cruiser
Well-Known Member
Hello MoBros and MoSis':
Here's the latest with the Dart motor rebuild. Remember to check out chapter one if you need to get up to speed on this project. The block came back from the machine shop a week ago, as did the head. The head was completely rebuilt with new valves, springs, retainers, etc. - the full Monty. There was a lot of slop in the rocker shaft, but new bushings made it factory tight. This head, as you recall, is the factory original head that came with the block from the original December of 1973 build. Both the block and head passed their magnaflux checks with flying colors. This is always a concern with a full teardown of a core that you have little history on. In any case, all went well and both components were flawless aside from the usual wear of about 95K miles. I really like the block - high nickel content with additional side ribbing and well seasoned with a lot of heat/cold cycles - perfect for Dusty. The machine shop cleaned up the cylinders and didn't need to deck it. After its came back, both components went through two washings after being baked. I chased all screw holes, then prepped it for painting. (Note: Tim, the engine shop owner, allowed me to perform some of the unskilled labor items such as thread chasing and taping. Saved a lot of dough doing this stuff myself). We decided to go with Bill Hirsch engine paint which I've use before with excellent results. Very durable stuff, although they've stopped selling it in spray cans, so we had to have a quart of it put into cans at the local NAPA. Couldn't use a HVLP sprayer for several reasons which I won't go into. In any case, it came out great and we'll be powder coating the oil pan and valve cover (instead of painting them) for that additional durability. This brand of engine paint requires a two week cure time before you can put heat to it, but can be handled within two days to allow assembly of the motor. I've attached several photos of the painting progress.
So that's all for now. Chapter three will cover reassembly and dressing the motor, and break-in and driving impressions. Stay tuned!
Here's the latest with the Dart motor rebuild. Remember to check out chapter one if you need to get up to speed on this project. The block came back from the machine shop a week ago, as did the head. The head was completely rebuilt with new valves, springs, retainers, etc. - the full Monty. There was a lot of slop in the rocker shaft, but new bushings made it factory tight. This head, as you recall, is the factory original head that came with the block from the original December of 1973 build. Both the block and head passed their magnaflux checks with flying colors. This is always a concern with a full teardown of a core that you have little history on. In any case, all went well and both components were flawless aside from the usual wear of about 95K miles. I really like the block - high nickel content with additional side ribbing and well seasoned with a lot of heat/cold cycles - perfect for Dusty. The machine shop cleaned up the cylinders and didn't need to deck it. After its came back, both components went through two washings after being baked. I chased all screw holes, then prepped it for painting. (Note: Tim, the engine shop owner, allowed me to perform some of the unskilled labor items such as thread chasing and taping. Saved a lot of dough doing this stuff myself). We decided to go with Bill Hirsch engine paint which I've use before with excellent results. Very durable stuff, although they've stopped selling it in spray cans, so we had to have a quart of it put into cans at the local NAPA. Couldn't use a HVLP sprayer for several reasons which I won't go into. In any case, it came out great and we'll be powder coating the oil pan and valve cover (instead of painting them) for that additional durability. This brand of engine paint requires a two week cure time before you can put heat to it, but can be handled within two days to allow assembly of the motor. I've attached several photos of the painting progress.
So that's all for now. Chapter three will cover reassembly and dressing the motor, and break-in and driving impressions. Stay tuned!
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