351 Cleveland updates

[Ghost Magnum]

I got the block, crankshaft, rods with pistons back from the shop. Heads will be done soon. Going to assemble the short block tomorrow if my package arrives. All good so far. Tomorrow I will install the crank, pistons, camshaft and timing chain.

I also have a non car related update I will share within the next few weeks!

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

Please say it will run by a distributor and not a computer.

 

[Ghost Magnum]

Please say it will run by a distributor and not a computer.

Distributor and carburetor. I have a 4 speed top loader for it. I got to take a trip to get the rest of the parts. Hopefully I will have my car moving under it's own power by November

 

[robvious]

I am looking forward to the test drive report... I am having challenges with my old 67 currently, and good news is appreciated...

 

[Ghost Magnum]

I am looking forward to the test drive support... I am having challenges with my old 67 currently, and good news is appreciated...

There was some set backs. The machine shop stopped work after he finished the short block and didn't touch my heads. I wanted to pay and pick it up all at once. Because the shop I'm building it at doesn't belong to me and I don't want my parts stored there waiting for assembly. Mostly because I'm not getting charged rent and I really don't want to over stay my welcome. The owner is a friend of mine. But the machine shop has many motors left in there over the years after after completing work but the customers never paid for them. So I understand his point. He wasn't going to do my heads until he knew he was going to get paid.
My car's brakes are seized. My rear axle needs to be rebuilt, and something that's been pointed out to me more than once is my front springs will need to be replaced. I was going to start on the electricals now. But I kinda committed to something non car related. I will post it on here in a few weeks. Another small detail is my top loader is for a big block. So I need to swap input shaft. But it's also a little older than my car. That means it doesn't have the provisions for back up lights button. My Torino was federally mandated to have them. I got to take it to a transmission shop anyway. So they can fix that for me. It was a cheap transmission. I'm just happy I have it.

 

[IAM Rand]

As has been said here many times, it didn't happen if there are no pictures

 

[Ghost Magnum]

As has been said here many times, it didn't happen if there are no pictures

Post pictures tomorrow!

 

[Racer X]

Just my opinion based on doing 3 GM A bodies. Pull all the front suspension and do it all at once. I don't recall the configuration of those Fords, but on the GMs, once you get in there, you can do everything in a day or less, and it's a lot easier to put it all back systematically than to just pull a few parts randomly and change them.

Kit pricing is also pretty reasonable as a package deal.

I must confess, that I have spare control arms, so I could prep a set, and just swap them out, rather than stop and press out bushings and ball joints. I love following the build!

 

[Ghost Magnum]

Just my opinion based on doing 3 GM A bodies. Pull all the front suspension and do it all at once. I don't recall the configuration of those Fords, but on the GMs, once you get in there, you can do everything in a day or less, and it's a lot easier to put it all back systematically than to just pull a few parts randomly and change them.

Kit pricing is also pretty reasonable as a package deal.

I must confess, that I have spare control arms, so I could prep a set, and just swap them out, rather than stop and press out bushings and ball joints. I love following the build!

Thank you! I'm just going to buy all the parts I need. Then put them all on at once. First need to get the motor done first

 

[WR Moore]

Distributor and carburetor. I have a 4 speed top loader for it. I got to take a trip to get the rest of the parts. Hopefully I will have my car moving under it's own power by November

Having been involved in a couple of these adventures, November of which year?

 

[Ghost Magnum]

Here is a picture!

I got some progress on the Cleveland. I had a rough start. I started much later than planned. I was hoping to start at 9am. But didn't get started until about noon.
The engine stand put up a hell of an fight. But I won in the end and got the block on the stand.
I followed the Cleveland literature as close as possible.
Even the first step that say to offer a blood sacrifice to appease the engine. So I cut my hand and poured my blood on to the block.
After I managed to clean my blood off my engine block and washed my hands off. I thoroughly cleaned the engine the best I can. I stuck shotgun bore brushes into ever hole I found. I lubed up my camshaft and installed it. I then checked the mains clearances. Everything was right on the money. The Cleveland may have been high mileage but it must had been well taken care of. No grinding required on the crankshaft. I used standard bearings. This was a insanely long process. But I installed the crankshaft for good. I rotated the block and found more of my blood. I cleaned it up and started to put rings on the pistons.
This is where I started making mistakes. I goofed up with a piston. Luckily it was caught by the mechanics. The owner is a friend of mine. He and his mechanic spotted my mistake. We corrected it. But it sat me back a half an hour. I cut my hand open with a badly designed Napa piston ring compressor. I'm convinced that 351 Cleveland is going to have my blood circulating in it when I start it up. Me and my Torino will be blood brothers at this rate.
I cleaned everything up and cleaned up my work station. And called it a day after the number 2 piston was installed.
All and all I'm proud of myself. Will finish up the later this week.
Blood sacrifice done.
Crankshaft installed.
Camshaft installed.
2 pistons installed.

 

[Racer X]

which cam and intake are you using? I've always wanted a 351-C 2V motor to build and stuff in a Mach 1 or maybe a Grande.

My old GF's family got the uncle's 72 Montego with a 351-C 2v and I almost got it from them. Would have been one heck of a sleeper with the flat hood and olive paint.

 

[WR Moore]

A blood sacrifice to the tool gods is a necessary step in any successful evolution.

 

[Buzzzer]

A blood sacrifice to the tool gods is a necessary step in any successful evolution.

A necessary step involving any mechanical work on cars in my case. Every vehicle I ever worked on was a "blood brother"...

Nice work so far!

 

[Ghost Magnum]

which cam and intake are you using? I've always wanted a 351-C 2V motor to build and stuff in a Mach 1 or maybe a Grande.
My old GF's family got the uncle's 72 Montego with a 351-C 2v and I almost got it from them. Would have been one heck of a sleeper with the flat hood and olive paint.

It was a camshaft kit with lifters, timing chain, valve springs, and other parts. Compcam street/strip thumper camshaft. I'm going to run a edlebrock rpm airgap with a 650 carburetor.

A necessary step involving any mechanical work on cars in my case. Every vehicle I ever worked on was a "blood brother"...

Nice work so far!

A blood sacrifice to the tool gods is a necessary step in any successful evolution.

Yeah, there was enough blood to appease anything lol
I have cuts all over my hands. I had one cut bad enough to that I pulled out my personal first aid kit. I used gloves when I was taking apart my old 427. That block cut through my gloves like a knife through butter. So I didn't bother with gloves after that.

I'm going to try to finish the short block assembly this Friday. I'm buying more parts this Sunday.

 

[lkabug]

I'm told the blood is a sign that you learned something from the task.
I must not have learned enough. I still seem to make the blood sacrifice anytime I attempt mechanical tasks.