406 update
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 12,517
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406 update
Well, things are rolling along. After the earlier misfortunes, things are looking up. Trans is getting freshened over the next few days. New torque converter is scheduled to arrive on Monday(tomorrow). Block is remachined and spitshined. Crank has been repaired, reground, shotpeened and magnafluxed. Only $125 spent on the crank 
. The cam is scheduled to arrive on Monday or tuesday at the latest. Comp Cams ground up the new one for me in record time. Pistons should have arrived last week. Hopefully in the next few days they too, will arrive. I spent saturday doing all the grunt work. Gasket scraping, scotchbriteing (if this is even a word) and spraybombing the small pieces. Hopefully it will fall together in the next week or 2. Gonna dyno it with a carb to work out all the gremlins. I have the drag racing itch real bad this summer. I can't wait to button everything up. Thanks for listening!
. The cam is scheduled to arrive on Monday or tuesday at the latest. Comp Cams ground up the new one for me in record time. Pistons should have arrived last week. Hopefully in the next few days they too, will arrive. I spent saturday doing all the grunt work. Gasket scraping, scotchbriteing (if this is even a word) and spraybombing the small pieces. Hopefully it will fall together in the next week or 2. Gonna dyno it with a carb to work out all the gremlins. I have the drag racing itch real bad this summer. I can't wait to button everything up. Thanks for listening!
Former Vendor
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 7,204
Likes: 6
From: St Marys PA
Pete...
Good luck this time around.
Little bit of advice...keep scotchbrite pads away from motors! The tiny debris that comes off those things are like grains of sand!
Even at work, since we supply GM with many different components, we recieved a memo stating that we were NOT to use scotchbrite pads nearor on ANY of their product.
It was a very technical report, and listed all the debris content left even AFTER parts cleaning etc. The main point is the "debris" that comes off them is perfectly small enough to go through the oil pickup and though most oil filters.
Just a word of advice. If the motor is properly hot tanked, it should be clean enough. For the gaskets, just use scrapers and brakecleaner on a shop rag.
Good luck this time around.
Little bit of advice...keep scotchbrite pads away from motors! The tiny debris that comes off those things are like grains of sand!
Even at work, since we supply GM with many different components, we recieved a memo stating that we were NOT to use scotchbrite pads nearor on ANY of their product.
It was a very technical report, and listed all the debris content left even AFTER parts cleaning etc. The main point is the "debris" that comes off them is perfectly small enough to go through the oil pickup and though most oil filters.
Just a word of advice. If the motor is properly hot tanked, it should be clean enough. For the gaskets, just use scrapers and brakecleaner on a shop rag.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 12,517
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Originally Posted by ski_dwn_it
Pete...
Good luck this time around.
Little bit of advice...keep scotchbrite pads away from motors! The tiny debris that comes off those things are like grains of sand!
Even at work, since we supply GM with many different components, we recieved a memo stating that we were NOT to use scotchbrite pads nearor on ANY of their product.
It was a very technical report, and listed all the debris content left even AFTER parts cleaning etc. The main point is the "debris" that comes off them is perfectly small enough to go through the oil pickup and though most oil filters.
Just a word of advice. If the motor is properly hot tanked, it should be clean enough. For the gaskets, just use scrapers and brakecleaner on a shop rag.
Good luck this time around.
Little bit of advice...keep scotchbrite pads away from motors! The tiny debris that comes off those things are like grains of sand!
Even at work, since we supply GM with many different components, we recieved a memo stating that we were NOT to use scotchbrite pads nearor on ANY of their product.
It was a very technical report, and listed all the debris content left even AFTER parts cleaning etc. The main point is the "debris" that comes off them is perfectly small enough to go through the oil pickup and though most oil filters.
Just a word of advice. If the motor is properly hot tanked, it should be clean enough. For the gaskets, just use scrapers and brakecleaner on a shop rag.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2004
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Originally Posted by SHINOBI-X
Hey Pete, refresh my memory but what was your set-up last motor as far as induciton? was it always a carb or no? are your cam specs a mistery? 
lift. Lobe seperation is 112. These figures closely resemble the crower cam that was in the motor before its 100 mile failure. Sop was excellent with the dual pattern crower. I went dual pattern to help out the spray. I usually go dual pattern anyway. I figure that I went a bit small on the cam but would rather error on the small side. On paper, it will run. We will see soon(I hope)
Thread Starter
Race Director
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Originally Posted by RichS
Glad to hear it's going back together. I guess you won't be ready for Numidia on the 18th for the rental?
