Topics

1

Matt Shaff's Engine Shop / SBC bearings

« on: October 08, 2015, 12:52:00 PM »

Im going to buy new rod and main bearings, but seems like the bearings i have now is out of production.
They are Clevite CB663H and MB2509H
What bearings do you recomend? Std size. Sbc alky

2

Matt Shaff's Engine Shop / From SBC to BBC -- some questions

« on: September 29, 2015, 11:08:46 PM »

I need more power 
I have the option to get a complete BBC, ex Pro Stock engine, complete, with Sonny Bryant crank, EPD heads, starter, carbs, converter etc...for a good price. It needs some work; one new piston, a new valve and a little cleaning and rebuild. Today it is setup with two 4-port carbs, but thats not what i want. So, how do i know if i can use/rebuild this engine with a classic Hilborn, Enderle or Crower stack injection, magneto, dry block etc..? Is it the deck hight that is the critical part?
Or should i look around for something else?

3

Roo Man's Room / Chassis/paint

« on: September 24, 2015, 11:52:00 PM »

Im considering to tear down my chassis to give it a new paint this winter. Chassis is chr.moly. How should i remove the old paint? Someone once said i should not mediablast chr.moly tubing, is that correct?
Or should i just sand it down ligthly and paint over the old paint?

4

Matt Shaff's Engine Shop / Time for a rebuild?

« on: August 19, 2015, 05:05:16 AM »

There is one race left this season on my local drag strip before the winter gets back here...Race or save?
After last oil change, i think it looks like there is sparkles in my oil.... micro flake...very very tiny, you probably know what i mean. I havent seen anything of this before (i have changed oil after every two runs). But that said, i dont find it easy to see anything at all when its mixed with alky. We decided to run it a little bit leaner for the two last runs, so this oil isnt as grey as it has been before and that might be the reason i noticed now...not sure.

Something is wearing, but not sure what it is.

I have planned to rebuild this winter anyway, just wonder if i should start now, or try a few more runs.

5

Front Engine Dragsters / First 1/4 mile runs

« on: August 03, 2015, 11:40:13 PM »

Had my first weekend with 1/4mile racing. Great event and the weather was good for almost the entire weekend.
Started "bad"...i had forgotten to properly secure the clip that holds the shifter cable wich resulted in that i couldnt find 2.nd gear. Lesson learned. 1/8 6.34 and 1/4 11.64
Next round i lost focus and turned off early. 1/8 6.16 1/4 10.39
On the third run i deep staged, wich i thought was not allowed, so i reversed it...stupid me.
1/8 11.25 1/4 14.77....but this time top speed was 222.22 km/h
Run nr four was better 60ft 1.407 1/8 6.08 and 1/4 9.57, speed 222.91 km/h
On the fifth run i tried to step on the brake and get a little bit more rpm, but was a fiasco and i bogged off the start with a red light. 60ft 1.67 1/8 6.34 and 1/4 9.76 - better speed this time, 228.57 km/h.
Engine is running very rich, so i changed the main pill from 060 to 070 before the eliminations started on sunday..
60ft 1.32 1/8 5.90 and 1/4 9.29 - 233 km/h
Red light again, and im out. Thats life.
Engine is still running rich, im not using the trans breake, i dont have ANY electronics or ways to help me....other than a oil pressure gauge for my team to check once in a while.
Think i really need a tach and wire the trans brake. Not sure what to aim for, but it feels like there is lots more in it...

6

Spud Miller's Cave / First weekend out...loosing power.

« on: July 13, 2015, 01:11:07 AM »

I ran at a 1/8 mile race this weekend (first time out with the fed).This track is an un-preped old airfield. 
Had a bad testrun on saturday, and nothing seemed to go our way. We found the problems and had at least 10 hours of wrenching and trying to find parts before we got to bed that day. On sunday mornings startup we seemed to have finally fixed everything and the engine sounded real good. Decided for a new testrun...
Engine felt great on the burnout, and also until a little bit over half way on the 1/8... then it startet to flat out and partially die. Kept it alive gently for a while, then it died just before i was about to pullover to the return. Timeslip: 6.9 and 98mph.

We got it back and checked everything, but could not find a reason. Went through ignition, nozzles/fuellines/pillholders..  Started it up in the pits a little bit later, and still sounded like a champ, so we decided to do another testrun. But same story again, everything good on burnout and halfway...then engine starts to flat out, then finally die just before pulling over, almost on the same spot.
350 sbc with Hilborn stack injection.

