3.3.2002 Installing the engine
Engine ready to go in. This is so exciting.
Almost ready to fire up!
It's alive!
2.4.2002
The time to install the engine finally came. Boy, was that an exciting day. I was so nervous...
Engine fired after we helped the fuel pump with electrical one. Of course something was forgotten...the intake manifold was filled with paper towels!, so for a while we got some burned paper from exhaust pipes.
After breaking in the cam, we noticed that engine wasn't running smoothly. After one night of wondering and tuning, we opened the timing chain cover and discovered that timing was not right. I have no idea why it wasn't right...I thought I did put it exactly in place. Well, we timed the cam again, this time with proper tools. We set the cam centerline to 112 degrees instead of factory 110. This way we hoped to gain some additional power to lower rpms.
After setting the cam timing, engine was running more smoothly, but the idle was poor, and ignition timing was traveling a lot. I was getting a bit tired of tuning, so I ordered the brand new electronic ignition conversion set from Mopar performance, and replaced the distributor drive shaft bushing. I didn't replace the bushing when I was building the engine because it seemed OK to me. At that point it never crossed my mind that its not the internal diameter of bushing that matters, it is the upper sleeve.
With the new ignition, everything seemed a bit better. Engine started well, and performed OK on high RPM, but idle quality was still poor. But everything was good enough to drive the car. I have 150 miles from rebuild place to my home, and though that would be good break-in distance.
Trip back home started well, we traveled 100 miles, and stopped for gas and coffee. When we were ready to continue, I started the engine, and...no oil pressure! I checked the connections to sender unit, they were ok, I checked if oil pressure gauge was ok, it was. No option but towel the car to nearest repair shop. And there it still is... I'll update this page when I know what is wrong.
10.4.2002
Oil pressure is back...I'm a shamed to say what was the problem. Paper towels, paper towels...ok, you got the picture.
After installing the new carburetor, I hoped to fix the idling problem, but no. Power is still poor at idle, it actually can't move from stall, unless I put 2500 revs into it. And in idle engine sounds like a VW bug.
29.4.2002
ROOAAAAAAARRRRRRR. 700 miles behind. After some tune up engine runs well and has lot's of power and torque. Idle is what it is, and nobody seems to know what's wrong with it. I decided not to worry about it. Now its time to enjoy the results.
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3.3.2002 Installing the engine |
Engine ready to go in. This is so exciting.
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Almost ready to fire up!
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It's alive!
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3.3.2002 Installing the engine |
 I finally got the tachometer / clock combination. Best of all, it works!
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I installed the brand new Carter 625cfm carburetor. Also note the new ignition control box from Mopar performance.
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