348er in Switzerland
- Thread starter Dä Huäbär
- Start date
Are you trying to be a know it all jackass or is that just the way your coming across?Oh , seems to be working well for you, good luck with the 348" stroker , the 1958 Chevrolet Maintenance Manual could be helpful , they sell reprints
That rotating assembly looks great, I think its the same thing I am ordering. Did you get it through Show-Cars? Your car should run like it never had before, you are increasing the cubic inches of that engine by 86 if you have a .030 overbore.
Dä Huäbär
Well Known Member
It's been a long time since I've written anything on here about my engine overhaul . The engine is now complete , installed and the first few hundred miles have been driven . There were still various problems at the beginning , but I drove with a very big grin on my face
. I think without the help here from the forum , my Impala would not be on the road .
First of all I would like to thank Bob Walla , who helped me a lot with his knowledge and the spare parts . But I would also like to thank Don Jacks for types and spare parts . 32witha409 giv also a good type for my steering gear . But also everyone else who stood by me with their knowledge and I was able to benefit from their knowledge .
I will describe my engine revision in the near future and of course also post photos
First of all I would like to thank Bob Walla , who helped me a lot with his knowledge and the spare parts . But I would also like to thank Don Jacks for types and spare parts . 32witha409 giv also a good type for my steering gear . But also everyone else who stood by me with their knowledge and I was able to benefit from their knowledge .
I will describe my engine revision in the near future and of course also post photos
I bet she's a head turner over there. Congratulations
Dä Huäbär
Well Known Member
I took Don Jacks advice to heart and wrote to Bob Walla explaining my situation . Bob was very accommodating and promised to help me . One problem I have here in Switzerland , is the distance to the USA . Everything has to be sent by air mail and that makes the whole thing enormously expensive . Bob agreed to sell me some of his new complete cylinder heads and to collect all the parts I was missing and ship them all together to Switzerland . I thought that was really great, since we had never done business together before . Bob , thanks again here !
The block had been in the engine factory for a long time. It was cleaned in the bathroom and completely derusted and made shiny on the outside and inside . Then it was drilled out 0.30" on the boring machine and finely honed . After this work , I was able to install the crankshaft together with the connecting rod and piston for the first time . Of course , the outer connecting rod bolts were lined up at the bottom of the block , but I knew that , with 4" stocke . I marked everything where necessary , disassembled everything again and worked on the block at the relevant points with a small grinder . After cleaning the block in a bath , everything was screwed back together . And lo and behold , the crankshaft could turn completely
The block had been in the engine factory for a long time. It was cleaned in the bathroom and completely derusted and made shiny on the outside and inside . Then it was drilled out 0.30" on the boring machine and finely honed . After this work , I was able to install the crankshaft together with the connecting rod and piston for the first time . Of course , the outer connecting rod bolts were lined up at the bottom of the block , but I knew that , with 4" stocke . I marked everything where necessary , disassembled everything again and worked on the block at the relevant points with a small grinder . After cleaning the block in a bath , everything was screwed back together . And lo and behold , the crankshaft could turn completely
Attachments
Dä Huäbär
Well Known Member
After a few months , I received a large package from Bob Walla . He found all the missing parts for me and sent them to Switzerland together with 2 new cylinder heads . The joy was great , better than Christmas and Easter together 
. Now I have assembled the engine with the crank drive , connecting rods , piston and camshaft as a test . The heads and the intake mounted as a test , everything fits . With an adjustable push rod and soft valve springs , I then turned the valve train and measured everything . To my astonishment , the exhaust valves are not lined up in the engine block . It even has enough play that nothing happens . I told Bob that I don't value as much horsepower as possible at 6000 rpm , but rather a good idle and enough steam from the cellar . A Comp cam 48-802-11 is now installed . He then sent me the matching pushrods . After I disassembled everything again , I milled the cylinder heads at the front and adjusted them so that they look similar to a normal cast iron head . Not that I don't like Bob's logo , but for the traffic registration at the road traffic office . If they see that you have mounted aluminum heads , you have to bring a performance diagram and reinforce the whole chassis . After that I brought the block to my workshop
. Now I have assembled the engine with the crank drive , connecting rods , piston and camshaft as a test . The heads and the intake mounted as a test , everything fits . With an adjustable push rod and soft valve springs , I then turned the valve train and measured everything . To my astonishment , the exhaust valves are not lined up in the engine block . It even has enough play that nothing happens . I told Bob that I don't value as much horsepower as possible at 6000 rpm , but rather a good idle and enough steam from the cellar . A Comp cam 48-802-11 is now installed . He then sent me the matching pushrods . After I disassembled everything again , I milled the cylinder heads at the front and adjusted them so that they look similar to a normal cast iron head . Not that I don't like Bob's logo , but for the traffic registration at the road traffic office . If they see that you have mounted aluminum heads , you have to bring a performance diagram and reinforce the whole chassis . After that I brought the block to my workshopAttachments
Last edited:
Ha, we all like govt rules. You'll be making music soon.
Dä Huäbär
Well Known Member
First the new 409 oil pan from Show Cars had to be adjusted . File all the holes and use the big hammer to work the mounting surface flat . Then mounted and tried on in the engine compartment , whether you would have enough space . It has 0.5" space above the front axle , so everything is fine . Then came the last assembly of the crankshaft and the camshaft with the timing chain . Since I have only installed the pistons without piston rings so far , the rings had to be adjusted first . That means the the front side has to be filed down with a file . For this I received a special small machine from my engine builder . It takes a whole day to file and adjust all 32 piston and oil scraper rings . With that , the crank drive was finished
Attachments
-
Screenshot_20230511_143345_Gallery.jpg -
Screenshot_20230511_143350_Gallery.jpg -
Screenshot_20230511_142843_Gallery.jpg -
Screenshot_20230511_142944_Gallery.jpg -
Screenshot_20230511_142950_Gallery.jpg -
Screenshot_20230511_142806_Gallery.jpg -
Screenshot_20230511_143012_Gallery.jpg -
Screenshot_20230511_143041_Gallery.jpg
Your "garage" is too clean!!!!!!!!!
Kurt, you are absolutely right. I was pretty meticulous when I was younger. Everything in its place and clean, etc. It was a necessity, I had a couple of jobs and several hobbies. A "real life" as they say.
It seems that old age is trying to tell me to leave that part for the younger folks and simply focus on what I enjoy and enjoy what and whoever I am involved with at the time.
It seems that old age is trying to tell me to leave that part for the younger folks and simply focus on what I enjoy and enjoy what and whoever I am involved with at the time.
I'm trying my best of getting rid of what I don't need. It's helping but not fast enough. 