Getting ready for Bonneville(rebuild)

[JAL AKA JL222]

 
  Today we installed a bare block with the oil pump and the blower assembly that goes in front of engine. Had to check for routing the new oil lines. Then Installed the inline filter at the 90-degree fitting going into cooler, then ran the oil line from pump to filter then from cooler to the farm hp6 filter. Line exiting filter goes to dry sump. Filtered oil to pump Had to cut a big enough hole in some sheet metal big enough to fit two of the lines through. Worked out really well. Still need to wire the fan.

To make things easier and better two Vevor air jacks make lifting the car a breeze. Jacks have air bags similar to truck lifts. The problem with the regular jack is the handle is under the car so far and the car sits so low in the rear the handle only moves a few inches and takes forever to jack up.  Also, a new DeWalt 175 max air compressor that is super quiet.

                                          JL222

[Rex Schimmer]

John and Troy,
One thing you might consider with your filter/ cooler is a bypass check valve. I am assuming that neither your inline filter or the cooler has a high pressure bypass valve for cold start up. I would suggest using a 15 to 30 psi check valve in parallel to the filter/cooler circuit to provide protection when you start the engine cold. That 50 wt oil can be pretty viscus and make the oil pressure spike. Once the oil heats up and the viscosity drops the check will close and the oil will run through the filter and cooler. I doubt that the filter would fail but pretty easy to kill the cooler. I would use at least a 3/4 inch check, easy to buy on Ebay or Amazon.
Rex

[JAL AKA JL222]

John and Troy,
One thing you might consider with your filter/ cooler is a bypass check valve. I am assuming that neither your inline filter or the cooler has a high pressure bypass valve for cold start up. I would suggest using a 15 to 30 psi check valve in parallel to the filter/cooler circuit to provide protection when you start the engine cold. That 50 wt oil can be pretty viscus and make the oil pressure spike. Once the oil heats up and the viscosity drops the check will close and the oil will run through the filter and cooler. I doubt that the filter would fail but pretty easy to kill the cooler. I would use at least a 3/4 inch check, easy to buy on Ebay or Amazon.
Rex

Thanks Rex... cooler is pressure tested to 350 psi and not sure [but have a good idea] about plumping bypass valve with # 12 AN oil lines or even have enough room.

             JL222

[JAL AKA JL222]

  Oil cooler fan is wired. Fan is designed to pull through cooler, and it pulls great. Of course, wiring did not go easy.
We had a toggle switch but no screws but looking through a bucket of bolts that a mechanic neighbor gave me long ago we found some slightly bigger self-tapping screws that worked out. One good thing was the overhead shift counsel had room for one more switch and bar had 12 volts.   

Still have to mount and wire oil temp gauge and looking for a sturdier mount than one sent with gauge.

                             JL222 

[JAL AKA JL222]

  Engine build is coming along. Sleeves have arrived at J&S Garage, now Hunter can install and hone them for the new pistons. Have new valve springs and just ordered from Bill Miller Engineering, 8 Top Fuel rods, VasoMax-300 pins[$$] and 8 pistons similar to top fuel but with more compression.

  Byrant crank should be finished next month. Have Clevite main bearings but rod bearings on back order.

                             JL222   

[JAL AKA JL222]

 
   My brother just bought a large travel trailer that came with a system to monitor tire pressure and temperature.

    He's not going to tow the trailer so he's sending me the unit.

    This will be great as when we get a flat we sometimes don't know.

    Coming home from Bville last August we pass a car and the trailer started to weave and getting worse I says TROY.

    He hits the brakes to stop the weaving :-P

   This happened about 10 miles before Dove Springs turn off and we stopped for gas in Tehachapi about 50 miles
where we discovered a flat tire.

   Reminder to self..... if this happens again check tires.

             JL222

[JAL AKA JL222]

   Clevite rod bearings were back ordered at Summit Racing, after 45 days they E mailed that they were in stock, next day, at front door

OUR new block has 1 in lifter bores, and they are back ordered for 3 or 4 weeks.

  Block has been pressure plate honed and will be pressured tested for leaks.

Still waiting for Byrant crank but told it is in process.


     JL222

               

[JAL AKA JL222]

 
  Troy mounted and wired the oil temp gauge today and I worked on lapping the valves. I had previously found a
bent valve in # 7 but expected to as that was where #7 rod broke. So, ordered 4 Inconel valves [ 4 weeks]
but good thing I ordered 4 as i found another bent valve in the other head. Also one seat I couldn't get lapped in.

We did get 4 intake valves installed at the right height with new springs.

  Tomorrow instead of using lapping tool I will hook up a drill motor to the valve stem and this will enable me to spin valve faster and longer. Hope it works, otherwise I have to take to a shop that has grinding equipment.

  Still waiting on block, crank, rods, pistons and valve lifters.

But should arrive in the next 2 weeks.

   JL222   

[JAL AKA JL222]

 
  The drill on the valve stem worked I applied the lapping compound to the valve three different times and spun the valve in different directions while pulling on the valve and it worked, then I finished lapping the usual way.

With 375 lbs. on the seat, it probably would have sealed alright but no race day rush.

Finished installing the exhaust valves so one head is done.

  I can install the intakes on the head I just fixed and 2 exhaust but will wait and install the 4 new ones I have ordered and have 2 good ones left.

  Setting the valve height can be a tedious process at times, after putting valve in head I have a measuring device
that goes where the spring would go then retainer and keepers go on valve and device screwed up to where it stops.

  The installed height for 375 LB seat pressure is 2.10 inchs so if the device reads 2.50 I need a 40 thou shim or combination of shims to get the right height. So, it takes time.

          JL222 

   

   

[JAL AKA JL222]

  Installed the intake valves on remaining head . The 2nd valve took forever to get the right combo of shims.
 
   It was getting had one last valve to set and almost called it a day but, decided to go ahead and be finished with at least half the valves installed.

Lucked out 1st shim was just right, no searching for right combo of shims.

  Exhaust valves 3 weeks out

  Crank rods and pistons 1 week. So they say :-P

      JL222

[JAL AKA JL222]

 
Finally... Byrant crankshaft has shipped and rods and pistons ready to ship Wednesday

  Waiting on roller lifters and Inconel exhaust valves.

  Block will be done after line hone.

                 JL222

Just called about lifters and there in and will be shipped today

[Stainless1]

Hey John that thing is quite the money pit isn't it....      I'd bet it's about "add a 0" more than my little motors... or close to double the cost per CI....  Ain't racin' fun  cromag

[JAL AKA JL222]

  It's costly after a blow up but Jeff Stillwell donated a block and we do all the engine assembly and installation.

  We only have one or two unpaid crew members so that helps a lot.

   Expenses were better when I had a company and was able to write everything off as advertising

                                            JL222

[JAL AKA JL222]

  Morell 1 inch roller lifters just arrived and I've been worried that the length would be different but the length from bottom of roller to top of the body is exactly the same as my 904 inch lifters and the depth from top of body down to pushrod socket is also the same

  This means I don't need new push rods

                       JL222

[JAL AKA JL222]

  After further inspection except for the size difference, the machining, color, etc. is the same as the lifters I bought
from another company advertising as there's.

  Bill Miller rods and pistons have shipped

                 JL222