Major changes, new parts, more grunt, yee haw ! :)

[wikd69]

Okay - more progress to report - and you guys *did* say you wanted lots of pix...

Bad - this makes the intake valve hit the piston and makes the motor builder want to throw up (at least until he figures out what he did wrong)...



Good - this makes the motor builder feel stupid and good at the same time...



Degreeing the cam...



Checking valve to piston clearance - 2 degrees at a time - geezo...



Obtaining pushrod length...



Here's the tools used...



Just about finished with the short block - still need to check cam end-play again...



And voila !!! One sexy new shortblock - I'm a happy guy - Next up, building the new heads !!!!

[supernova]

Hey Harry, Now is the time to PAINT that thing........... Everything else looks good.....

[wikd69]

Yeah, I'll get to paint after a bit.

Right now I'm agonizing over what springs to use. I have a set of K-Motion 1000-H springs that'd be perfect for the track but a bit harsh on the street (370 lbs seat / 860 lbs open- ouch). I'm considering scaling back to a little bit lighter spring rates, mebbe just the K-1000's. They'd yeild 276 lbs seat and 775 lbs open. That'd be a good compromise I think, between track and street. I'm getting a good education in spring harmonics and optimal install heights, coil bind and other esoteric stuff.

This is an area I need to spend a bit on time researching - don't wanna swallow a valve or break a lifter while chasing hamburgers on the other side of the valley.

The heads are running stainless valves, 11/32 stems, 1.88 exh, 2.30 intake, and 1.625 dia springs. The cam is .714 lift, 252/264 Dur, with a 112 center. I'm running Comp Cams Endure-X solid rollers.

Anybody have any suggestions on springs ? I'm open to anybody's thoughts.

[wikd69]

While I figure out my valve spring options, I went ahead and swapped out my OEM front wheel studs for some long enough to pass tech.

[wikd69]

Ok, valve spring question resolved. The Isky 9685's will work - I'll shim them to 1.950 installed height and that'll give me about 250 seat and around 653 open pressure.

Here's almost the last batch of parts I need to finish things up (still need to figure out pushrod lengths and get some replacement rocker studs)...

[supernova]

Looks good.

[wikd69]

Just had a conversation with Terry Manton from Manton Pushrods, down in Lake Elsinore, CA. Really nice guy and really helpful on the phone. I was undecided on pushrods, whether to just order a set of CompCam or Trickflow pushrods, but after talking with Terry I'm sold on his stuff. Thanks chris (supernova) for recommending them :)

4135 (chromemoly) 3/8" dia, in either .095 or .120 wall, with 8620 ball tips - should be hell for stout...

[wikd69]

Saturday update:

Got the front hubs back in - new studs in the front now make me legal, with the exception of my A pillar hoop - and that'll come right after I get things running again.



And, got my heads finished today - they'll go on tomorrow to finish out the long block. The first head has 'trainer springs' for nbr 1 - I'll need these to double check valve train geometry with my adjust length pushrods - once I get the lengths figured out I can get my pushrods ordered...

[supernova]

That thing is going to be nasty. Hope your ready for it. LOL

[wikd69]

That thing is going to be nasty. Hope your ready for it. LOL

I'm hoping

[wikd69]

Woo hoo !!!!! Heads are on !!!!!

I painted the block before hanging the heads - sure ended up looking sexy !!

I ordered pushrods this morning - hoping to get the engine build finished this weekend...

[supernova]

Looking good Harry! Won't be long now.

[wikd69]

Yep, my new pushrods from Manton will be in tomorrow.

Tonite I worked on the accessory drives, etc. Still a bit of tweaking to go...

[wikd69]

More progress...

Finally got back to the paint and touchup on the front clip - I still have to apply the clear coat, but it's pretty much done...



And, I finally got to dive into finishing the top end - here's some shots of the parts and pieces - Chris, these are my new Manton push rods - sexy stuff :)







And here's where I ended up last nite - that girdle was a b*tch to get on but I used enough crow bars and big hammers that it finally got installed...

[Moparious Maximus]

I just wanted to say, I switched from Manley to Manton pushrods last year and they are worlds apart, Manton pushrods are definently top notch stuff with good service too.