Author Topic: Repower project DONE!! (Read 12428 times)

CruzinHigh · « **on:** November 02, 2008, 05:13:20 pm »

I figured I'd start a thread to show what I am up to with the repower project I've been working on.

The motor that was in my truck when I bought it nearly 10 years ago has amazingly held up, but it has always leaked oil like a sieve and had no guts at all. The previous owner had transplanted a boneyard 305 in place of the factory 6 cylinder that was in there.

So now I have pulled the entire driveline out because it is covered in filth and muck, and to install new seals in the tranny and t-case. I will be rebuilding nearly everything under the truck now too. The transmission is a 4 speed manual (LOVE that thing!) and the transfer case is..

I will have to get the #'s off that thing for some help in I.D. it. [EDIT-- Found that it's an NP208 mated to a Muncie SM465] I'd like to upgrade it to the heavy-duty one I've seen you guys discuss, but mine is in great shape and appears to have been rebuilt. So for now I'll just clean it up and reseal and put it back in.

The motor going in is a motor I had built for my drag car I got rid of, an Iroc-Z. It is a 350, bored .30 over. Factory roller motor, roller rockers, 4-bolt mains, steel crank, h-beam rods, ARP fasteners.. etc.. etc... I hardly used it, matter of fact there's only like 3k on it.

Right now the new motor is at my friend's speed shop and we're fixing some things that needed attention. Even though it only had about 3000 miles on it from when I had it built, it had wiped out the thrust bearing... $:-\$ Oh well, at least I can fix the oil leak now that was coming from the rear main that the moron who built it before didn't address!

Almost ready to come out....

Coming out!

Here's some funny pics to see what a total piece of crap this motor was...

The front and rear main seals were sooo wiped out... To make matters worse, the bellhousing was missing the lower flywheel guard, so it had been accumulating mud from those adventures off roading, and oil mixed with it to make a nice "cake" behind the flywheel -

Here's the result of the front seal leaking so much. The balancer had separated from itself!!! I drove it with it loose for about 1000 miles even!!

(Makes for a hilarious "run on" sound after you shut the motor off)

Here I am, hard at work!

It was fun tearing the motor down with a impact gun and beating it apart with a hammer and crowbar! LOL... I doubt I will get $10 for scrap when I take it over in the trunk of my little beater car!

I knew that I'd warped my crossmember, high siding the truck once upon a time out on one of those 4x4 adventures, but didn't know it was THIS bad! I am going to fabricate a new one out of square stock. This ain't gonna happen again! (If anybody has made one themselves, please chime in!)

I've also pulled all the steering gear and bought replacements - steering box, pump and new lines. Got the drag links too, but stopped there for now as to not un-link the front two wheels.

More to come...

CruzinHigh · « **Reply #1 on:** November 09, 2008, 10:21:28 am »

More progress yesterday. I pulled the front bodywork apart, the inner fenders are rotted and now is as good a time as any to replace, while I prep the engine bay to get some black paint. Removed most of what I can easily from the firewall to enable me to paint it. This is just to get the paint to match since I never did match under the hood after my color change paint

VileZambonie · « **Reply #2 on:** November 09, 2008, 10:24:37 am »

That ought to wake that truck up! Great progress keep us updated!

78 Chevyrado · « **Reply #3 on:** November 09, 2008, 01:17:31 pm »

Looks like you've tore into it pretty good! Great progress

dunedigger · « **Reply #4 on:** November 09, 2008, 03:01:18 pm »

Nice project

CruzinHigh · « **Reply #5 on:** December 21, 2008, 11:59:54 am »

It's been a while since I posted, so here's the latest -

I finished cleaning the engine bay and repainted it too.

The motor is all apart and I took care of refinishing a few of the valves that needed attention and my bearings and rings are on order. I hope to have the motor on the dyno by the end of January.

taking the heads apart

regrinding a valve here

before -

after -

69byrd · « **Reply #6 on:** December 21, 2008, 12:31:07 pm »

Looks like you are making some good progress, that motor should wake your truck up. Keep up the good work and keep us posted.

CruzinHigh · « **Reply #7 on:** March 21, 2009, 09:55:49 am »

The motor is finally done, we ran a bit behind being busy with the ice drags this winter and the motor just now got on the dyno last weekend.

