Hot-Rod Newport Progress!

[mckitterick]

Here's how I spent my summer vacation... er, the weekend after finals: building a big-block Mopar engine! Getting closer to hooking up fuel and spark and seeing if it runs. Check it out:


Here's how she looks right now. Almost time to bolt up the water pump and intake!



Here's me grinding the camshaft bolts for the 383. Every part so far has needed to be customized in this build. EVERY part. Yes, EVEN THE BOLTS. They were rubbing against the front timing cover, along with the cam button (which I also had to chop and grind down). When I get some time, I'm going to write up a fully illustrated build for this engine so others can save mountains of time and heartache when duplicating it.

I want to get back out in the garage, but this afternoon is for grading finals... well, for a while more, maybe.... This morning was mowing, chopping branches, chopping intruding fence-vines and vines creeping up trees, and so forth before today's storms begin. I think all the rain has something to do with the explosion of green growth lately.

Maybe just a few more papers, then ENGINE BUILDING HOORAY!

Chris

Comments

[tully01.livejournal.com]

OMG shiny! I wants one!

I can't afford one, mind you, but I wants one.

[mckitterick.livejournal.com]

One of my goals all along has been to build a custom hot rod on the cheap. I started with a car that's not greatly valued (4-doors aren't "cool," same for full-size cars), and that saved mucho bucks. Then I slowly gathered parts on major sale or via eBay deals. Finally, I'm doing all the work myself.

I expect my total investment, car and all parts, will end up being less than a rusty '60s muscle car shell all by itself! So it you're patient and have a spot in the garage, it's totally do-able for not a lot of bucks.

[carmy-w.livejournal.com]

And you end up with a great "sleeper" that will beat the stuffing out of all those cool cars in the 1/4 mile, as well!
(assuming you take it to the drags, that is....)

[mckitterick.livejournal.com]

Exactly! That'll be half the fun. Of course, to get it to properly hook, I'll need to work on the suspension, too. Later.

[carmy-w.livejournal.com]

I gather they were just a bit too long? Or are you grinding down the heads? Of course, if you're having to grind down the cam button as well, the bolts aren't much trouble.
I may have to show my husband this-he'd be very interested. He's quite the gearhead himself; we have what looks like a very expensive boat, which we bought for a song because everyone thought the motor was blown-turned out to be cracks in the water jackets was 90% of the problem. He tore it down to the short block and rebuilt it in about a week.

[mckitterick.livejournal.com]

Right, the bolt heads were too tall, so I had to grind them to about half their height (above the washer).

Congrats on the great boat deal!

[sf-reader.livejournal.com]

WHat are you driving to ConQuesT?

[mckitterick.livejournal.com]

I doubt this will be done (finals grading...), so probably just the Saab convertible.