Hi from Aus! 1966 VC Valiant cruiser
Howdy guys
Here from Australia
This is my VC Valiant I've had for close to six months now.
These cars were released from the factory with a slant 6 and 273 v8
I've decided to remove the slant 6 and go the 318 route. I had a 318 and 904 trans sitting at my old mans house, so why not.
Shifted all the engine and trans to my house last week ready to strip it down and set myself a cleanish work area.
Got stuck into it, removed the stock intake manifold (fkn thing felt like it weighed almost as much as one of the heads !!) and it looked in reasonable nick to be honest. Motor was bought 3 years ago as a rebuilt motor. Had been sitting for 5 years previously.
Pulled the left side head off, everything looked in reasonable nick, found a heap of carbon on top of the pistons, bores looked ok, can still see some cross hatching.
Reading up on the casting numbers for this engine, it appears its from a 1977-1979 Chrysler.
Pulled #7 rod cap off and found some unusual discoloration on the bearing. Thoughts? Because the motor has been sitting in one position? Also noticed rod cap had been stamped with #7 on it, which would think it has been rebuilt at some point?
Removing the right head revealed a few more issues I'm hoping I can get away with a .030 rebore, if the block is within limits and hasn't had too much taken off previously (if any at all)
Complete short block is currently at away being inspected, measured etc. Awaiting an autopsy result.
Would like to stick with the factory 318 heads if I can. Thinking of retaining stock intake valve (1.78") and maybe upgrading the exhaust valves to 360ci size (1.5 vs 1.6"). I've read upsizing the intake valve can hurt port velocity and flow at low lift.
Don't really wanna go down the edelbrock aftermarket head route (at this stage $$$$$$)
My plan for it
- Bring the compression up. Ideally 9.5 or 10.1:1. Can buy Keith Black pistons. There are two variations, one set give a +5cc head volume increase
https://www.uempistons.com/index.php...roducts_id=521
or another set which are domed -6cc if I really wanna bump the compression up. All very dependent on how much is/can be milled from the heads to reduce the cc volume.
https://www.uempistons.com/index.php...oducts_id=3087
- Looking at a comp cam xe268, appear to be very popular with these motors. Is a hydraulic flat tappet. Not interested in a solid or hydraulic roller. Will need to determine pushrod length with the new cam to get the best rocker arm geometry. Will also be dialing in the cam.
http://www.compcams.com/Company/CC/c...?csid=627&sb=2
- Have an Edelbrock LD4B 4 barrel manifold here, should work fine.
- Maybe a street demon carb? 650cfm or thereabouts. Down the track go with FiTech injection.
- Something with the ignition system, MSD etc.
- Built 904 with a Transgo TF2 shift reprogramme kit, 22-2400rpm stall.
- Aiming for between 320-350hp.
- Extractors etc
- Something with the diff down the track. Currently 3.23.
Aiming to do 90% of the work myself. Been a long time since I've built a motor and trans, so will be taking it slowly, measure twice cut once as they say.
Should make for a nice cruiser when done
Any suggestions welcome
Cheers
Andrew
Howdy guys
Here from Australia
This is my VC Valiant I've had for close to six months now.
These cars were released from the factory with a slant 6 and 273 v8
I've decided to remove the slant 6 and go the 318 route. I had a 318 and 904 trans sitting at my old mans house, so why not.
Shifted all the engine and trans to my house last week ready to strip it down and set myself a cleanish work area.
Got stuck into it, removed the stock intake manifold (fkn thing felt like it weighed almost as much as one of the heads !!) and it looked in reasonable nick to be honest. Motor was bought 3 years ago as a rebuilt motor. Had been sitting for 5 years previously.
Pulled the left side head off, everything looked in reasonable nick, found a heap of carbon on top of the pistons, bores looked ok, can still see some cross hatching.
Reading up on the casting numbers for this engine, it appears its from a 1977-1979 Chrysler.
Pulled #7 rod cap off and found some unusual discoloration on the bearing. Thoughts? Because the motor has been sitting in one position? Also noticed rod cap had been stamped with #7 on it, which would think it has been rebuilt at some point?
Removing the right head revealed a few more issues I'm hoping I can get away with a .030 rebore, if the block is within limits and hasn't had too much taken off previously (if any at all)
Complete short block is currently at away being inspected, measured etc. Awaiting an autopsy result.
Would like to stick with the factory 318 heads if I can. Thinking of retaining stock intake valve (1.78") and maybe upgrading the exhaust valves to 360ci size (1.5 vs 1.6"). I've read upsizing the intake valve can hurt port velocity and flow at low lift.
Don't really wanna go down the edelbrock aftermarket head route (at this stage $$$$$$)
My plan for it
- Bring the compression up. Ideally 9.5 or 10.1:1. Can buy Keith Black pistons. There are two variations, one set give a +5cc head volume increase
https://www.uempistons.com/index.php...roducts_id=521
or another set which are domed -6cc if I really wanna bump the compression up. All very dependent on how much is/can be milled from the heads to reduce the cc volume.
https://www.uempistons.com/index.php...oducts_id=3087
- Looking at a comp cam xe268, appear to be very popular with these motors. Is a hydraulic flat tappet. Not interested in a solid or hydraulic roller. Will need to determine pushrod length with the new cam to get the best rocker arm geometry. Will also be dialing in the cam.
http://www.compcams.com/Company/CC/c...?csid=627&sb=2
- Have an Edelbrock LD4B 4 barrel manifold here, should work fine.
- Maybe a street demon carb? 650cfm or thereabouts. Down the track go with FiTech injection.
- Something with the ignition system, MSD etc.
- Built 904 with a Transgo TF2 shift reprogramme kit, 22-2400rpm stall.
- Aiming for between 320-350hp.
- Extractors etc
- Something with the diff down the track. Currently 3.23.
Aiming to do 90% of the work myself. Been a long time since I've built a motor and trans, so will be taking it slowly, measure twice cut once as they say.
Should make for a nice cruiser when done
Any suggestions welcome
Cheers
Andrew