Window seizure...

Freed up one of the rear windows today- the other will take a bit more work to free up.  I think I've also tracked down a new speedometer for it- I'll know more in a couple of days.

I'm hoping to sell off some more studio gear- I have a potential buyer - and if this deal goes through, I'll be able to order the new front end components. This is critical - I need the new front end to position the motor mounts, which I need to do in order to fabricate the new transmission mount & measure for the driveshaft.

New Engine!

Picked up a "new" engine today- it's a 350 out of a 1969 Full size chevy. It's complete, carb-to-pan and runs well. She'll get new 64cc aluminum heads and  a crane blue racer camshaft. I've also tracked down a dual plane intake and 600cfm carb. That combo should be good for around 350 horsepower- perhaps more...

Block Cleanup Stopped

The pitting in my #5 cylinder isn't bad, but it would need some serious machining. Since the machine shop work would total around $700, I've decided to change plans a bit. Not that I'm cheap - I'll still rebuild this motor, but not for the Chevy. I'll probably use it in my next project (Tracee want's a classic pickup).

I've found a '69 350 from a Z28 (300hp) I might pick up instead. It's complete, and in good condition. I'll be calling the guy later today and checking it out soon.

I should probably go clean up the garage though...

:)

Block cleanup underway

I'm looking for a machinist - the 305 came fairly clean, but there's still some residual "pitting" in two of the cylinders. I'll ask them to go .020 - I'd like to avoid a radical rebore.

I know it's crazy. Really crazy - but I'm planning to stroke this motor out, using a 3.75" crank and 5.7" rods.

If the bore is increased by .020 the total displacement will be around 332 cid.  I just love the idea of taking the most common "corporate" block from the 80s and turning it into something unique.

Add to that an RV cam, corvette intake and carb, and my HO 416 heads (ported and polished), I hope to make an honest 350hp. The 416 heads are 58cc - and if I'm not mistaken that'll put my compression ratio in at around 10:1.

I've read... now I don't know true this really is... but I've heard stories of similar setups making more than 400 horses, so I'm optimistic.

Tomorrow, I'll finish the cleanup of the block, and then I'll clean the crap off the garage floor.

Ugh.

Crank

Flipped the motor over in the stand today and started pulling apart the bottom end. It's really messy. It's almost 8:30, and I'm exhausted- so I'll stop before I pull of the mains and try to free the crank up.

Oh, did I mention this baby is seized? Yup. Chevy's really are "like a rock".

Well, I probably won't use this block, but since it was more or less free I figure what the hell, I'll keep going. It won't cost me anything to take it right down and then decide if it's worth the cost of machining it.

On the plus side, there didn't appear to be a lot of "rust" in there, even after it sitting in water for so long. So, until it's just a block, I'll keep plugging away.

I'll have to remember to take some pictures tomorrow. Where's that camera?

PS:  Catherine Wheel - Crank - wicked band, awesome song.

Off with the heads.

Woke up early. Pulled both heads off the 305 - that was actually easier than the last time I did it- I didn't put a guage on the head bolts, but some of them were NOT torqued down to spec. I think it's 'empty' now - that is, the reast of the water poured out of it. The cylinder walls are dirty, a little rusty and will require a hone. HOW MUCH machining is yet to be seen- I'm going to head out next week and pick up a new set of caliper / cylinder guages, a hone, a reamer and then pull the bottom end apart to see how bad it is on the other side. I'm not going to be too upset if I end up going with a different block, but I would LOVE to use this thing - and keep the car's build in the spirit of "work with what ya got". On the other hand, if it needs a lot of work to bring back to life, then I could just as easily take that money and put it into a 350. Hmm.

Oh- I'll take pics tomorrow afternoon and post them in the gallery...