68 Newport project

[WissaMan]

heh don't be sorry -- I'm very thankful you pointed that out to me before I tried to put the engine in the car!

I actually just talked on the phone to the owner of the local performance shop Andy Jensen's Engine Technologies. High performance engine builder in Pennsylvania. and he said if I bring him the crank he can do it for me.

Welp I guess I've got some (more) work to do...sigh.

 

[WissaMan]

I had the crank machined and the bushing inserted by the machine shop and got it back last week. The weather was finally mild enough around here to get the crank back in the engine today.

I know it doesn't look like much to guys that are used to building engines, but it's a big deal for me to see it back in there as I've never gone this far into an engine before!

 

[gyknot]

The first one is always the hardest. Keep on going and you'll be driving in no time.

 

[rags]

please feel free to chime in!

frost plugs. and clean the muck out bottom of the water jacket. cool project.

 

[WissaMan]

frost plugs. and clean the muck out bottom of the water jacket. cool project.

Noooo, not more to do to this engine! I just wanted to drop it in...I may as well have rebuilt it!
I'm kidding of course! Actually, I think I will take your advice as the time to do it is now, not once it's in the car!

Didn't do too much today as it was rainy and chilly, but did get the timing chain set on. According to my memory (from 30 yrs ago) I seem to recall that this engine didn't really start making torque until about 3000 RPM and hit its peak around 4000-4500 (according to my butt dyno). So from my reading and research I felt that advancing the cam a few degrees would make it more drivable. So I set it to the +6 keyway and I'm pretty sure I got it all lined up correctly, but as always, feel free to double check my work. I did make sure the #1 cylinder was at TDC

 

[CBODY67]

What cam needs that much additional advance? Usually +4 is what most do, as I recall, or -4 to bleed off a bit of low end torque for quicker traction attainment and a bit stronger top-end power. Might also need to get out the clay and check the piston/valve clearance, for good measure, but if they are still stock 8.2cr pistons, probably no problem (as they are about .125" in the hole at TDC).

Just some thoughts,
CBODY67

 

[WissaMan]

Since the adjustment is on the crankshaft, each degree of adjustment = 1/2 degree at the cam, so in the +6 slot I should be at 3 degrees cam advance, yes? That's the way I understand it but I could be wrong...

 

[WissaMan]

Yay! Finally got the engine back together to the point it was at before I had to remove the crankshaft

Also mounted the radiator...

 

[WissaMan]

Got the new flywheel and Centerforce clutch installed yesterday. There's just one or two minor things left to do in the engine bay before the engine goes back in. Hopefully next weekend!

 

[Ghostultramarine]

How did this turn out?

 

[WissaMan]

I decided to replace the brake lines and master cylinder before putting the engine back in. I'm about 1/2 way done with that project.

In the meantime, I've taken on a few other projects. For one, just bought a 4 post lift that I have to put together