Printable View
like roadkill when they cool they're cr4p down going from car wash to car wash, lol. unfortunately it's in my garage so i can't do that mate. he had a flex fan the same as this new one before and it ran at half on the gauge even when he was hot lapping at manston with the car idling the whole time in the fire up road. the elctric fan is a just in case where it's in my garage with no airflow to speak of.
neil.
it's almost groundhog day today. it runs cooler with the bigger fan, but.... and it's a big but it's done the cam/lifters AGAIN!!!! :bang:
ashley's delighted..... not. i'm not happy either. the plan for now is pull the engine, swap the poncy bits back onto my fe and bolt that in. at least he'll be back on the road again. he said he wishes we'd left it alone now as it was ok if a little slower than he wanted. i had to say i told you so i'm afraid, i couldn't help myself :whistle:
good job my glass is half full is all i can say really.
neil.
Oh that's not good news Niel sorry to hear that.Quote:
Originally Posted by mygasser
That’s interesting. Did it do the same lobe or another? There’s an issue in there! Lack of oil or something pushing hard where it shouldn’t be? Valve geo out? Too much spring pressure? Can’t be a cam problem twice in a row!
I'd be looking at a valve problem for that too happen twice, lifters changed and how about pushrods for length? do they have the oil holes running up them ?
Some guys have all the luck! Obviously not you though. What a bummer.
Probably not the case here but some valves (dont know which) dont jive well with some guides (again, dont know which)! Something like differential expansion resulting in there becoming a temporary seizure. I know its caused the best in the biz problems on a buddy's engine.
Chris
Sent from my SM-A750FN using NSRA mobile app
it's happened to different valves this time. the pushrods are solid so no oil in them. the valves are in their same places they always were. i know what the problem's called but can't post it here or the AI will edit the words, lol.
neil.
Valves might be in the same place as before but you have a different spring?
Valve seat pressure too high for the cam?
Or lack of oil to the cam, not sure what AI can do with that lol
428 cobra jet springs to go with the 428 cobra jet cam kit Tom so should've been fine together. as for oil to the cam', the bearings had plenty as i could see during the flush. and as for oil splash to lube the cam lobes all anyone can do is follow the instructions as to what revs the engine should be at for the specified period during bed in.Quote:
Originally Posted by tom.marg
neil.
Did you use cam lube ?
Sent from my SM-A515F using NSRA mobile app
I know what you are saying about the valve springs but isn’t it worth a check unless you are confindent on the cause?
Are you thinking that the RPM isn’t high enough from the instruction?
no disrespect but did you read my last few posts? :whistle: course i used cam lube, it's not my first rodeo, lol. all of it, it was smothered.Quote:
Originally Posted by jsf55
neil.
revs were 1800rpm or thereabouts so near the upper limit of what they said. we also varied the revs slightly lower and higher during the run so everything you're supposed to do. the only common denominator in both cases was melling brand lifters. but even that's not a definate smoking gun as many name brands are known to fail in the last 10-15+ years. we must've just been lucky in the past. a mate's just run in a small chevy i built (with melling cam/lifters too) and it's fine as well as an fe ford like this one and that's fine too. it's infuriating.Quote:
Originally Posted by tom.marg
neil.
It would be good to know why it?s happened twice for sure!
I think i've read so many of your posts i probably slipped up [emoji1303]Sent from my SM-A515F using NSRA mobile appQuote:
Originally Posted by mygasser
;):lol:Quote:
Originally Posted by jsf55
we'll definately look into it when there's more time mate. there's so much now waiting to be done we don't really have time for the engine swap but needs must so.Quote:
Originally Posted by tom.marg
neil.
and on that basis the cresta's off to a new home tomorrow at a mate's house. other than buying the windscreens and rubbers, some inner and outer handles and connecting the steering column to the steering box it's as i got it. he's got all the running gear from a 383 cu in jensen interceptor so it'll be fun if he gets it done for sure.Quote:
Originally Posted by mygasser
neil.
firstly the cresta's gone now.
ok, yesterday we had a good day on the zephyr. all the engine's ancillaries are off and we're just left with torque converter and bellhousing bolts holding the engine in. the flip front's ready to lift off so we can get the crane in, so early next week we can get on with the swap.
next job after that's done is not car related other than the garage will become a wood workshop, lol. we need to get the roof replaced on my conservatory as i't had bandaid over bandaid over the last few winters. it's getting a proper insulated roof with fibreglass skin and a jumbo 1.2m x 1,5m triple glazed window/rooflight which should brighten the back of the house inside a fair bit. what was the dining room has always been a bit dull since we put up the conservatory hence the change to a 'real' roof with the glass panel.
i bought the timber, window and fibreglass roof kit a while ago now so it's time to use it finally.
neil.
