Jake Kuhn 1,556 #1 Posted October 24, 2014 Hi All, starting another restoration on a 58 RJ. I bought this one in the spring at mentone as a non runner, got it complete and running and then the trans leaked really bad so I took it out to rebuild it. I have since had the tranny out of it for a couple months...it turned out to need a lot of parts. I finally got it back together last weekend, then realized a sideplate was bent so it don't turn over. I did some diggging around and found a perfect set of sideplates that have no rust pitting...I am going to prime them and sand them so they are nice, so the trans is on hold for a while. Tonight I tore the tractor the rest of the way apart. It will be a easy one to restore because there is not really any rust pitting....I will not have to fill any pits, just prime and sand it...and will have to spend some time on the hood as its kind of dented up. It has an original belt guard and heat shield....it has a newer k91 on it, but I have a correct 3/4" exaust k91 with a shower cap muffler I'm going to swap for this engine off a 400. This will be a slow going project because I still have the 57 rj apart. Anyways...here is it as of tonight. Gonna start sandblasting parts tomorrow and getting them ready to be primed. Thanks, Jake 8 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AMC RULES 37,141 #2 Posted October 24, 2014 Looked too nice as an original survivor to restore it Jake. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jake Kuhn 1,556 #3 Posted October 24, 2014 Looked too nice as an original survivor to restore it Jake. the pictures make it look better than it was...it had been repainted and the paint was starting to fleck off...it was a good start for a resto...if it would of been more original I would of probably left it alone. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AMC RULES 37,141 #4 Posted October 24, 2014 I'm sure it'll be a work of art once you're finished with it State Farm. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JERSEYHAWG / Glenn 4,498 #5 Posted October 24, 2014 Jake, will be following along. Glenn 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
neil 2,410 #6 Posted October 24, 2014 Good luck with the resto journey Jake 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ken B 3,164 #7 Posted October 24, 2014 Very nice Jake, it seems you have been a little quiet lately... 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Geno 1,929 #8 Posted October 24, 2014 Looks good Jake, thanks for letting us watch. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pullstart 63,201 #9 Posted October 24, 2014 Very nice Jake, it seems you have been a little quiet lately... I was thinking the same.. looks like another fun one to watch! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jake Kuhn 1,556 #10 Posted November 19, 2014 (edited) Here's a little update on the 59...Go the engine apart and it isn't as good as I hoped, in different spots of the bore I have ring gap ranging from .016 to .022. I think I am going to have it bored .010 over. I have the k91 all apart and beadblasted, and already had on hand a gasket set, NOS .010 piston, NOS stator, and a new aftermarket carburetor for it. I bought the carburetor for my 57, but ended up finding a NOS carb I will put on my 57. If anyone has a .010 over ring set I'm looking to buy one, I can get them new from kohler, but $60 seems a little steep. Also got some parts beadblasted and ready for primer, hope to get them done sometime this week. then I can sand them and get the trans back together. Depending on if I have time, and the weather isn't too bad this weekend I may get the frame blasted as well. Here's a few pictures. Thanks, Jake Also ended up blasting this, and must say I regret it. Anybody have any ideas on possible ways to save it? Edited December 6, 2014 by Jake Kuhn 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JERSEYHAWG / Glenn 4,498 #11 Posted November 19, 2014 Coming along really nice Jake. Glenn 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AMC RULES 37,141 #12 Posted November 19, 2014 That muffler might just be your biggest challenge yet Jake... how are you keeping the blasted parts from rusting again? 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jake Kuhn 1,556 #13 Posted November 19, 2014 Coming along really nice Jake. Glenn Thanks Glenn! That muffler might just be your biggest challenge yet Jake... how are you keeping the blasted parts from rusting again? It's defitely going to be a challenge, not sure if I can even save it, but I'm going to try. The other parts should get primed soon, if not, I can blast them again, when they have been glass beaded it is really quick and easy to go over them again in my cabinet. I have had to do that in the past on stuff that sat a while. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Geno 1,929 #14 Posted November 19, 2014 Nice work Jake, 1st class. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
woodchuckfarmer 333 #15 Posted November 19, 2014 Looking good Jake 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
squonk 41,639 #16 Posted November 20, 2014 (edited) If that muffler got the holes from blasting it wasn't going to last long anyway. Edited November 20, 2014 by squonk Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tom. 70 #17 Posted November 22, 2014 Looking really good Jake, I bet it will look fantastic when it's finished. Tom Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jake Kuhn 1,556 #18 Posted November 22, 2014 Got some parts primed yesterday and started sanding on them today. also blasted the gas tank, doesn't look so good, but it should be saveable, I have seen worse before. also, finished up on sanding the sideplates, they turned out really nice. Then started installing the bushings, and seals in them. Need to find a good set of axles, or figure out a way to clean some of the burrs off mine and then I can finally put the trans back together for the last time. And paint it. Thanks, Jake 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Geno 1,929 #19 Posted November 23, 2014 Gonna look really nice Jake. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ol550 830 #20 Posted November 23, 2014 Jake, as for the axles why not get a couple pieces of 1" cold rolled and have the keyways cut? worked for me once. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JERSEYHAWG / Glenn 4,498 #21 Posted November 23, 2014 Jake,,,,,,,you allways do a really nice job. I would like one of those ol timers one day. Glenn 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jake Kuhn 1,556 #22 Posted November 24, 2014 (edited) Thanks Guys, I tore apart the trans today. I ended up being able to save the axles I had...they won't be perfect, but they should be fine. They had lots of burrs on them, so they were really hard to get through the bushings, ended up taking some some time today and getting them cleaned up, they now slide through the bushings easily, which was my issue last time. The axles are a little wore where the bushings go, but should be fine. Then I finished putting the bearings in the side plates, and did a test fit without axle seals or gaskets...everything seems to work good! Tomorrow I will put the gaskets and axle seals on, and hopfefully it will be the last time I assemble it. Also, sanded on some of the parts today. Thanks, Jake Edited November 24, 2014 by Jake Kuhn Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jake Kuhn 1,556 #23 Posted November 26, 2014 Here's an update...attempted to put the trans together today, but it didn't go so well. I put it all together, and when I go to tighten the bolts, the trans won't turn over...If I leave about 3 loose on each side it will still spin. I added some pictures of it going together, and then back apart and was wondering if you guys see anything I did wrong? maybe there should be a washer between a bearing and a gear? It seems like if it was just a little farther apart it would be fine, maybe even 2 gaskets would fix the trick? I also learned, do a test fit of it before putting silicone on the gaskets....thats the second time I've done that...lol Thanks, Jake Going together Back apart Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Geno 1,929 #24 Posted November 26, 2014 One big question is did it spin freely before it came apart, if it did were any bearings replaced while apart and are they fully seated? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Racinbob 11,298 #25 Posted November 26, 2014 (edited) I had a similar problem with my Suburban Jake. I would snug up the bolts and it seized. Back them off just a fuzz and it freed up. I had that bugger apart a million times. What I believe was the problem is that the axle bushings needed a bit more tolerance. It's possible the outer axle housings weren't lined up exactly parallel and a final snug on the bolts bound things up with the new bushings. I had the right side bolted tight and used a straight edge to verify that nothing was protruding too far making the left plate bind it. Also, make sure the differential bushings aren't protruding if you installed new ones. Edited November 26, 2014 by Racinbob Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
