Dropped 273 off at IMM Engines in Indio this morning

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azaustin

azaustin

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Just thought I’d update my post from Nov. 6 on looking for an engine builder. After reading all the recommendations on FABO, I decided to go with Brian at IMM in Indio. It will probably take about three months to get it back. One of the reasons I went with him is that he will test the motor and break in the cam and lifters on his dyno. My original plan had been to buy/build and engine stand and do both of my motors myself, but I’m going to run out of years before I run out of money (I hope) so I decided to buy some of my time back and let him do it.

I will keep FABO posted on how things work out. Thanks for all the suggestions and feedback.
 
Thanks to all. I used to have friend at a local machine shop do all my work, but the family sold the business. It was tough to give it away because I’ve always mostly done my own work. I’m hoping it works out. Brian seems knowledgeable and he gave me a lot of good advice, plus he was flexible on how I wanted things done.
 
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Brian is building me a W2 headed 414 right now. It should be done by the end of the month.

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If he has any concerns about finding pistons, I can give you the job number from the custom forged flat tops I got from Race Tech in CA. My 273 ended up with 9.6-1 compression with 59cc later model 302 heads.
 
Thanks. I will keep that in mind if there are any issues. Brian is going to use a thicker head gasket to help compensate for the pistons. I’m using the original stock heads. The Go-Go I had in high school ran just fine on DX Super Boron, which was Sunoco 260 back East. Those days are gone. We do have 100 octane available at the pump in several places locally, due to all the fast boats and hot rods that come here, or are here. Not the same, though. As I recall, the DX was 104 octane. I use 91 octane ethanol free in my convertible, which has an original (as far as I know) 235hp engine, and it does ok on that.
 
Brian at IMM spec'ed out a custom ground hydraulic roller cam for my 414 small block stroker. Set me up with matching valve springs too. Guy is super smart and knows how to get engines to make power.
 
The motor is going to be pretty close to stock. I’m leaving it up to Brian to pick the cam and springs. This car has a fresh 904 with a stock converter, so I want drivability and reliability. We talked about a roller cam and hydraulics, but I want to replicate what the car would have felt like and sounded like when it was new - and when I was in high school. I want to hear those valves clicking, just like I do now. I’m going to keep the stock exhaust manifolds and system with the square-tipped resonator, so big inches, big heads, and big cubes are out. Right now it has an AFB but I have the original AVS and it’s going back on when I get it rebuilt. I will go to some kind of electronic ignition, but it will look close to stock. The Pertronix Hall effect sensor and coil I put on it work pretty well, though. I may play a little bit when I build the motor for my 4-speed “65 coupe.
 
set the cruise on felony I’d be there in about 2hrs…. was an interesting trial and tribulation on what started as another stock block W5 build and went to a R3/W8. Changing direction, hard to find parts, non existent cam cores, picked up engine hauled it home to put in car to have headers built and then take it back out and haul it back for completion and dyno. Quite the process. It’s been a great mill :)

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mopowers said:
What cam and valve springs did you go with?
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Its a Comp Cam that Brian at IMM had custom ground. Valves springs were something Brian told me to buy. This was back in 2009. I prob have cam card in a folder somewhere. He had to grind me a second cam with smaller base circle cause lifters hemorrhage oil at top of lift when I ran oil pump with a drill to check it. But Brian took care of me.
 
azaustin said:
The motor is going to be pretty close to stock. I’m leaving it up to Brian to pick the cam and springs. This car has a fresh 904 with a stock converter, so I want drivability and reliability. We talked about a roller cam and hydraulics, but I want to replicate what the car would have felt like and sounded like when it was new - and when I was in high school. I want to hear those valves clicking, just like I do now. I’m going to keep the stock exhaust manifolds and system with the square-tipped resonator, so big inches, big heads, and big cubes are out. Right now it has an AFB but I have the original AVS and it’s going back on when I get it rebuilt. I will go to some kind of electronic ignition, but it will look close to stock. The Pertronix Hall effect sensor and coil I put on it work pretty well, though. I may play a little bit when I build the motor for my 4-speed “65 coupe.
Click to expand...
If you leave it up to Brian to pick the cam you are golden. That is one of many areas he has best of breed world class expertise. He can have one custom ground to get the most out of your specific overall combination.
 
