Shark Racer

I've been kind of hinting at this for a little while now, but I've finally gotten enough "momentum" behind this project that I feel like it's worth posting.

Backstory
My 78 pace car originally lost the side of its engine block in the winter of 2000. I was cruising down the freeway, heard a loud ticking noise that I had attributed to a fence I was driving by. It went away after I passed the fence. Then maybe a quarter-mile passed and the noise came back, faster and louder and then BANG. #7 conn rod decided to find a new home.

So that was replaced with a GoodWrench 350. Which felt identical to the motor it replaced (surprise surprise, 462624 casting heads with a cam basically identical to the one in the 78 L-48).

Aug 2004 - I got my first (summer) job as a software engineer and used the earnings to cover AFR 195s (pre-eliminator) and a Crane H272. It made for a lot more top end power, but killed the low end torque L-48s were "known" for. I went with the large chamber AFRs as I planned on doing a 383 build with the GW block, which ended up getting delayed as I bought a C5 to use as a DD the following summer (once I'd started my career).

So, it's been nearly a decade since then. A few months ago, my wonderful wife said "I'm going on a 3-day trip with my quilt club, you should replace the engine in the 78 while I'm gone". I didn't bother explaining that the process of removing, cleaning the engine bay, setting the new engine up and putting it in would be really all that doable in 3 days... but I fired up the credit card and went for it.

I had some ideas in my head, but after having seen a lot of great advice on the board from one of our resident experts (63mako - thank you VERY much for your help!), I formulated the final plan for the engine build (see "New Drivetrain" section). I was originally going to do a ZZ4 block, but he convinced me, quite rightly, to go up to a Dart SHP as well as picked out the rotating assembly for me. He also taught me how to pick out a custom cam, and referred me to the builder. So, again, thank you very much!

Also, thanks to tsw71 for helping me get the old engine out and getting the new engine home. And of course, the trans. I'll have to bench press the new one in, but I think that's one of the areas you have to punch on your man card anyways.

(also, thanks to the wife for putting up with the money, time, garage... living room and office space )

Old Drivetrain
GW 350 - 4" bore, 3.48" stroke
8ish:1 compression
1 5/8" headers
AFR 195 (pre eliminators)
ZZ4 intake
17058228 QuadraJet
Crane Energizer H272 cam (216/216-110, .454/.454)
Aluminum bell
billet steel flywheel
OEM clutch
TKO600
3.70 rear gears

It was never engine dynoed, but I did throw it on a chassis dyno when I had the 700R4: 241rwhp, 280rwtq (through 700R4, before carb tuning)

New Drivetrain
Dart SHP 400 - 4.125" bore, 3.75" stroke
10.23:1 CR
1 5/8" headers
AFR 195 Eliminators, 75cc
ZZ4 intake
17058228 QJet
Custom grind Comp Cam (hydraulic roller)
QuickTime bellhousing
Billet Steel Flywheel
CF Dual Friction clutch
TKO 600, overhauled, polished, upgraded by Liberty's Gears
3.70 rear gears

I think my favorite part is that this thing makes more power and torque at 2700 RPM than either of the stock engines made in 1978. Oh, and it's making all this power through a POS QuadraJet...

Side projects that I've done

• Cleaned and painted the frame in the engine bay
• Replaced the fan cage with a C4 cage (tsw71 helped me create the spacer, and showed me some basic mill operation)
• Trimmed trans tunnel a bit in order to get some more clearance between shift tower and tunnel
• Realigned AC ducts
• Aligned clock arms (second and minute hand didn't quite line up at 12:00, d'oh!)
• Recoated headers with titanium ceramic coat

And here's the bad boy, I've got a bit of work to do, but I'm hoping to turn the key in < 2 weeks...





Today, tsw71 and I aligned the bellhousing, got it down to about 0.001 runout... should be OK.

More updates to come later. I'm beat!

63mako

Pretty sweet! Peak Torque in the L82 in 78 was 260 Ft Lbs. You average 460 for the dyno run There is more there in tuning. A/F is lean on right bank, AFR will pull more power @ 32-34 total timing. Timing curve might need to be adjusted to get all the bottom end it has.

427Hotrod

That's going to be fun!

What are the cam specs?

JIM

63mako

Tiny little smog cam.

gkull

Steve and Mako, Older single planes were notorious for leaning out the 1 and the 8 cylinder requiring staggered jetting. Not generally a problem with a dual plane to be that different from side to side. If those readings are correct I would tend to look for a possible vacuum leak on the right bank.

Steve, what did they do to improve the TKO? 370 gears will be kind of fun.

Shark Racer

I'm going to check w/ CNC to see if they actually ran two WBs. I think he would have kept tuning it if it was really running 14 AFRs WOT...

Carbon blocking rings, bronze shift fork pads, threaded front cap, top cover and main shift linkage upgrade. Shot peened synchronizer teeth, surface enhancement on hubs/sliders.

I was having trouble w/ mine shifting under heavy throttle, 2-3. So with the extra RPM the new setup gave me, I knew the problem would only be worse.

bluedawg

No cam specs?

Gordonm

Go with 1 3/4 headers. You have some cubic inches there and if you plan to get into the Rpms I think the 1 3/4 headers will do a better job. Nice build. Should put some power back into that C3.

gkull

That is why I ask if that 14 was really correct.

There is a reason why I could still read the white lettering on the face of my Sachs clutch plate after 3 years of road racing. I let off the gas/rpm match my up and down shifts

I've got some free time, do you have any up coming events. Intrepid Racing is only bringing 6 cars to the Monterey historics so I'm not going to be working so far this year. I need to cruise down and see your new digs

Shark Racer

220/226 - 113. .536 / .530 on my 1.5 roller rockers.

I'll see after the July 4th weekend how comfortable I feel w/ getting this thing over to the Historics for a day, other than that I don't have anything locked down. The car's a lot different than it was the last time you saw it... can't remember when that was now... maybe the historics 3-4 years ago?

bluedawg

Thanks for sharing.

63mako

If you happen to get a chance I would be interested in Cranking compression on a compression test. It would help me out to file away in the mental library.

Hpozzuoli

"Fired up the credit"....that made me laugh.

7t9l82

i lost it at "quilting" women have exciting hobbies.
nice buildup, enjoy it.

bluedawg

Quilting.. code for Big D1ck Bob? Or at least that's what my jealous mind tells me when my wife says to spend money and the disappears..Lol!

63mako

Hope you post back on driving impressions and smog results. Keeping my fingers crossed on that one. Might have to jet it down and bump timing back a little to pass. Try it as is first.

racervette69

You put more wear on a racing clutch loading, unload moving around in pits. Than during a race. I used to mic the three plates and discs to make the decision to pitch the clutch pack. You drive your car on the street, would think you would get much more wear in traffic.

Sharkracer, thanks for sharing your info. Worth your effect for sure! Cool build!

Shark Racer

Dropped the engine in today with a lot of help from tjZ06.

Installed the Flywheel, bellhousing, clutch kit, fuel pump and shimmed the HRB up to match the the new clutch kit and bell.

We made a solid effort to get the trans installed, but unfortunately, we made the mistake of trying to get it in with the HRB outside of the bellhousing. We'll try again tomorrow with the HRB inside the bellhousing and guide it on to the trans... *sigh*

Thanks to TJ for all the help today... not far from first fire.

Now to go clean up the parts bin explosion in the garage... not to mention tool mayhem.

gkull

sounds like a real mechanic day

tjZ06

Good times, wrenching on a 'vette with a good buddy is always a good day. I know we both really wanted to see that trans installed and get the first fire in the car, but it's not too far off.

-TJ