Old Grey, The Racecar

[DreamChaser7]

Thanks Marty

 

[1990TSIAWDTALON]

Well my son helped me out today and welded up a really nice turbo oil pan that had obviously sat in mud. It had 3 pinholes in it after a wire wheel cleaning (and glad I did to notice them). I didn't get a picture, but will.
I DID get pictures of the crank after he held it up and I polished it. I was going to mike it tonight, but I'm not gonna get to that, as it's late. I did a mockup with one rod that had a used, but good looking, bearing in it and got .002". We'll see how all the journals come out with the micrometer.
I need to finish prepping the piston/rod assemblies.
Pictures,
Pops

 

[1990TSIAWDTALON]

I got the crank miked, the results are amazing to me. I checked all the journals twice to be sure. Zeroed the mikes, both times.
Here are the numbers -
Pops

 

[1990TSIAWDTALON]

My main and rod bearings came in today. I also got a box of "Good Used" goodies from Performance Partout that I needed. It is all here when the block gets done.
How many of you all roll your eyes at stuff like the first picture??? That's how the rod bearings came in just a minute ago.....different vendor.
Pops

 

[1990TSIAWDTALON]

The budget build continues as I found a new MLS HG, ARP Head Studs and a new water pump. I need main studs and the Kiggly girdle and I can assemble the short block, as soon as the block gets finished. The machinist found someone had used SAE bolts for the transmission mounting holes so I asked if he could Heli-coil it for 10x1.25, as I only have 10x1.5 stuff here.
Anyway, progress!
Working on the oldest sons '86 5 speed Z28 also. Hoping for first start "soon". Its an old school 11:1 SBC LT1/Tremek TKO600RR combo.
Pops

 

[1990TSIAWDTALON]

After being at the machine shop a couple months, I now have the block back. Punched to 85.5, transmission bolt holes fixed (they were wrecked) and 1 half shaft broken bolt removed. I asked if he could deck it for me and he said "Why, its good. I checked it" so I will also check it. It got a "Plateau" hone so I'll see how I like it too. Cost - $220. Not bad at all.
Pops

 

[1990TSIAWDTALON]

Block punched to 85.5 and the poor crank that's just been hanging around on the garage floor finally found its home. Its just a mock up. Red rag for bearings but I have them. I have to clean it all first.
Progress. Slow, but, another 4g63 going together.

 

[pieceofcloth]

The Lego master

 

[1990TSIAWDTALON]

Now how did you know???
I have 2 MineCraft Lego kits for the oldest grandson, a Millennium Falcon and a Lego Orchid for my daughter-in-law.
Good stuff.
I also got the FIRST SPIN of the 6 bolt crank in the block and it feels real smooth! It was just a test spin. I need to clean the crank SUPER GOOD and I usually take a fresh block to the car wash for a good preassembly bath and then WD-40 it to keep it from flash rusting. Then I'll clean the bores until they are meticulously clean with ATF.

 

[1990TSIAWDTALON]

Alright, so the football game I was watching was a "wash", so I took time to START cleaning my crank. Now, granted this hadn't even seen a carwashing, let alone me cleaning on it, but it looked pretty good.
WELL....IDT this was "pretty good", so neither should anyone else. This is only the first round of cleaning with a .22 cal rifle brush and BPC followed by compressed air. I reoiled it and blew that all out so I could sit it back down in the block. It will get 2 more cleanings, for sure. I need to get some more white rags and BPC. I used 3 cans. Can't be clean enough though.
Good old soap and water won't hurt it as long as I dry it and relube it immediately.
Just imagine all of that crap going thru a nice new set of bearings?

 

[1cleangsx]

Crazy how much crud gets in those oil passages

 

[1990TSIAWDTALON]

It sure is Jeremy. I only post up those pictures so that others don't forget how important it is.
Cleanliness next to Motor Godliness!
It had/has grit and some little silver specs on the rags so far. It feels good in the block so I need to clean the "suit case" handles and some stock bolts to see what all the bottom end is like then get busy on not just doing mockup.

 

[1cleangsx]

what exactly are your plans for “Old Grey” Marty? If you don’t mind me asking.

