{"id":4952,"date":"2015-01-05T08:11:50","date_gmt":"2015-01-05T16:11:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/northwestvets.com\/blog2\/?p=4952"},"modified":"2015-04-23T14:39:06","modified_gmt":"2015-04-23T21:39:06","slug":"71-chevelle-update","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/northwestvets.com\/blog2\/2015\/01\/05\/71-chevelle-update\/","title":{"rendered":"’71 Chevelle Update"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Mike<\/a>

Mike Gardner photo 2014<\/p><\/div>\n

January 4th, 2014<\/span>:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

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. <\/strong><\/p>\n

We’ll be updating this page as we move forward, including the comment section below. – Roger<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

February 8th, 2015<\/span>:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Today with Chris\u00a0and Paul\u00a0we 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!<\/strong><\/p>\n

I’m very impressed with that Dart Little M<\/em> 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!<\/span><\/span><\/span> \u00a0– Roger<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

February 28th, 2015<\/span>:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Today Chris and I got the heads torn down and checked all the valve springs on our Rimac<\/em> 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. <\/strong><\/p>\n

Next the block goes out to DG Machine<\/em> to have the block honed with torque plates\u00a0and 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\u00a0transmissions. – Roger<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

March 24th, 2015<\/span>:\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Yesterday Chris picked up the block and heads from DG Machine<\/em>. Today I assembled the heads with new intake seals. We’ll start assembling the block in the near future – Roger<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Assembled<\/a>

Assembled Brodix head. Titanium retainers, 10-degree locks, 1.550″ PacAlloy springs. 275# seat pressure.<\/p><\/div>\n

March 28th, 2015<\/span>:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Today Chris and I were checking all the clearances on the 406, since we didn’t get any real specifics from Shafiroff<\/em> that machined\/assembled the original short block. We also ordered a new set of main bearings as the lower\u00a0half on the #4 main was flaking the top coating. So we’ve opted to wait for the arrival of new main bearings. – Roger<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

March 30, 2015<\/span>:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

While waiting on the main bearings, Chris began file-fitting the new rings for the 406 today. – Roger<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Chris<\/a>

Chris filing & checking ring end gaps<\/p><\/div>\n

March 31, 2015<\/span>:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Today we got the new main bearings polished and installed the Callies<\/em> crank after checking main bearing clearance and thrust clearance\u00a0with a new FelPro<\/em> rear main seal. We also installed the new Jesel Timing Belt and checked camshaft thrust clearance. <\/strong><\/p>\n

Next we’ll file-fit the four remaining cylinders and begin installing rod\/piston assemblies. Making good progress!\u00a0– Roger<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Installing<\/a>

Installing the Callies Crank<\/p><\/div>\n

\"New<\/a>

New Jesel Timing Belt installed<\/p><\/div>\n

April 1, 2015<\/span>:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

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.\u00a0– Roger<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\"406<\/a>

406 Wiseco pistons and 6″ Manley rods<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Bottom<\/a>

Bottom end of 406<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Four<\/a>

Four pistons installed<\/p><\/div>\n

April 2, 2015<\/span>:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

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<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

April 4, 2015<\/span>:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Today we got the 406 fully assembled, leak-down tested,\u00a0and primed ready for install in the Chevelle. <\/strong><\/p>\n

And after I left this afternoon, Chris\u00a0got the engine resting in the Chevelle this afternoon! – Roger<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

2015 406 Build Sheet<\/strong><\/a><\/h3>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"406<\/a>

406 valve train, 1.6 rockers on exhausts, 1.5 rockers on intakes. New roller lifters<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Crane<\/a>

Crane pressurized roller lifters for tall lifter bores in the Dart Little M block with open valley.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Completed<\/a>

Completed 406, primed and ready to install<\/p><\/div>\n

\"install\"<\/a><\/p>\n

April 11, 2015<\/span>:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Today we installed the new floats in the Dominator, installed the carb and primed. Just the transmission remaining!<\/strong><\/p>\n

April 18, 2015<\/span>:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

This past week Chris got our old A-1 TH400 out to Dirty Dan’s Trans<\/em> and we learned that unit, except for the shafts and planetary section, is a complete loss.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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\u00a0was in the transmission as we had concluded!<\/strong><\/p>\n

We should have the transmission back and ready to install next week. – Roger<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

April 23, 2015<\/span>:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

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<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

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