273 time to 'fish or cut bait'...
FABO,
Just a quick refresher to bring everyone up to speed :lol: on what I'm talking about here.
Bought a 1965 Barracuda
when I retired because, well, why not???
I have absolutely not knowledge or experience with auto repair or restoration, much like everything else, but that never stops ME (to be candid, it does slow me down considerably). The 'Cuda is Canadian, but thats another story...
Anyway, its rusted in places that gentlemen don't discuss in public, so I decided a 'parts car' might be in order...
Cuba #2 is a '65 V8 Commando, without the engine, (long story...buy at least it's American) So I drove 2000 miles to get it and bring it home. Since it has 4 speed and (relatively) no rust, I got to thinking maybe I should build THIS and use Cuda#1 as the 'parts car', why not Cuda#1 is Canadian after all.. Well as I said, Cuda#2 has no engine, and Cuda#1 has a 'stock' 273 that runs, but that's all... Can I really put a stock 2v, 273 in a car with Commando badges? What if my friends found out? I'd have to keep my hood down at Car Shows..
Then just the other day, I was on Craigslist eating pork rinds, when I found an engine - 273 with a 340 4v intake for $100. I hear that '65 Cuda's have problems relating to later year intakes and choices to upgrade to a 4v carb are few and far between... And who has ever heard of 340 intake on a '65 - 273??? Thought I'd like to see that!!! So I drive across the state to see it... I mean $100, right??
Sure enough it has a blue intake and the engine is red (I have no idea what a '340' intake looks like or how it differs from a 273, other than the 4 barrel, but 340's are blue and 273's are red right?) so I buy the damn thing, after the PO (prior owner) shows me it ain't froze up... I pull the intake and the heads and take the heads to the machinist to make sure they aren't cracked (He will also clean them and put in 'hardened seats' and promised to 'port' them for me). Then he tells me that the valves are in bad shape (see photo) and they should be replaced.
Now some of you may be asking how the PO mounted a 340 intake on a 1965 273? Good question, I've some photo's of how he 'whittled' out the bolt holes -
Well you get the idea. Is that allowed? Will it damage the seal? I suppose if the PO got it to work, so can I...
Here, finally, is my question: Since I've decided to make a 'frankenstein' commando 273 engine how do I go about it? I ordered the book -
But it hasn't arrived yet, so I don't know nothing, and I hope you will help.
What I want to do is build an affordable driver that uses pump gas and will wear out the tires every few hundred miles. Something to drive cross country on state highways. I'm thinking 0-60 time (to get away from F***ing stop signs and lights, running 60-80 for most the day without getting tired, and milage as good as my pick-up truck (F150) would be most important. Passing Chevys would be a big plus also...
My uneducated guess is: use the 340 intake, refinish the heads (have the valve seats hardened, port it out a bit, but use 'stock' valves and rockers), get some 'domed' (Not doomed) piston heads, a high performance cam, some new freeze plugs, use the stock exhaust manifolds and call it good (we'll talk carb in another thread).
I see that Rock Auto, one of my new best friends, has a high performance cam for $60... it is an Engine Tech ES1089 - Stage 1- using flat followers .050" (whatever that means) - duration 204/214 - cam lift .281/.296 - Lobe Center 108/116. Is this the right cam, it's the only one listed, can I use 'stock valves' and my 'stock' adjustable rocker setup with it? Or, should I see if I can go with bigger valves and new rockers. This is still a 273 is bigger valves wise or is it like kissing you sister, I mean it might be fun, but doesn't get you anywhere... Anywhere you'd want to go anyway...
I know there are numerous other issues, electronic ignition, carb, exhaust... but there is only so much room here on this thread and I fear I may loose your attention if I ramble on...
Please FABO :mob:, let me know -
Can I use this 340 intake?,
Do I upgrade to the RockAuto CAM or is there a better one (for not much more money)?
Can/should I use 'stock' valves and rockers or does a new cam mean new valves and rockers?
Where do I find the domed pistons (I'll put an ad on 'wanted parts' here on FABO but realize I'll probably have to go aftermarket) and if not 'stock commando' which are best?
Any tips on what to watch out for and how to keep costs down would also be helpful...
