Another 400 stroker
Laughing Gas
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,107
Likes: 32
From: Spokane, WA
Mine came with 4.10's from the factory, so my gearing is already fairly decent for what it is. Those gears are also why there's a Gear Vendors overdrive unit in my future plans. The C6 with 4.10's tends to sit a little too high in the rpm band on the freeway for my taste, so I want to add an overdrive unit to keep the engine happy, and maybe improve mileage a tad (not that it's a priority). The other added benefit is that I can possibly go to a one piece driveline with the added length of the overdrive unit, which reduces the number of u-joints that can possibly fail. Not a big deal, but every little bit helps.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,107
Likes: 32
From: Spokane, WA
Thanks for the thumbs up on Buford! I have a newly rebuilt NP205, which is what originally came in my truck. The Gear Vendors overdrive unit is available with an adapter that bolts directly to the output shaft of the 205. Like I said, with that additional length, I should be able to eliminate the carrier bearing and extra U-joints, and go with a one piece driveline after that. That's the theory, anyway.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,107
Likes: 32
From: Spokane, WA
Well, I've tried to post the pictures Tim has sent to me into my album, but all I ever get is 'red X syndrome'. I've resized them, I've changed them from .jpg to .gif, I've dragged and dropped, I've browsed and uploaded, and I've installed the latest version of java....bupkis.
This sucks monkey muffins.
On the plus side, Tim left me a note saying that they had the plant running today, and they've drained it, re-torqued the head bolts, and will be making some pulls on the dyno tomorrow. So, hopefully we'll see some numbers soon. Sorry I couldn't do much about the pictures, but apparently I'm technically retarded...something is different from when I load pictures from my own camera versus loading pictures that I receive in email. I haven't the foggiest what it is, but I can't make it work.
This sucks monkey muffins.
On the plus side, Tim left me a note saying that they had the plant running today, and they've drained it, re-torqued the head bolts, and will be making some pulls on the dyno tomorrow. So, hopefully we'll see some numbers soon. Sorry I couldn't do much about the pictures, but apparently I'm technically retarded...something is different from when I load pictures from my own camera versus loading pictures that I receive in email. I haven't the foggiest what it is, but I can't make it work.
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 351
Likes: 0
From: Star, Idaho
I can't wait to see what you end up with! Like Tim mentioned, my 434 is a twin to yours. I have been building it on a shoestring budget for the last four years. My carb is a Holley truck avenger 770 CFM. On your CHI heads, did your buy them complete or build them? I bought mine bare and had them built. I also had 4-bolt main caps installed on the lower end. I think everything else is about them same between your engine and mine. Which oil pan did you go with?
Laughing Gas
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,107
Likes: 32
From: Spokane, WA
I had Tim get the heads from CHI bare, and then he built them appropriately. The pan is the Milodon 4x4 pan.
Tim called me today and said that the plant was pinging a bit on the high end when they were making the dyno runs, so they spoke to Comp about it, and they're going to try to retard the timing 4 degrees to see how it goes. If it doesn't work, then they're going to have to try a different cam grind to fit the situation. It's a bit of a drawback, but it's just about there. So, it may take a few days to get some actual numbers. Tim thinks that it may be due to the compression being on the high side of 10, nearly 11:1. We'll see how things go by backing off the timing a tad.
Tim called me today and said that the plant was pinging a bit on the high end when they were making the dyno runs, so they spoke to Comp about it, and they're going to try to retard the timing 4 degrees to see how it goes. If it doesn't work, then they're going to have to try a different cam grind to fit the situation. It's a bit of a drawback, but it's just about there. So, it may take a few days to get some actual numbers. Tim thinks that it may be due to the compression being on the high side of 10, nearly 11:1. We'll see how things go by backing off the timing a tad.
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Senior User
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 351
Likes: 0
From: Star, Idaho
That is good to hear about your CHI heads. My CR is 10.3:1 so hopefully I won't experience the same problems you are. I know Tim will get things figured out for you and it will help when I go to the dyno! Have a great weekend and I look forward to seeing how it turns out!
