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Chuck’s engine build thread!
I have used VHT Roll Bar paint, it’s fairly tough. I’ve heard a lot of good things about POR 15 but I think it needs a top coat- UV rays will eventually take their toll (probably not a big deal in an engine bay). I have a case of Rebuild Black from Vice Grip Garage. I might test its resistance...- ChuckN
- Post #52
- Forum: Engine & Performance
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Chuck’s engine build thread!
It’ll have to happen in the garage. I think I’ll set down some old blankets and towels and just plan on pitching them afterwards. The concrete is already stained so it’s not a big deal at this point. I like the ideas of the tank sprayers- they’re cheap and could be reused.- ChuckN
- Post #48
- Forum: Engine & Performance
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Chuck’s engine build thread!
While I have the engine out- any idea for the best cleaning method of the engine bay? I’d buy a power washer but and roll it outside but unfortunately 2 feet outside the garage is a steep 10 percent grade so that isn’t an option. Simple Green? I hate the thought of just spraying a whole bunch...- ChuckN
- Post #43
- Forum: Engine & Performance
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Chuck’s engine build thread!
Long live the Swiss Army knife of vehicles, the minivan. Off to the machine shop. He said it will need to be bored. So he’s going to hot tank it as well and put in new cam bearings. Might as well start off with a clean slate.- ChuckN
- Post #37
- Forum: Engine & Performance
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Chuck’s engine build thread!
Yeah we”ll take a closer gander at them today. I was as gentle as I could be when removing the cam, but there’s no saying I didn’t score something with a lobe on the way out.- ChuckN
- Post #31
- Forum: Engine & Performance
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Engine/Trans help
Don’t know if you’re still reading this thread, but that’s a good way to go. Crate motors are enticing- you get the shiny name, the Christmas Day feeling of it arriving….and you buy what you want for your application. A local builder- you’re helping a local business, and if something goes...- ChuckN
- Post #46
- Forum: Engine & Performance
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Header hell
Came here to say exactly that. That’s pretty much the only reason I avoided them.- ChuckN
- Post #16
- Forum: Engine & Performance
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Chuck’s engine build thread!
He asked me about cam bearings, and I said yes. He then told me that they usually do them. Save for some gunk on the outside from valve cover weep, the inside of the block is pristine, cleanliness-wise. I probably only had a couple thousand miles on it since “rebuilt “. So that’s the reason...- ChuckN
- Post #29
- Forum: Engine & Performance
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Chuck’s engine build thread!
Engine is ready to load in the back of the family truckster (she’s a beaut Clark!) and completely torn down. Some of the bores look kind of weird (maybe I had a very small head gasket leak? Who knows), but I see no visible cracks, and nothing obviously nefarious at this point. There was a little...- ChuckN
- Post #25
- Forum: Engine & Performance
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Chuck’s engine build thread!
Thanks for speaking up! The machine shop here is pretty quick, and any extra time they take will just give me more time to come up with funds. But time will tell, who knows, they could get the block there and find something wrong with it like a crack. If that happens, I will likely be buying an...- ChuckN
- Post #24
- Forum: Engine & Performance
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Chuck’s engine build thread!
Engine is out. Have adulting to do for the rest of the day, but I’m very thankful for a fellow human being that stopped over to help. Much easier to remove the hood and pull the engine having extra hands and eyes. Wednesday I’ll pull it apart and probably have the bare block to the shop on Thursday.- ChuckN
- Post #22
- Forum: Engine & Performance
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Chuck’s engine build thread!
Just spent some time with Eagle on the phone. Apparently, and I didn’t know this, you can get into trouble with camshaft lobe to crankshaft clearance with stroker kits. The Eagle assembly uses their SIR rods, and cap screws and are good for camshafts up to .540 lift. I’m nowhere near that, but...- ChuckN
- Post #21
- Forum: Engine & Performance
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Chuck’s engine build thread!
The baby is ready to be birthed. Spent the afternoon removing the other head, and disconnecting everything else. If the guy shows up tomorrow with the stand and hoist, and I can talk him into helping me remove the hood, I should have it on the stand tomorrow to start the teardown this week. Just...- ChuckN
- Post #20
- Forum: Engine & Performance
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What have you done to your square lately??
Thanks for the offer, I’m all the way up in Bellingham and going to rebuild what I have. -
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Chuck’s engine build thread!
Man, I was gonna ask about that. Just use the old head bolts to full engagement? And how many would you use per side? Just two total and put them diagonally? Thread them through the chain and use washers? I’m gonna have to do this in some fashion to get the bare block in and out of the vehicle...- ChuckN
- Post #15
- Forum: Engine & Performance
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Chuck’s engine build thread!
Spent time with the machine shop, and all systems are go. One of the guys there is familiar with performance builds, so he’s the one that will be doing the block work. I told them what I wanted, and they’re all in. After that, I caught the guy at the hot rod shop with the LS motor. We had a...- ChuckN
- Post #12
- Forum: Engine & Performance
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Chuck’s engine build thread!
Called around and found one of my buddies that has an engine stand and cherry picker and is dropping it off on Monday. I stopped at the hardware store and bought some 3/8 grade 8 bolts for the engine stand, and an engine pulling plate for the intake manifold. So I guess I’ll have to put the head...- ChuckN
- Post #11
- Forum: Engine & Performance
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What have you done to your square lately??
Will do, thanks for chiming in! -
What have you done to your square lately??
I appreciate that. My logic (and I’m sticking with it) is that 1. If ithe existing engine going back in, it’s gonna be a 383 and 2. If it’s getting done, I’m not half stepping. It’s going to the machine shop and getting a full refresh just because I don’t want to have to do this all over again... -
Chuck’s engine build thread!
I hear ya. The nickel and dimes of a swap combined with the assumption that a LS would be ok used with high mileage is the biggest hurdle to me, even with the improved architecture. Maybe this experience has me gunshy, but I don’t wanna trust anybody anymore with what they say they’re selling...- ChuckN
- Post #7
- Forum: Engine & Performance
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Chuck’s engine build thread!
I could see that happening! They do have some grunt to them!- ChuckN
- Post #3
- Forum: Engine & Performance
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Chuck’s engine build thread!
So rather than keep spamming the “what have you done to your square body lately” thread, I figured I’d continue the conversation here. So, here it goes. For those that may have not read, I bought my truck a few years ago. Allegedly, had a “ 327/350 hp.” The guy I bought the truck from had...- ChuckN
- Thread
- Replies: 372
- Forum: Engine & Performance
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What have you done to your square lately??
Thanks for that, Huck. Initially it seems like not too bad, but all the nickels and dimes really add up quickly. -
What have you done to your square lately??
It’s 196k after talking with them. There’s lots of 5.3s around here. Rear gear is a 3.42 and I have a 2500 stall. After adding up the cost of all the stuff it would take to do a conversion, it’s less and less likely. It’s probably going to be cheaper to get a 383 rotating assembly and the...
