Need help--AR Racing engine problem
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 184
Likes: 0
Need help--AR Racing engine problem
A few months ago I ordered a 400 CI crate engine from AR Racing.
So the engine builder finally got around to putting it in. Just awhile ago I talked to him and he said that on the side of the block where bosses are they are not tapped and drilled for a clutch linkage. He said this is wierd as they should come from the factory drilled as such.
He sent me some pictures, but I don't even know what I'm looking at. Can I email them to anybody tonight that can post them for me?
I called AR Racing, but no answer, so I'll try back. They KNEW that I was going with a stick-shift because I got a part number from them for the flywheel they balanced against. It was crystal clear.
What should I tell them when I call them? The engine builder said he didn't even know if a local machinist would do the job because of liability concerns (drilling into the water passages and ruining the engine). AR Racing should pay for it to be shipped to them so they can fix the problem, right?
THanks for any help/suggestions.
So the engine builder finally got around to putting it in. Just awhile ago I talked to him and he said that on the side of the block where bosses are they are not tapped and drilled for a clutch linkage. He said this is wierd as they should come from the factory drilled as such.
He sent me some pictures, but I don't even know what I'm looking at. Can I email them to anybody tonight that can post them for me?
I called AR Racing, but no answer, so I'll try back. They KNEW that I was going with a stick-shift because I got a part number from them for the flywheel they balanced against. It was crystal clear.
What should I tell them when I call them? The engine builder said he didn't even know if a local machinist would do the job because of liability concerns (drilling into the water passages and ruining the engine). AR Racing should pay for it to be shipped to them so they can fix the problem, right?
THanks for any help/suggestions.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 182,997
Likes: 88
From: Lakeland, FL
Cruise-In IV-V-VI-VII-VIII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '03, '06, '17
Just try calling them at different times of the day.. You'll get somebody on the phone for sure.. I've been on the phone many times with them and most of the time I was able to get somebody on the phone... They are a small business and they are somebody busy or at their other shop...
I'm sure Mark will be able to clear up things with you...
I've never even heared about blocks that aren't drilled for manual transmission
The only hole that you need is where the Z-bar attaches.. I have a 400 small block from them and the hole is there...
Never heared about different blocks for MT or AT cars
I'm sure Mark will be able to clear up things with you...
I've never even heared about blocks that aren't drilled for manual transmission
The only hole that you need is where the Z-bar attaches.. I have a 400 small block from them and the hole is there...
Never heared about different blocks for MT or AT cars
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 182,997
Likes: 88
From: Lakeland, FL
Cruise-In IV-V-VI-VII-VIII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '03, '06, '17
Originally Posted by Homie
GrandSport---can I send you the pictures and you take a look and tell me what you think (and maybe post them if you can)? I have no idea what I am looking at.
I'm at work and can't post pictures from work. You could e-mail me the pictures to my home e-mail address and I could host them and post them when I get home..
grandsportc3@tampabay.rr.com
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 17,649
Likes: 189
From: Who says "Nothing is impossible" ? I've been doing nothing for years.
They have 2 bosses, one near the oil filter and one further towards the center of the block you want this one not the one near the oil filter, any machinist can drill and tap this easily 
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 182,997
Likes: 88
From: Lakeland, FL
Cruise-In IV-V-VI-VII-VIII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '03, '06, '17
I'll check them out when I'l get back home at about 5 PM... I can also host and post them for you.
I agree with the response that if the hole isn't there, a machine shop should easily be able to drill and tap that hole... Shouldn't be more than $20 - $50...
I agree with the response that if the hole isn't there, a machine shop should easily be able to drill and tap that hole... Shouldn't be more than $20 - $50...
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 7,456
Likes: 2
From: Coming home from Luckenbach Texas
Call some local machine shops yourself to see if they could do the job (if you don't want to do it yourself).
Don't count on what your engine builder says -- you know the old saying, "Trust, but verify."
Don't count on what your engine builder says -- you know the old saying, "Trust, but verify."
Last edited by page62; Feb 14, 2005 at 01:45 PM.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 14,356
Likes: 6,328
From: At my Bar drinking and wrenching in Lafayette Colorado
We drilled and tapped our own clutch linkage ball hole on the 406 AR we received. 400 blocks from auto trans vehicles don't have the hole drilled or tapped - this is normal. Just drill and tap it yourself - no big deal.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 184
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They sell only on Ebay as far as I know.
Go to ebay, then find your way to the complete engines section. Click on some chevy engines and you will find them quick. They seem to sell more 383 strokers than anything.
to the top for grand helping me out tonight.
Go to ebay, then find your way to the complete engines section. Click on some chevy engines and you will find them quick. They seem to sell more 383 strokers than anything.
to the top for grand helping me out tonight.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 7,423
Likes: 1,458
From: Little Rock AR
Not all blocks have all the bosses drilled and tapped for clutch linkage. Different chassis require different clutch linkage locations. Some vehicles use a boss on the bellhousing so the block would not even need to be tapped at all. You gotta know all the intimate details and very few people have all the info. 
This isn't much help I know.
-Mark.
This isn't much help I know.
-Mark.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 182,997
Likes: 88
From: Lakeland, FL
Cruise-In IV-V-VI-VII-VIII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '03, '06, '17
Originally Posted by Homie
bump for GS to post the pics!
Could you re-send??
grandsportc3@tampabay.rr.com
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 182,997
Likes: 88
From: Lakeland, FL
Cruise-In IV-V-VI-VII-VIII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '03, '06, '17
Originally Posted by DropTopBigBlock
AR Racing have a website? I did an MSN search and couldn't find anything.
Their website hasn't been updated in ages.. Still got the old e-mail on there...
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 2,010
Likes: 3
From: Moon Twp. PA USA
Check the size that is drilled and tapped on the boss. I made sure that I was sent a block with the proper 'Z' bar location tapped. It was, but, it was tapped for 7/16" not the 1/2" NC 13 that was on my original block. Quick fix with the proper size drill and tap took care of it. BTW, the rear hole (bellhousing) was tapped for the 1/2" NC 13.
Last edited by glen242; Feb 15, 2005 at 01:48 AM.