80 Malibu Build (Motor's in)

[patmckinneyracing]

Re: 80 "Franken-Bu" Build (Engine Getting There)

I got most of the motor assembled this morning (ie 1-5am). I had gotten 5 pistons in before I had to go back to school but in the rush ended up putting the #8 piston in the #7 hole. Then someone brought up the marks on the passenger side of the block not facing the front of the motor. I put them in with the writing on the tops of the pistons right side up.

At the same time, I had some doubt in my mind as to my technique of how I got the motor together. So rather than half *ss (which most 20 year old kids my age do) I decided to pull the short block apart again, minus crank, and start over. I now don't have any doubt in my work. Rule of thumb, if you have doubt in the work you just did, especially drivetrain, go back and re-do it.

Have some last minute touches to do on the motor with paint but other than that I'm done. Now I'm just waiting on the oil pump from summit to button up the oil pan.

 

[patmckinneyracing]

Re: 80 "Franken-Bu" Build (Has a Heart!)

 

[Peter]

Re: 80 "Franken-Bu" Build (Has a Heart!)

looks real clean, would beat that sh*t outta my sbo thats for sure

 

[SScamino]

Re: 80 "Franken-Bu" Build (Has a Heart!)

There ya go! hahaha. I dont think there was talk of wrong side it was the fact that the dot was ----> ' here when it should have been there ' <----------. Not a good diagram but that's why I asked if you rotated it because the rod/piston was backwards. You had it in the right cylinder but not in the right position. But I'm glad you got it fixed!

 

[3XBrownCutty]

Re: 80 "Franken-Bu" Build (Has a Heart!)

nice. really seem to be truckin along!! wish i could do the same but everything is covered in snow now... :x

do you run an electric fuel pump? just noticing the blockoff. :lol:

 

[patmckinneyracing]

Re: 80 "Franken-Bu" Build (Has a Heart!)

Yeah I'm running a holley red fuel pump. Gives more consistent fuel flow IMO than the stock one. I had an edelbrock mechanical pump years back and it went out in two months. Had to put in a stock replacement for the time being till my dad found his old holley red from back in the 80's. Has been working for 4 years now and I love it.

Thanks guys.

 

[Bumpin1ohmSS]

Re: 80 "Franken-Bu" Build (Has a Heart!)

Lookin sweet bruh!!

 

[patmckinneyracing]

Re: 80 "Franken-Bu" Build (Has a Heart!)

Evenin gents. Well this weekend was kinda slow for the most part. I'm waiting on Summit to send me a Melling M55 oil pump as a replacement for my Milodon pump not fitting. I still need to find two replacement rocker arm studs, but no parts stores carry the damn things. The guys reason was "No one is building their motors anymore or not as much as they used to". So decided to get some other nick nack stuff done.

Dropped off the radiator at the repair shop since it had two small leaks in the center from where I used those radiator zip ties for an auxiliary fan. Hoping that's not too expensive. Then I started swapping the u-joints on my new driveshaft so I can take it down to get balanced and make sure this one doesn't rip in half. The u-joint that mounts to the rear end was no problem getting on, but I went through 2 new u-joints that would not fit on the yoke end or the needle bearing got out of place or fell out. I finally got a third one that went in with no problem.

Other thing I worked on was mocking up the CS144 alternator with the two turnbuckles to replace my stock brackets. Problem is I couldn't get the Serpentine pulley off no matter what I did, so I'm heading back to the junkyard to get a CS130 alternator since my electrical demands aren't that great. Just doing the Mark VIII electric fan and a mild sound system. My headlights never dimmed even with the old SI alternator and I had the sound system going too.

Started tonight getting ready to put the quarter glass back in. The next couple days I will be focusing on getting the quarter glass back in and buttoning up the interior until the remainder of the engine parts come in.

 

[patmckinneyracing]

Re: 80 "Franken-Bu" Build (Has a Heart!)

Evenin folks. Been a while since I updated the thread so I figured it was about time. Managed to get the new motor in a few days ago without any problems....it was almost too easy, leaves me worried a bit.

Had to modify my cross member only a little bit by shortening the mounting pad and drilling another hole. The rest of it bolts in without a hitch. Headers slipped right in since there is no air box. For some reason I really like the way the 700r4 fills the space between the headers underneath as opposed to the TH350. Maybe I'm going crazy lol.

Anyways, with all the christmas money and valve covers from my girlfriend, I decided to go a little hog wild with getting new parts. Ended up ordering a Pro Comp Air Gap intake, polished aluminum brackets for alternator and power steering, 700r4 steel braided dipstick, Pro Comp aluminum water pump, and the swivel water neck from my little brother. Still waiting on the water neck and brackets to show up, but I got the intake, dipstick, and water pump in today. Decided to go with satin since my valve covers, carb, and dual plenum carb hat are polished. Took some clear coat engine enamel to the satin pieces to keep'em clean and looking fresh.

Also got the aluminum core support bolted in and cut the headlight openings larger to mimic my stock steel headlight openings. Just gonna keep on truckin. 8)

 

[TURNA]

better put some permatex on that dipstick, I had one and it leaked like a b*tch.