Just got back from James' place. After hours of preparation and days of effort, the new 409 engine came to life tonight just before dark. Broke that badass cam in for 20 minutes and all went well. Wish I had a video so you could see and hear the break in. I did snap a few pics.
Here's what we've done so far:
Removed the previous large port heads and tried to fit up some seriously ported rebuild 690s. Plans were to use the lower end, including the solid lifter cam. Bad clearancing took over. Took the previous engine out once we figured out it would not be the basis of the build. The valves were bumping into the both the passenger-based cylinder bores and the pistons, not good. Snagged a standard bore truck block from the basement (it was a complete and assembled engine on a stand, but we just needed the block) and mocked up the highly ported and big valved 690s on stock con rods. We cleared the cylinder walls but were still knocking on the pistons. Marked those and took everything apart and had them fly cut. Mocked that up and things clearanced well. Had all the rotating assembly balanced after R&Ring the con rods.
Removed the 3.36 posi and stuck in a lead-welded up open rear end using 4.56 ring and pinion. Added the 4th link (James fabricated all the brackets). Changed out the torque converter to one more suitable. Added a line lock, bled the brakes, added a set of Hooisers, changed out the front wheels and tires, put adjustable shocks on the rear. Wired up the tach.
Things still needed to accomplish:
Put new tires on the trailer
Install the tach and rev limiter
Install front shocks
Install half inch spacers on dual quads (need longer studs)
Install fan shroud and possibly a new fan blade
Friday we're heading to Great Bend with both cars, one on a trailer the other I'll be driving. James will be doing the burnouts during Test-n-Tune . Save us a place in the pits, we may still be finishing things up once we arrive. Plans are to depart about 10 or 11:00 Friday, arriving around 5:00 PM.
See you in Great Bend!
TomK
Here's what we've done so far:
Removed the previous large port heads and tried to fit up some seriously ported rebuild 690s. Plans were to use the lower end, including the solid lifter cam. Bad clearancing took over. Took the previous engine out once we figured out it would not be the basis of the build. The valves were bumping into the both the passenger-based cylinder bores and the pistons, not good. Snagged a standard bore truck block from the basement (it was a complete and assembled engine on a stand, but we just needed the block) and mocked up the highly ported and big valved 690s on stock con rods. We cleared the cylinder walls but were still knocking on the pistons. Marked those and took everything apart and had them fly cut. Mocked that up and things clearanced well. Had all the rotating assembly balanced after R&Ring the con rods.
Removed the 3.36 posi and stuck in a lead-welded up open rear end using 4.56 ring and pinion. Added the 4th link (James fabricated all the brackets). Changed out the torque converter to one more suitable. Added a line lock, bled the brakes, added a set of Hooisers, changed out the front wheels and tires, put adjustable shocks on the rear. Wired up the tach.
Things still needed to accomplish:
Put new tires on the trailer
Install the tach and rev limiter
Install front shocks
Install half inch spacers on dual quads (need longer studs)
Install fan shroud and possibly a new fan blade
Friday we're heading to Great Bend with both cars, one on a trailer the other I'll be driving. James will be doing the burnouts during Test-n-Tune . Save us a place in the pits, we may still be finishing things up once we arrive. Plans are to depart about 10 or 11:00 Friday, arriving around 5:00 PM.
See you in Great Bend!
TomK