Any idea what this can be? I have a feeling the magneto is playing with us..

7

Matt Shaff's Engine Shop / How much oil?

« on: July 03, 2015, 11:30:22 AM »

How much oil do you recomend for a sbc with a Milodon 31145 pan?

8

Wanted to buy / Urgent: SBC timing cover for fuel pump

« on: June 23, 2015, 12:09:20 PM »

I need a new timing cover, preferable one from Hilborn (since thats what i have now).
Anyone have a spare one they will part with for a good price?

9

Spud Miller's Cave / Hilborn plumbing

« on: May 12, 2015, 01:38:49 PM »

Im close now...just need to make fuel-lines and figure out how do connect every thing..

So; i have a mechanical stack injection from Hilborn. It was not complete when i got it, so i had to order a new pump and some accessories.
I got a device (by advice) that has a highspeed by-pass, shut of valves etc... All in all it has 5 outputs. Two for by-pass?, one inlet and two out? Then it also looks like there should be a by-pass from the metering valve? Why do i need three by-passes? And can i hook this up in a way to avoid welding additional bungs and adding "lots" of fuel lines.
Fuel tank has two outputs now, a large one for fuel out, and a smaller one that i guess was used for highspeed by-pass - since it had a fuelpump connected to it.
The shut of valve is supposed to be cable operated, right?

10

Spud Miller's Cave / Magneto noob

« on: April 21, 2015, 04:33:03 AM »

....another thing thats new to me... Magnetos!
I have come to the point where its time to put that thing on the engine.  I have huge respect for electrical stuff (got burned a couple of times as a kid), and keep reading about people getting zapped by Mags. Will this happen even if i just turn it by hand? If so, im gonna hate it... have to get myself some thick rubber gloves 
Can this be avoided in some way?

11

Matt Shaff's Engine Shop / Oil pan

« on: March 15, 2015, 12:09:23 PM »

I need a new oilpan, the one i have is too tall for my car.
What are the rules regarding ground clearance?
And what pan should i look for? SBC...

12

Dan Dishon's Transmission Den / PG Converter

« on: March 13, 2015, 01:02:19 AM »

I have been looking around for a torque converter for a while now, and finally picked one up at another racers garage yesterday. I have not bought it yet, just brought it home to see if it fit.
It says TCI 254204 on it, and as far as i can find on the interweb its a TC for TH350/TH400.
Got home and tried to slide it on, and seems like it popped in twice (both set of splines). But isnt the PG and TH different? Or can the output shaft on my PG have been changed to accept TH converters?

I believe this is the same TC (from Jegs website) as the partnumber is the same, and i noticed something else - will this work with a bigblock only? It says 400, 454 & 455ci - or is this just recomendations from the manufacturer?

8'' Race Converter - Group 4
1965-90 TH350/400
400, 454 & 455ci
Wide Bolt Pattern (except variable pitch & lock-up)

Group-4 Race Converters
Excellent for big-block brackets, Super Street & Super Gas classes. Good top end horsepower, MPH & reaction.
Engine: Big Block
Displacement: 400-485ci
Vehicle Weight: 2400-3200 lbs
Stall Speed: 5000-5400 RPM
Pro Tree/Bracket
Gear Ratio: 4.30-Up
Tire Size: 28"-Up


Im a complete noob when it comes to converters - actually this is the first time i have ever tried to install one, as i have only worked with clutches before.

13

Spud Miller's Cave / Intake manifold installation + return

« on: February 11, 2015, 04:25:17 AM »

Should i use gaskets between heads and intake manifold, or just some kind of silicone? I was sure i read something about it somewhere, but cant find it anymore..
Its a Hilborn injection manifold on a sbc.

And for the fuel return - do i need to use an external/electric pump for it? It seems like it have been used in my car before.

14

Matt Shaff's Engine Shop / Short or tall stacks

« on: January 29, 2015, 11:10:05 PM »

I finally got my engine this week! Its a SBC with Hilborn injection (alky), and shorty stacks.
Short stacks will probably work good also, but i would like the taller ones for a little more nostalgia look.
I scored some 12 metres of 2.5" alu tubeing for almost free, and was thinking of making another set of taller stacks for it. What would be a good length to try?

15

Roo Man's Room / Wheel bearings - where to buy?

« on: January 08, 2015, 12:35:34 AM »

Where do you buy bearings for your old spindle mount front wheels?
I guess they dont have them in my local autoparts store