We didn't do the roof window as enough light comes in ours but the insulated roof will be great ...back on topic ..good luck with the pull out !!
Sent from my SM-A515F using NSRA mobile app
thanks john, it should come out no problem :thumbs_up_smiley:.Quote:
Originally Posted by jsf55
on the conservatory job we're also adding a stud wall to the side where the white insulated panels are. the dwarf wall the conservatory sits on is a cavity one so the stud wall will be built on the inner brick wall and insulate between them. we're hoping overall it'll be cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter.
neil.
forgot to say the flip front was removed and put in my garage over the road saturday afternoon. we'll lift the engine out this evening once the weather cools down i bit.
neil.
the engine came out easily enough, almost like it wasn't there long at all :whistle:. we've harvested the new oil pump, it's driveshaft and the roller timing set. the pump will be stripped, cleaned and checked before we decide if it'll go into the 'new' engine. next is sit it down and remove the inlet manifold which will be swapped back to the engine it came from.
neil.
so we started removing parts from my fe engine to swap some new parts in and refit the 4 barrel inlet. after whizzing the damper bolt off it's always giving them a bit of a tap with a rubber mallet before getting the puller out, you know just in case. anyway a couple of taps and it moved forward about 1/8" ish and i though that moved easily. so we gave it a tug/wiggle and nothing then we noticed it moved 'back' the same 1/8" ish. ohh noooo!. it was at this point i remembered something my dad said from time to time...... ''just when you think it's going ok you get the obligatory kick in the bo11ocks!''. that's where we're at now as that movement is crankshaft end float. i spoke to ash' this evening and he's going to have a think about where to go from here. initially he said he'll collect the car and stick it back in his garage. then he'll save up to build the full chassis and the 440 mopar engine the car was meant to have this time anyway.
neil.
Nightmare :(
agreed :thumbsdown:Quote:
Originally Posted by jsf55
Get the Chevy back in it!!
mate these old FE things are giving you too many headaches with little enjoyment!!
the fe only went in to get the car mobile for ash's wife's 40th birthday, but then the 'need more power' bug bit him and it's gone downhill from there. any change of engine now will be building the 440/727 he's had for a while now. at that point we'll build the full chassis and cut the entire patchwork quilt of floors and chassis out of it. i'd be surprised if that's not what he does, he's done putting more money into the fe now and would rather take the car back off the road and save to do it properly.
the 440 already has a comp cams thumper cam/lifters fitted and bedded in, lol. it only came apart due to oil pressure issues which was worn out crank' bearings. the crank's now been ground so that's sorted.
neil.
Why not buy a blueprint sbc? Just makes so much sence.
one reason mate, money unfortunately. but yes, in an ideal world that or a blueprint sbm, sbf or one of their many bbc.Quote:
Originally Posted by crumble
neil.
My last one was ?3800
It don't take long to spend that sort of money trying to brighten up an old worn out engine.
they seem to have gone up a bit now mate :eek: a bare long block's nearly ?4500 plus shipping and duties this end. then there's all the ancillaries and a gearbox and convertor. as you say it quickly adds up, lol.
neil.
what's with the pound sign showing up as a question mark on here now?
https://blueprintengines.com/collect...blocks-383-c-i
LS ..... :thumbs_up_smiley:
That's the expensive way to buy neil
Buy from here is the cheapest way.
Complete 350 chevy 4 bolt. 341bhp
?4590.
Neil my sbc stands me around ?3700 inc th350 with shift kit. All fully rebuilt ,rebored with new crank, pistons, cam, carb, intake, headers, rebuilt heads, etc etc. Should be around 325 to 350 gee gees.
Do it you know it makes sense.
