An alternative is aluminum header paint from VHT
PROJECT " LAID BACK 2 " - 1978 SALON 2 DOOR AEROBACK
- Thread starter JAMCAR223
- Start date
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A few updates to report... I took apart the stay-down license plate bracket, and cleaned it up on the wire wheel, I will paint this very soon.
I painted the junkyard Chevy truck cooling fan, and got a new Hayden Heavy Duty fan clutch installed.
I picked up my heads from the machine shop this morning, and painted them this afternoon.
You remember how to do this, right?? The round file worked best for me this time, due to the curves around the exhaust ports.
I came home and from the shop, and found presents at the front door.
Tuff Stuff Saginaw power steering pump in black powder coat, I have a new Dorman serpentine pulley to go with this.
Matching Tuff Stuff 160 amp alternator. Powder coated black with polished serpentine pulley, fan, and nose cone.
I have all the mounting hardware cleaned up and ready for paint.
I also decided to ditch the HEI, and go with the Holley Hyper Spark distributor. My Sniper ECU will now control the fuel delivery, and timing curve.
I'm still waiting on my Flowkooler water pump. I have called (3) times over the last two weeks, and have been told they are still waiting on a casting... Twice, the same lady has told me she would call her supplier, and call me back that day. As you would have guessed, no call back either time. I want to wait for it, and it's been paid for a month ago. Casting availability is not their fault, but damm, their customer service sucks!!
I'm also still waiting for my serpentine accessory brackets to be Cerakoted. I'm supposed to get them back next Saturday. I will go by there in the morning for an update, as I have to pass it to get to my shop.
I painted the junkyard Chevy truck cooling fan, and got a new Hayden Heavy Duty fan clutch installed.
You remember how to do this, right?? The round file worked best for me this time, due to the curves around the exhaust ports.
I came home and from the shop, and found presents at the front door.
Tuff Stuff Saginaw power steering pump in black powder coat, I have a new Dorman serpentine pulley to go with this.
Matching Tuff Stuff 160 amp alternator. Powder coated black with polished serpentine pulley, fan, and nose cone.
I have all the mounting hardware cleaned up and ready for paint.
I also decided to ditch the HEI, and go with the Holley Hyper Spark distributor. My Sniper ECU will now control the fuel delivery, and timing curve.
I'm also still waiting for my serpentine accessory brackets to be Cerakoted. I'm supposed to get them back next Saturday. I will go by there in the morning for an update, as I have to pass it to get to my shop.
I guess my reverse rotation water pump was one of the last cores on the planet. Everything is still moving at a snail's pace.
Did your heads figured out by the original supplier or did you have to go somewhere else?
Nice progress! Water pump situation sounds frustrating. Poor delivery times isn't anything new from suppliers but these days it seems the standard.
Nice progress! Water pump situation sounds frustrating. Poor delivery times isn't anything new from suppliers but these days it seems the standard.
Thanks! I wish I had more time to work on it.
I guess so... I have a new reverse rotation water pump I got from RockAuto a year ago. I wanted to get a Flowkooler with the upgraded impeller, and keep the stock RockAuto for a spare. I'm going to wait it out.
Jim Lapikas quit responding to me as soon as I questioned him about using different parts than I had paid for, and the quality of his work. I took the heads to the same machine shop that built my shortblock - Scroggins Machine, here in Houston. They installed the properly matched valve springs for my cam, and set the spring height properly.
I got the heads installed this morning. Started by chasing the threads in the block, cleaned the surfaces of the block & heads with Brake parts cleaner. I used FelPro Perma Torque head gaskets, and ARP head bolts & their lube. Torqued them to 60lbs, and then 85 lbs.
I have a little cleanup to do on the block before I install the intake manifold.
So I'm still waiting on the Flowkooler water pump... I spoke to them for the 4th time on Friday, and they still can't give me an ETA on the casting they are waiting for. They did tell me that once it comes in they will be working on the orders with the longest lead times. That would be mine. Since the motor is not ready to run, I'm going to wait a little longer. As stated previously, I have a new V6 diesel standard water pump that I wanted to keep as a backup. These water pumps are getting more rare every year.
