Well.. I FINALLY got the heads back, but the engine isn't done yet. Here it is as of tonight.

[EDIT] Engine is done!! WOOHOO!!!

I found out that the forum member who I bought my 7/16th stud 1.6 RR's from jipped me (don't remember who it was). First off, they are 3/8th's ... not 7/16th's, and second.. i don't have the POLY LOCKS!! :( If you're out there .... don't remember who you were, could you please send them to me or reimburse me the $10 or so it's gonna cost to get them?? :chevy

Also, the exhaust manifold gaskets were wrong... they are made for the f-body i assume. They are too wide... made for larger manifolds/heads.

So, because those gaskets were wrong... can't put the headers on, which means we can't put the accessory bracket on, which means the engine sits like this until tomorrow morning when my builder can pick up a new set of gaskets.

I haven't had much time to do cleaning around the engine compartment. I will do a lot of that when I finally get it home. I cleaned up most of the MAJOR sludge from the front seal leak I had that was dripping over the from cross member and everywhere.

Here are the pics:







[Modified by Glock'94, 2:34 AM 1/23/2002] :chevy


[Modified by Glock'94, 2:35 AM 1/23/2002]


[Modified by Glock'94, 6:58 PM 1/24/2002]

 

[Modified by Glock'94, 9:54 PM 1/22/2002]

 

Notice anything about the rocker nuts... yep.. no Poly locks :(

 

I cannot beleive the head gaskets were for a different version of the same engine... i would be willing to bet they were for a different engine entirely. perhaps an LS1???

The heads look GREAT!

Sorry about the studs... that sucks - no, you did'nt buy them from me...

 

not the head gaskets.. the exhaust manifold gaskets... the head gaskets have been the same on GM 350's for... AGES...... (ok, almost the same)


[Modified by Glock'94, 10:26 PM 1/22/2002]

 

 

 

Just making sure, but you are using LT1 specific gaskets? They are different than normal SBC 350 gaskets. You can make the latter work but it will generally require some cutting with an x-acto (not the best thing to do to a headgasket).

Also vette/f-body exhaust gaskets should be identical. If you are using stock manifolds stick with the factory crushable gaskets; otherwise fel-pro 1406's are hard to beat.





[Modified by ChrisB, 10:16 PM 1/22/2002]

 

Yes, they are LT1 gaskets..

 

And here is what I did to the valve covers.. grinded the drip tabs down so the 1.6 rockers will not hit.




[Modified by Glock'94, 10:21 PM 1/22/2002]

 

Lookin' good. :cheers:

 

 

That's looking pretty damn good, Curtis!!!!

:cheers:

 

Thanks Craig :D

 

glad to hear you got your heads back....looks like they did do a great job...

 

You must be ITCHIN' to crank that baby over! I didn't get to see any of that with my 383 conversion. Just a phone call"DOES IT RUN YET?" :D. It won't be long now. Everything looks good. Stay sane while tuning it...that's the tricky part.

 

Did you do your own tuning? How long did it take? Hopefully since I've been able to wait 2 months for my rebuild, I should be able to work for a few weeks on tuning it. Plus it gives me an excuse to get out and drive it around a lot ;)

 

BTW, yes I made sure he primed the oil system ... he said he does that to ALL engines before cranking them.

One thing I thought was odd, is he didn't use sealant on the head bolts. I asked why not, and he said he's NEVER had a problem with coolant coming out of the head bolts. I thought I had read about a week back about someone's builder doing the same (not using sealant), and there was white steam coming out of the engine within a week... :confused: .... I guess the only good thing, is it's easy to pull on bolt at a time and add sealant if it becomes some kind of problem in the future.. what's your input?

 

Look this info up in the service manual and see what it states. Use that info to change his mind if necessary. Better to do it now, then later on after the damage is done. You have how much money invested in this engine??

 

That's really strange on the gaskets. Header gaskets or manifolds? It shouldn't make much difference I know the manifold gaskets for the BlueDemon are EXACTLY like mine. So were the header gaskets we replaced them with. Kinda strange that you could get screwed over there.

It really sounds to me like you have some of my friend's luck. Could the curse of the BlueDemon have you as well?!?! Mwha haha haha!! :reddevil