Keep it as stock as you want on the outside. Have him do some porting on the heads at least. Intake wouldn't hurt either. Makes everything easier.
 
Performance valve job, bowl blending, port match intake to heads, let Brian pick the cam that matches overall combo and intended use of the car.
 
340sFastback said:
If you leave it up to Brian to pick the cam you are golden. That is one of many areas he has best of breed world class expertise. He can have one custom ground to get the most out of your specific overall combination.
Click to expand...
I asked Brian to contact Jim at Racer Brown for a custom solid roller camshaft for my 414. I told him what type of driving I planned on doing and filled in the blanks on the rest of my drive train. I don't have the cam card yet but I feel confident that those two guys picked out a cam that will be PERFECT for what I want to do.
 
azaustin said:
The motor is going to be pretty close to stock. I’m leaving it up to Brian to pick the cam and springs. This car has a fresh 904 with a stock converter, so I want drivability and reliability. We talked about a roller cam and hydraulics, but I want to replicate what the car would have felt like and sounded like when it was new - and when I was in high school. I want to hear those valves clicking, just like I do now. I’m going to keep the stock exhaust manifolds and system with the square-tipped resonator, so big inches, big heads, and big cubes are out. Right now it has an AFB but I have the original AVS and it’s going back on when I get it rebuilt. I will go to some kind of electronic ignition, but it will look close to stock. The Pertronix Hall effect sensor and coil I put on it work pretty well, though. I may play a little bit when I build the motor for my 4-speed “65 coupe.
Click to expand...
It sounds like a good plan. Stock built 273-4's are a lot of fun and can still pull close to 20 mpg for highway cruising. I stock built mine with Egge pistons and a Isky E4 cam. A friend did some mice head work on the cheap and it has been a good dependable runner for 10+ years.

273 Build
 
The dyno was a big thing for me. As I mentioned earlier, my original plan was to buy or build a run stand and use it to break in both engines. But that process adds time to the whole equation. We are gone during the summer due to the heat in Lake Havasu, so I don’t get those months to work on projects. So, I’m buying project time by having Brian build this engine, and we’ll see about the other one.

TMM hit the nail on the head for what I want from the engine. My high school car was. 235hp 4-speed, but would get 18mpg on the highway with my lead happy foot on the throttle. It was an amazing little car. I just want to hear that little 273 make that special sound they make through that factory “tuned” exhaust one more time.
 
azaustin said:
The dyno was a big thing for me. As I mentioned earlier, my original plan was to buy or build a run stand and use it to break in both engines. But that process adds time to the whole equation. We are gone during the summer due to the heat in Lake Havasu, so I don’t get those months to work on projects. So, I’m buying project time by having Brian build this engine, and we’ll see about the other one.

TMM hit the nail on the head for what I want from the engine. My high school car was. 235hp 4-speed, but would get 18mpg on the highway with my lead happy foot on the throttle. It was an amazing little car. I just want to hear that little 273 make that special sound they make through that factory “tuned” exhaust one more time.
Click to expand...
Go for it.
 
azaustin said:
Just thought I’d update my post from Nov. 6 on looking for an engine builder. After reading all the recommendations on FABO, I decided to go with Brian at IMM in Indio. It will probably take about three months to get it back. One of the reasons I went with him is that he will test the motor and break in the cam and lifters on his dyno. My original plan had been to buy/build and engine stand and do both of my motors myself, but I’m going to run out of years before I run out of money (I hope) so I decided to buy some of my time back and let him do it.

I will keep FABO posted on how things work out. Thanks for all the suggestions and feedback.
Click to expand...
Sounds awesome.
 
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