Re: 1973 Chevelle SS, 350, 4spd. build

by Joe73 Mon Aug 06, 2018 4:31 pm

All epoxied !!! I'll do the gas tank tomorrow. Grey epoxy, then silver then clear. Might shoot the sump black.

1973 Chevelle SS, 350, 4spd. build - Page 10 Gas_ta12

1973 Chevelle SS, 350, 4spd. build - Page 10 Gas_ta12

1973 Chevelle SS, 350, 4spd. build - Page 10 Gas_ta13

1973 Chevelle SS, 350, 4spd. build - Page 10 Gas_ta14

by Roadcaptain S3 Mon Aug 06, 2018 7:16 pm

nice!

by Joe73 Wed Aug 22, 2018 9:27 pm

Fabricated a bracket for the line lock solenoid. Mounted it to the (2) master cylinder bolts. 1/8" aluminum, acid etch primer then grey the same as the power booster. Bracket has (3) sets of mounting holes to raise or lower the solenoid. If anyone would like a outline sketch of the bracket just PM me and I'll scan it and send it over.

1973 Chevelle SS, 350, 4spd. build - Page 10 Line_l10

1973 Chevelle SS, 350, 4spd. build - Page 10 Line_l11

1973 Chevelle SS, 350, 4spd. build - Page 10 Line_l12

by Joe73 Fri Jul 26, 2019 4:57 pm

Ok, got a couple things done in the last couple days.

Had my fan and rad cover blasted and I satin epoxied them this morning. Came out perfect satin black. Just have to put on the stock decals.

Installed my cam bearings and test fit the cam.

Tapped the oil galleys for pipe plugs and drilled a .035 hole in the passenger side one for some extra timing chain oiling.

I also used a triangle file and put an extremely slight groove in the distributor hole for extra oiling and cooling of the cam and dizzy gear. A lot of guys like to do that to the distributor itself but you have to be pretty close to get it to oil the gears. And when you rotate your timing, the groove moves. So I went for a slight groove in the block.

Mic'ed up the crank for install. I almost forgot how to use a bore gauge. But its in. I used a Fel-pro Viton seal #2912. $24 for that baby. I installed it "offset" 3/8" so the ends dont meet on the cap surface. And I put a little Ultra Black on the ends as well. Grease on the seal instead of oil in case I dont start it up relatively soon.

1973 Chevelle SS, 350, 4spd. build - Page 10 Rad_co10

1973 Chevelle SS, 350, 4spd. build - Page 10 Rad_co11

1973 Chevelle SS, 350, 4spd. build - Page 10 Cam_be10

1973 Chevelle SS, 350, 4spd. build - Page 10 Crank_10

1973 Chevelle SS, 350, 4spd. build - Page 10 Distri10

by thatfnthing Fri Jul 26, 2019 5:00 pm

Looks good as always!

by Joe73 Fri Jul 26, 2019 5:02 pm

Thank you.

by g3chevy / Mr Pontiac Fri Jul 26, 2019 7:38 pm

Looking good Joe! The epoxy you used on your engine parts, was it primer or actual paint? Reason I ask, is when I restored my 76 SS El Camino my paint & body guy epoxy primered the inner fender wells any they looked a perfect satin black. He said I didn't need to topcoat them. What are your thoughts?

1973 Chevelle SS, 350, 4spd. build - Page 10 Engine10

by Joe73 Fri Jul 26, 2019 7:48 pm

I epoxied everything but not the engine block. Epoxy can be used as a primer but in this case you leave it alone. There is no need to top coat it. And direct to bare metal is the way to go. All parts were shot with 2 part Summit Racing Chassis Shield. Satin Black, I think is has the perfect sheen. I did my frame, rad support, firewall etc with the satin. HVLP gun with standard 1.3 tip. I"m sure the harbor freight purple gun for 10 bucks would do the job nicely.

