To get your ignition timing roughly lined up set the timing notch on the balancer to the timing marks on the timing cover. Then install your distributor so the rotor button ends up pointing towards the number one cylinder mark. There is a mark on the lip of the distributor housing where the cap sits. Traditionally that is where number one spark plug lead should go 👍
Rattle Can Resto Kings! That'd make a great t-shirt! I really miss the old red engines, so easy to fix & so many mods can be done. Great video guys, love your work!
If you replace the points, replace the condenser. Pitting can be because the condenser is shot. Also a good idea for a new coil too. Cheap insurance. Also check the "wobble" on the dizzy shaft at the rotor. Might need re-bushing.
Remember helping Dad service the EH with a 186 and then later Dad bought a HZ with the 202. Red motors were just part of life and Dad would be all over a Rattle Can Resto. I think he did a bit of rattle canning to get it past the roadworthy.
I reckon you'd put the balancer in the sun and let it warm up to expand 😉 great to see you guys setting points! One other thing to always check that dizzy shaft rotates when you turn over the engine as the original timing gears were made of fibre and would strip the teeth (not you have this problem). This meant the cam wouldn't turn and therefore not drive the dizzy. Keep it up 👍
Reminds me of a recent rattle can resto my brother and i did at like 11pm to a 2nd hand borgy for my BA wagon haha we even changed the oil, basically like new
I had every variant of the Holden red engine in a variety of cars over the years. The old 161 i had in a HR. Smaller than that as you said a 138. There is a 149 in between as well.
"I Love Rebuilding Engine's" You're more than welcome to come over to help me with my 253😂😂. Also, the old glass Fuel Pump, DON'T get rid of it, true restorers are paying top dollar for them.. 👍👍
Inspirational you blokes ... cant believe im late to the party and live half an hour away.... just joined up to Hackshop and hope to work towards getting my dream "first car" again ... HQ Prem ... look forward to all your stuff and inspiring my future build
The Paint colour is actually called "Rocket RED", Also if you have any troubles with the Harmonic balancer outside ring moving/spinning off through too many rev's a Blue Motor Balancer is wider & do hang on better. For future reference, the base of the carbies do come loose along with the manifold bolts for No 5. This will depend on how long he keeps the 161 in there though....
Rattle can resto..... Awesome video guys when I wad 16 in 1994 my first car was a 1970 HG 186 tri magic mission brown with cream vinyl roof I ended up getting a written off HK Brougham that had a 327 chev 2 speed Detroit 12 bolt rear end abd swapped out the drive line and full brougham interior power windows power steer abd A/C even in 96 when she was finished she was pretty flash with all her extras one of the ones that got away as I brought a 1977 HX GTS 308 4 on the floor fully original wish I still had that one 2 but I sold and brought a mint VN phoenix red manal ss that I wrote off and the got the blue HQ thats my prole pix on RU-vid fully balanced and blue printed 327 from.the brougham with double hump fuely heads with huge stainless valves ported match everything old school Keith black forged flat tops and heaps more good gear its been In storage for 16 years it did 10k on the road before it got stored away in 2009 and is not far from going back on the road
Hey boys little hack …. When torquing the flywheel bolts, a trick to stop the motor turning over is too sit a bearing cap in the ring gear teeth up against the dowel for the bell housing..
Don't call the mighty 161 weak. My first car was a 161 HT Belmont. Beat the absolute snot out of it for years. Best 4 wheel drive ever. Took me down many a bush track to surf spots and back. Holdens will go anywhere, just a matter of where they come down on the other side. Love a good rattle can resto...
Always replaced the condenser as well, when I did points. My 161 died in the day with number 5 piston head seperating. I remember being told the rear two cylinders were always the ones that failed, in the red and black motors.
Correct me if I'm wrong I think those distributors on top of the shaft had a little felt filter and you put a drop of oil on top of the shaft and put rotor button back on
Check how many volts to your dizzy when the motor is running should be about 8 volts if its higher change the resitor or it will keep burning out your points. Cheers
Long time watcher 1st time commenting. I have a lot of experience fitting reconditioned engines back in the day day when red motors where common. Hope you guys removed all the rocket red paint from mating surfaces otherwise once the first heat cycle with the engine happens paint will go soft and everything will come loose. Also with the water pump there is 2 short and 1 long bolts if the one long bolt is placed anywhere other than with the alternator bracket it will crack number 1 cylinder boar. Please check by removing water pump. Cheers Lenny
Holden started making red six cylinders in 1948 if my memory is correct. If the harmonic ballancer on your engine hasn't fallen off by now it clearly didn't need one
