Start of a Dart
News Flash! Things take way longer than you think they will when you start working on your vehicles!
I dropped off the block for the Great White Ghost, it checks out very nicely. The mechanical head I had was no good though so I had to get the hydraulic head to the machine shop. It checks out OK but two of the rods are no good. I'm back to gutting the Volare block for a couple of pistons and rods to drop off at the machine shop this morning.
A local slant buddy came by to show me how to clean up the head. He brought his foot-control Dremel and some burrs. He did one cylinder and I took over till almost midnight last night. I got the first three sets of runners cleaned up but decided to bag it for the night. Here's a before and after.
Before, ridges inside the valve seat area and rough corners throughout.
Before, a choke point on the backside of the valve seats that got trimmed out and radiused.
After, excess crap cut out, smoothed out all the peaks and valleys, and all the edges and corners radiused.
This is the first time I've tried porting anything but I have been carving wood with a pocket knife since grade school so it is a process I think I can figure out. Going back to carving wood, remember some of your early lessons Mr. Halfafish.
1. Go slow. There is no contest to see who can complete this job the fastest.
2. Work in tiny increments. Once you cut it out, if you go too far you can't glue it back together.
3. Most importantly, don't let the perfect become the enemy of the good. This is a low-revving motor going into a big clunky truck. The porting doesn't have to be perfect in an engine that will never see 4500 RPM. Get it cleaned up and move on before you ruin something.
The MS says they can have the block done fairly soon with the head done in a week or two. I can get the bottom end put back together and back in the truck with the trans, then put the head on as it sits in the truck. We are making progress! :D
News Flash! Things take way longer than you think they will when you start working on your vehicles!
I dropped off the block for the Great White Ghost, it checks out very nicely. The mechanical head I had was no good though so I had to get the hydraulic head to the machine shop. It checks out OK but two of the rods are no good. I'm back to gutting the Volare block for a couple of pistons and rods to drop off at the machine shop this morning.
A local slant buddy came by to show me how to clean up the head. He brought his foot-control Dremel and some burrs. He did one cylinder and I took over till almost midnight last night. I got the first three sets of runners cleaned up but decided to bag it for the night. Here's a before and after.
Before, ridges inside the valve seat area and rough corners throughout.
Before, a choke point on the backside of the valve seats that got trimmed out and radiused.
After, excess crap cut out, smoothed out all the peaks and valleys, and all the edges and corners radiused.
This is the first time I've tried porting anything but I have been carving wood with a pocket knife since grade school so it is a process I think I can figure out. Going back to carving wood, remember some of your early lessons Mr. Halfafish.
1. Go slow. There is no contest to see who can complete this job the fastest.
2. Work in tiny increments. Once you cut it out, if you go too far you can't glue it back together.
3. Most importantly, don't let the perfect become the enemy of the good. This is a low-revving motor going into a big clunky truck. The porting doesn't have to be perfect in an engine that will never see 4500 RPM. Get it cleaned up and move on before you ruin something.
The MS says they can have the block done fairly soon with the head done in a week or two. I can get the bottom end put back together and back in the truck with the trans, then put the head on as it sits in the truck. We are making progress! :D
