Chuck’s engine build thread!

[ChuckN]

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Finally got one cylinder head done. What a journey it’s been. It’s taken two different sets of spring locators, three different kinds of retainers (and keepers too). It’s become clear that between brands “+.050” or “-.050” locks (and also height of retainers) mean nothing because there’s no true standard and they must all measure in different ways.

The final setup is Howards 98213 springs, Comp Cams 4705 locators, Comp 750-16 retainers and Comp 630-16 -.050 locks. That got me damn close to the prescribed 1.75” installed height- they all measure from 1.748-1.753”. The ones that are all lower are the exhaust, the higher are the intake consistently. Brodix just cuts the exhaust seats shallower than the intake, makes the valves sit a little lower.

On the final stretch, I was having some weird aberrations that I couldn’t work out. Then in started measuring the locators themselves and they vary too, from .0059 to .00625. AND…just to freak a guy out, in the sealed bag, Comp thought it would be a nice prank to throw in one mismatched lock that is a different height. I called Summit and they sent a replacement ASAP so, good on them.

The differing thickness of the locators actually played out to my advantage. Each valve is different a little, so you can switch them around to your benefit and it turned out to be helpful.

If I weren’t bald already, I’d have lost hair from pulling it out the last couple weeks.

 

[TotalyHucked]

Dang dude! You've certainly had quite the journey figuring all this out. Good on ya for keeping on with it

 

[ChuckN]

Dang dude! You've certainly had quite the journey figuring all this out. Good on ya for keeping on with it

It’s been fun watching your build coming together on the ‘gram! I don’t know if those five spoke wheels I’ve seen in pictures are just a rendering or real, but they look awesome!

 

[TotalyHucked]

It’s been fun watching your build coming together on the ‘gram! I don’t know if those five spoke wheels I’ve seen in pictures are just a rendering or real, but they look awesome!

Thanks dude! That's just the rendering but hoping to nail down wheels soon!

 

[ChuckN]

Got the heads finished up and in the box. Double checked everything- installed height, coil bind and seal to retainer clearance. Nice to have that done.

The Howards/Morel lifters are here, so that’s one more major expense overcome. Last major parts to buy are the pushrods and rocker arms.

 

[ChuckN]

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Engine is on the boring machine today. Figured I’d better get on picking up some thread chasers. So that gave me an excuse to order up the Cloyes timing chain as well to get the free shipping.

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[ChuckN]

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This is thing of beauty! Also, got a thread chasing kit.

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[straydog371]

Very nice! That thread chasing kit is now on my "want" list so thanks for that...

 

[ChuckN]

Very nice! That thread chasing kit is now on my "want" list so thanks for that...

Only 15 bucks.

 

[ChuckN]

Off the boring machine. I’m going to stop by today and see if he’s begun honing.

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And, just because it’s April Fools Day…(damn autocorrect)

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[ChuckN]

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The honing has begun…

 

[xm20k]

Soon the fun part begins. I hate waiting on parts and for machine work, but I love me some assembly. It's my autism.

 

[ChuckN]

Soon the fun part begins. I hate waiting on parts and for machine work, but I love me some assembly. It's my autism.

I hear ya on that! I’m looking forward to taking my time and enjoying myself.

 

[ChuckN]

Soon the fun part begins. I hate waiting on parts and for machine work, but I love me some assembly. It's my autism.

Also, I had a good conversation with the machinist- I made the mistake of doing some math and realized how close in the end I would be to just buying a Blueprint crate 383. His response: “yours will be better than that in most ways. Maybe not in power, but you’ll know exactly what’s in it, and you’ll have our sheet of specs of everything. It’s gonna be a better motor”.

I don’t know if that’s absolutely true, but it definitely made me smile.

 

[xm20k]

Also, I had a good conversation with the machinist- I made the mistake of doing some math and realized how close in the end I would be to just buying a Blueprint crate 383. His response: “yours will be better than that in most ways. Maybe not in power, but you’ll know exactly what’s in it, and you’ll have our sheet of specs of everything. It’s gonna be a better motor”.

I don’t know if that’s absolutely true, but it definitely made me smile.

Look at it like this you'll know every measurement and how it all went together. That's how I look at it.

I could give you every spec for mine off the top of my head from installed heights to pushrod lengths to gasket numbers, cam specs, parts brands everything and I put it all together and checked it all 3 times over before moving on. Same for my powerglide my ARs etc. Autism I tell you I might be lazy sometimes, but when it hits it hits hard.