Ok, I ran out of time to do an update last night, and it’s already getting late again tonight, but I’m gonna try and do another one here anyways.
This one is still pertaining to the engine, there’s a couple of additional little things I’ve done that I didn’t include in the last update.
First off, here’s a couple of additional pics when it was still on the stand, these ones show little more detail of the plug wire routing etc.
While the one valve cover had the PCV valve in it, I needed to come up with a breather for the other one as I didn’t plan on using any of the original stuff that was ducted into the air filter housing. I picked up a cheap chrome breather from the parts store and sandblasted the coating off it. A quick squirt with some more Corporate blue and a matching grommet, and it doesn’t look too out of place.
On the ignition side of things, the distributor was completely dismantled and rebuilt. The housing was bead blasted back to the original aluminum finish, and an adjustable spring and weight kit was installed. A new HEI module went in a new cap, along with a high output MSD coil. Black MSD 8.5” plug wires were chosen for the stealth look, I got the universal HEI “cut to fit” kit so I could route them how I felt looked the best. NGK “V” groove plugs were chosen and gapped to finish things off.
After refurbishing the original fan, it was bolted to the new clutch assembly. All brackets, pulleys, and other odds and ends also received the blast and paint treatment.
The original exhaust manifolds were retained, partly for the “stock” looking appearance, and partly because I hadn’t acquired a set of headers yet. I do now have a set of full length headers I got from the swap meet earlier this year, they’re on the list of things to get done before spring.
Here’s the last pic of the engine on the stand, now fully ready to be dropped in. Note the Quadrajet now installed, as well as the fuel line and manifolds.
With the new bullet fully assembled and ready to go, the tired old 305/200 combo was unceremoniously yanked out and dumped in the alley for disposal. Note the ugly leaking M/T valve covers, they were on the car when I bought it. Who would bother putting aftermarket valve covers on a wore out old 305???
😕
With the old engine and transmission removed, I needed to do some work to the engine bay in preparation for the new ones. After installing a new heater core, everything was thoroughly degreased and cleaned. Then the firewall, wheel wells, and rad support were prepped and masked off for a fresh coat of satin black.
Once these areas were sprayed and given time to dry, the entire front section of the frame was prepped and given a couple coats of satin black POR 15. I don’t have any pics of this stage, probably because as soon as it was done, I immediately dove into cleaning up the wiring. The ground wires were all cleaned and redone, and the existing looms were tidied up and streamlined as well.
At this point, the engine was finally ready to be dropped into place on new mounts. All the necessary connections were made, naturally with all new parts wherever possible. New heater and radiator hoses, belts, and the original 305 power steering pump was reinstalled with new hoses after a good cleaning.
As a final finishing project, I took the stock air filter housing, and gave it the blast and paint treatment. However not before a little customizing!
😉
I gutted the snorkel of its pin and damper so as not to restrict airflow (but kept the vacuum hose so it still looked functional), then drilled several holes hidden on the backside to help it breathe a bit more yet:
Topped it off with a new K&N filter...
...and here’s everything in its new home at last!
Note the reproduction “Keep your GM Vehicle All GM” and Harrison air conditioning decals for that “authentic” feel...
That’s all for now guys, thanks for following along.
Next time, fire-up and transmission details!
Till then...
D.