Laughing Gas
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,107
Likes: 32
From: Spokane, WA
Well, I got a phone call from Tim about 30 minutes ago, and he's of the opinion that we need to go to a different cam. While Comp said that retarding the timing might do the trick, Tim also spoke to someone else that said that they were able to run 12:1 compression on pump gas, so there's no reason my engine should be pinging...unless the cam was just not the right one for the job. So, I agree with Tim's command decision to have Comp come up with a different cam grind.
I do, however, think that Tim might be burning his candle from about 8 different ends, as when we finished the conversation, he called me "Craig", and my name is Tim too! But as he says, he has a really good memory....just short.
Anyway, it sounds like it's going to be a bit before we get a new cam, and give the dyno another try....I'll keep things posted, and I'll keep trying to get the pictures to work in my album.
Tim! You can always chime in here too, ya know!
I do, however, think that Tim might be burning his candle from about 8 different ends, as when we finished the conversation, he called me "Craig", and my name is Tim too! But as he says, he has a really good memory....just short.
Anyway, it sounds like it's going to be a bit before we get a new cam, and give the dyno another try....I'll keep things posted, and I'll keep trying to get the pictures to work in my album.
Tim! You can always chime in here too, ya know!
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 351
Likes: 0
From: Star, Idaho
I hope I don't have that problem! I can see Tim calling you by my name, I have been talking with him for the last four years off and on building this motor he has brought to life. Hang in there and keep us posted, at least I will have an idea as to what to expect!
Craig
Craig
Laughing Gas
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,107
Likes: 32
From: Spokane, WA
NOW I understand the "Craig" reference...I thought Tim's cheese slipped off his cracker for a moment, but he just got us confused...or our motors...hey, as long as he's not talking to the motors and trying to retard MY timing, we're good!
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 351
Likes: 0
From: Star, Idaho
My motor is in Boise. Tim is the technical expert I refer to often whenever I am not sure how something should be or which way I should go. I just got my carb here about a month ago and the last thing I need to do is to go to the dyno. It seems the closer I get to going to the dyno something slows me down. That is why it has taken me so long to this point. Let m eknolw what you find out about the cam, I am interested to see what you go with or if you can make it work.
Craig
Craig
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,355
Likes: 1
Well, I got a phone call from Tim about 30 minutes ago, and he's of the opinion that we need to go to a different cam. While Comp said that retarding the timing might do the trick, Tim also spoke to someone else that said that they were able to run 12:1 compression on pump gas, so there's no reason my engine should be pinging...unless the cam was just not the right one for the job. So, I agree with Tim's command decision to have Comp come up with a different cam grind.
I do, however, think that Tim might be burning his candle from about 8 different ends, as when we finished the conversation, he called me "Craig", and my name is Tim too! But as he says, he has a really good memory....just short.
Anyway, it sounds like it's going to be a bit before we get a new cam, and give the dyno another try....I'll keep things posted, and I'll keep trying to get the pictures to work in my album.
Tim! You can always chime in here too, ya know!
I do, however, think that Tim might be burning his candle from about 8 different ends, as when we finished the conversation, he called me "Craig", and my name is Tim too! But as he says, he has a really good memory....just short.
Anyway, it sounds like it's going to be a bit before we get a new cam, and give the dyno another try....I'll keep things posted, and I'll keep trying to get the pictures to work in my album.
Tim! You can always chime in here too, ya know!
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 351
Likes: 0
From: Star, Idaho
The grind is custom, identical to the first stroker built. At least my cam is, from what I have heard so far Tim has the same cam. Look back on some of my posts and you will see the cam specs. I am surprised that it is not working right unless maybe the heads have an effect on it. The original 434 stroker had CHI 3V heads and my heads and Tim's are CHI 2V. I am curious to see how it turns out.