Captain Obvious

It was a loooooong time ago that I saw that episode. Despite all the abuse, some brain cells just won't die. LOL!

Man.... You're way out.* And I'm in line one number behind you!! Hahahaha!!!! * Way out!

Those are definitely the same spot welded tie rod ends I've messed with. I wonder when they started using those. I had assumed it was with the 260 since they made a bunch of steering system changes about that same time.

Haha!! I'm not going to give you any trouble about your color choice. Like Smails hat... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oj_aid1LUF0

@Mike, While you're looking at such things... I used to get email notifications for things certain things (like if someone sent me a PM). I'm not getting those email notifications anymore and I can't figure out why. I took a look at my profile and everything looks in order. Last time I remember getting a notification was two or three weeks ago? Did something change then?

I think all of that paint is too much straight-up blue, and not enough green. If you don't have anything left that has original paint on it (like maybe the front pulley?), I found a reasonably close sample at Home Depot. I don't have the sample number handy, but I can get the name and number for you if it would help. You can't use that paint (latex house paint), but the value is in the "portable color standard" that you could get at your HD. It should be the same color as the one at my HD.

The right way to plug that hole would probably be welding, but it wouldn't be the cheapest. Other options? Carefully (and not deeply) drill it out to the closest thread size and Loctite a plug in. Something like this: Then cut off the excess and file flush: Cleaning it up really really well and then putting some JB weld in the hole might work too.

I've not messed with 240 tie rod ends, but the ones pictured above were used on 260's and 280's. Might be "late" 260's only. So I've not held the Moog aftermarket stuff in my own two hands, but from the pictures, it appears they are completely different construction. Crimped together instead of threaded adjustment. Most of the new suspension components I've seen are constructed that way. Nobody uses anything threaded together anymore because it's too expensive to produce and it takes a brain to assemble correctly to the proper internal clearances. The crimped together stuff is easier to produce, and I'm sure the manufacturers would extoll the virtues as "more consistent", and "higher reliability". My read is that the new aftermarket crimped together stuff is fine, but it's not adjustable either. So, all that said... The 240 tie rod ends are still adjustable for internal play? They took that feature out in 74?

Another case of PO's incredible workmanship. Welcome to the club!! You are not alone.

No. That does not help. Those holes are not supposed to be there! LOL!! He's right. Plug the gas in and she will go. Until all the coolant leaks out, it overheats, and seizes the motor! But it could be a great ride until that point!!

Yeah, none of those little holes are supposed to be there, That's not corrosion though. Someone put those in there on purpose. Wonder what that was all about. Maybe locating pins for a gasket match job gone wrong? But the clear answer is... Someone drilled through all the way through the head and into the water jacket. Woof.

I don't know about the earlier ones, but the later tie rod ends aren't really "adjustable". That cup and spring ls a little bit of preload to try to keep things from rattling around in there, but the ball and socket joint itself is not adjustable and wears out. See the four weld 'dots" around the perimeter of the TRE? Back when the thing was first produced, they ran a threaded collar down against the ball inside until there was no slop. Then they threaded on the slotted "spanner" collar to lock it in place, and then they welded the whole thing together. The weld has good penetration and it joins the slotted collar, the main body, and the threaded collar all together: Problem is, the ball and socket joint inside wears as it moves around and eventually there will be slop in the tie rod end. As an academic exercise, I dissected a very loose ball joint donated by @Mike W a while ago. For your viewing pleasure... After you cut through the welds and crack the slotted collar loose: Then I cut through the welds locking the threaded collar into the main body. PITA because the heat from the welding operation and the rapid cooling spot hardened the HAZ: But after enough perseverance, I've got this, exposing the ball and socket joint inside the TRE body. You can see the dot of welded threaded material still remaining on the collar: And here's how the ball and socket joint works: It was educational, but the patient did not survive.

Man. You just can't catch a break!!

Is that coming out of the carb mount hole?

Uhhhh.... Hard to tell from the lower res pics, but it looks to me like it's not coming out of the carb mount hole. That looks like a completely unintended hole formed by accident. Probably corrosion through the head wall itself into the water jacket? Can you take a close-up of the hole?

It's a little late to be doing this, but I'd like to drop back a little... We've all been treating your cold start difficulties as a lack of fuel situation, and I would like to investigate that a little more. You've mentioned a couple times that the injectors don't seem to be firing when you're trying to start the cold car. Can you provide some more details as to how are you coming to that conclusion?

I think it depends on the year 280. 77-78 shoes are different than previous years, but I believe everything from 70 through 76 are the same.

The situation where you're getting +12 on both sides of the injectors is normal. It only takes a small amount of current to light up the test light and you'll pull that small amount through the injector on the floating side. It's not enough current to click the injector, but it'll pull enough to light the test light, In fact, you'll see that same situation even if you pull the connector off the injector completely. You'll pull current through one of the other injectors. Like this:

Yeah, I wouldn't want to have to crank twenty seconds every day, but just once to see if it will eventually start without the ether could potentially be a helpful data point.

Yes, I would agree that 15+ seconds of continuous cranking is disconcerting and not something that you would want to be necessary. But I'm trying to make sure I have an accurate handle on the problem. You said that the engine refuses to start on it's own when it's cold, but with a quick spray of starting fluid it starts up and RUNS instantly. I'm wondering if the problem is more accurately described as "when the engine is cold, it takes a lot of continuous cranking (like fifteen seconds) to get it to light off. But once it does start, it runs fine". I would apply a different approach to troubleshoot those two different scenarios.

Dave, I was thinking the same thing, but the OP said this: So it sounds like he already confirmed that the check valve is holding and the fuel pressure is OK even while the problem is occurring.

About the rod bolts... It seems that you should have the rod big end checked and potentially resized if you change the rod bolts. I had previously discounted this claim, but after seeing @madkaw's engine failure, I give it some credence. After reviewing the geometry, I understand the concern. So add that cost to the list too if you are going with new bolts. That said... As for me? I'm planning to re-use my old rod bolts. I'm even going to replace one of them that galled when I took it off. Threads are messed up and I'm going to replace just that one. I suspect there was a little metal chip in there when they did the original install at the factory and it smeared a couple threads when I took it off.

The cold start spray is in addition to the normal injector squirting. Both the regular injectors and the CSV will spray at the same time if the engine is cold enough. So, I got a question.... When you say it won't start without a spray of starter fluid, how long are you cranking it for before saying it "won't start"? Reason I ask is that I removed my cold start valve completely and it definitely takes longer to start without it than it did before I took it off. Maybe five seconds of cranking? I'm wondering if you just are giving up too soon. What happens if you crank the engine for fifteen seconds straight? Sounds like a short amount of cranking, but with your hand on the key, it doesn't feel like a short time.

That's cool! Thanks for sharing.

RIP Mr. George. I'm sure he's sipping a drink at the Commodore Hotel on the other side.