374 Olds 350 stroker build

[olds307 and 403]

I know, you know how much I love the LS😛. With the end of nearly everyone, I have a feeling the parts like these probably manufactured years ago have nearly dried up. Why would a manufacturer make parts to have them sit on shelf for a motor that hasn't been made in 31 years? This motor is going to be laying rubber before the year before the snow flies👍.

 

[olds307 and 403]

I decided since I want to strip the Duplicolor garbage paint off the serpentine accessories and off my heads, blasting without a cabinet is brutal. I bought this at $70 off.

Also shipping is free due to Pandemic, so $150ish with a 52 bag of crushed glass shipped to my door. I already have this in yellow, which I will set up to feed this bad boy.

 

[olds307 and 403]

I talked to Mark, going off the spec for a 8171PT head gasket on the Summit Racing site of .039". I assumed that would leave me .036" piston to head, borderline but pr. He mentioned. 042" was the actual spec. I happen to have a used 8171PT hanging on a hook, it read .042" like he said, imagine that. That should put me at .039" piston to head, about perfect. I am going to polish the iron #6 chambers to 68cc so it will be apples to apples when I swap eventually to the Edelbrock aluminum. That will put me right at 9.5 to 1, should allow a nice timing curve on 91. The only variable will be the new 1.65 ratio(.541" lift) from Mark to 1 vs 1.6 ratio roller tip rocker arms(.525" lift), I also have 1.72 ratio(.564"), I may run but they need checking in the push rod cup area .I don't want anymore delays from this machine shop as the iron heads need .100" milled off the rocker pads to properly run the new rockers. I am probably selling my Performer intake as clearancing may be needed for the roller lifters and limits this combos. Not worth it to run the hot air choke.

 

[olds307 and 403]

This showed up today, I will get it hooked up in the next few days.

 

[Texas82GP]

Any luck finding those main bearings?

 

[olds307 and 403]

Any luck finding those main bearings?

Yes, Mark Remmel, Cutlassefi is sending me some Federal Mogul .030" main bearings along with the more pressing Clevite. 030" rod bearings.

 

[olds307 and 403]

I have a little more faith restored in my machine shop. I contacted them about checking the big end dimensions. He said, anytime the small end is checked or sized in my case, they automatically check the big end dimensions. So once the bearings arrive from Mark, balancing then assembly can happen!

 

[bracketchev1221]

I have a little more faith restored in my machine shop. I contacted them about checking the big end dimensions. He said, anytime the small end is checked or sized in my case, they automatically check the big end dimensions. So once the bearings arrive from Mark, balancing then assembly can happen!

Did you have new rod bolts installed? Then they would have to be resized.

 

[olds307 and 403]

Did you have new rod bolts installed? Then they would have to be resized.

No, the Molnar rods come with ARP 2000 rod bolts. It seems all aftermarket connecting rods need the dimensions checked. The pins needed honing, curious if any of the big ends were out of spec.

 

[olds307 and 403]

More parts, almost all of them now. Mark has had issues with the Melling High Volume oil pumps, he contacted them about their gear feel issue, so waiting on that. My Daughter is going to Yorkton on Monday, getting her to drop off a ring set and a set of .030" rod bearings so the internal balancing can be completed. The look and feel of the US made Cloyes billet timing and my Daughter's Boyfriend was super impressed by how thin the ring set was. I told him Mahle's propriety material makes the 1mm/1mm/2mm ring pack possible. He noticed the laser etching on the ring.. He figured they would wear out quicker, I said actually the opposite. The ultra thin rings will last way longer without wearing like the thick 5/64" ring packs. It will also help seal with Mahle pistons needing half the clearance of the old Speedpro forged piston, .0025" needed. Getting closer, once the crank is back from balancing, already ground, assembly will begin. I will make sure my Daughter brings back my other parts so I can file fit the rings. The Cloyes US Billet timing set is so much nicer than any of the cheaper double sets I have used.