We didn't get any numbers yet, just ran it to heat cycle first. I hope to get about 350hp and close to same torque.

Might have some dyno numbers and pics / video of the dyno pulls in the next few weeks.

This is it finished -

350cid bored .30 over
AFR 190 heads, 58cc chambers
4 bolt mains, steel crank, h-beam rods, forged pistons
Roller cam & rockers

hotrod24 · « **Reply #8 on:** March 21, 2009, 12:20:05 pm »

very nice man

80stepsideguy · « **Reply #9 on:** March 23, 2009, 10:41:27 am »

Keep up the good work man, are those heads factory or aftermarkets? Im sure your anxious to get that motor back in that engine compartment and fired up.\

thanks
pat

78 Chevyrado · « **Reply #10 on:** March 24, 2009, 07:25:32 pm »

Nothing like a newly painted engine! Looks great man!

CruzinHigh · « **Reply #11 on:** March 25, 2009, 09:41:44 pm »

Quote from: 80stepsideguy on March 23, 2009, 10:41:27 am

..., are those heads factory or aftermarkets?
thanks
pat

The heads are Airflow Research 190's. Not exactly the biggest and baddest..

We ordered the last of the parts today needed to tune the carb, should have some dyno numbers by next week.

CruzinHigh · « **Reply #12 on:** April 24, 2009, 11:31:06 pm »

Ok, been slack on the posts but the project is done, dyno tuned, installed and all. I wanted to link dyno pull movies, but they are on Perry's camera and I've yet to get them from him.

This post also begins with a big THANK YOU to Perry Redecker of RPM performance in Wausau WI. He's the reason I could build this motor and tune it, without his help and expertise this project wouldn't have been possible in this capacity.

The final numbers came out pretty good, I made about 365 HP and 380 ft lb torque. It doesn't really make much good power until you lay into it over 2800 RPM, but has a nice smooth 3000 RPM range from there where it is just increasing torque and HP steadily. The cam is pretty mild so that was to be expected I guess. It is very well mannered at idle and starts well etc.

Ok.. On to the pics..

INSTALLING ON THE DYNO ---

READY TO PULL! ----

Tune those secondaries!! We went up almost 12 points from the stock jetting of the 600 cfm carb (which is normally not tunable without adding a plate on the model I had). Talk about a learning curve, it was amazing to see how many HP you make by just jetting correctly and dialing in the timing. For my motor, every 1 degree of timing off wrong will result in about a 5 HP loss minimum.

Took the motor home and ready to go in the truck.

I fabricated a transmission / transfer case installation adapter for my jack. It worked great - no way I could have done this by myself without this little gem.

I decided to mock everything up first and align the new Centerforce clutch.

Here's the steering rebuild done. New coupler hardware, steering box, pump, hoses and drag links. Pulled the steering shaft and greased the internals and repainted everything etc.. etc..

GOING IN!

Putting the new fenderwells in

And the finished result. I need some more pics, these are pretty close up and can't see very well and I've replaced some hoses and a few other details too but that's about it.

In the end, I'd say one thing I've realized just how much our heavy trucks with huge tires take BIG horsepower to pull. Even with those HP numbers it still isn't like a rocket. Granted gearing and everything else has huge effects but I guess you just have to have realistic expectations, and dyno tuning really helps with that too. Side note - long tube headers with flowmaster 40's in dual are LOUD!! Whew, does this thing make noise when I rev it. I am worried the cops are going to be watching me now too. $:-\$ I never thought I'd come to a day where I'd admit my hot rod is too loud! Well, of course that is for daily use but what they hey.. Regardless, its a blast and pulls great now.

I will post the dyno pulls when I get the vids from Perry.

Here's one with it just idling on the dyno. (5 MB vid)

http://s4.photobucket.com/albums/y135/Highpsi/?action=view&current=DynoMovie.flv

More vids to come!!

VileZambonie · « **Reply #13 on:** April 26, 2009, 03:01:48 pm »

Cool! You should paint your radiator.

GoatBeard · « **Reply #14 on:** April 27, 2009, 06:57:19 am »

Yeah, tell him that AFTER he gets it in!

Hey man, it looks great! You have been at this for a loooong time 'cause I saw your first postings seems like forever ago. Congrats! BTW, it'll be worth changing your gearing around if you want it to feel like it's a little hotter. That makes a HUGE difference. Great job!

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