Ken's Engine Project...

[Ken]

...take this opportunity to yank the gauges out of the car and remove the odometer. Since the car has all nearly new drivetrain, and is over 10 years old, you should roll the odometer back to zero.

That's funny, I already had the opportunity when I replaced the digital display a couple of months ago. I had to swap the odometer from the old one and install it on the new one when I replaced the dash and I thought of doing exactly as you say Chris, but I haven't done it as of yet. You're right, it sure would be easy to monitor the miles that way.

Oh, and if y'all know me at all by now, you'd know that I would never attempt to pass it off as original miles for the car.

I was supposed to pick up my replacement pipe (for the cat that won't be there) today, but I haven't heard from the muffler shop yet. Gawd! I can't wait to hear the sounds emanating from the side exhaust when I get this thing running. :J

_ken

 

[Jack]

/ Ken ... Anybody want to buy a set of Energy Suspension motor mounts for an early style Chevy small block?

Ken:
I've already got one new set ... what the hey ... if $ good, could always use another on next project. What is ES pn? What color is poly? Chrome or gold metal? Price? (you can email me at qaferret@aol.com )
JACK:gap

 

[Ken]

Jack, this is from the receipt that accompanied my order from Summit Racing:
ENS-3-1114G (gold) -- Motor Mount Graphite -- ($29.95 ea.) $59.90

Make an offer. :gap

I picked up the pipe today (I would have taken a picture but y'all know what a "test pipe" looks like right? Seen one, seen 'em all. :L

It looks like I'll be arranging to have the engine builder (Will) make some time to come over to Richie's shop, probably Tuesday morning, so he can be there when we fire it up for the first time. I know, I know -- "Patience Grasshopper"! :L

_ken

 

[Rowdy1]

Cell #

I figured I'd ask you for your cell phone number now seeing as how the closer you get to putting the "fire" to the "BEAST" the busier you'll be. And the truth of the matter is, once you get it running, you'll forget where you live and won't have ANY idea what a computer is unless it's in your 87.:L

 

[Ken]

I have nothing to hide! :gap

• Home: 310.374.4135
• Cell: 310.748.5303

_ken

 

[Ken]

I'm gonna cry. :cry

Now it's the Lakewood bellhousing that's not gonna work! There's no room in the tunnel for the factory clutch slave cylinder. If I was able to use the hydraulic release bearing, I'd be ok but since I had to revert to the stock set-up it won't clear. Now I have to go shopping for an SFI approved blanket I guess. Any recommendations?

If I ain't got a shield, I can't really run it now can I?

"Who wants to buy-y-y
this scat-ter-shield-ield-ield-ieldddd?" :eyerole

 

[Jack]

/ KEN ... Jack, this is from the receipt that accompanied my order from Summit Racing: ENS-3-1114G (gold) -- Motor Mount Graphite -- ($29.95 ea.) $59.90 Make an offer.

Ken:
You have mail. Sorry 'bout yer clutch, tob, bellhousing issues ... wish I had a suggestion ... but yer hi-po level is way beyond my experience.
JACK:gap

 

[69MyWay]

Ken,

Go back to the hydraulic release bearing. You are not experiencing anything that I have not been through in the last six months. You will be happier with the Lakewood shield, and the hyraulic bearing. Talk to Quartermaster about the bearing. That is who I got mine from.

 

[Ken]

Wouldn't that be sorta strange to go buy another bearing from Quartermaster when I'm sitting on a brand-new one I got from Tilton?

The NHRA rules state:

All cars using a clutch and running 11.99 or quicker must be equipped with an SFI 6.1, 6.2 or 6.3 flywheel shield. (See section 2:6 for motor plate and general requirements.) There shall be a minimum of seven 3/8-inch diameter Grade 8 bolts or high strength steel studs in the top half of the bellhousing. There shall be a minimum of eight 3/8-inch diameter Grade 8 bolts or high strength steel studs in the bottom half of the bellhousing used to fasten the bellhousing to the motor plate. Modifications or repairs to the flywheel shield prohibited except if performed by the manufacturer.

Exceptions to this rule: Volkswagen and Porsche engine cars are not required to have a shield when the engines are normally aspirated and gasoline burning. Porsche engines must use a steel billet flywheel. All other RWD cars running 11.99 or quicker for which an SFI 6.1, 6.2 or 6.3 flywheel shield is not commercially available may use an SFI 6.1, 6.2 or 6.3 flywheel shield from another application and mount it to a motor plate that is mounted to the engine block at all available bolt holes; or must be equipped with a flywheel shield made of 1/4-inch minimum thickness steel plate, securely mounted to the frame or frame structure and surrounding the bellhousing 360 degrees. The flywheel shield shall not be bolted to either the bellhousing or engine. The flywheel shield must extend forward to a point at least 1 inch ahead to the rear of the rotating components of the clutch and pressure plate.

Somebody must have an idea of what is available in this circumstance. Others surely must have tread this path before.

 

[Rowdy1]

BUMMER!

Bro, sorry to hear about your latest hurdle. I wasn't sure my Lakewood was going to fit either but I lucked out BARELY, it just fits. I'm about 450 HP and I know there's no way you want to be winding it up pushing over 500 HP without a shield. There's no way you can make it fit? I wish I had an answer for you.

 

[Ken]

There was a rumble in the jungle...

...today in Carson!

It fired up immediately. The hardest thing was sitting there trying to hold it at two grand for twenty minutes! :L

There are a couple of minor issues yet to address, like the #7 spark plug boot which is toast already because it's way to close to the header tube, and there was also a couple of small coolant leaks at the front of the intake manifold and at the thermostat housing. Other than that, it appears that everything is A-OK. It's gonna be wa-a-a-y louder than it was before I swappped engines, but it won't be any louder than the Hooker-style side exhausts you guys with the Sharks have. I think it sounds pretty cool. :gap

Now all we have to take care of are the wheel bearings and half-shafts and I'll be ready to roll.

_ken

 

[69MyWay]

 

[Ken]

Oh yeah, I forgot to thank Chris!

Thanks for your assistance this morning Buddy!

(I can still smell the new paint and engine oil six hours later!) :L

 

[RalleyRed]

Thats great Ken,

Are you going to dyno the beast ?


Rick

 

[Ken]

Eventually I will Rick. I wanted to run it on a dyno before installing it in the chassis, but my builder would rather have me break it in first. Besides, I would have had to change too many things in order to run it out of the car, unless I could have found a place that was equipped to handle computers and all.

Oh yeah, I've got to run it on a dyno to verify the figures I'm hoping for (Or, what it should deliver.)

_ken

 

[Rowdy1]

WAY KEWL BRO!!!

Congrats man. Did you sleep last night? There's nothing like the anticipation of firing up a new engine, especially one with major mods in it. I know the 2000 RPM eternity feeling. I guess this thread will soon fade away and the road kill tales will take over. Here's wishing you endless trouble free miles and you being up front when it's over:BOW

 

[Ken]

Re: WAY KEWL BRO!!!

Did you sleep last night?

No! :L

 

[Viper 10]

So Ken, are you bringing the beast out to Ruby's this coming Friday?

Brad

 

[Ken]

Part of my horoscope for today:

Great things are coming your way, Pisces, along with events
that already make you a bit nervous.

:L

 

[Ken]

So Ken, are you bringing the beast out to Ruby's this coming Friday?

Maybe Brad. If the good Lord is willing.

_ken