My first rebuild
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 1,650
Likes: 2
From: Tulsa Oklahoma
Glad you guys were having fun while I was away!
Ok, here is a picture of cyl 1 bottom comp ring. It measured .17 gap.
Do I need to measure deeper in the cyl or shallower? I have a paper from an old chiltons that say they should be .10 -.21 what say you? Give me some feedback on this. Do I measure upper, lower and oil rings or just the comp rings?
BTW I finally got my own (was using a friends) copy of Vizards book today.
Ok, here is a picture of cyl 1 bottom comp ring. It measured .17 gap.
Do I need to measure deeper in the cyl or shallower? I have a paper from an old chiltons that say they should be .10 -.21 what say you? Give me some feedback on this. Do I measure upper, lower and oil rings or just the comp rings?
BTW I finally got my own (was using a friends) copy of Vizards book today.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 2,548
Likes: 379
From: Woodinville WA
measure the ring at the top, especially on a worn motor since it's the tightest place
measure the 1st and 2nd rings, check (visually) the oil ring, but honestly, even if they butted against each other, it wouldn't cause any problem - they'd just ride one over the other..... with the 1st and 2nd, the ring would break if it were too tight.
dunno, what does you ring manufacturer say for gap? it's different depending on the material and the manufacturer but .17 would be plenty. Hastings says between .14 and .26 (optimal would be between the two at .20). That said, if you're going to put NOx on it or turbo charge it, you'd open up the gap, and for hp, the tightest you can run would be perfect (less blow by)...... still, .17 is a good number...
measure the 1st and 2nd rings, check (visually) the oil ring, but honestly, even if they butted against each other, it wouldn't cause any problem - they'd just ride one over the other..... with the 1st and 2nd, the ring would break if it were too tight.
dunno, what does you ring manufacturer say for gap? it's different depending on the material and the manufacturer but .17 would be plenty. Hastings says between .14 and .26 (optimal would be between the two at .20). That said, if you're going to put NOx on it or turbo charge it, you'd open up the gap, and for hp, the tightest you can run would be perfect (less blow by)...... still, .17 is a good number...
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 2,548
Likes: 379
From: Woodinville WA
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 1,650
Likes: 2
From: Tulsa Oklahoma
measure the ring at the top, especially on a worn motor since it's the tightest place
measure the 1st and 2nd rings, check (visually) the oil ring, but honestly, even if they butted against each other, it wouldn't cause any problem - they'd just ride one over the other..... with the 1st and 2nd, the ring would break if it were too tight.
dunno, what does you ring manufacturer say for gap? it's different depending on the material and the manufacturer but .17 would be plenty. Hastings says between .14 and .26 (optimal would be between the two at .20). That said, if you're going to put NOx on it or turbo charge it, you'd open up the gap, and for hp, the tightest you can run would be perfect (less blow by)...... still, .17 is a good number...
measure the 1st and 2nd rings, check (visually) the oil ring, but honestly, even if they butted against each other, it wouldn't cause any problem - they'd just ride one over the other..... with the 1st and 2nd, the ring would break if it were too tight.
dunno, what does you ring manufacturer say for gap? it's different depending on the material and the manufacturer but .17 would be plenty. Hastings says between .14 and .26 (optimal would be between the two at .20). That said, if you're going to put NOx on it or turbo charge it, you'd open up the gap, and for hp, the tightest you can run would be perfect (less blow by)...... still, .17 is a good number...
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 3,652
Likes: 49
From: Bridgewater nj
Looks good. Be careful and pay attention to the ring orientation on the piston. The directions will tell you to look for dots or ring shape to install in the right order. Watch a YouTube video for tips and what not to do 
Leave the cam shaft for now and start on the crank install. Cam shaft goes in last with the timing chain. You don't want the assembly lube catching any dirt on the cam while you're installing everything else
Leave the cam shaft for now and start on the crank install. Cam shaft goes in last with the timing chain. You don't want the assembly lube catching any dirt on the cam while you're installing everything else
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 2,548
Likes: 379
From: Woodinville WA
Looks good. Be careful and pay attention to the ring orientation on the piston. The directions will tell you to look for dots or ring shape to install in the right order. Watch a YouTube video for tips and what not to do
Leave the cam shaft for now and start on the crank install. Cam shaft goes in last with the timing chain. You don't want the assembly lube catching any dirt on the cam while you're installing everything else
Leave the cam shaft for now and start on the crank install. Cam shaft goes in last with the timing chain. You don't want the assembly lube catching any dirt on the cam while you're installing everything else
again, it's just a preference....
and while you are excited - the very first car motor I built was a Vega (I'm pretty special, eh?