G
that's all well and good if....... you have nearly 4k to spend on an engine and box. as i said above 'in an ideal world' and all that. but neither ashley nor me have that much 'toy' money in one lump so it is what it is.
neil.
well the zephyr's gone back to ashley's garage for a nap while we both get on with other stuff we should've been doing. next to do here is my conservatory roof, lol. :rolleyes:
neil.
we sorted through the timber laying about along with 4 swivel wheels from screwfix and knocked up another engine trolley for ashley's fe. it's so much easier to move them around on a trolley than with a sack barrow that's for sure.
neil.
this last week we've taken the old roof off of my conservatory and built on the walls to raise the height 2" above the ajoining 'outhouse/kitchen' bit. we'll fibreglass it when the weather breaks asap so just covered it with heavy plastic sheet and battens for now.
but i digress, it looks like i've sold the torq thrust wheels on my nash. i know, i know but i have a soft spot for slot mags so..... i picked up a skinny (4.5") pair at the supernats and today agreed a price on a pair of 10x15's so slots it is, lol.
neil.
the 10x15 slotmags arrived today, woohoo! we're that busy i haven't even unwrapped them :eek:
i've been quiet lately but not just sat on my backside (not all the time anyway) as we're actually reroofing my conservatory with a (nearly) flat fibreglass roof. we made almost 2 foot tall stud walls for the side and front to raise the roof to just above the brick/concrete 'outhouse', at least it was when i bought the place 34/35 years ago. it still retains a downstairs loo and was for some years an addition to the kitchen but is now a storeroom with racking for the food and cleaning products that dawn buys when they're on offer. next step was joist hangers and timbers side to side with an opening in it for the 1m x 1.2m triple glazed glass window i bought to let light in. last week before the daily rain started we got the sheets of osb screwed down and thick plastic sheeting battened on to hold it there. we've made the drip edges from timber ready to go on when we get a dry couple of days ready to do the fibreglassing.
as soon as we get it watertight we've got some finishing to do on a glass 32 3 window so it's safe and roadworthy for a mate, followed by another mk2 zephyr for a ton of welding. not quite as much as the last one but close.
neil.
I like the way you brought it back too hot rodding in the last sentence :lol:
i aim to please :whistle:Quote:
Originally Posted by jsf55
neil.
the roof's water tight now (since tuesday) so it was time for a bit of a tidy up in the garage. we got distracted by all the offcuts of timber and osb so made some shelves above my rollcab. with stuff placed neatly (for now...) we have almost half of the butchers block top clear as useable space again. it's a long time since it's been like that for sure, lol.
won't get much done tomorrow as i've got an eye appointment at the hospital, arranged after a referral by specsavers. they did my eye test about 3-4 weeks ago and told me the slight blurring in the centre of my left eye's vision was due to a bleed at the back of my eye :eek:. i said it was worse a couple of weeks earlier, like a black blob in my vision and had improved since but they still thought it best to get it checked. it's almost cleared now but as i only have 2 eyes i'd rather keep them both working so.... :lol:
neil.
we actually did something vehicle related today, but only some chassis welding on my son in law's transit. got to fit new pads all round next and fit his diesel night heater (it's partly a camper now) ready for the winter. boring stuff but he used to be a plasterer so he's now lined up to do my conservatory once the ceiling and one wall has the plaster board put up. :thumbs_up_smiley:
neil.
Did a heater in the teardrop for the pod ... glad i did with that wind !
Sent from my SM-A556B using NSRA mobile app
well that heater is a roaster, i'm considering getting one for my garage. it's quiet, there's no fumes (it's a heat exchanger type with the 'exhaust' venting outside) and it's a dry heat so no condensation. they come with one big 3-4" outlet or four smaller ones which could suit me as i could run flexi hoses around to keep the temperature even. we'll see.
on a more relevant note, we got my fe engine up on the engine stand and turned over to open up the bottom and investigate the crankshaft's excessive end float. well the engine must've come from a manual galaxie i reckon as the thrust part of the main bearing has worn into the crank' almost 1/8"! so although i could weld and turn it flush now i have my bigger lathe, with 2 other engines here we'll just sw2ap in another crank' with new bearings and call it good. we'll still swap the new roller timing set and h/v oil pump from ashley's engine but other than that it'll remain stock.
neil.
here's a pic of the crankshaft carnage :eek:
neil.
https://www.rodsnsods.co.uk/attachme...igh&width=1920
Would that not polish out ?
Sent from my SM-A556B using NSRA mobile app
Got some clearance there!
