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It's been quiet but I have been busy.... cleaning. What a **** job getting these parts clean enough (I hope). Head gasket surfaces, piston ring grooves, clean all the mess you're making while you're cleaning, etc...
Since last post:
- The valves have been cleaned and lapped in.
- The trunion kit has been installed in the rockers
- I started reassembly of the heads and my valve spring compressor exploded on the 7th spring on the 1st head. I had replaced the valve seats and guides prior to that, new tool(s) came in today so I can finish it up when I get the bottom end complete.
- When the above happened I had a day off waiting for tools - so I cleaned...more.
- Today I final cleaned the block with simple green a lake full of pressurized water and a hurricane worth of compressed air, it took forever. Got the block into the assembly area and got the crank installed. Then I got the pistons ring'd up and ready for install tomorrow, hopeful I can get pretty close to getting the bottom end mostly complete tomorrow, at least the big stuff.
Oh Yeah ! Thanks Aaron and the Bros for the help and support.
Looks great. Itching for some data. But don't rush on account of me...
You and me both brother !
I'll have some more channels for you to peruse in addition to all the electrical stuff that can be seen with the PDM and the old classics - Trans temp, cooling system pressure, and crankcase vacuum all coming to the party thanks to @Matt Romanowski
This guy set the example for having fun with cars, I would say an inspiration but really - the stuff he did behind the wheel was too crazy for me to ever comprehend.
He took what was a passion for me - rally, and really introduced it to a group of young people in America where exposure was minimal, helping to push rally, then rally cross in the X Games was big, so much good came from that exposure to the sport. Recently he shared a lot of his wife and daughter getting into the sport and it was so cool to see.
That is all in addition to his contribution to the skate and snow worlds.
I don’t normally do stuff like this but am using this avenue to get the thought off my chest - Ken was a monster of a wheel man and from the outpouring I see from so many, it’s clear his influence on the world was equal, or greater to his talents driving the car.
Wow. I didn't know of him beyond his INSANE driving/gymkhana skills but the man was a truly unbelievably talented driver. Sorry to see him gone so soon, and I'm sure his family is hurting beyond words.
I was shocked by Ken Block's passing.
I had just caught up on some Youtube viewing and saw his video where he drove his German registered rally car on the streets of Los Angeles.
Then I saw the news.
I've been a big rally fan for years and Ken was one of my favorites to watch/listen to.
I was hoping he'd get a chance to run his 2022 Pikes Peak entry that suffered engine issues at PP in 2023.
I was shocked by Ken Block's passing.
I had just caught up on some Youtube viewing and saw his video where he drove his German registered rally car on the streets of Los Angeles.
Then I saw the news.
I've been a big rally fan for years and Ken was one of my favorites to watch/listen to.
I was hoping he'd get a chance to run his 2022 Pikes Peak entry that suffered engine issues at PP in 2023.
I saw a bunch of his videos, a nut insane. I would have paid a bunch of money to be in the passenger seat with Ken instead of going to any of the Disney parks. Yes they have brought Travis Pastrana along but he is not Ken, long live the nut king, Ken Block. I’ll always remember him, isn’t you tube awesome!!!!!
Things coming along - heads are done save for 1 valve spring - I'm the idiot that doesn't buy any extra of the $2.50 valve seal while spending oodles and oodles of money with a vendor. Thus, when I damage one, not only do I have to wait for a replacement, but I need to pay $20 to ship $15 worth of parts... Good news, it will be here tomorrow and I can finish that last valve spring install.
Next up was the precarious process of getting the engine off the stand so I could install the rear main cover and seal, despite some questionable decisions, went good.
Today was get the ATI damper installed (not done...but almost) and... the dry sump pan and pump - Big doings ! Gotta say it again, shout out to all the guys helping me, I am lucky... like super lucky to have such smart and experienced people to lean on - Thank you !
Today I ended my streak of not breaking, snapping or otherwise damaging hardware to the point it would need to be surgically extracted.
But wait, there's more. The particular piece of hardware I chose to break this glorious streak with was... A head bolt.
But wait, there's more. The particular head bolt was the 19th of 20 fasteners and it happened on the final 80 FT/LB sequence.
But wait, there's more. The particular fastener was a very nice ARP bolt.
Honestly, I don't have any idea why - It very well may be user error, it may be a defective component - I just don't know.
So now, I need to get the broken bolt out of the block, not damage anything in the process, hopefully find no other damage and get a new bolt and start that head over again... man sucks writing that kind of.
12-31-2022, 09:43 PM
