[maple_leaf_eh]

Well, maybe 95% complete with another 40% to go.

I took advantage of a beautiful fall Sunday to work on 70-08876. Even though Rob Love helped me get the engine running, I have had trouble starting it since. No amount of cranking, fresh gas or ether would work this morning. So I hitched the Jeep to the family minivan and drove down the block to an empty hospital grounds. After failing to start on compression, I towed it around in gear. Hopped in and cranked the starter. VROOOM! She runs! (and smoked) Starting will be an ongoing problem with this engine - running the engine is not.

I tentatively started around the parking lot. All gears work. Front wheels engage. High and low range work. No angry noises or smells. Some hesitancy when accellerating which might have been bad gas. And raw speed! At least 35 mph in 3rd. But absolutely no brakes except the handbrake.

After rehitching to the van and towing the running Jeep back home, I let it run for an hour. I reinstalled the hood and windshield, reconnected the vaccuum wipers and put the passenger seat back in. It is almost complete.

But, the next problem arose after parking it in its place for the winter. Once on the jackstands, I wiggled the front wheels. Left is good, right is loose on the axle. The top of the wheel moves in and out about an inch, almost like the lug nuts were slack. A mechanic who had done some other work told me the King Pin needed to be replaced. I understand now what he meant.