Summer is over, the cruises are all done, and both cars are converted to winter storage insurance. $2ea. for 6 months!! So it's time for the fun to begin!
There's a big hole where my Hilborn scoop used to be today!


Got out this morning and tore the 327 down to a short block in preparation for upgrades.


Good news is it looks like new inside, and still signs of crosshatching on the cylinders from the .040" overbore it got just before I purchased it last fall. Tommorrow I'll pull the pan, timing cover, timing chain and cam. While it's apart I'll also pull a couple of rod and main caps to inspect the bottom end.
I purchased this engine from a friend's son who said it was completely rebuilt, so I'm just double checking things to assure myself it's all OK. The new 292/488 lift cam is going in with a gear drive set, so the old double roller will go away, as will the 882 smog heads with their 76cc chambers. Looked up specs on the 882's and they only flow 137cfm on the intakes, so the 190 runners and larger valves on the aluminum heads will hopefully make a real difference. The 64cc chambers should boost the compression a bit too!
Can't wait to hear the 327 make more noise with better flowing cam and heads!

 

Next time I'm in Portland to see the kids I'ld love to come by and see this project.

 

Drop me an email next time you're headed this way! Be glad to show it to you.-Vall

 

Pulled the pan and timing cover today. Went ahead and ordered a set of Sealed Power CH series bearings, as they're designed for hi performance/higher rpm's than what's in the engine now. Looks like the crank was turned 10-20, so .020" on the rod bearings.
Somebody has been beating on the harmonic balancer to install it, so it needs to go also. Don't want it coming apart at high rpm's!
For now I'll clean everything up and give things a fresh coat of paint, then once the parts come in it'll go back together.

 

One thing I do know is that stock balancers don't like RPM. The Nova had a stock one and two Pioneer ones. All three were spun after some time under my heavy foot. I was turning about 7600 with that motor. No vibrations, the timing marks were in another zip code though. I bought a TCI Rattler and was all better.

 

I doubt I'll be taking it anywhere near 7,000 rpm, but I do want a balancer that's capable of that. Just haven't decided which one yet. I've got a lot of time since it's one of the last things to go on.

 

New bearings arrived today, but too late to start install. Test fitted the heads and have a bit of an issue with spark plug clearance! The old straight plug heads had about 1" clearance to the narrow frame rails, but with solid motor mounts it wasn't an issue. The new angle plug heads tilt down and the plugs have about 1/2" clearance, and even less when the spark plug boot is on!
I may have to figure a way to raise the engine slightly, and hopefully without cutting the frame mounts off and reworking them!!! Maybe a spacer between the block and the motor mount if I can still get the bolts in with a spacer. Sure didn't think spark plugs would be an issue.
Here's an old pic before I removed the stock heads:

 

More surprises today! Got all the bottom end apart today, and found two of the throws had bearings going bad. Not bad enough to harm the crank, but certainly headed towards early failure, so I'm really glad I pulled them and got high quality bearings to replace with.
Also found that the young guy I bought the engine from was a bit of a hammer mechanic. When I pulled the crank gear today it looked much like the harmonic balancer. If I was to guess I'd say he used a pick hammer to install the gear. The marks all over the side of the gear were numerous and deep. Fortunately his aim was better, and he missed the teeth and the crank snout! Not a huge deal since it's all going and a gear drive going back in, but disturbing anyway!
Cam showed signs of not having been broken in right. The centers of the lifters were frosty looking, and slightly concave. Not what I expected from 4500 miles. Lobes on the cam had a similar look, and reminded me of a cam that had more like 20k-25k miles.
What started out to be small improvements should make a big difference from where it's at now!

 

All that pounding didn't help your end play. He probably beat the snot out of the thrust bearing. I'd replace those too and recheck. I HATE hammer mechanics. It takes two seconds to do it right.

 

Excellent idea Damon! I'm going to check end play and pull the thrust bearings too. I'm actually surprised the engine made it all summer after seeing some things the previous owner did. I'm guessing he may have forgotten to oil the bearings when assembling on the two that showed excess wear.
I've got to cover the engine and seal everything up well tommorrow, as I need to do some sawzall work around the engine to relieve the tight spots at plugs for #1-3 and #2-4. Wont take much, but I need to chop the corners off some metal to give me a bit more clearance before installing the heads.