Sunday, March 3, 2013

Time to get replacement parts.



 Parts came in from O'Reilly's.
Thanks, Bud!!
 We decided to do the engine right...the first time.
Starting with a stainless bolt kit.  Expect to end up at the beach some day.
Need the car to be corrosion proof.
Aluminum needle bearing rocker arms.

Don't want to overdo the Cobra thing.  But still want to make sure you know what left you standing at the light......ha!

We got a matched and dyno tested aluminum head and intake set by Edelbrock.
This will save a lot of time on the engine build.
Purchased from Summit Racing.



Will be naturally aspirated.  

This should shave about 80 pounds off the engine weight.

The problem then became, what to do with the front end.  Have you seen a 1992 351W from a F-150?
Can you say, "Frankenstein"?
After a beer or two, we decided to install a serpentine belt system form Vintage Air.

Pulleys are black aluminum and powder coated.

Check this out!

The housing is billet aluminum and is one piece.  Not only does it have integrated brackets for the alternator, power steering and a/c compressor, it came with all the accessories,  including the water pump.
The front end is gonna be clean.


Prepping the engine.




Time to steam clean the parts we plan on reusing.


They go in greasy and rusty....

...and come out clean as can be.
Pressing the bearings out.
All clean.

Will reuse the rods.

Catching up on the Blog.









Helping Mark with the tear down of the engine.  I had some time after Sim in Dallas.
Engine guts.

Not much left.

We'll send the block off to the machine shop after it gets cleaned.
Removing freeze plugs.
Pressing the bearings out.
Removing the piston heads.  Plan on reusing the rods.


It's all gunked up but no major damage was found.





Friday, August 3, 2012

Meanwhile, at the shop...

Here's a look at some projects Mark recently completed. His shop has been busy with vehicles like this 70 Chevelle SS partial rebuild while also dealing with Oklahoma weather catastrophes! 





Mark mentioned this 65 Chevy Truck was was a "rotted piece" when he got it. The truck has great sentimental value to the owners, who were literally moved to tears when they saw the finished product: