Finally!

[Andy]

Had a bit of a spending spree, which probably isn't a good thing, but what the heck...

Just bought one of these:


One of these:


and finally one of these:
http://www.sgs-engineering.com/media/catalog/product/e/s/es1500-closed.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">

[Cunning Plan]

Quoting: Andy

(Which may not be obvious as it is folded up, but is an engine stand)

Now that is great!

How much was it if you don't mind me asking?

[Roadkill]

That's the exact crane and load leveller I bought a few weeks back ...... Didn't need the stand but kinda wishing I had just got the set !

[Andy]

Yeah, I may have used the image for the 2 tonne crane when I actually only have the 1 tonne crane. Which is just typical as I now have to move a machine at work that is just over 1 1/2 tonnes

Anyway, SGS Engineering CP! Bloody good stuff too! Free next day delivery on orders over £50, the stand was £77 inc Vat, the crane I think was £110 + load leveller and Vat came to £155, but all seems to be good stuff.

Obviously not Uk made but all checked out by them and part assembled. By that I mean they've gone to the effort of putting the right bolts for the right bits, in the right holes. The crane took about 30mins to assemble with the hardest but getting all the washers on the bolts holding the castors on, which are about 50mm down the frame tube. Apart from that though, all seems solid enough.

Heavy though, 69kgs the crane came in at, the engine stand was 38kgs.

[Andy]

Now I'm on a computer I can put some links in for you...

http://www.sgs-engineering.com/garage-equipment/engine-stands/es2000-680kg-folding-engine-stand\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">SGS Engineering - 680kgs Engine Stand

http://www.sgs-engineering.com/garage-equipment/engine-cranes/ec1000-1-ton-folding-engine-crane\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">SGS Engineering - 1 Ton crane

http://www.sgs-engineering.com/garage-equipment/engine-cranes/sll680-load-leveller\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">SGS Engineering - 680kgs Load Leveller

Then I picked this up last night, it's a mini project for me. I've seen it run but I'm still going to give it an overhaul in terms of leak down test, make sure stuff it ok. Then tart it up and swap them over.

[Cunning Plan]

Quoting: Andy

Now I'm on a computer I can put some links in for you...

Thanks

Quoting: Andy

Then I picked this up last night,

What is that in the back of?

[Andy]

VW Caddy, 2005 gen on. Great for stuff like this, crap for carrying third gen bonnets.

[Andy]

So first project for this new engine... getting the thing out of the van! The guy who I bought it off of craned it in there, but took his plate off, so ended up making up my own plate from some stainless bars and half an exhaust clamp.


(yes, the rocker cover is on upside down...)

[Andy]

Engine Spec:
1971-1976 block 2 bolt main
Stock crank and pistons
Comp Cams Hydraulic 280 'Magnum' Cam
Matching Comp Cams valve springs
Standard 1.5 lift roller rockers
World Products Motown 220 cast iron heads threaded rocker studs
1.68 x 2.08 valves
Believed to be Malory HEI dizzy but not sure as yet
Holley Contender air gap intake

First port of call is a leak down test to see if there is any excessive cylinder pressure drop on any of them. I have seen this run, but it wasn't hooked up to water so no idea of the health of the head gasket or that either.

Treating it as a rebuild and an educational experiment with the hope of eventually slotting it in my car.

[Roadkill]

It'll be a good little project . . . You'll get more power but that thing will weigh more with those heads.

Malory dizzy's normally have a plate on them saying as much.  If there's nothing obviously denoting a brand there probably isn't a notable brand.

I had a cheapie dizzy in the 305 and it was the only part I re-used - ironically - in the 350 . . don't worry about that too much.

[Andy]

The weight thing I'm not too worries about. My current 305 is all iron too and the engine size difference I don't think will make a huge amount of difference. Ally heads would be lovely but for the time being these iron ones will do just fine.

Having now got it mounted on the engine stand, which takes it no sweat at all, I set about firstly rotating the rocker cover, but also giving both sides a going over. The oil looks good and there aren't any particles in it. The valve springs are doubled and it has some chunky looking pushrod guides. The roller rockers are Comp Cams steel 1.52 (not 1.5 as I thought) and all seem in good nick with no sign of any wear on the tips.

The M/T covers I think are going to go, not keen on the way they look and they don't fit the Moroso nitrile gasket either.

The heads could do with a rub down and a fresh coat of paint at some point in the future, but for now I'll wait until the weekend when I can get my hands on my friends leak down tester. If nothing bad comes back in this, I'll leave the heads on and assume the top end an rings are ok.

Then it'll be a case of drain oil, spin over and check the bottom end out.

Photos to come later...

[Roadkill]

Have you researched the Cam at all ?   Found out what it's good for ?

I'm no expert on Cams but that sounds very aggressive to me . . .

[Cunning Plan]

Quoting: Andy

getting the thing out of the van!

I would have been worried about lifting it from the top like that incase it weakened the threads or something, but I think that is me over-thinking it!  

What is it going in?

[Andy]

The cam is quite aggressive, but seen plenty of people get by using one in street cars. Recommends a higher stall convertor, so that will be on the list for future purchased!