I guess you won't be ready for Numidia on the 18th for the rental?I found more decent good news. The trans is in great shape. 3-4 clutches are a bit burnt, lo-reverse clutches are quite burnt, but everything else is perfect. It died a peaceful death. A standard rebuild is all it needs, no little bs to make me crazy. I ordered a "beast" reaction shell for safetys sake. Cost to rebuild is $12 for fluid, $57 for the beast and $82 for the kit. $151 is definately affordable.
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Thread Starter
Race Director
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7-4-04
Finally got back to working on the 409. Some kid ran a red light and took out my daily driver. Feeling better and decided to get back to the motor build. Short block is mocked up, rings file fit, cam is degreed and it is waiting final assembly. Tomorrow, tues, I will start the final reassembly of the short block. It sure is nice to see the light at the end of the tunnel! Hopefully, as Rich said, 3rd will be a charm. My local track has been running a new quick 8 program. I hope to try for a shot at the field when all is said and done.
Finally got back to working on the 409. Some kid ran a red light and took out my daily driver. Feeling better and decided to get back to the motor build. Short block is mocked up, rings file fit, cam is degreed and it is waiting final assembly. Tomorrow, tues, I will start the final reassembly of the short block. It sure is nice to see the light at the end of the tunnel! Hopefully, as Rich said, 3rd will be a charm. My local track has been running a new quick 8 program. I hope to try for a shot at the field when all is said and done.
Thread Starter
Race Director
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Originally Posted by USAsOnlyWay
I hope it works out for you Pete.
You've had a real run of bad luck, heres to your motor and getting the good luck that should be coming to you!
You've had a real run of bad luck, heres to your motor and getting the good luck that should be coming to you!
Thread Starter
Race Director
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Ohhh Baby! She is getting closer now. Short block is done. Cam degreed, pistons and crank in, cam endplay set, sheet metal on and tight. 1 cylinder head is lapped and springs set up as well. Another day or so and it will be on the dyno. Work just got super busy, Probably no dyno till next week. The light is getting brighter towards the end of the tunnel. 
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 3,426
Likes: 4
From: Heidelberg PA
Cruise-In V Veteran
Just a thought. Are you running a 700r4? Corky and I both had our pumps shatter. Cork had just rebuilt his with 13vein pump and I had rebuilt mine last year with 13vein pump. Not sure if these pumps are as strong as standard pump.
I also had the metal piece that holds the 2-3 band in place shear off at the line. Not sure why - could be just age - 20+ year old.
This season I have had my tranny out 3 times and it does get easier
Just a few things to consider on a rebuild. I am running a 383 & Cork is running a 434.
I also had the metal piece that holds the 2-3 band in place shear off at the line. Not sure why - could be just age - 20+ year old.
This season I have had my tranny out 3 times and it does get easier
Just a few things to consider on a rebuild. I am running a 383 & Cork is running a 434.
Thread Starter
Race Director
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Originally Posted by 85vet
Just a thought. Are you running a 700r4? Corky and I both had our pumps shatter. Cork had just rebuilt his with 13vein pump and I had rebuilt mine last year with 13vein pump. Not sure if these pumps are as strong as standard pump.
I also had the metal piece that holds the 2-3 band in place shear off at the line. Not sure why - could be just age - 20+ year old.
This season I have had my tranny out 3 times and it does get easier
Just a few things to consider on a rebuild. I am running a 383 & Cork is running a 434.
I also had the metal piece that holds the 2-3 band in place shear off at the line. Not sure why - could be just age - 20+ year old.
This season I have had my tranny out 3 times and it does get easier
Just a few things to consider on a rebuild. I am running a 383 & Cork is running a 434.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 12,517
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Originally Posted by pipe
Pete a friend of mine lives near you and visits you once in awhile Bob Opachinski 
I am trying to get him to the dragstrip. I watch the sweat pour from his brow every time I suggest it. 
Thread Starter
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Here it is, 11:00 pm friday and the motor is 1 hr away from the dyno. Gonna start fresh tomorrow am. I need to install the carb and intake, headers and water pump. Should start by noon and run the next 4 or 5 hrs on the dyno. I will have a mop handy just in case . I had trouble rounding up a decent intake manifold (to borrow) for the dyno pulls. You know times have changed when a small block carbed intake is scarce. I will post results tomorrow evening. Hopefully they will be positive.
. I had trouble rounding up a decent intake manifold (to borrow) for the dyno pulls. You know times have changed when a small block carbed intake is scarce. I will post results tomorrow evening. Hopefully they will be positive.
Good Luck