Mike Gardner photo 2014
January 4th, 2014:
Today Chris and Paul removed the transmission and have the engine nearly ready to pull from the car. Chris intends to have both transmissions gone through and we’ll tear the motor down to freshen after 199 hits and also do some upgrades to the fuel delivery system.
We’ll be updating this page as we move forward, including the comment section below. – Roger
February 8th, 2015:
Today with Chris and Paul we got the 406 out of Chris’ Chevelle and torn completely down. Except for the high leakdown in #8 cylinder of 28% (poor ring seal), the rest of the engine was in tremendous condition. Bearings, piston skirts look like new!
I’m very impressed with that Dart Little M block. Other than some small shadows in the cylinder walls, I don’t see any core shift, and the lifters with the taller bores look fantastic! – Roger
February 28th, 2015:
Today Chris and I got the heads torn down and checked all the valve springs on our Rimac bench tester. All, except two springs, were in excellent condition at 275# on the seat and 750# open. We’ll be replacing the two that had dropped to 260# while we are going through the motor.
Next the block goes out to DG Machine to have the block honed with torque plates and have the valves ground. There is nothing evident in the engine that would account for the inconsistent runs last year which gets back to issues with the transmissions. – Roger
March 24th, 2015:
Yesterday Chris picked up the block and heads from DG Machine. Today I assembled the heads with new intake seals. We’ll start assembling the block in the near future – Roger
Assembled Brodix head. Titanium retainers, 10-degree locks, 1.550″ PacAlloy springs. 275# seat pressure.
March 28th, 2015:
Today Chris and I were checking all the clearances on the 406, since we didn’t get any real specifics from Shafiroff that machined/assembled the original short block. We also ordered a new set of main bearings as the lower half on the #4 main was flaking the top coating. So we’ve opted to wait for the arrival of new main bearings. – Roger
March 30, 2015:
While waiting on the main bearings, Chris began file-fitting the new rings for the 406 today. – Roger
Chris filing & checking ring end gaps
March 31, 2015:
Today we got the new main bearings polished and installed the Callies crank after checking main bearing clearance and thrust clearance with a new FelPro rear main seal. We also installed the new Jesel Timing Belt and checked camshaft thrust clearance.
Next we’ll file-fit the four remaining cylinders and begin installing rod/piston assemblies. Making good progress! – Roger
Installing the Callies Crank
New Jesel Timing Belt installed
April 1, 2015:
Today Chris and I got four piston/rod assemblies installed in the 406. When we have the rods resized at the next overhaul, we’ll open the rod side clearance. – Roger
406 Wiseco pistons and 6″ Manley rods
Bottom end of 406
Four pistons installed
April 2, 2015:
Today we got the last four pistons in, clayed the valves with 1.6 rockers (we’re using 1.6 rockers on the exhausts this time around, were 1.5’s), installed the balancer. – Roger
April 4, 2015:
Today we got the 406 fully assembled, leak-down tested, and primed ready for install in the Chevelle.
And after I left this afternoon, Chris got the engine resting in the Chevelle this afternoon! – Roger
2015 406 Build Sheet
406 valve train, 1.6 rockers on exhausts, 1.5 rockers on intakes. New roller lifters
Crane pressurized roller lifters for tall lifter bores in the Dart Little M block with open valley.
Completed 406, primed and ready to install
April 11, 2015:
Today we installed the new floats in the Dominator, installed the carb and primed. Just the transmission remaining!
April 18, 2015:
This past week Chris got our old A-1 TH400 out to Dirty Dan’s Trans and we learned that unit, except for the shafts and planetary section, is a complete loss.
He then took our last transmission out to Dan and learned that it is in reasonable condition except that an assembly error was applying high gear all the time. Therefore while going down the strip high gear was dragging all the time, which gets back to what our data and engine inspections were telling us, that the problem with the car being inconsistent and slow was in the transmission as we had concluded!
We should have the transmission back and ready to install next week. – Roger
April 23, 2015:
Today Chris got the transmission in the car, we fired it up, set the timing and ran the transmission through the gears and checked the trans brake. She’s ready for the strip! – Roger
Chris took some valve spring readings yesterday on the car, and learned two of the springs – both exhausts – with only 10 hits had dropped as much as our last identical spring set after 133 runs. [Bench testing later confirmed this].
I also recommend checking the rear coil-overs while the car is down.
Looking great guys. 🙂
The rod side clearance in this motor is a bit tight for my tastes. I would like to see .020 to .025 rather than the current .015″
Chris and I discussed this and when the motor is torn down next time and the rods will likely need resizing, we’ll have the rods machined to provide more side clearance to increase the oiling to the piston pins and cylinder walls. When doing so, it is important that you do NOT remove rod material from the filet (cheek) side of the rod.
Looking great guys!!!
Very excited for you and hoping you have a great and fun year of racing.
Dan left for Rockingham this evening. Plans to run test session on Thursday.
Qualifiers on Friday and Saturday. First round eliminations on Saturday evening…and rest of eliminations on Sunday. Lots of rain in forecast right now.hope it clears up.
Dan was very happy to win the first PDRA race in Texas, his first PDRA Event win!
Car has made only a few passes since many chassis changes in last 3 months, but
Looking like it will be more consistent, which is the goal.
Catch the action on MotorManiaTV.com…
Best,
Todd Ferguson
Harrisburg, NC
We’re proud of Dan winning the PDRA Top Sportsman opener race and hope he has another great season as he defends his 2014 Championship!
Great too see you guys have everything all refreshed and ready to go racing.
Best to you all for a great season.
Dan won first round at The Rock, but went .007 red in the second round. He should of won that round and had a good shot at another race win. But that’s racing, live and learn, race another day. He leaves for the Shreveport, LA race Tuesday. Still has the points lead.
He ran a couple 4.10s and a 4.7 at The Rock, both new fastest times for him. He has picked up .05 in his 60′ times with the chassis changes. Still running the same mild tune fron last year.
Best,
Todd Ferguson
Harrisburg, NC
We’re looking forward to seeing if the changes we’ve made in the 406 give us a performance increase.
1) 1.6 rockers on the exhaust
2) File-fit rings which should seal the motor better
3) Shortened header primary tube length 1″