"Big Red" build thread
Thread Starter
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Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 2,600
Likes: 64
From: Billings, MT
Well, finally getting back to this old girl. The second machine shop has been great, they fixed all the previous *****-ups, and double checked all the work that was done by the hack job shop. I did end up getting hack job to refund my money and give me another crank core. Of course it was the wrong one!
The new shop had a crank core they turned for me. The heads ended up needing a valve job, but the guides were OK. I re-assembled them with new Fel-pro positive control-type guide seals they are sitting on the bench ready to go.
Second freshly ground crank from the machine shop .010"/.010"
the first one had .011" endplay!
So they ground me another. This one came in at .008" after setting the thrust - much better!
Machined and cleaned block, .040 overbore, HO cam installed
Checking endplay....
The new shop had a crank core they turned for me. The heads ended up needing a valve job, but the guides were OK. I re-assembled them with new Fel-pro positive control-type guide seals they are sitting on the bench ready to go.Second freshly ground crank from the machine shop .010"/.010"
the first one had .011" endplay!
So they ground me another. This one came in at .008" after setting the thrust - much better!
Machined and cleaned block, .040 overbore, HO cam installed
Checking endplay....
Thread Starter
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Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 2,600
Likes: 64
From: Billings, MT
As in? Me assembling them? Or the machine work? Well, the first hack job machine shop had the block and rotating assembly for about 3 months (was supposed to be a few weeks.) Second place had the heads and block for a few weeks. The heads took me a couple hours to put together. The shortblock will take me a few hours as well. This is with checking bearings and clearances as it goes together.
Thread Starter
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Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 2,600
Likes: 64
From: Billings, MT
I'll try to get some more pics up this weekend. I've got the piston ring gaps all checked, installed them on the pistons, got #1-#4 pistons installed in the block, check the rod bearing clearances, lubed 'em up and torqued them down. It's officially a V-4! I've had the used lifters and pushrods I got with the HO cam soaking in B-12 chemtool for a few months (got really busy) Hopefully they are still there! I'm going to disassemble the lifters tonight at home and clean them, lube them up and put them back together.
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 195
Likes: 0
From: Rochester, MN
reuse lifters?
Sucks that you've had such a hard time with this, but it'll be nice in the end.
I've never heard of disassembling/cleaning lifters...I was thinking that I remembered in school that they said: new cam=new lifters or there'll be premature wear. Must not be true, though.
Was curious why you didn't install a freeze plug heater?
good luck!
I've never heard of disassembling/cleaning lifters...I was thinking that I remembered in school that they said: new cam=new lifters or there'll be premature wear. Must not be true, though.
Was curious why you didn't install a freeze plug heater?
good luck!
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Thread Starter
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Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 2,600
Likes: 64
From: Billings, MT
Sucks that you've had such a hard time with this, but it'll be nice in the end.
I've never heard of disassembling/cleaning lifters...I was thinking that I remembered in school that they said: new cam=new lifters or there'll be premature wear. Must not be true, though.
Was curious why you didn't install a freeze plug heater?
good luck!
I've never heard of disassembling/cleaning lifters...I was thinking that I remembered in school that they said: new cam=new lifters or there'll be premature wear. Must not be true, though.
Was curious why you didn't install a freeze plug heater?
good luck!
Thread Starter
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Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 2,600
Likes: 64
From: Billings, MT
Apologies for the crappy pics, I've forgotten the camera the last few trips over to the shop. These pics are just from my cell phone. Got the shortblock together, timing chain on, heads on and torqued, new oil pump checked out and bolted on (no pics of those yet) all the lifters are in and rebuilt too! I snap pics of the latest next week sometime.
Pistons are .040 flat-tops for an HO mustang engine from Keith Black
Pistons are .040 flat-tops for an HO mustang engine from Keith Black
Thread Starter
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Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 2,600
Likes: 64
From: Billings, MT
Found a few more pics on my phone and added them.
Ready for gaskets and intake!
Got the motor assembled and painted over the last few weekends, then saturday finished bolting parts on, primed it with a drill, then got the distributor stabbed, and then had to take it out, as it interfered with my lift chain. Here's the blasted and painted block plate, I used some adhesive-backed foam from the hardware store to replace the stock stuff.
Cleaned up the engine crossmember and painted it. This thing looks like a diamond in a goat's ***!
Flex plate and block plate on
The shorties are the stock ones from my Lightning, blasted and painted with some ceramic paint from the hardware store.
In it's new(old) home!
Not sure how the upper intake brace is going to fit with the headers, anyone?
Ready for gaskets and intake!
Got the motor assembled and painted over the last few weekends, then saturday finished bolting parts on, primed it with a drill, then got the distributor stabbed, and then had to take it out, as it interfered with my lift chain. Here's the blasted and painted block plate, I used some adhesive-backed foam from the hardware store to replace the stock stuff.
Cleaned up the engine crossmember and painted it. This thing looks like a diamond in a goat's ***!
Flex plate and block plate on
The shorties are the stock ones from my Lightning, blasted and painted with some ceramic paint from the hardware store.
In it's new(old) home!
Not sure how the upper intake brace is going to fit with the headers, anyone?
