1969 Daily Driver
It has been a few months since there has been an engine update. The reason is because since these engines are almost indestructible getting usable cores has been quite a challenge. To date it has taken 4 complete engine to get a good block, heads, crank that will work with my torque converter, and 6 usable rods. Engine number one I got in trade for some crap laying around from LA area. That engine was on a test stand and it started and ran great. I pulled it apart and the only thing usable was three rods. The block had two sleeves in it, one bent rod, two spun rod bearings on different rods then the bent one, and a pretty nice sized crack in the combustion chamber more than likely from when rod kissed the head at some point. Should have known better looking back now because it had a high volume oil pump on it and light would slightly flicker at idle when I got it hot on the test stand. I just thought it was a clogged pick up screen.......yep that was not it. Engine number two was a basket case was a free bee and only good on that was the head. Complete destruction on the lower end, I could tell because there was a window on the block to look in and see the parts and pieces. This engine also started and ran, not very good but ran. Engine number three was in my 1967 dart that is the donor car for this project, the white car in some of the past pics. I did not want to use anything from this engine for two reasons 1. The AC in this car is still full, works great and is going to be the working unit for this project and its a pain the *** getting the engine out without breaking any of the seals. 2. Its a 1967 so the crank is different from a 1969 converter. I could always use the converter from the 1967 but then from there on out I am stuck with it and I have future plans that do involve a 1967 only crank flange. That being said and that I already knew it had a rod knock when I bought it the only thing I could use of of this engine is the block. I had the head checked and it was extra warped, almost a joke how bad it was 0.250" block would fit under it when laying on the bench. Also the engine had already been bored 0.030" over now they will clean up at 0.060". So update that gives me 3 rods, head and a block. Engine number four was in a pick your part sitting on the ground about to go into the metal crusher, I stopped them pulled pan, off with the head, and the servery says..............spun bearings on main and but got five rods out of it. Out of these rods only four were usable but that makes seven rods "One spare" so now everything is at the machine shop. Here are some pics.
It has been a few months since there has been an engine update. The reason is because since these engines are almost indestructible getting usable cores has been quite a challenge. To date it has taken 4 complete engine to get a good block, heads, crank that will work with my torque converter, and 6 usable rods. Engine number one I got in trade for some crap laying around from LA area. That engine was on a test stand and it started and ran great. I pulled it apart and the only thing usable was three rods. The block had two sleeves in it, one bent rod, two spun rod bearings on different rods then the bent one, and a pretty nice sized crack in the combustion chamber more than likely from when rod kissed the head at some point. Should have known better looking back now because it had a high volume oil pump on it and light would slightly flicker at idle when I got it hot on the test stand. I just thought it was a clogged pick up screen.......yep that was not it. Engine number two was a basket case was a free bee and only good on that was the head. Complete destruction on the lower end, I could tell because there was a window on the block to look in and see the parts and pieces. This engine also started and ran, not very good but ran. Engine number three was in my 1967 dart that is the donor car for this project, the white car in some of the past pics. I did not want to use anything from this engine for two reasons 1. The AC in this car is still full, works great and is going to be the working unit for this project and its a pain the *** getting the engine out without breaking any of the seals. 2. Its a 1967 so the crank is different from a 1969 converter. I could always use the converter from the 1967 but then from there on out I am stuck with it and I have future plans that do involve a 1967 only crank flange. That being said and that I already knew it had a rod knock when I bought it the only thing I could use of of this engine is the block. I had the head checked and it was extra warped, almost a joke how bad it was 0.250" block would fit under it when laying on the bench. Also the engine had already been bored 0.030" over now they will clean up at 0.060". So update that gives me 3 rods, head and a block. Engine number four was in a pick your part sitting on the ground about to go into the metal crusher, I stopped them pulled pan, off with the head, and the servery says..............spun bearings on main and but got five rods out of it. Out of these rods only four were usable but that makes seven rods "One spare" so now everything is at the machine shop. Here are some pics.