Ken's Engine Project...

[Rowdy1]

Two Bolt

If you're running a 327 from the 60's John you'll have a two bolt. There's nothing to worry about, back in the days, some of them were turning 9000 RPM'S. Nostalgia wise, it's my all time favorite, power wise, I like the shorter stroke for quicker revs.

 

[Ken]

... It had one of those half round engines in it.

:L:L:L

It's a damn shame about the Coronet though, Tom. :eyerole

_ken

 

[Ken]

One thing is bugging me about the finalization of the engine swap.

I already bought the March underdrive pulley set from TPIS before I thought of dropping the air pump, so I will have to find a different serpentine belt or get the "air pump eliminator" bracket that you see in the catalogs (or make my own).

I thought of maybe polishing the factory brackets to look good, but I probably wouldn't be satisfied with that look either.

So I am now looking through the March Performance Pulleys catalog for brackets. They have nice looking bracketry for the small-block Chevy, but how can I be sure they'll fit in a C4 Corvette engine compartment? Their catalog states "Ideal for wide bodied low hood cars 1955 and later.", but it doesn't specify Corvette.

Has anyone else converted to a March set-up from stock in a C4?

_ken

 

[69MyWay]

Ken,

I was thinking about your project this afternoon when I realized that your future traction problem will be a little easier to cure than my 90 model. The 87 has the same type of offset as the 84,,85,86 models........right? If so, you can mount ZR-1 rims on the rear with no problems. They will stick out just like 3/8" further than a stock 87 rim, but will suck up underneath the car. The fellow that bought my 85 did this and it worked great. It gives you much more tire and looks super hot from the rear. I had even lowered that car before selling it, and he has no problems with rubbing anything on the inbound side. I can't do this with the 90 as I have a wider stance and it would cause the rims to stick way out. I would have to put the gransport flares on, and I think that would look stupid on a 90.


Second thing. Don't buy March pulleys. I have installed them before on the serpentine design and found the quality to be rather poor. In fact, the last one I put together on an LT-1, the power steering pump just snapped right out. They are really good about sending replacement parts, etc, but not worth the hassle.

Not that I would know or anything, but you can gut your air pump in about an hour and bold it back on. No drag on the system, and it acts like an idler. The factory did a good job building these brackets for the stock serpentine. It is your best bet for overall fit, finish, and reliability. You can always get the stock brackets powder coated to look trick.

 

[Ken]

...Don't buy March pulleys.

Too late! But I didn't get the power steering pulley, just the three-piece kit (the crank, water pump and alternator pulleys), so maybe those aren't a problem. I was looking at the power steeing pulleys though, thanks for pulling" me back, or maybe "steering" me away from that idea. :L

The pulleys I have are the black powdercoated ones, so maybe the powdercoating of the factory brackets will look good along with the pulleys and the chrome camber brace, whenever it gets here! Do ya hear that Dave? Are you reading this? :L

Thanks for the tip on the ZR-1 wheels too, it was mentioned somewhere that the "A-Mold" wheels work as well.

It's funny you mention the ZR1 wheels because I was just talking to my bodyman Thursday about how we could go about flaring the C4 fenders to accomodate larger wheels/tires, and he suggested taking the ZR-1 quarters and working from there.

I brought this up before to him about the conversion to a ZR-1 tail end, but I wanted the prototype round tailight look, not the later C4 tailight configuration. The trouble with that is it would be next to impossible to cut and widen the rear cap without the seam showing. It wouldn't matter whether we used a rubber bumper or go for a glass cap, the seam will eventually show through.

_ken

 

[maxrevs85]

First Chris I would love to see some pics of your old 85. Sounds really cool.
Second ,I have the air pump somewhat aprt and cant figure out at this point how to gut it and leave the pulley as an idler.I'm missing somthing some where....Got the motor out of the car last night...but this is kens motor thread so no more on that .

 

[69MyWay]

Dave,

I only have a couple of pics of that car left. I will dig one up.

The front hub is pressed on the air pump. You can actually turn the little spacer into a puller by putting a bolt in the center (short one) and putting the three pulley bolts through the spacer into the pump. As you turn it will press if off little by little. The back will pry off when youget the bolts out.

As soon as you have the front assembly pulled through you can snap off the fins in a vice, then shake the inner part out the open hole in the back.

Finally, clean it up, oil it and put some good grease in there and bump it all back together.

It make be a little tight at first, but as soon as it spins a few times on the car it will be silent and smooth.


Ken, No need to change the body. Like I said, the stock ZR1 rims will fit on your car with no modifications in the rear. You will then either get spacers and use stock fronts, or one of those knock off copy cat rims made to fit an 87 in the front.

 

[maxrevs85]

Thanks Chris.....will do

 

[Ken]

...but this is kens motor thread so no more on that .

