My Rebuild

[dq409]

As many of you know my engine has a curse that has haunted it for several years and has stumped the best of builders.
Seems it will develop all the weird problems that an engine can !

But,,,,,,, Now I have come to the conclusion that it can be beat !

I have it torn down again and this time I`m sparing no expense!!

I`ll be using Aubrey`s new pistons with either Childs and Albert or Total Seal gapless rings, Eagle BBC rods, and a thrust washer behind the cam gear with the cam and crank gear indexed.

I also have hooked up with one of the best local engine builders here in Portland. (Aubrey`s too far away this time)

Paolo`s Engine Service !
Roy Paolo and Guy Mitchell have built some of the fastest engines used in drag and boat racing around here.
Guy also was crew chief and engine builder for Christen Powell who won her first National NHRA event just after turning 18!

I spent several hours there yesterday talking with Guy and going over what needs to be done and how to go about it.

He also showed me how they check the pistons and rods for straightness.
Mine flunked big time !! Bent and twisted,,,, not bad but enough that I`m glad that the Eagles are replacing them !!

They have this trick little rod checker that is just a thick steel block that has a cam lock that holds the rod at the bearing and an attachment that sits on the piston. The attachment has a small straight edge that runs parallel (or should) next to the steal block.
As you rotate the piston/rod just as it is on a crank the gap between the block and edge should be parallel at all times.
If not it shows which way the rod is bent or twisted.

You can straighten the rod with this tool also but in my case the rod started to wear on the crank edges.
It is a fast and easy way to check rods and should be done to all rods !!

Any way,,,, II very impressed with their knowledge !!

Now I just have to hold-up a few 7-11`s to pay for all this !! http://smilies.sofrayt.com/%5E/e/gunsfiring.gif

[Tom Kochtanek]

DQ:

Which crank did you decide to go with?

Any other changes you decided upon? Keep us posted as this adventure progresses.

Just got word that the parts I dropped off Monday have been balanced, and I can pick them up Monday. Guess what I'm doing next week?

Cheers,
TomK

[1958 impala]

D.Q.
Wish you luck youve had enough bad if its the same block that had the cam problems.Did you ever figure out what was going on with the cam?:cheers

[dq409]

Tom, I`m using the stock crank again this time.
I`ll be saving my pennies after I finish this engine and mods to the car. Then I`ll consider or should I say,,,, do the stroker later.

I`ve spent so much money and time trying to get it right that it has held up doing the other needed stuff to this car.

I`m hoping that all the mistakes and bad luck are over.

Never did figure out what the deal was with the first block but now know that it can be used again. It will be the block that gets the stroker build. But it will get a roller cam so i won`t have any more bad flat tappet cam problems with it.
One guess is that the cam gear sits too far onto the crank and pulls the cam too far into the block.

That problem is being taken care of ,,,,,, I`ll keep you posted,,,dq

[CDNpontiac409guy]

Guys, I just want to say....
Jim ( DQ ) had me build his engine last year, using a block that I supplied. It was good. I had my machine shop bore to fit DQ's Ross .060" pistons. I picked it up and assembled it.... and here's that word.... Assumed that the clearances were correct. I never checked piston to wall ( I knew these guys ). DQ has told me that it was at .009":cuss :eek:
This would explain the blowby problems that he had.
Well, this extra set of .068" over NHRA approved 77563 pistons that I had, would seem to be the ideal solution !

I can tell you this....
I won't ever ASSUME again:mad:

DQ... I have that other "Stocker" cam profile too:p !

[64ss409]

Aubrey

I also have been caught by assuming something was correct and it came back to haunt me. I hate rebuilding the second time.

The letters in the word ASSUME can be a reminder to check and double check. You all have probably heard this one before. ASSUME...it can make an A** out of U and ME.:D :D :D :D

Been there, done that.

Ron

[dq409]

Now I have to say this !!! heee heee

I wouldn`t think twice in having Aubrey build me another engine !!
He knows these engines and I have confidence in his work !!

If he were closer to me this engine would be in his shop right now !!

He has allways done me right and has this time also !!!

These things happens,,,,,,,,,, Dq :cheers

[Rick Coleman]

dq- check your private messages.

[dq409]

Just got back from the shop ,,,,,, took out the Bruneau Performance pistons and ordered the Eagle H-beam rods today.

Lots of new engine out there including another `09 , an alum 427 and a blown Hemi !
That $7000 427 block is a work of art !!! Screw in soft plugs and just to pretty to hide under a hood !!!

Here are photos of the rod checker,,,,,

[dq409]

Two,,,with piston straight edge

[dq409]

As you rotate the rod and piston you watch the clearence between the up-right block and the piston straight edge. It should run perpendicular to the up-right. Simple and fast !!!

[Skip FIx]

Wish my machine shop had one of those on my last Pontiac motor! Luckily I checked the deck myself.They have built several motors for me. The Pontiac 58-62 forged rods I was using were either bent or machined at and angle front to back up to 0.006 diffrence some front to back deck height!

I still trust these guys and they re balanced and re assembled the short block with another set of rods I had for free.But got to double check if you can.

[dq409]

Yeh Skip,,,,, This is a must and I will never install a rod and piston that has not been checked this way ever again.
I think they call it hang-line,,,,, As in hang and align.
If I`m wrong I`ll be corrected,,,,,,