1970 s2 0453R Reassembly

[dakazman]

Thanks BDA, 
  It more of a diner toast with family.
Dakazman

[dakazman]

 Busy weekend here , first lawn maintenance and tree trimming before hurricane season. Yes am late.
Yes it’s 99 degrees and 74% humidity.🥵
Corvette engine out ready for tare down and delivery to a new machinist. So after that time to get some stainless cooling tubes in along with the brake cable and whatever else goes in the tunnel.
Dakazman

[dakazman]

 Took the day off, way to hot. Bonus day babysitting both granddaughters😀
Dakazman

[dakazman]

Got them in , the coolant lines were fun.
Dakazman

[dakazman]

  Delivered my Chevy block to the machinist for a sleeve needed in another cylinder , 7, caused by the oil scraper lower ring wedged under the piston. The last machinist clearly is as in a rush.

 On the wedge engine, Fitted the crankshaft with the main bearings. The plastigage read .038mm.
I’ll take that information back to the machine shop to see what he thinks. I also reinstalled all the old valves, after cutting the seats and lapping the valves. If the engine shop gives me a thumbs up on the crank dimensions I’ll be installing the seal and gaskets on the rear main. I noticed hylomar has two types , an af , advanced formula, or a blue formula. Any advice?

Dakazman

[BDA]

I used to use the blue on my Hewland end cover. It doesn't harden and seemed to work pretty well but that's a part you take off a lot. Michel at Alpine America got me on "Right Stuff" which is really good for permanent joints. Of course, everyone has their own favorites.

[jbcollier]

 0.038 is 1.5 thou in old money.  Just within specs on the tight side.  Pressurize the oil system before the first start.  Break it in carefully!

I always fit new exhuast valves.  I have seen too many exhaust valve heads hammered through pistons.  It's cheap insurance.

[dakazman]

Thanks BDA and JB,
 —-Happy dance—-

  I still need to get the Thrust bearings shim dimensions, finally open he set of gaskets from Steve V.
The manual has me installing the doors ear seals and cam next and I think I passed up the oil pump section. It should go faster now that I’ve disassembled the vette motor and have it’s internals all over my garages rapidly depleting storage spots.  The El Camino is loaded with doors , engine cover and the rear bolt. I’ve been jockeying cars around so much my wife is saying it’s time to sell them. I just say correct starting with her van she can’t seem to part with. Lol. I just say I need another garage.

Dave

[dakazman]

JB , it seems a shame to discard practically new valves. This is the second set I have cleaned up but if you really think I should replace them I will.
 The second item is your thoughts on balancing the pistons,  rods , and rings since it is not a chemise kit but an piston from another engine going in different liners. That’s were I’m headed. I read there’s matched sets and that’s what I perceive they mean?
Dakazman

Ps that’s the bad piston ring from the vette that caused the gouging in the liner.

[jbcollier]

If the exhaust valves are literally "practically new" then you can reuse them.  Say, 20K miles or less and they have a good margin left after grinding their faces.  If they just look "practically new" or, you don't know their history, replace the exhaust valves.

Liners and pistons are matched sets, not by weight, by diameter.  The clearances are in the manual.  Use extra long feeler gauges to check the clearance between the liner and piston skirt 90° from the piston pin axis. Check them all and match the tightest bores with the "smallest" pistons and so on to maintain the correct clearance.

Balancing is always a good idea.  Research on how to do it correctly.  Rods are balanced by total weight and the weights of the respective big and little ends.  Don't just grind/cut anywhere to remove weight.

After you have equalized all your components weights, then bring them, and the crankshaft, front pulley (if there is one), flywheel and clutch to a machine shop for dynamic balancing.

[dakazman]

Thanks again JB.
 The installed set will come out. I cannot vouch for there mileage.
The set I have in the rack were in the donor engine I bought from Tom in LA. The engine was overhauled but it broke Two pistons. That is the engine I’m putting together on recommendation from the engine shop. Upon assembly prep I found the reason for its demise. The head bolt holes were not cleaned out , so proper torque was not applied to the head, Holding the liners.

  I had a conversation with the machinist about the balancing however he cautioned me about the removal of a he wrist pins and bowing the pistons. He will not remove them by will balance them when I get them out. They need to come out to balance so I read the manual and practiced on the two blown pistons. They came out perfectly and didn’t bow or mushroom.
I have 5 good pistons, 4 liners, 8 rods and pins.  6 pistons still on the rods. That’s were i’am at.

I’m glad I’m going through this process. It’s a first, that’s why I’m doing baby steps.
Dakazman

[dakazman]

Stifling Hot all week. My seat tracks came back from getting powder coated. I hope they can take the moisture better than paint.

[BDA]

Paint? I thought they were raw steel when they were installed the first time!

[Certified Lotus]

Dave, love the work your doing on your car but any part that has metal to metal contact should be electroplated, not painted. Just sayin.....

Then again, it’s your car and you should just party on 

[dakazman]

I agree with you Glen, electroplating is better. This and the rim was a FREEBIE 😀. I did replace some digitizers in their IPhones in return. Too bad my friend doesn’t have a larger over. Lol.

I test out some dry slide and grease and check the wear.

Dave