with mark. Advanced crankshaft with socket on generator nut. Used screwdriver in spark plug hole to identify when each piston was at TDC.Then adjusted valve clearance at that point.
8) Reinstalled valve covers
Starts easy, purrs like a kitten and drives nice in the neighborhood. Highway test to come. Heck now I feel like an expert !!
Under hood tweaks... 240Z radiator, 280 degree thermostat required 13 pound radiator cap; Remote master cylinder reservoir made from another master cylinder; KN knock-off reusable dry air cleaner from Advanced Auto; Relay protected Halogen headlights (Relays by Battery).
Need to finish installing door panels and some interior trim, repaint front clip and install the shiny stuff. The 4' x 8' Presidential sign boards and my "back to the good old days" sign should be in next week. I think we'll be road worthy by then and I'll be ready to have my own personal parades on I-25 during rush hour!
The 259 is back in the Champ and it runs.... sort of. The tappets sound like a malfunctioning machine gun and sometimes it didn't need ether to fire up. But, it did (qualified) run after I did everything I could do personally in my garage to clean and replace seals, gaskets, freeze plugs, grind the valves, remove carbon etc. etc. and put it back together. However, since it would barely make it around the block in this condition, it was mandatory to either dig into my allowance and call a pro or once again pretend I knew what I was doing.
First kudos to these two links:
Valve adjustment:
Studeblogger or Clark, if you have an alias here, thank you!
On tuning with a vacuum gauge:
Tools: Harbor Freight $15 vacuum gauge, a Craftsman dwell meter/tach that I've had at least 40 years. 1/2" socket and open end, plug wrench and a couple of screw drivers.
I followed the following steps and spent at most 2 hours to accomplish the entire task:
1) Set the dwell with dwell meter.
2) Rough set timing with tach on dwell meter.
3) Set carb jets with vac meter.
4) Set timing with vac meter.
5) Set idle screw with dwell tach.
6) Removed plugs.
7) Pulled valve covers and set valve clearance in timing order sequence. Set #1 TDC with mark. Advanced crankshaft with socket on generator nut. Used screwdriver in spark plug hole to identify when each piston was at TDC.Then adjusted valve clearance at that point.
8) Reinstalled valve covers
Starts easy, purrs like a kitten and drives nice in the neighborhood. Highway test to come. Heck now I feel like an expert !!
Under hood tweaks... 240Z radiator, 280 degree thermostat required 13 pound radiator cap; Remote master cylinder reservoir made from another master cylinder; KN knock-off reusable dry air cleaner from Advanced Auto; Relay protected Halogen headlights (Relays by Battery).
Need to finish installing door panels and some interior trim, repaint front clip and install the shiny stuff. The 4' x 8' Presidential sign boards and my "back to the good old days" sign should be in next week. I think we'll be road worthy by then and I'll be ready to have my own personal parades on I-25 during rush hour!
Glad to see it served its intended purpose! 
There's nothing like hearing the sound of a well-tuned Studeb V8 burbling along happily at cruising speed. Keep that puppy rolling!
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