I did order my seats straight from Corbeau. Nothing special... standard Sport Seats in black vinyl. They also had a (1) month lead time. They have a classic look that fits the car's age, and styling. I had originally wanted a set from TMI, but they wanted almost $1400 for the pair, and I would have had to send them my back seats, and then wait for a quote, and then wait for the all of it to be made. It would have cost at least $2000, and many weeks of lead time. So I will purchase extra matching vinyl from Corbeau, and have my back seat covered locally. I will have about $1000 into them. I will mount them on standard G Body seat tracks.
The motor is starting to come together, but it is stressing me a bit... bolt lengths on the serpentine system, a broken starter bolt WAYYY down in the hole. I can't even blame the machine shop. It's not like I sent a starter bolt when I dropped off the block and said check the mounting holes. It's so far down. I didn't realize it until I tried to mount the starter. The first several threads are perfectly fine. Once I cleaned out the hole real good, and shined a light in the hole, I could see it. I'm going to try the copper tube and weld method, and see if I can get it out that way, before I do any drilling. One way or another, it's coming out!
ARP screw in studs & Comp Cams guide plates are installed.
The serpentine adapter plates ( 1992 Chevy Truck ) are back from the coating shop. I got a new Gates Idler Pulley, and Belt Tensioner. The exhaust manifolds are installed. New motor mounts are installed. I got a new dipstick tube from Inline Tube.
Oil filter adapter & A/C delete are painted and installed. I will have A/C, but this will get the motor running, cam broke in, and leak checked. Then I will worry about A/C.
Pulley removed for paint. This bolts in place of the A/C compressor.
I did order my seats straight from Corbeau. Nothing special... standard Sport Seats in black vinyl. They also had a (1) month lead time. They have a classic look that fits the car's age, and styling. I had originally wanted a set from TMI, but they wanted almost $1400 for the pair, and I would have had to send them my back seats, and then wait for a quote, and then wait for the all of it to be made. It would have cost at least $2000, and many weeks of lead time. So I will purchase extra matching vinyl from Corbeau, and have my back seat covered locally. I will have about $1000 into them. I will mount them on standard G Body seat tracks.
The motor is starting to come together, but it is stressing me a bit... bolt lengths on the serpentine system, a broken starter bolt WAYYY down in the hole. I can't even blame the machine shop. It's not like I sent a starter bolt when I dropped off the block and said check the mounting holes. It's so far down. I didn't realize it until I tried to mount the starter. The first several threads are perfectly fine. Once I cleaned out the hole real good, and shined a light in the hole, I could see it. I'm going to try the copper tube and weld method, and see if I can get it out that way, before I do any drilling. One way or another, it's coming out!
ARP screw in studs & Comp Cams guide plates are installed.
The serpentine adapter plates ( 1992 Chevy Truck ) are back from the coating shop. I got a new Gates Idler Pulley, and Belt Tensioner. The exhaust manifolds are installed. New motor mounts are installed. I got a new dipstick tube from Inline Tube.
Oil filter adapter & A/C delete are painted and installed. I will have A/C, but this will get the motor running, cam broke in, and leak checked. Then I will worry about A/C.
Pulley removed for paint. This bolts in place of the A/C compressor.
Thanks Jared, and Zach. I don't think I've ever had that many "likes" on a single post. Thanks to you all!
I'm staying positive about the bolt situation. It is my goal to get it out next weekend. Then I can concentrate on the pushrod geometry. I have a couple adjustable length checkers ( 8-9" ) & ( 9-10" ) from other builds. I'm thinking the pushrods I have will be close, but I won't be surprised if I need a different length. Once pushrod length is determined, I can mount the intake, and finish the assembly. I would really like to have the engine & transmission mated and installed into the rolling chassis by the end of the month.
I'm staying positive about the bolt situation. It is my goal to get it out next weekend. Then I can concentrate on the pushrod geometry. I have a couple adjustable length checkers ( 8-9" ) & ( 9-10" ) from other builds. I'm thinking the pushrods I have will be close, but I won't be surprised if I need a different length. Once pushrod length is determined, I can mount the intake, and finish the assembly. I would really like to have the engine & transmission mated and installed into the rolling chassis by the end of the month.
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