Since it has been a couple of weeks since I dropped off the new block, and the pistons and crank for Dan's 455 Olds at the machine shop, I decided to pay them a little visit today. I am really impressed with how it is coming along.

They baked and tumbled the block in a shot machine and every nook and cranny came out looking like the day it was made. They had the block in the boring machine and had already taken the first cuts and were letting it cool down to keep down any warpage. They told me they are boring it first, then honing each cylinder to the piston for that hole, then using a brush on the end of the borer to finish up the cylinder. Such a difference from the machine shop I have used for the past 20 years or so.

The machine they are using is a Sunnen CV 616, which means nothing to me, but I thought some of you like Pat and Jerry would have an opinion on it. I didn't want to be too snoopy by taking pictures and look like a tourist, so I just looked around and left.

Dan still doesn't know I took the engine there and I am surprised he hasn't noticed it missing from the shop. He is going to be very surprised when he sees it all done. Once it comes back he and I can start figuring what rings, bearings, etc we are going to use this time. I am leaning toward the Hastings rings that Pat likes so much, and have always used Clevite bearings but I keep hearing about King bearings......any opinions there?


Don