Chris
Sent from my SM-T515 using NSRA mobile app
the guy i bought that from said ''it was running fine in my galaxie, just a bit breathy''. mmmmmm.......
oh well, today we got the spare short block out of stock to check the crankshaft. from what we found on taking it apart this one was/is a1960 352/360hp engine, cool. anyway the crankshaft journals are all good and standard so that's the one we'll use. the bores are good too so a nice spare block to keep in stock.
neil.
ok, so 3rd time lucky with a new camshaft. i just ordered a camshaft (2 steps up from stock 428 cj this time) a set of core plugs, a pair of head gaskets, big end and main bearings and a set of valve guide seals. should be here mid next week. we're going to build a basic engine run stand this time for cam break in. also we'll use stock 'weak' valve springs for break in then swap the 428 cj ones afterwards. for lifters we've checked the 1st set and only one was bad (very bad, lol) and the other 15 have the correct convex face and survived the break in so will be reused. we'll pull the 2nd set and find any 'good' ones and then strip and clean both sets so we'll have plenty to use this time.
neil.
today we turned the 'dead crank' engine back up the right way and took the inlet and heads off. at the stage we're at it's worth popping the pistons/rods out and fitting new rings too so.... the bores are good as were the other 2 and all are standard. now it can upside down again to finish the strip down to a bare block. the heads from the one we're using are nice big valve versions which is nice.
neil.
https://www.rodsnsods.co.uk/attachme...fab770c813daa6
https://www.rodsnsods.co.uk/attachme...fab770c813daa6
https://www.rodsnsods.co.uk/attachme...fab770c813daa6
rings ordered now. just got to finish stripping the engine and give it all a good wash 'n' brush up ready to reassemble it when we have parts. :thumbs_up_smiley:
neil.
that's the engine stripped to the bare block and the bores honed. we also honed the lifter bores with my brake cylinder hone to make sure the lifters can spin freely when it's running. we're not taking any chances this time. the lifters from cam' number 1 have been stripped, cleaned and reassembled too. ash' will take the block to work and steam clean it inside and out (core plugs removed) as well.
neil.
https://www.rodsnsods.co.uk/attachme...igh&width=1920
https://www.rodsnsods.co.uk/attachme...igh&width=1920
parts are already arriving from rock auto, very fast delivery as always :thumbs_up_smiley:
neil.
https://www.rodsnsods.co.uk/attachme...964464b4135336
today we pulled the 'top' off of ashley's engine so we could go through the lifters to find one more 'good' one. we only found 2 out of 10 that had the slight crown on their base that they should have, 6 wouldn't even pull out of their bores! the 2 were stripped apart, cleaned and rebuilt so we now have a spare just in case. we need to remove the valve springs in situ after bedding the cam' in with the old stock ones and i've bought this compressor that uses the rocker shafts to lever/pull against. it'll come in handy for the same job on my 318 and later ashley's 440 too so the under ?20 purchase price was worth it. we had to strip a set of rockers from a shaft for the job but we have plenty, lol.
neil.
https://www.rodsnsods.co.uk/attachme...igh&width=1920
before i forget again... i ordered another pair of new engine mounts as this fe is a 64, ashley's is a 66. in 65 ford changed the block to take a 3 bolt mount, not the earlier 2 bolt mount. only 1 hole on the later 3 bolt mount lines up with the 2 bolt block, doh! good job they're very cheap from rock auto.
anyway back to today we removed all of the oil gallery plugs so we can fully clean the block. this is another nod towards preventing a 3rd cam/lifter failure, lol. so on the ordering stuff front, i ordered some long pipe cleaning brushes too which again is to help prevent cam/lifter failure.
neil.
After your last 2 experiences I do hope you get a result this time:yes:
me too Ian, hence all the extra precautions this time. ash' picked the block and crank' up today and took it to his mate's 'shop who has a big dishwasher for engine parts. several hours later he came back with them all nice and clean and still warm, lol. we hung the block back on the engine stand and sprayed it inside and out with some thinned engine oil so it doesn't rust immediately. we'll flush it all again before assembly with brake cleaner and the airline so it ought to be clean then, lol.
neil.
i just put a deposit on another set of slot mags (with tyres). 10x15's and 3 1/2x15's. i just love a set of slot mags so couldn't resist, lol. i'll add pics once i collect them at the weekend :thumbs_up_smiley:
neil.
