My daily driver project 81 ElCamino

[HAFROD]

My radiator insides look like a coral reef. Heavy deposits and some of the tubes are clogged. We had a mid 70 degree day last week and noticed the temp gauge was a bit hotter. I just grabbed a Champion radiator from ebay at $160. The F body replacement at my local parts store was around $140. I like the full aluminum construction and two rows instead of one. I've read good and bad here about these but taking the chance anyway. When I pull the engine to revamp it, I plan on flushing the block out. It has muddy coolant despite me flushing it twice. Going to pull the side freeze plugs and use a power washer in and around through the holes. This should eradicate the sediment. I'll flush the heater core again also. I just about have all the needed parts for my 350's revamp. The April 9th drag race is looming

 

[ssn696]

New water pump and oil pump (with a steel sleeve drive shaft) while you're in there...cheap insurance...

 

[HAFROD]

I have been walking on clouds all day. I went this morning and picked up a complete 400 small block. The guy said it was from his dads 1976 El Camino that he bought new. It had blown a head gasket and they replaced both in their driveway. About 2 months later it blew one again. It got parked after that. I brought it home and stripped it. It is all standard and barely has a ridge in the cylinders. The crank is fantastic and the rod caps came off nicely. This is going to make a really nice 406 with Edelbrock aluminum heads for my 55 Belair. Now I have a 4 bolt 350 flat top piston motor to assemble for my El Camino that is on the stand. This was originally going in my 55. I have the machine work done and all brand new parts in boxes. I've had and built a few 400s before and I love them. They are non existent anymore in this kind of shape. Lol

 

[HAFROD]

Hopefully weather will be good next weekend so I can do an engine swap. Need to finish porting my heads but getting home at 4 PM gives me a few hours a night.

 

[HAFROD]

Rotating assembly in and should have it in and running before work Tuesday morning.

 

[HAFROD]

I still have one head to port but should be done in a few hours. Here's before and afters. I still have to use my cartridge rolls to smooth them a bit.

 

[ssn696]

Wow, those intake ports needed help! Nice results!

 

[HAFROD]

I did not finish the last head porting. I'll finish it in the morning. I did completely relap, and assemble the first head. Got it painted too. I was bouncing back and forth on porting and lapping the other head so I did not burn up my air compressor. I think I'll call my boss tomorrow and see about getting off Tuesday. Hell, the race is next weekend.

 

[HAFROD]

Pulled the engine/trans by noon today. I have a B&M Transpac here for a turbo 350 from a past project. The ElCamino trans is a 350C so the transpac will not work. I dropped a turbo 350 off at a trans shop a month or more ago and they still have not touched it. Going to go pick it up and take it somewhere else. The 350C is working OK but was wanting it to hit harder. I have a 5 high stack of transpac boxes in my attic that I always throw the stock springs and crap in when I install one. I love them. Anyway, I replaced the front seal, speedometer shaft seal and O ring, and filter/pan gasket. Got the old trans mated up to the new engine and dropped it in. Got a few small things done but should have it running tomorrow before dark. I noticed the U joints are original so while its out, I'm going to change them. I bought a brand new 670 Holley Street Avenger but think I'll bolt the old 600 Holley back on for cam break in. That way I don't have to mess with setting floats and crap while checking for leaks.

 

[HAFROD]

I got it all in and done. It started right up and I set the idle up to break in the cam for 20 minutes. About 15 minutes in I noticed antifreeze on the ground. The antifreeze was coming out from under two head bolts. I used Permatex thread sealer as usual. I pulled the plugs and noticed the two were wet that were adjacent to the two head bolts that were leaking. The heads were surfaced and I removed the head dowels from the block and used a piece of square steel tubing with 40 grit paper and sanded till it had even scratch marks. So I started pulling it back apart. When I removed that leaking head, I noticed the head bolts came of easy. I know I torqued them and always do it twice with my book in sequence. My torque wrench is always unloaded when I put it away. This was my first time using the steel head gasket shims for head gaskets. I sprayed the copper coat on them that never seemed to dry even after an hour. I'm going to use stock replacement regular Felpro head gaskets on reassembly and hopefully it goes well. Luckily no water got in the oil