) and I put it together right, but presumed (this is hindsight, I had no idea) that the head was right and bolted it on. My car was 250 miles away, so I took the newly assembled motor to the car, installed it.... and it banged - sounded just like a rod knock, but it wasn't - talk about disappointed.... so be careful, you hear?
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 1,650
Likes: 2
From: Tulsa Oklahoma
Stuck!I cannot get the cam in the engine. I was having trouble and realized the #1 bearing had mushroomed when I put it in. Long story short, I went and got another set of bearings and replaced. This time no mushroom but the cam will still not go in. I took one of the extra bearings and tested it to see if it would go on the cam out of the block.
Anyone got a thought on this?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 2,548
Likes: 379
From: Woodinville WA
Stuck!I cannot get the cam in the engine. I was having trouble and realized the #1 bearing had mushroomed when I put it in. Long story short, I went and got another set of bearings and replaced. This time no mushroom but the cam will still not go in. I took one of the extra bearings and tested it to see if it would go on the cam out of the block.
Anyone got a thought on this?
somehow hone them?
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Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 1,650
Likes: 2
From: Tulsa Oklahoma
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,428
Likes: 5
From: Japan
Looks good....before you button it up completely you might want to find TDC on #1, slip the balancer onto the crank hub and make sure it lines up with the mark on your timing tab...if not put a paint mark on that thing so you can see EXACTLY where it is.
I also have muy bueno method of installing oil pan gasquettes when you get to that part too...nice work so far broddah!!
I also have muy bueno method of installing oil pan gasquettes when you get to that part too...nice work so far broddah!!
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 3,652
Likes: 49
From: Bridgewater nj
Lookin very nice!!! How does it spin? You should have a nice even drag all the way around. I would say it should take about 30lbs of torque to spin the crank and pistons in the short block. Make sure you keep a coating of oil on the cylinder walls. You don't want any rust forming
That blue almost looks like the Oldsmobile 455 blue. It will look awesome with a nice set of aluminum heads
That blue almost looks like the Oldsmobile 455 blue. It will look awesome with a nice set of aluminum heads
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 1,650
Likes: 2
From: Tulsa Oklahoma
Lookin very nice!!! How does it spin? You should have a nice even drag all the way around. I would say it should take about 30lbs of torque to spin the crank and pistons in the short block. Make sure you keep a coating of oil on the cylinder walls. You don't want any rust forming
That blue almost looks like the Oldsmobile 455 blue. It will look awesome with a nice set of aluminum heads
That blue almost looks like the Oldsmobile 455 blue. It will look awesome with a nice set of aluminum heads
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 1,650
Likes: 2
From: Tulsa Oklahoma
Looks good....before you button it up completely you might want to find TDC on #1, slip the balancer onto the crank hub and make sure it lines up with the mark on your timing tab...if not put a paint mark on that thing so you can see EXACTLY where it is.
I also have muy bueno method of installing oil pan gasquettes when you get to that part too...nice work so far broddah!!
I also have muy bueno method of installing oil pan gasquettes when you get to that part too...nice work so far broddah!!
I did set the pan up there and the gasket really doesn't seem right the way it fits...I read in Vizard's book there are actually two types of pans, one early modle and one older. Do they use different gaskets?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 2,111
Likes: 32
From: Damascus MD
Oil Pan Gasket
I know you can't see it in this photo but it is setting at TDC. I am glad you brought up the balancer, mine seemed to have slipped so I need a new one and will have to go pick one up at Oreilly's unless you guys state otherwise on what I should get.
I did set the pan up there and the gasket really doesn't seem right the way it fits...I read in Vizard's book there are actually two types of pans, one early modle and one older. Do they use different gaskets?
I did set the pan up there and the gasket really doesn't seem right the way it fits...I read in Vizard's book there are actually two types of pans, one early modle and one older. Do they use different gaskets?
Go with a one piece gasket. You will need longer oil pan bolts and then torque to spec.
Bill
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 1,650
Likes: 2
From: Tulsa Oklahoma