My 5.9 into '68 Dart swap

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Looks like it's coming along nicely. I'm looking into doing a similar build soon, just keeping my eyes open for the right donor.
 
Last weekend I got the crank in and bolts torqued to 85ftlbs. Got the new cam installed with lots of assembly lube, timing set on. Still need to buy or borrow a degree wheel so I can degree the cam.
Today I'm headed out to install the new moly rings on the pistons and hopefully install the pistons and rods, with new bearings of course.
Here's pics from last sunday, just threw the timing cover and water pump on for looks.

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So, had a fairly productive weekend. I managed to do the final clean up on the pistons and get the rings on, installed the bearings in the rods/caps, and got the pistons/rods installed.
Now time to start working on the heads.

Love how shiny and nice the cylinder walls look with a light coat of wd-40 on them.

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The UPS man cometh, and brings good tidings and great toys !

He showed up with my Edelbrock airgap manifold this morning.
Was shopping around online and seem everyone sells this for the same price of $348.70
But I found this one on ebay, brand new never mounted, $285 and $15 to ship it.
Pretty happy with that deal.

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I've done this swap in my Scamp and you'll love it. If you haven't gotten your motor mount yet save yourself the headache and get the Schumacher motor mounts $144 plus shipping part #A67LA a direct fit. Good luck with your build it's looking good!
 
Only got a little done last weekend. Was working on cleaning up some parts that I'm going to sell. Still need to come up with a little more cash for things like electric fuel pump, fuel lines, motor mounts, a little exhaust work that i'll have to do after dropping the engine in with the new Doug's D453 headers.
What I did accomplish was I made myself a degree wheel from a printout, glued to a piece of cardboard. Then took the dial indicator off an old cylinder taper gauge and figured out how to mount it so I could find TDC, and Degree my cam.
My replacement cam is just a stock 5.2 replacement. Intake centerline is suppose to be 110, and it came out to 108 after double and triple checking. So I think I'm ok there, its just a couple degrees advanced, which is fine because it will give me more bottom end power which is what I want.
Today I'll be pulling the timing gears back off so I can install the timing chain tensioner I just bought. There was too much slack in the timing chain for my taste, so I figured the tensioner was a good idea.

update: just got the tensioner on and the gears back in place. That tensioner is great, takes every bit of slop out of the chain. I'll probably throw the degree wheel back on it and check it again now that the chain is nice and tight.

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Mock those headers on your engine in the stand, sometimes long tubes hit the truck engine mounts....
 
Yes, headers will hit the rear truck mount. Ask me how I know...AFTER it was in the car...FUUU
Well I'm going to check it for sure, I mean I have to mock it up for pictures anyway.
Took the day off tomorrow so I can spend the day working on the engine. I want to get this thing back on the road.
 
Great post! I want to do something just like this for my 73 Dart Sport. Following your progress man, keep up the good work!
 
Yeah the headers definitely hit, the two I've done did. Grind em all the way off!
Good luck with the completion!
 
Well last weekend did accomplish as much as I wanted, but.
I re-checked the intake centerline on the cam now that I've installed the timing chain tensioner.
Specs say 110, and the reading I'm getting now is 109.5 so I'm happy.

Got the timing cover and dampener installed, then started cleaning up the heads.
Guides are nice and tight, started had lapping the valves, then decided to do some mild porting while I'm at it. Just trying to get rid of the rough spots, ridges and such.
Also got my new oil pan painted up all nice and pretty.

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So in the last week, I've finished up the porting work on 1 head, got it reassembled and painted.
Got the other head torn down, and working on cleaning, lapping valves, and mild porting. Also painted the block, and did a dry run test fit of my oil pan. Seems to fit pretty good, just need to pull it back off and put a little silicon in the corners and bolt it back on.

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Spent a bunch of time cleaning up my alt/ac mount. It was almost black with grease, but after parts washing solvent, carb cleaner, and finally Dawn dish washing liquid and a scotchbright I got it clean enough to paint.
Here's before, during, and after.

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My progress on porting the 2nd head kind of came to a halt a few days ago when my Dremel tool decided to burn up, or at least the part that makes it variable speed. Now it has two speeds, On and Off. Full speed it to fast for me, so I'll pick up a new one on the way to work today so I can finish that up.
 
What type/kind of porting are you doing?
Just some simple stuff, getting rid of rough spots and smoothing out some sharp angles. Both intake and exhaust had kind of a ridge around the bowls about 1/2" down from the valve seats, so took care of that, and narrowing down the guides a bit. Not opening up the bowls too much cause I just don't want to spend that much time on it. And there may be some enginequest heads in my future, maybe a year down the road when I have more to spend.
 
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