Project Big Block 74

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Dropped the rebuilt suspension out tonight. Welded up a fixture to set the back end on with some casters.Tested out the plan I think its going to work pretty slick. Got a cart to set suspension engine and trans on all at once to roll underneath. Now to clean up this k member a bit.

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The time has come finally got all my rotating assembly and everything collected final assembly starts next week. Details and dyno to come....can't wait!!!
Found out my 727 is a lockup version I don't know much about these but I'm told it won't work. Not sure which direction to head with it now I sure would like an OD trans of some sort not shy of cutting banging and welding. Anybody got any advice or suggestions in that department.

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The time has come finally got all my rotating assembly and everything collected final assembly starts next week. Details and dyno to come....can't wait!!!
Found out my 727 is a lockup version I don't know much about these but I'm told it won't work. Not sure which direction to head with it now I sure would like an OD trans of some sort not shy of cutting banging and welding. Anybody got any advice or suggestions in that department.

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Not sure why a lock up style wouldn’t work for you. You can get lock up style converters .

if you want an overdrive unit, a518 should fit with minimal modifications. You’d have to simply wire up a control for the OD. But most of the time, that’s just switch
 
Well I stopped in the machine shop today and found another surprise....this place never ceases to amaze me. When I originally dropped my block off it was discussed with the owner that we would build a 470 I would supply block heads water pump intake rockers etc..with a 4000 deposit they would build it. Well the owner died in a street racing accident and the shop fell into disarray and poor management for the next 2 years many lies and stories told to many customers. Moving ahead they seem to have the management issues taken care of. Somehow they planned to make my 470 into a 451 which I caught and thought I had straightened out.....until today. Engine is being assembled this week so I popped my head in the door to check it out turns out it's now going to be a 499 the assembler had engraved into the pistons 4.375B and 4.150S 499. Do they even know what they are building ?Too late to turn back I don't care anymore I want my engine back I'm tired of the headaches. For anyone who's had issues with a shop before I now feel your pain it's gotten past the point of ridiculous they wanted to charge me for porting my heads I had dropped off... they were ported when I dropped them off luckily I had photos and flow bench results. I'm almost 17 grand into this cocksucker and it better be good when I get it back... **** my life

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One more hiccup I had PRW stainless roller rockers the geometry just wasn't right then I started doing some reading and saw there was a lot of failures with that particular rocker. So they sold quick that was great but now I'm waiting for these Harland Sharps too show up. It's really starting to look like something finally..I can't wait to hear it!!

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Well I cheaped out a bit and went with the Mancini rockers instead supposedly they are made by HS hopefully they are a good piece.
It's all together now finally!!! Dyno this week!!!
This has been an extraordinarily long build I'm way over budget and have been run over the coals by this machine shop... what an experience.
Praying to God and knocking on wood here we go!!!

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First hit on the dyno today did better than I thought we will see on Wednesday what we can get out of it

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Made some improvements yesterday made a little more power. Finally brought er home tossed it on the Schumacher swap mounts everything lined up beautifully torque strap too, sure am glad I ordered this stuff a couple years ago.
Now I really gotta get my transmission in order!!!!

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It's been awhile since my last post recently sold my Harley so I have a good budget to dump on the car now. Rear end should be ready next week had a Dana 60 narrowed to spec fully rebuilt with a true trac went with a 3:54 gearing so I should be able to cruise the highway a bit.Disc brake kit for the rear showed up today along with some 9 way adjustable Calvert shocks and some 90/10s for the front. Got a 26" Cold Case rad coming with a contour fan setup that's on the way as well. 727 is being built right now as well with some nice parts and a 4200 ish converter. Also grabbed a cvf pulley kit a powermaster alternator and a dakota mini starter. Rear quarters are ordered but haven't shipped yet..feels good to finally get some real headway happening!!
Fingers crossed she might be running this summer!
 
It's been awhile since my last post recently sold my Harley so I have a good budget to dump on the car now. Rear end should be ready next week had a Dana 60 narrowed to spec fully rebuilt with a true trac went with a 3:54 gearing so I should be able to cruise the highway a bit.Disc brake kit for the rear showed up today along with some 9 way adjustable Calvert shocks and some 90/10s for the front. Got a 26" Cold Case rad coming with a contour fan setup that's on the way as well. 727 is being built right now as well with some nice parts and a 4200 ish converter. Also grabbed a cvf pulley kit a powermaster alternator and a dakota mini starter. Rear quarters are ordered but haven't shipped yet..feels good to finally get some real headway happening!!
Fingers crossed she might be running this summer!
Looking forward to seeing it! Sometimes the journey is worth it at the end, others it’s the fun along the way. But hey, you’re close!
 
The goodies keep showing up must say I'm impressed with the look of the welds and the overall quality of this Cold Case 26"rad. It appears to look like it will drop right with some very minimal clearancing.

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Got my 60 back built with some goodies from Dr Diff went with 3:54s and a Suretrac from Dr Diff similar to a Detroit truetrac but has 6 worm gears as opposed to 4 in the truetrac I hope it's a good piece. Installed a summit disc brake kit on it and some 9 way adjustable calvert shocks. Thing are definitely moving along now if my 727 would get finished I could get my engine trans and suspension underneath!
It going to be a great summer I think

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Well I just made a **** ton of room putting my rad in front of the core support, the last photo is the little room I had to work with mounted in behind. I guess if the contour fans don't keep it cool I will have lots of room for a clutch fan setup. Before you all give me hell over it you should know the lower section was completely bent and trashed so I had intended on cutting it out anyway and repairing. I will need to run hood pins now though as the original latch won't work any longer.
It's a 74 and it was never going to be a show car....this one's for fun

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Another couple pieces of the puzzle are here and it has got me smiling I can't wait getting so close!!

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Transmission had the 19 spline shaft so had to get it switched out for a 24 spline so my converter would match up. Well got that figured out and got it all mated together starter on headers on and it's all installed in the car!! Happy moment it's been a long time since this car sat on its own wheels rather pleased with the stance. Still obviously some bodywork to do,full wiring harness is next,need to get driveshaft built fuel and brake lines, fan controller etc....but it's getting closer all the time now. Pretty stoked about it right now I can see the vision coming together.

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Well it's been awhile again since my last update. Slow progress lately as I tinker away as time is available. Got all my fuel lines, pump, filters and return lines built and ran used a company called Hot Rod Fuel hose went with braided ptfe and 8an front to back. Pleased with those I ordered again and did my oil cooler and transmission cooler lines as well 10 an for the oil and 6 an for the transmission. Ordered and got a digital dash from intellitronix last week Got that all put together but not installed yet. Tore out all the old wiring harness and am about to install the new Kwik wire harness next I think. It's actually coming together fairly good now I'm really hoping to have it on the street this summer and drive it as an ugly sleeper.

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Update and a few new photos. Been a slow go this summer so far.....I really am dragging my feet on wiring I just don't like it, feels like a real hurdle. I did however get all my brake lines bent flared and installed. New steering wheel and a pretty sweet shifter from Kilduff. Still picking away at the bodywork. Got some measurements done and sent to Mike B3re once my corrections are made order some new pushrods and finish the fricken wiring it should be go time!!
very excited to get it out of the garage soon and moving!!

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