80 Malibu Build (Motor's in)

[pontiacgp]

Re: 80 Malibu "Revival" build (MOTOR'S OUT!)

I'm rather upset at my father right now. I found out he is the one who decided to put in the "high volume" oil pump. When we first built this motor I was 14 and didn't have a clue. His reasoning for putting it in was "that's what all the race guys told him to do." In one sense I see their point, but my father's experience is strictly with mopar, not chevy. He didn't do any research into how to properly build a sbc. After spending some time researching oil pumps, his decision may have caused more harm than good.

Don't be too upset with him...at least he and you have a common interest in cars and so try to enjoy it. I would have enjoyed playing with cars more and would not have made so many amateur errors when I was younger if my father had that interest. My sons like to drive my car and have an interest in what I do with them but they like their new cars which don't allow us to play with them like these older treasures.
Trends come and go with cars and high volume pumps are still available because there is still a market for them so your father isn't the only one installing those pumps. I assume you have an oil pressure gauge and if the pump had run the pan out of oil I'm sure you would have noticed. Also if that engine was starved of oil you would be telling us of score marks and blue patches in the crank. He built the engine I take it at least 5 years ago so if it hasn't blown up by now he must have done a decent job.

 

[patmckinneyracing]

Re: 80 Malibu "Revival" build (Engine disassembly)

We had an engine builder who built motors for nascar advising us. We did the assembly as to try and keep costs down as it was an inexpensive build for the most parts. Lots of freeby parts from the circle tracks guys.

I figure that the HV pump probably saved that motor for the most part when it overheated. My only issue is before the car went down, why was the oil pressure only at 20 psi at highway speeds? He thinks it's the valve seals and too much blow by.

 

[patmckinneyracing]

Re: 80 Malibu "Revival" build (Engine disassembly)

Here's an update on this weekend.

Had my engine builder come over to the house to check out the bottom end. I pulled the main caps and the front crank journal has almost .010 to .015 thousandths worth of damage with deep grooves. Some of the other crank journals have some issues too, but no where near as bad as the front crank journal. This explains the severe drop in oil pressure and why I could only get 20psi of oil pressure at highway speeds (even with my HV55 melling oil pump). At this point, I think my best option is to simply find a replacement crank as most of the crank/piston journals have already been turned .010 thousandths.

Was thinking about a stroker crank and getting up to 377 ci, but I'd rather keep it a simply build and conserve some money in case something else pops up or save it for the roadrunner project.

The other major thing I got done today was the engine bay and front lighting wire harness's. Took all of the harness out from underneath the hood and began cleaning the wires with a rag and some lacquer thinner. Replaced all the terminals and connections and disposed of half the harness since I removed my emissions years ago, AC and heat, and cruise control. Then got rid of the dry rotted plastic casing and wrapped the harness in electric tape as I plan on tucking it inside the fenders and going for a cleaner look. It took time, but was well worth refurbishing.

One major issue I found in the harness dealt with one of the starter wires. 3 wires (main power for air, one from alternator, and one from under the dash) meet up at a connection down by the starter. They are crimped together with some sort of cheap looking metal crimp. From the crip connection, one wire leads off to connect to the main post of the starter. This area contained a lot of corrosion and may be why I had some issues with charging and getting proper voltage readings. So for those of you having the same electrical trouble, check this area as it may be the problem.

I'll keep you posted on the progress since I'm only doing this on weekends. Hoping to have here back on the road in November.

 

[patmckinneyracing]

Re: 80 "Franken-Bu" build (Engine disassembly)

Got a lot accomplished this weekend.

Began cleaning the pistons in a bucket of lacquer thinner and used a razor to knock off the heavy carbon build. Also spent a couple hours wire wheeling the old paint off the block. Managed to get the heads fully disassembled, valves cleaned up, and took the heads and block to the car wash and got them blasted out.

Valves and heads looked good, but some of the valve springs had broken dampeners. I decided to not go with a stroker crank and just a stock replacement crank.

Other thing I managed to get done was cleaned off the firewall down to bare steel and brush painted with Rust Encapsulator. Took the wiper motor out as well and cleaned off that section of firewall since it is very prone to rust from leaves and what not.

 

[Bumpin1ohmSS]

Re: 80 "Franken-Bu" build (Engine disassembly)

Damn! Lookin good bro...Im headed in the same direction with my Elco..Keep up the sweet work..

Elco Warren 8)

 

[pontiacgp]

Re: 80 Malibu "Revival" build (Engine disassembly)

We had an engine builder who built motors for nascar advising us. We did the assembly as to try and keep costs down as it was an inexpensive build for the most parts. Lots of freeby parts from the circle tracks guys.

I figure that the HV pump probably saved that motor for the most part when it overheated. My only issue is before the car went down, why was the oil pressure only at 20 psi at highway speeds? He thinks it's the valve seals and too much blow by.

yes us circle track guys love to help out anyone, even those who don't turn left at the end of the straight..lol

if you run a good full synthetic oil that will save an engine that overheats since it does not break down like a conventional oil

 

[patmckinneyracing]

Re: 80 "Franken-Bu" Build

I've only run synthetic in my motor a couple times. Most of the time I had conventional oil because my motor oil would disappear even though the motor was blowing smoke or anything. With this new engine, would it be better to run conventional or synthetic?

For those of you wondering why I called this build "Franken-Bu", its because my malibu, once its finished, will have parts from Ford/Lincoln, Pontiac, Oldsmobiles, Mopar, Chevy, and Cadillac.

 

[79loserbluebu]

Re: 80 "Franken-Bu" Build

Nice build. Where did you get your weatherstrip and window felts from?

 

[beermonkey9417]

Re: 80 "Franken-Bu" Build

use royal purple for yer engine and transmission. youll feel the difference. its like hp in a bottle. i used it on my satty once just to mess around and i was chirping the tires in second. but its really expencive.

 

[patmckinneyracing]

Re: 80 "Franken-Bu" Build

79loserbu, I can't recall the name of the website. I had it on my favorites on my last laptop. I know I got it from a fellow member up here, maybe username "bonnewagon".