What to do....what to do?

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kempkan

kempkan

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To make a long story short I had to pull my tranny yesterday because the converter bolts kept coming loose and egg shaped the flex plate. Decided to put new gaskets in the motor. Found out my 318 is 60 over rods are 10 under and mains are 30 under. Also found out what cam I have. It's a comp 20-246-4. The car is strip only with 302 heads untouched flat top pistons(can't see what brand) with 4 valve reliefs 904 with Hughes 27-30(3k stall) 4.56 with Hoosier 28x9-15 slicks edelrock performer intake and holley 750 vac secondaries. I eventually want to start a magnum build keep in mind. Do I do some upgrades now or not waste the money? Gasket match the heads and intake?maybe a xe274? Or a different cam? I have a set of heads off of a 360? Use them? I entered points and can't be down too long. The car was deadly before and made it down to the semis a few times the went red right on the dial. Best et of 13.89 at 96 mph. Any opinions out there?
 
if your plans are to build another engine, i would just reseal the 318 and put it back in. and finish the season. just find your convertor bolt problem. sounds like this isnt the first time they have came loose. check the threads real close to make sure there not stretched or just plain wore out. maybe have the pads replaced for 7/16 bolts and lock-tite them in. you may be able to save your flexplate that way. good luck in your points hunt.
 
Just talk'n performance, the stock 302 heads be gone for 360 heads. 302's are liked because of their close chamber design and help compression. Being's your 318 is .060 over, compression shouldn't be a concern. You need bigger ports and valves, and the 360 heads (especially 308's) will be a huge improvement, just so the valves and all are in great shape.
 
Do you use a torque wrench on the converter bolts or just by feel?
 
if you can get your torque wrench in there. we usually get them all started first and then reef on them. i have an offset 9/16 wrench that works well.
 
zijmer said:
if you can get your torque wrench in there. we usually get them all started first and then reef on them. i have an offset 9/16 wrench that works well.
Click to expand...


Yeah, it ain't easy.... :banghead:


But you have to torque them or risk them loosening up. If you put the torque converter bolt near the pass or driver's side, you can find a hole to use a torque wrench, and get two of them at a time before having to turn the crank again. You gotta make sure that the bolts are properly tightened. :violent1:


If you didn't need a torque spec., they wouldn't have wasted time to develop one. If you tap and die your threads and use a torque wrench, your parts go together more easily, and won't come loose when you torque them properly. #-o
 
Cross thread the bolts and run them in with an impact. Cause cross threaded is tighter than Locktite. lol
 
As for the bolts coming loose I've had the problem all year. A buddy was helping me put my converter in and he couldn't find the bolts for the converter then all of the sudden he said we were good and dumb me never double checked. We'll he but in regular bolts instead of the converter bolts(found them yesterday in my box). I had people waiting in the staging lanes with a wrench after every round to tighten them again and they never said they were wrong because the fact we can get under to see them.
 
Also finally made my decision. Went with a comp cams xe274. Comp double valve spring. Kept the flat top short block. Went with a .028 head gasket. Harland sharp 1.6 rockers. A set of ball/cup pushrods. Comp cams timing set. My buddy does heads for a living and talked me into 1.88/1.60 valves(over the stock 1.78/1.50) he's also cutting the spring seats for the double valve spring. Gasket matching the heads and porting them. He also made me order a plug indexing kit. He's doing all the work for nothing as long as I run his stickers on the car. He's also sponsored by a few people(comp and Harland sharp) so this is only costing me about a grand. He's dropping all his work and will have the motor ready by next Wednesday at the latest too. I also have his car to run this Saturday. I'm super pumped! Will keep everyone updated. May get an air gap while I'm at it too.
 
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