 

[1990TSIAWDTALON]

Well I got the block back from my "new" machinist and got a very nice hone. Its called a "plateau" hone. .004" PTW but I forgot to have him deck the block. Since its a part time thing for him, currently, I took the block to a different shop I've used many times when I was still working, as I went by the shop twice a day.
When I put my flat edge on the deck and put it right over a headbolt hole, my straghtedge would "rock" so I loaded it back into the Toyota Wagon and dropped it off. This shop said a week to a week and a half is all I will be waiting on. Then comes recleaning it all and I can start assembly of the short block. After that, I'll be buying head parts for a long block for the Old Grey Racecar (or any other car needing it)!
Thanks for following along!
Pops

 

[1990TSIAWDTALON]

I Cleaned My Balls and They Leak
(I thought that was better than "My balls are leaking")
Yeah that's what I said. While I was cleaning the 6 bolt crank oil passages (it took 7 flushes to come out clean), I noticed when I applied air pressure and blocked one of the rod and main holes, I could see "bubbles" around the press fit "balls" in our cranks. It was pretty obvious that it had been this way, as crud was kinda forming around them. I am NOT worried and I bet all of my other stock cranks leaked a little too. Anyway, just something I noticed while cleaning today.
My picture shows the 1st - 4th flush results. The last 2 were just making sure I felt like it was clean.
Just reporting in on progress. My block should be back next week, I assume.
Clean your dead end crank throws!
Pops

 

[1990TSIAWDTALON]

I got my block back from having it surfaced. I always get a good job from this man, D&L Automotive in Caney KS. He had to take .005" off. I intend to mark it somewhere.
More cleaning to do and then I can start assembly.
"Stay Tuned"
Pops

 

[1990TSIAWDTALON]

She's in the "clean" room now. I waited for my son to help me tote it into the laundry room.
All of my 4g motors get decked and heads surfaced, no exceptions.
Now I need to order some parts and clean it all up, in prep. Studs and a Girdle soon.
Pops

 

[1990TSIAWDTALON]

I have never seen a "plateau" honed cylinder before but it just didn't have the 30-45* crosshatch that I ALWAYS put in my motors so I went back thru these with my 320 grit Flex Hone. I am happy now. You can compare the 1st picture to the 2nd and see (and feel) the difference. My main studs came in and my girdle should be here next week. All of my 6 bolts get a girdle, again, no exceptions. I am going to reclean the bores and give the block a carwash bath (as soon as they open up, its been below 32* here for over a week). Once its been washed good and all machine surfaces lubed to keep them from flash rusting, assembly will begin. I still have ALL of the top end parts to buy for the head, so it will be a little while. I have to save up my SSA money
Stay Tuned!
Pops

 

[DreamChaser7]

Gonna paint the block Marty?
I still don’t understand how I’m supposed to tape off the machined areas for paint AND lube them up so they don’t flash rust. Tape and paint fast after cleaning then oil her down?

 

[1990TSIAWDTALON]

She's painted
I coat all of my machined surfaces with a coat of ATF before I paint then have a general rag with a bit of BPC on it. I wipe the machine surfaces back down, removing any overspray (and ATF), and then recoat them with a dab of ATF on a rag. I found it to be easiest that way to keep the rust away. Same on the cylinder walls, oil pan surface, rear and front seal/pump areas. It wipes off super easy when its that time.

 

[miliman13]

Very nice honing, I always thought that was a machine shop only operation, nice to see it being applied at home - Inspiring.

 

[92AWDHX40]

I've seen jaffromobile use the atf on his videos really thorough.

 

[1990TSIAWDTALON]

I was taught it that way in 1980 or 81 by a real old mechanic, but a dam good one. I feel blessed by that tankaerest old guy. RIP

 

[1990TSIAWDTALON]

Well the carwashes were open today, what a surprise, since it is only 35* out. I had my son help me load the block into the truck and I dashed down to the carwash and gave the block its final bath. She's clean of any machining grit or particles now. I wiped all the surfaces with ATF after blowing the block dry with compressed air and shot WD40 into all bolt holes to keep rust out of the threads. Man my hands nearly froze doing that on a day like today, but it is only going to get worse, so today was THE DAY!
A big thanks to my son for the help getting it in and back out and into the "clean room"!
Pictures for all to see.
Pops

 

[92AWDHX40]

Looks amazing y friend.