Regards lifting via the manifold, no I wasn't keen either but everywhere on the net reckons it's perfectly fine on a SBC w/out trans. But now I have the thing mounted I will be looking at getting some studs for the heads so I can run chains off them in the future.

At the moment no where, but by spring time id like to look at putting it in my Camaro...

[Roadkill]

CP - picking a motor up from there is normal, unless you know that there's damaged threads it'll be fine . . . I put the LT1 and the T56 mated together in the Z28 and it worked a treat . . . I have a purpose made plate which cost about $35 - would HIGHLY recommend !

Andy - What gears are you running now - I'd guess 3.73's would be the minimum with that.

I'd also guess that a higher compression ratio and decent headers would be good ?

[Jamieg285]

Quoting: Andy

The cam is quite aggressive, but seen plenty of people get by using one in street cars. Recommends a higher stall convertor, so that will be on the list for future purchased!

Uh-oh, alarm bells are ringing.  

Don't think about installing this engine until you've got a converter to match.  I made this mistake many years ago, dropping a 305 with a hot cam in and trying to use the stock converter.  It will drive awful, hesitation on acceleration and bogging when cold.  

Also - read the blurb on JEGS for that cam:

Quoting: Jegs/Crane

Intended for performance oriented vehicles that will see little street use.
Stock components are generally incompatible. Changes are needed in rear end gear ratios, headers and the torque converter
The smaller your engine is, the more the Magnum Camshaft will affect your power accessories. (i.e. Power brakes)

I appreciate that you race the car quite regularly and the cam will be good for that, but you need to make sure it's all compatible before using it.


In my case, I pulled the cam and used the one I'd been running in my 400.  Thankfully it's been fine since then.

[Andy]

[Andy]

Quoting: Roadkill

Andy - What gears are you running now - I'd guess 3.73's would be the minimum with that.

At the moment 3.08 Open diff. I have an Auburn series 3 carrier sat on the shelf fitted with 3.42 gears, although it wouldn't take a lot to put some new gears on it in its current state, its more getting it fitted and set up that is a bit worrying. I might just flog that all if my end of year bonus is good enough and take my rear axle to Hauser and get him to put one of them fancy TruTrac units in.

I can afford to go up a few ratios if I still with this box, which I'm likely to do, until it goes bang. Having a the overdrive won't make it so much of a ball ache on the motorway.

Quoting: Jamieg285

Don't think about installing this engine until you've got a converter to match. I made this mistake many years ago, dropping a 305 with a hot cam in and trying to use the stock converter. It will drive awful, hesitation on acceleration and bogging when cold.

Completely agree, I have no plans of installing this until it is thoroughly checked over and until I can afford all the other parts to go along with it... Torque Convertor, rear end gears and setup. I have a set of Hedman Headers which follow the stock route and end up at where the cat bolts on, from memory I can't remember what bore they are, but I'm hoping they will be sufficient enough.

This very much is still a bench project for the Cammy with one day the plan of it being fitted. I'm learning all the time and it's currently something which is staving off boredom and educating me at the same time.

[Roadkill]

Also, get a mini-starter on there if you're running headers or the stock one will cook !

[Andy]

Already on the list.

I don't like the rocker covers and would really like some like yours, just need to check what style accessory drive I'm going for first though.

[Roadkill]

Quoting: Andy

would really like some like yours

I originally had "Canton" valve covers but they needed to be cut and shut to fit the alternator (that eventually moved).

The Canton ones were "supposed" to fit my set-up but didn't - so a bit $hit, really.

The ones on there now are "Spectre", IIRC . . . cheap compared to the Canton's but much, much better, IMO.

While I remember, here's what my lift plate picked up . . .

http://s30.photobucket.com/user/Roadkill-Auto/media/re-assb4005.jpg.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">

[Andy]

That's a T5 on there isn't it?

What have you had done to up rate that to take the extra power from the LT1?

[Roadkill]

It's an T56.  The T5's are utter $hite behind the Chevies.

I had a T5 behind the 305 and even the "basically stock" 305 chewed it up . . .

Joking aside, the T5's seem to survive fine behind the equivalent 5.0L Fords but not the Chevy.

The T56 is the one that came in the Firebird we scrapped so it should cope for a while.  i opened it up and everything looked O.K, it was a 30,000-something miler so I didn't worry too much.

The box has got some noise, but I need to do some light driving so I can hopefully form a pattern.

Visually the T5 and T56 are similar, the T56 is just a bit longer and slightly more stocky.

EDIT -

I had a T5 behind a 3.4L (4th Gen) Camaro and it worked great . . obviously the torque and power were lower in that, though.

[Andy]

Ahh, that makes more sense. I know the 3rd gens only came with the T5 behind the 305 and thought that might've been the original box you had in your Z28.

That Firebird must've been rare, can't think I've seen any LT1 manuals! Only seen a few LS1 manuals as it happens.

[Cunning Plan]

Quoting: Roadkill

While I remember, here's what my lift plate picked up . . .

Engine porn