Lee J
Active Member
Hi Guys,
I wanted to post a thank you to Brian and Fred at IMM. Everyone who has spoke highly of Brian, and the stand up operation he runs, couldn't be truer!
I contacted Brian and asked if he would be willing to assemble a 360 Magnum with the machine work already done using my parts. He agreed, with the warning that if the machine work wasn't correct it would have to be made right in order for him to assemble. I agreed 100%.
So I packaged up my engine and shipped it down. I live east of Sacramento in El Dorado Hills, Ca. It seems like a lot of work but I couldn't find anybody local that was familiar with Mopars and reading all the positive posts about Brian I felt it was worth the extra expense. He did not disappoint!
I had a local shop do the machine work and was hoping that he would do an adequate job. I didn't plan on building a race engine, I just wanted a healthy engine for my 48 Plymouth. More of a cruiser than anything.
After I got my block I started checking, to the best of my ability, the quality of work that had been done. Using plastigauge the clearances seemed to be good. But what got me to start worrying is measuring the above deck clearances for the pistons and how much they varied. Three corners of the block seemed to be within .001 to .002 but the fourth corner was off by .008 to .009". I knew the block was not square decked with modern equipment and I began to have more doubts. I noticed that the cam bearing at the rear was not lined up, the passage was blocked by at least a third. I had planned on assembling this engine myself as a learning experience, but the more I found wrong I realized I needed a professional to check the block to avert possible catastrophe later.So off to IMM it went.
We'll my worst fears came true! After checking the block Brian told me that in order to use that block it would have to be re-bored. He found that there was .0005" taper in some of the cylinders, maybe still useable but told me he wouldn't be comfortable. This posed the problem buying new pistons that had already been pressed on along with the affecting the already balanced rotating assembly. After checking the large end of the rods found some to be undersized. After getting this phone call my heart just dropped!
So Brian told me he would trade me blocks, at no expense, to keep me from having to incur more cost. So he did the machining and assembled the engine using his block and called me with the results. I was very happy. A mildly built engine with 410 h.p. and 434 lbs tq.
The engine has a 9.58 compression ratio, Brian told he would rather be conservative with that cam than to have problems later. I had originally planned on around 10/1. Eddy Magnum heads, Comp 268 218/224 @ 50, .550 lift.. Eddy 650 AVS Thunder Series Carb, Edelbrock RPM intake, Mopar Performance Electronic Dist. w/orange box. KB 232 quench pistons, stock bottom end with ARP bolts for mains and head bolts.
Brian set the piston height .003" above deck giving me .037" head clearance. Cometic .040 head gaskets.
Today I finally fired her up. I had a grin ear to ear. It sounds great and I think this will be the perfect engine for the 48 Plymouth. Cope trans with 2800 stall, Suregrip w/ 323's.
It will be fall until I will have it back on the road. Still a little customizing to make everything fit. I will post pictures later.
Thanks to everyone here on this forum who takes time to answer questions. For everyone's recommendations. I've learned tons!
Lee
