My 26T Coupe build thread

[roadster32]

Well i was hoping to have the short engine put together over xmas but as usual with any well laid plan something went wrong,

Every thing was going well until the conrods were set free from their box, It wasn't obvious at first until i did the usual checks on dimensions, the rods were 15 thou shorter than the 6.750" they should of been. 15 thou don't sound a lot but would of affected the quench so they had to go.

After a bit of searching i found out that these rods were the hot ticket way back when aftermarket rods wern't available, They are actually Oldsmobile 455 forged rods and to use them would mean having 15 thou taken off the block decks, seeing as the block was finished this wasn't possible so a set of the correct length forged h beam rods have been ordered and will be here next week, I hope


I'm glad i found out before polishing them.








After this little episode i thought i would check that my Cad Parts stage III shaft mounted rocker kit would fit, It did, went straight on and seems a well made bit of kit.














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[vara4]

Yep those were the S_ _t back in the day.
We used them in Ford 460 I think they came out to over 500 with those if I remember right. It's been along time ago. we also used them in Dodge 440's and I think the 400's as well. The 400's have more material in the blocks then the 440's did.
I don't remember all the details weather it was shaving the rods or crank and that stuff
I just remember using the rods in alot of other big blocks with a few mods done to them.
kurt

[pat mccarthy]

Yep those were the S_ _t back in the day.
We used them in Ford 460 I think they came out to over 500 with those if I remember right. It's been along time ago. we also used them in Dodge 440's and I think the 400's as well. The 400's have more material in the blocks then the 440's did.
I don't remember all the details weather it was shaving the rods or crank and that stuff
I just remember using the rods in alot of other big blocks with a few mods done to them.
kurt

the bbc rods are the hot deal now 6.700 and 6.800 . dodge have a big pin end1.094 and the fork end takes a bigger bearing 2.325? 6.760.long. most all the 460 pistons use the bbc pin end 990 and cranks use the bbc rod bearing 2.200

[roadster32]

the bbc rods are the hot deal now 6.700 and 6.800 . dodge have a big pin end1.094 and the fork end takes a bigger bearing 2.325? 6.676.long. most all the 460 pistons use the bbc pin end 990 and cranks use the bbc rod bearing 2.200

Its all solved now Pat, I called Marty at MTS and he had some 6.750" Forged rods on the shelf, Good price too.

[40 chevy shawty]

damn

i wish i had a car like that!

[pat mccarthy]

not to get picky but i think a would look for better rocker shims then VSI spring shims i would look at stainless steel shims. like T&D JESEL .Crane and others use .McMaster Carr should have some thing better if not use the blue steel spring shims.thats a 030 on there.you can get hard blue steel in some sizes on the rods 015 short is a lot but i know a guy that has a pin boring machine that a EZ fix if you can float the pin

[roadster32]

not to get picky but i think a would look for better rocker shims then VSI spring shims i would look at stainless steel shims. like T&D JESEL .Crane and others use .McMaster Carr should have some thing better if not use the blue steel spring shims.thats a 030 on there.you can get hard blue steel in some sizes on the rods 015 short is a lot but i know a guy that has a pin boring machine that a EZ fix if you can float the pin

You got me Pat, what shims do you mean ???

[pat mccarthy]

You got me Pat, what shims do you mean ???

along side of your rocker arms on your rocker shaft is a VSI spring shim

[roadster32]

along side of your rocker arms on your rocker shaft is a VSI spring shim

Ah, we call them thrust washers here.

[pat mccarthy]

Ah, we call them thrust washers here.

well there made by VSI it s for shimming up valve springs and your washer are 030 thick. but what ever

[vara4]

Those rockers look alot like the old High Performance rockers off the VW's.
The only differance is they don't have a hole on the valve side for a stud to go thru.
We used these thing called elephant feet with a 3/4 ball bearing in the end that mated up with the valve tips. They looked like these here.
EMPI SWIVEL-FOOT VALVE ADJUSTING SCREWS.
http://www.jcwhitney.com/swivel-foot.../p2005314.jcwx
They really kept the rocker from beating up the valve tips.
Kurt

[vara4]

Steve: What lathe are you using?
Just curious because I got a old 1930 Le Blond Lathe.
I have been told mine in not so good for the fine work though.
I am not too sure about that since someone added a two speed trany to it
before I got though.
Kurt

[roadster32]

Steve: What lathe are you using?
Just curious because I got a old 1930 Le Blond Lathe.
I have been told mine in not so good for the fine work though.
I am not too sure about that since someone added a two speed trany to it
before I got though.
Kurt

Hi Kurt i have a 1966 Colchester Student mk1, Nice bit of kit quite old but still very very accurate.

[pat mccarthy]

Steve: What lathe are you using?
Just curious because I got a old 1930 Le Blond Lathe.
I have been told mine in not so good for the fine work though.
I am not too sure about that since someone added a two speed trany to it
before I got though.
Kurt

who told you thats ..B.S i can hold .001and less many times with mine with a 3 jaw . and if i want to power lift the 4 jaw off the bottom shelf then .0005 is not hard to get .if you ways are in good shape . gibs are good and your head stock is not loose.then you can do just about any thing.i have made many things with mine .kurt many people do not like flat belt lathes but they work. mine is old babbit bearing lathe works just as good as the guy gear head up in the front of the shop to a point he has more room to swing and some more motor .but mine makes a hell of alot less noise. yep that a nice lathe steve

[vara4]

That does look like a very nice lathe Steve.
I don't have anything fine I have to do anyway Pat.
Just some bars for my 4 link and maybe some bolt threading.
Kurt