No problem Dave, as a matter-of-fact, it saves me a second click to look at what you'd have posted, now doesn't it?

_ken

 

[89ZZ4]

Ken: keep me posted on the tire fitment thing. Only ? I have is didn't you say you had a different suspension put on yours (ie coil overs). Did this change the track?

The two bolt will probably be strong enough. It is usually the pistons/rods or conecting rod bolts or rings that screw up under pressure. If you are going for 550+ you may want to go the 4bolt
splayed route. Hell - maybe just pipe a little NOS into the passenger compartment and laff as you drive!

Phil (aka 89ZZ4)

 

[Ken]

Phil, no coil-overs yet, but I was looking at a set-up that Richie is installing in that '85 he's got in the shop now. I met the owner of that Corvette today, and we discussed how similar our plans are. He's shooting for 600 hp though, whereas I'm gonna hit about 530 hp. Either way we both have to address the traction issue, hence the fact that he has installed the coil-overs and a few other things as well.

I think I love this part of it almost as much as the final product. At the refinery we used to joke about oil running through our veins, but in a way it actually makes sense, because I'm just a "gearhead"! :L

_ken

 

[Ken]

Speaking of gearheads, I also picked-up my helmet from "Bruce The Brush" today.

Much mo' better than just plain white, eh? :gap (And by the way, it is silver after the black, the sunshine makes what is already a very light silver appear almost white. )

_ken

 

[Tom Bryant]

Cool helmet Ken.. Those rods and pistons are too pretty to hide inside an engine. Should be awesome.

Tom

 

[69MyWay]

Head gear for the gear head

Ken,

Nice skull cap.

Hey, did you take those piston pictures on a rear air vent cover for a Fiero?

We much think alike, cause see what I just put together for my autocross/drag race pursuits.

 

[johnny]

Ken I am working on the coilovers

Ken,

As you know I have a 86 vette. I have ordered a set coilovers for it, in about two weeks I know much more.

A have 4 different manufactorers.

Spaxx= does not easy fit on 86/87
JRZ= to expencive
Billstein= I am waiting for the info
KW= waiting for the price

I'll keep you informed!

 

[89ZZ4]

Great head gear guys! Ken - what no nick name on the back.

69MyWay - thought you were supposed to keep all that inside!

Maybe I should just get my bald head painted.

Phil (aka 89ZZ4)

 

[Ken]

Maybe I should just get my bald head painted.

:L I don't think the rules allow that Phil.

Thanks for keeping us informed on your coil-over investigation Johnny.

Chris, now that is a skull-cap! Just a little too flashy for me.

Remember, I'm the Oakland Raiders colors - plain and simple silver/black. :gap

And the photo was taken on the tailgate of my pickup.

BTW, I made the comment in your thread about the release bearing being an expensive item. Well, it is an expensive item, but I was over-charged by two-hundred dollars!

I got a call from Mike Robertson at Chet Herbert Cams here in Anaheim (where I purchased the bearing and bellhousing), and he informed me that the price he was quoted by the person at Tilton was incorrect and that I had a store credit. That makes me feel better.

The Vette is in the shop now to get it running finally; I threw in the towel and had it flatbedded to Dick Wagoner's Dyno in Redondo Beach (a couple of miles from here). That's the shop where I saw the 'Cuda.

I got tired of trying to figure it out because electrical diagnosis is my weakest link. I have the tools and everything, I just can't diagnose electrical gremlins. :eyerole

 

[69MyWay]

Ken,

I was not going to say anything, but my set up is around $200. Hey, that is $200 I would rather not spend, but when you figure it is the release bearing and slave cylinder all in one, it is not a bad deal at all.

There is a story behind that helmet that I am sure I will tell later. Looks like I get to try it out this weekend for my first Autox challenge of 2002.

 

[P-ColaVette]

Hello Every one !

Hey, I thought this was a corvette forum ? Ken, I like your helmet, and I also would like to say, the connecting rods for your engine should be in a glass case, on display... LoL, Chris, I dig the new sig pic, But i wonder, Is that the real you ? LMAO. I will post a pic of my brain bucket along with my vette, hopefully in the next week or so, But I agree with Ken, Black, silver, and keep it simple ! Why do I need a helmet you ask ? for when I ride my 95th anniversary Dyna Wide Glide, of course ! The funny thing is, I bought my helmet before buying the vette, but freaky enough, the helmet and car are almost identical in color ! Ken, don't feel bad about sending your car to a shop to get it sorted out, Clint Eastwood said, " A Man Has Got To Know His Limitations ! " I think it is a sign of hard earned wisdom on your part for doing just that !




Steve.

 

[Ken]

Re: Hello Every one !

"A Man Has Got To Know His Limitations."