Thanks FABO, your the best, I'll be waiting to hear from you -
65Cudafix
FABO,
Just a quick refresher to bring everyone up to speed :lol: on what I'm talking about here.
Bought a 1965 Barracuda
I have absolutely not knowledge or experience with auto repair or restoration, much like everything else, but that never stops ME (to be candid, it does slow me down considerably). The 'Cuda is Canadian, but thats another story...
Anyway, its rusted in places that gentlemen don't discuss in public, so I decided a 'parts car' might be in order...
Cuba #2 is a '65 V8 Commando, without the engine, (long story...buy at least it's American) So I drove 2000 miles to get it and bring it home. Since it has 4 speed and (relatively) no rust, I got to thinking maybe I should build THIS and use Cuda#1 as the 'parts car', why not Cuda#1 is Canadian after all.. Well as I said, Cuda#2 has no engine, and Cuda#1 has a 'stock' 273 that runs, but that's all... Can I really put a stock 2v, 273 in a car with Commando badges? What if my friends found out? I'd have to keep my hood down at Car Shows..
Then just the other day, I was on Craigslist eating pork rinds, when I found an engine - 273 with a 340 4v intake for $100. I hear that '65 Cuda's have problems relating to later year intakes and choices to upgrade to a 4v carb are few and far between... And who has ever heard of 340 intake on a '65 - 273??? Thought I'd like to see that!!! So I drive across the state to see it... I mean $100, right??
Sure enough it has a blue intake and the engine is red (I have no idea what a '340' intake looks like or how it differs from a 273, other than the 4 barrel, but 340's are blue and 273's are red right?) so I buy the damn thing, after the PO (prior owner) shows me it ain't froze up... I pull the intake and the heads and take the heads to the machinist to make sure they aren't cracked (He will also clean them and put in 'hardened seats' and promised to 'port' them for me). Then he tells me that the valves are in bad shape (see photo) and they should be replaced.
Now some of you may be asking how the PO mounted a 340 intake on a 1965 273? Good question, I've some photo's of how he 'whittled' out the bolt holes -
Well you get the idea. Is that allowed? Will it damage the seal? I suppose if the PO got it to work, so can I...
Here, finally, is my question: Since I've decided to make a 'frankenstein' commando 273 engine how do I go about it? I ordered the book -
But it hasn't arrived yet, so I don't know nothing, and I hope you will help.
What I want to do is build an affordable driver that uses pump gas and will wear out the tires every few hundred miles. Something to drive cross country on state highways. I'm thinking 0-60 time (to get away from F***ing stop signs and lights, running 60-80 for most the day without getting tired, and milage as good as my pick-up truck (F150) would be most important. Passing Chevys would be a big plus also...
My uneducated guess is: use the 340 intake, refinish the heads (have the valve seats hardened, port it out a bit, but use 'stock' valves and rockers), get some 'domed' (Not doomed) piston heads, a high performance cam, some new freeze plugs, use the stock exhaust manifolds and call it good (we'll talk carb in another thread).
I see that Rock Auto, one of my new best friends, has a high performance cam for $60... it is an Engine Tech ES1089 - Stage 1- using flat followers .050" (whatever that means) - duration 204/214 - cam lift .281/.296 - Lobe Center 108/116. Is this the right cam, it's the only one listed, can I use 'stock valves' and my 'stock' adjustable rocker setup with it? Or, should I see if I can go with bigger valves and new rockers. This is still a 273 is bigger valves wise or is it like kissing you sister, I mean it might be fun, but doesn't get you anywhere... Anywhere you'd want to go anyway...
I know there are numerous other issues, electronic ignition, carb, exhaust... but there is only so much room here on this thread and I fear I may loose your attention if I ramble on...
Please FABO :mob:, let me know -
Can I use this 340 intake?,
Do I upgrade to the RockAuto CAM or is there a better one (for not much more money)?
Can/should I use 'stock' valves and rockers or does a new cam mean new valves and rockers?
Where do I find the domed pistons (I'll put an ad on 'wanted parts' here on FABO but realize I'll probably have to go aftermarket) and if not 'stock commando' which are best?
Any tips on what to watch out for and how to keep costs down would also be helpful...
Thanks FABO, your the best, I'll be waiting to hear from you -
65Cudafix
