78 Grand Prix project

[G-Body_Vet]

I made a visit to the machine shop today and got some pics of the block after cleaning, line honing, boring w/torque plates and decking. The crank has also been turned .010 under. After I get rods, he'll finish the journals on the crank. Next step is buying forged 4340 I-beams and going with custom forged pistons. I can't let the cat out of the bag yet about the manufacturer but I'll post more as it evolves.

We'll be tapping the front plugs instead of staking new ones as well.

You'll notice some small corrosion marks on the deck. It won't affect sealing but it wouldn't have been worth removing anymore material to get rid of it.

ARP main studs

 

[pontiacgp]

looking real good...it's hard to imagine a block that looks like that is actually decades old and probably has lots of milage on it.

 

[G-Body_Vet]

It's come a long way from this huh?

 

[pontiacgp]

it sure did and I bet the guys who first build that motor had alot more pride when building it than the robots do who build today's motors

 

[G-Body_Vet]

it sure did and I bet the guys who first build that motor had alot more pride when building it than the robots do who build today's motors

Probably so! You could still smoke indoors and they weren't piss-testing yet in '75.

 

[85GPLef41]

it sure did and I bet the guys who first build that motor had alot more pride when building it than the robots do who build today's motors

Probably so! You could still smoke indoors and they weren't piss-testing yet in '75.

I keep hearing about the "good" times....from the older guys around... Damn rules now are so F@#&ing bad now, especially if you have a CDL!! Anyways i have rebuilt a few motors myself and it does feel good when it starts up and runs!! 8) Keep up the good work G-body_vet!! post videos of the beast running!!

 

[G-Body_Vet]

I keep hearing about the "good" times....from the older guys around... Damn rules now are so F@#&ing bad now, especially if you have a CDL!! Anyways i have rebuilt a few motors myself and it does feel good when it starts up and runs!! 8) Keep up the good work G-body_vet!! post videos of the beast running!!

I'm not that old lol! I'm actually the same age as my engine.....both born in '75. Best believe there will be videos when I eventually get it finished but it's going to be awhile. I'm at a crossroad where I can keep this build somewhat docile or step it up to a higher power level $$$$$$$$. We're looking at some solid flat tappet cams at the moment but nothing is written in stone yet. I'd like to go roller but I can't really justify the cost vs reward yet.

Nevertheless it feels good to see the progress since it keeps you motivated.

 

[85GPLef41]

No "disrespect" intended! 😀 Most guy's i work with are older and tell me the stories they have experienced and it makes me wonder why politics and other BS dictate what we do.... I was born in the late 80's and it seems like the rules have kept me from doing my thing....lol! But build that mill to the max at what you can afford and it will still impress us! Most of us are jumping on the LS bandwagon. If it was legal for me i would love to do a 455 swap and run it! Effin rules and regulations won't let me do it!!!

 

[G-Body_Vet]

No "disrespect" intended! 😀 Most guy's i work with are older and tell me the stories they have experienced and it makes me wonder why politics and other BS dictate what we do.... I was born in the late 80's and it seems like the rules have kept me from doing my thing....lol! But build that mill to the max at what you can afford and it will still impress us! Most of us are jumping on the LS bandwagon. If it was legal for me i would love to do a 455 swap and run it! Effin rules and regulations won't let me do it!!!

No worries, it wasn't taken as disrespect. If our emissions laws hadn't changed a few years ago I'd be going a different route too. I'd love to go with a full roller valvetrain, Edelbrock d-ports and just get ridiculous but then it's just turning into more power than I need and a waste of money. Even conservatively speaking, if I make 400hp/450tq with what I already have planned then that's more than enough for a street cruiser.

I'd still like to do a Buick, Olds of LS build sometime in the future. Too many thoughts, not enough cash!

 

[deanlemans81]

Ok now I`m officially jealous! man that block is BEAUTIFUL!!! I wish mine looke that good but I have to be satisfied with just a cleaning and re-ring job.
Dean