Engine: Block Prep for Bonneville Engine

[jlmccuan]

After a year of ups and downs, I am finally making some headway on my race engine. The block is ready for another trip to GA where the decks will be cut parallel and square to the mains. The heads are already down there after a good thrashing by Tom Covington and will likely see service in yet another engine combo at the Ohio Mile for more testing before being added to my block.

Thought folks might like to see a before and after. Dan Miller carefully aged this block in the woods behind his house for 20 years.

The block as it was received.





The Queen surveying her human's work for quality.


More pics and details can be found on Sonny's Racing site.

http://racingstudebakers.com/foo/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=2257

[SN-60]

Nice.....but don't forget to install the screw-in core plugs!!!!!!

[jlmccuan]

Do you mean these?

[SN-60]

Do you mean these?

Ha ha ha.........Yes!...those are the babies!!!!!!

[ROADRACELARK]

Jim,

I'd never recognize that block as coming from my pine thicket! ! It is obvious you're pulling out all the stops. You won't regret it, I'm sure. Keep us up to speed on the progress. If there's any other "well-aged" parts you might need, don't hesitate to drop me a line. Again, Congrats. on the progress. Regards.

Dan Miller
Auburn, GA

[jlmccuan]

I sure appreciate the block, Dan. Since there was no way of knowing whether what I had in mind would work or ruin a block, it was the perfect candidate. If something bad happened in the attempt, no one would cry over losing a block in that condition. Other than having to bore all the oil galleys +1/16" to remove the rust and sludge, the work wasn't that much more than a block in perfect condition would take.

Thanks again.

[StudeRich]

Very nice work Jim, that ol rust bucket looks actually BETTER than New.

Is all that Plumbing Dept. at Home Depot stuff at the Right Rear what I think it is?

A Full-flow Mod to a Partial Flow Block? Way Cool.

[cvytrk]

Jim,
What is the name and location of the machine shop in Georgia that is doing the work on your block?

[jlmccuan]

Very nice work Jim, that ol rust bucket looks actually BETTER than New.

Is all that Plumbing Dept. at Home Depot stuff at the Right Rear what I think it is?

A Full-flow Mod to a Partial Flow Block? Way Cool.

Yes, Rich. The pipe is screwed in to plug the fittings on the block for the AN lines. The flow from the oil cooler and filter is split to the normal pressure line to the main galley with another line to the front of the block entering at what used to be the pressure bypass. The block passage to the heads is also blocked off with separate external lines to the valve spring cooling spray jets and roller rocker lubrication.

I installed the bronze lifter bores to fit the hemi roller rockers, valve notches, lifter valley smoothing, threaded core plugs, partial block fill, and the oil galley modifications. Bill and Jeff Ford at Precision Engine II did the 4 bolt main conversion, align bore, and cylinder boring. Great folks to work with. They will deck the block on this trip. My heads are already in GA and will go to Bill's for installation of the 7mm manganese bronze valve guides, berylium copper exhaust seats and valve spring seats for the Comp beehives in preparation for the titanium valves, locks, retainers, and lash caps.

Once Bill finishes I can order the modified Coyote forged pistons. The Carillo rods are already here. I have more grinding to do on the 4.25" stroker crank.

[plwindish]

Nothing like that special 20 year "aging" and "seasoning" process to get the metal ready to handle all those ponies you are building.

[DEEPNHOCK]

Jim,
What is the name and location of the machine shop in Georgia that is doing the work on your block?

Ask for Bill Ford, or Jeff Ford.
(Tell them Jeff Rice sent you, and then they will know you are a Stude guy)

Precision Engine II

• 155 Bazemore Loop
• Sylvania, Georgia 30467

Phone	(912) 863-3973
Email	precisionengine2@hotmail.com

[jlmccuan]

Got the bottom side interior done with Glyptal like the rest of the interior. Set the main caps on and found I didn't have the nuts for the ARP studs. I'll stick some locally sourced nuts on until I get down to Bill's and pick up the ARP nuts. Studs aren't tight or locktited, so I pulled one stud to take with me tonight for test fit.

[dean pearson]

That look soooo nice!
Good job.

Dean.

[jlmccuan]

Did the rough work on the crank. Took of the added weights Granatelli added and worked the counterweights over. Still a lot of polish work, but the hard part is done. Sodium lights in the shop cast a blue-green tint.

[Mike Van Veghten]

Jim -

Ha...got ya on one thing...while, yea, I didn't smooth the whole block, I did remove the casting flash and the big machining pads (the big blocks of iron, 4 corners, just below the deck).
Threading the core plug holes was a pain wasn't it...?
I didn't polish the whole crank, bit I did knife edge mine simillarly.

Mike