My 1964 Impala Restoration - Page 6

January 13th 2011 - The rams horns exhaust manifolds still have a bump inside that restricts the outer cylinders a bit. So I tried my hand at grinding them out with my Dremel and a tungsten carbide grinding tip.

The lump:

First cut:

Ground down most of the way.

January 15th 2011 - I pulled the old engine out yesterday. Today I cleaned and painted some parts that I could not get to earlier because the engine was in the way.

After painting the cross member and motor mount area.

The old starter was degreased and painted.

January 18th 2011 - The engine is now on the "front burner" at Orange Engine.

Freeze plugs, cam bearings and main bearings are getting worked on.

Crankshaft is back from West Coast Balance Shop. The forged crank only needed some metal removed to get things balanced for the 383. Going with the forged crank almost paid for itself over the cast crank, which would have needed heavy (and expensive) Mallory metal installed in the counterweights. While not really needed, the stronger forged crank is a plus.

Box-o-parts. Connecting rods, Double Roller Chain and timing gears, Machined Chrome Moly Valve Locks, Stainless Steel valves and an original harmonic balancer that I painted up to match the block.

Speed Pro pistons. Dished enough to keep compression in line for pump gas.

Pistons getting installed.

New cam with cast distributer gear.

Mild cam specs. There is enough duration to get some extra power, but still keep a civilized idle.

Pistons and cam installed, and timing cover buttoned up.

January 24th 2011 - Roller lifters installed.

The heads are finally getting some attention. The valve guides getting replaced and the valve seats are going to be opened up to 2.02 intake and 1.60 exhaust.

January 26th 2011 - Getting down to the wire, with dyno test day scheduled for tommorow. The heads are coming together, but Jim saw a couple minor cracks in the heads and decided to pin them rather than take a chance that the crack may grow.

Pretty stainless steel valves installed Intake 2.02, exhaust 1.60. No room for anything bigger.

January 26th 2011 - Final assembly goes quick.

Roller tiped rockers in the stamped steel format, so they will fit under the rather tight space the stock valve covers afford.

Double checking the dip stick. Setting the full mark to be 1/8" below the windage tray in the pan. I had to cut down a "stock" reproduction dip stick tube to get the correct length. I think I need to research the dip stick tube some more, as it looks like a shorter stright tube is what is needed, not the longer curved tube sold. At least I can be confident on the oil level now.

Just about done.

All ready to go the the dyno at BEP in Anaheim, except we are still lacking the distributer. Ignition Engeneeringis rebuilding and re-curving the original distributer, but he has been sick this week with that nasty flu that has been going around.

John at Ignition Engeneering did a great job on the distributer.

Getting mounted up on the dyno at BEP.

February 3rd 2011 - The engine is now home in the garage. Unfortunately I have to leave it be and shift gears to stripping out the interior. My date at the body shop is this Monday (Feb 7th). Originally I had hoped to have the engine installed before sending the car to the body shop. But time ran out and I must spend the weekend on the removing the interior. On the plus side, I will have plenty of time to do the detailing on the engine and I talked with Richard at All Quality Restoration, and it looks like it could install the engine while it is at the shop at some opportune time when the fenders are off and they are not actively working on it.