These ones neil ?
yes mate :thumbs_up_smiley:
Lovely
yes mate, i'm well chuffed. :thumbsup2:Quote:
Originally Posted by tom.marg
we collected the slot mags today. better than expected as all the tyres are new.
i just ordered a cheapy clickety clack fuel pump and inline filter to convert my parts washer to use 'real' fluid that'll dissolve oil/carbon/grease etc. unlike the water based cr4p they say to use which is as much use as a chocolate fireguard stuff like paraffin, petrol etc actually cleans parts. hoo da thunk it, lol. it'll mean the parts washer will be 12v now but on the plus side it'll be more 'portable', lol.
neil.
i had a deal today with the 'new' to me slot mags i just bought for another fe big block and manual gearbox. it's thought to be a 360 and the box is a 4 speed truck box so really a 3 speed + 'granny' low. the bellhousing, clutch and flywheel may get used with a more useably 4/5 speed box in the future. we'll fire the engine up once the run stand's built then if it's good ashley will have the option to bolt it straight in his zephyr to save time. we'll see how it runs.
neil.
i forgot to say, the first thing we'll check once the 360 is home is if it's actually a 360. the last '360' i bought was actually a 390. the stroke is the only real difference between the 2, luckily it's easy enough to tell as the difference is a tad over 1/4". i pull the plugs, shove a screwdriver into a plug hole and turn the engine while measuring tdc to bdc. fingers crossed it's a 390.
neil.
we were due to drop the slot mags off this weekend, unfortunately i've got the lergy and after 2 days n nights of almost constant coughing my chest feels like i've been run over by a bus. but anyway we now need to 'double drill' them so they'll fit the required 5x4.5" pcd for the car they're going on. we also will be cutting the exploder axle on the long side to fit a second short halfshaft. the car all this is going on? a henry j gasser project, not mine but a good freinds. he has a straight front axle and a small block chevy too so most of the big bits are sorted. it'll be street/strip and hopefully ready for the first meet at manston next year.
neil.
we're collecting the '360?' engine and box sunday so we can check if it's actually a 360 or a 390. my problem now is the fact that it's manual so i'm looking at 5 speed boxes to bolt behind it. it's a sickness this hobby/lifestyle of ours and there seems to be no cure :lol:
neil.
we dropped the exploder axle off and collected the fe engine and box today. no time to check the 'true' size yet as other 'honey dos' took priority at home, lol.
neil.
last week we put a socket and bar on the 360 engine after removing the spark plugs. it seemed that in the year between it first being removed (and turning fine) from the truck and it arriving here it'd 'stuck'. so we gave it some 50/50 mix of petrol and diesel in the bores. today we tried the socket and bar again and it turns easily and smoothly no problem, result. next job is to build the run stand and run it so we can assess the vital's before it either gets used or sold on. also we checked the stroke and it is indeed 'exactly what it says on the tin' which is a 360. at least i'll stop looking for 5 speed manual boxes to bolt behind it to go in my nash now, lol.
neil.
i knew i shouldn't have said that last bit :whistle:. i just got an 'offer' from an ebay seller dropping the price on a borg warner t5 from ?850 to ?595. bloody typical! now i have to stop myself buying it ;)
neil.
[emoji23][emoji23][emoji23] typical ebay sellers
Sent from my SM-A556B using NSRA mobile app
phew, i've got over that now :whistle:
i have bought 2 new 'tools', a bigger floor standing parts washer that holds solvent cleaner not the cr4p water based 'eco' stuff they push on us now. what good's that if you can't chuck old stale petrol in there when you have it. my small eco type didn't like it and the pump melted! the 2nd thing is a dial back timing light from accuspark, the first timing light i've ever owned and i'm 61 now! :eek:
i'm even thinking about an afr gauge for my nash to make tuning easier. :thumbs_up_smiley:
neil.
i picked up a box trailer today. now my van's gone if i have to collect engines/boxes or other big/heavy stuff i'd have to put it in my s-max which is awkward with an engine crane (ask me how i know :whistle:). anyway for ?60 i got a tidy trailer, quite heavy duty with brakes... and one wheel, lol. they look like mini wheels so i've checked ebay and both 6 and 8 ply trailer tyres are reasonable in 10" so that's an easy fix. also the rear lights are broken but i have a trailer light board already so again an easy fix.
neil.
we had to do a quick wheel job to get the trailer off of ashley's truck yesterday. so it was out with the jigsaw and an off cut of mdf and before long we had a 'wheel' on the trailer making moving it easy. not the first time we'd made these wooden wheels and probably won't be the last, it's a quick and simple way to get a project mobile.
neil.
parts washer arrived today, it's bl00dy heavy!. i'll unpack it some time this week and decide where it's going. there's 25l of solvent cleaner on the way too so it gets a good start before stale petrol, old thinners etc gets poured in there too. ;)
neil.
Just don't wash gloss paint brushes in there !
no, the pigment settles at the bottom and blocks up all the 'gubbins'. :whistle:Quote:
Originally Posted by jsf55
neil.