Winter 2001-2002

Winter in Finland is only suitable for engine building! Well, other people might think otherwise.

I'm not building the engine to be completely original, but I'll try to keep changes to minimum. Everything should be easily changed to exactly original.

Yep, it is a complete overhaul. The block was bored to .030" oversize and fitted with Keith Black KB162 aluminum pistons. Those pistons are much lighter than original. The crankshaft main journals and connecting rod journals were machined for .010" undersize bearings.

The cylinder heads required lot of work. Four exhaust valves were burn and all exhaust valve guides were worn beyond limits. The head caskets were leaking from three different positions. No wonder it smelled bad! I replaced all exhaust valves, and machine shop replaced the guides. Heads were also checked for straightness.

The camshaft needed also to be replaced. I chose Mopar performance '2993', which is a mild performance cam. According to Mopar performance catalog, it should run fine with original valve springs...we'll see.

While I was at it, I replaced the old 38amp charging system with newer 78amp system. That required new wire routings to alternator, but it was an easy modification.

I decided to paint the engine with original color. Some might think that hemi orange looks better on big block, but I think turquoise looks great!

In addition I made a lot of other things, like installed the carburetor rebuild kit for 750 Holley. I also replaced the cross-joints on drive shaft, and machine shop balanced it. The TF727 transmission is also checked, and to my harm I found that it is from -71 year car, correct type although. That's it about the 'numbers match'... 

 

Click images for larger image

20.12 - 31.12.2001 Engine rebuild

My 'right hand' Ari is helping me with the engine as he has been helping me all along. Here Ari is cleaning the cylinder bores. The whole block is in bare metal, and will be as clean as it gets.

 

 

The set of new pistons are in. The Keith Black pistons have provisions for valves. Compression ratio with '906' heads will be around 9.5:1

 

 

Another head in place. I painted some parts before, when I had some spare time.

 

 

Engine just got a new paint. The original Mopar performance turquoise. Here is a tip for Mopar big block builders: no big blocks (except hemi) were painted red or orange -68, all were turquoise, including 440 high performance engines.

 

 

Exhaust manifolds are bead blasted and got a 'just cast' coating.

 

 

It is easy to run all wirings now when engine is still on stand. I also installed new alternator and aligned the drive belts.

 

 

For looks, I installed the carburetor and air filter.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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