Catalina Done!

by admin, posted in Pontiac Catalina

For now, at least.

October to January:

  • Engine pulled, re-ringed, re-bearinged, re-sealed
  • Ported #15 heads, 3-angle valve job
  • Summit 2801 camshaft (214°/224° 0.444″/0.466″ 112°)
  • Steering box rebuilt and re-sealed
  • Transmission pump re-sealed
  • Front Control Arm upper and lower bushings replaced
  • 3/4 coil cut off front springs
  • Re-aligned with -0.5°R/0.0°L Camber, +3° Caster, and 1/8″ Toe-in.

Read More: Pontiac Catalina

Forgotten Oldie

by admin, posted in My Shop

This was an old “never posted” draft from 2021:

New toy came home.  Paid scrap metal pricing, since the carriage didn’t work any more, no chucks, no tooling, and the camlock hardware was stripped.

It’s a Force International 12×36, possibly a “gunsmithing” lathe. Force no longer exists.

Replacement camlock screws and springs came from Grizzly (their 4003 lathe is the same). The detent pins have been deceptively hard to locate.  I ended up fabricating my own out of 1/4″ drill rod, hardened using motor oil.

This allowed one of the used chuck to be trial fitted. I’ve ordered a brand new 3-jaw, as you really need a decent chuck to do decent work.

A new $1 roll pin was replaced (6mm; the old one had worn down to 5mm and fell into the apron):

The carriage was reassembled:

Tailstock reinstalled:

I did a good service on everything since it was all apart. Lathe runs, and operates, and feeds. Waiting for the tool post to arrive. I can use my existing carbide tool holders.  Needs a new nut-thingie inside the tailstock.

End Update: I did get a Quick Change Tool Post, as well as a brand new 8″ chuck.  Lathe has been in service since – works great!