Since it snowed this morning, there were no excuses not to tear down the motor. I had already cleaned the house and got breakfast at a local cafe.

I started around 10:30am-11:00am, got the garage nice and toasty, jacked up the car and got started.

My best bud came over at around 2pm to help. By the time he got there. I had the radiator off, and the accessories (plus bracket), had most of the wiring harness off. We started on the intake manifold. At around 3ish we stopped for something to eat. Also I needed to get a 3 toe puller so I could take the hub off of the crank.

We went to pep boys, got the tool came back. Problem is, we dont have the bolt we used for his 93 t/a, its a grade 8 bolt. but thin enough to hit the crank. We tried like 10 other bolts, they all tweeked badly. So we decided to tackle the cylinder heads.

I did have to jack to motor to do the passanger side, but no biggie. We pulled the intake, cylinder heads, all the accessories and the headers are hanging down.

Tommorrow, I will clean the engine baym take out the lifters etc etc.

By 6:30 we had finished for the evening, and with the hour break (food and tool run), it took us 7.5-8 hours. Would have been quiocker if my bud came over earlier and if I had that stupid bolt, the motor would be torn down to the short block.

 

Cool man....so um, what are you doing to it?

 

Custom Bret Bauer Cam + the whole valve train is getting revamped.

I had....

GMPP 1.6 SA 3/8" roller rockers
3/8" ARP studs
7.200" pushrods
stock lifters
Comp Cam 987 spring kit
LT4 hotcam
Stock timing chain
pcmforless tune

What I am getting...

Custom Bret Bauer cam for my 383 + n2o
LS1 style springs
1.6 comp cam pro mag NSA 7/16" rockers with 7/16" studs
Morel Lifters
Isky guide plates
Lunati timing chain
Dyno tune

 

So you're basicly changing the cam...why remove the heads?

 

Maybe he doesn't want to install springs with the heads on the car.

What Lunati timing chain are you running? Is it a better choice than the Cloyes double roller?

 

installed spring height is very important, also checking for valve clearance etc etc. Plus the space is cramped. So heads come off.

As for timing chain, I AM NOT changing to a vented opti. Almost every timing chain requires it due to the cam sprocket are for the vented opti. Unless someone has a part number for the NON vented opti timing chain other than stock and lunati let me know.

 

Now put it all together in 8 hours and I'll be impressed

 

i also am doing the same thing and bret is helping me lucky for me though i live close so i get to go hangout

mine is going to a solid roller though

 

Used to pull the heads of of air cond,'66+."T" Birds grind the valves myself and have it running in3:45-4:0 hours. In frame(rings,brgs,valve job) a 289 Mustang in 9:0 hours. By myself,but have got to old for that now.
That's a pretty good time for in the backyard garage though.

 

After I spun the bottom end in my motor, me and my buddy had the entire Motor/Trans out of the car and the motor completly torn down in about 8 hours.....

We have done both LT1 heads in about 3.5 hours, not stopping for breaks....

We can re-assemble in about 6 hours or so

 

Once you get used to working on this car, things become soooo much easier the 7 or 8th time around

 

Have you got it back together yet?

 

Its been ready to be put back together pretty much the 2 days after It was disassembled. I have a guy who is helping me do the installed spring height, degreeing the cam and when thats all done, measure the pushrod length because Morel lifters require it. Then after adjust the guide plates. He has been busy with his business and weather has been a factor with him.

Next week we should have it together. Not a huge issue since there is a ton of salt and sand on the road. Also I just quit my 2nd job so now I have weekends free as well.

I wll keep you all posted

 

Personal prefernece...I'd rather pull the motor from the bottom and have enough room to work. Especially when you torque the heads down.

 

Im pulling mine out the top as a shortblock. Torquing heads is pretty easy with the engine in the car as well, much easier than the stuff I work on every day.