If you were doing metal work on a car, I'd shoot Southern Polyurethane brand epoxy on bare metal, then filler work, then more of the epoxy with 10-20 percent reducer added. That would be your sealer coat. Wait 30 minutes and start laying color.

by g3chevy / Mr Pontiac Fri Jul 26, 2019 10:32 pm

You are definitely The Paint Man! Thanks for your input on all this. I may be hitting you up for more info this fall when I start the body work on my 75. Thanks again Joe!

by clanceman427 Sat Jul 27, 2019 8:04 am

Joe is extremely knowledgeable and helpful

by Joe73 Sat Jul 27, 2019 10:21 am

G3Chevy, absolutely. Kevin, thank you very much. I'm off to bake my timing chain inthe oven. Have a great day guys.

by Limey SE Sat Jul 27, 2019 12:34 pm

Joe that looks absolutely amazing

by Joe73 Sat Jul 27, 2019 1:05 pm

Thanks Ant. Prepping the powdercoated scattershield, block plate and flywheel. Getting ready to do the "dial in" and parallel check on them in reference to the crank. Dial indicator is getting a work out. LOL.

by 73ss Sat Jul 27, 2019 4:30 pm

Glad to see you are back at it Joe. It will be one of the nicest '73's in the country when done.

by Joe73 Sat Jul 27, 2019 7:22 pm

Thanks Buddy.

by Joe73 Tue Aug 06, 2019 3:57 pm

Ok, some updates.

Cam is in and degree'd.
Pistons installed on rods, dam I hate those spiro-locks.
Big end clearances mic'd then plastiguaged to double check.
Side clearances are good.
Pistons installed in block.
Crank end play double checked.
Installed Melling 10553 Select oil pump with purple spring. Kevko Pickup set a hair over 3/8".
Scattershield dialed in and I used RobbMc adjustable dowels and have .0005 all around.
New Promaxx 200cc heads installed. Inner springs removed for breakin.
Have to switch out the 3/8" studs for 7/16" for the roller rockers and girdles.
CANT FIND MY BRAND NEW PUSHROD LENGTH CHECKER. Ordered another one.
Found out I purchased (2) mini starters ???
Installed TWO piece comp cams #210 timing chain cover. Very nice piece.
Installed Weiand aluminum water pump.
Installed FelPro One piece oil pan gasket with Ultra Black in the corners.
Installed new Kevko Cheater pan with windage tray, trap doors and spreader bars.
Installed Wix Filter for break in.

Pushrod checker should be here tomorrow. Losing that set me back 4 days.

Some pics.

1973 Chevelle SS, 350, 4spd. build - Page 10 Bottom10

1973 Chevelle SS, 350, 4spd. build - Page 10 Cam_de10

1973 Chevelle SS, 350, 4spd. build - Page 10 Oil_pu14

1973 Chevelle SS, 350, 4spd. build - Page 10 Scatte10

1973 Chevelle SS, 350, 4spd. build - Page 10 Scatte11

1973 Chevelle SS, 350, 4spd. build - Page 10 Timing10

by Limey SE Tue Aug 06, 2019 8:32 pm

mmmmmm Looks Great Joe man your taking time is making this one heck of a Nice Build

by Joe73 Tue Aug 06, 2019 8:37 pm

Thank buddy.

by fasrnur Tue Aug 06, 2019 8:54 pm

Holy crap Joe. The rest of the car is a work of art, but the engine is just fricking killer! Great work sir.

by Joe73 Tue Aug 06, 2019 8:58 pm

Thank you very much. Havent really done anything to it since I painted it in October 2016. Hoping to do the break in procedure in my galvanized chevelle frame, then transfer to the car. Dont want to take a chance leaning over new paint.

by Limey SE Tue Aug 06, 2019 9:06 pm

Yea man I hear ya on the Paint

by bracketchev1221 Wed Aug 07, 2019 12:47 pm

That must be some heavy spring pressure to use a girdle.

by thatfnthing Wed Aug 07, 2019 12:58 pm

I have a similar TC cover -- can't beat the two-piece units.

Nice work on the rest, as always!

by Joe73 Wed Aug 07, 2019 2:57 pm

bracketchev1221 wrote:That must be some heavy spring pressure to use a girdle.

Ray, there isnt heavy pressure. I believe 350 open. I want the girdle to help with oiling the rockers. My valve covers are tall (like the cast comp cams ones back in the day). With the girdle, oil coming out of the pushrod area would hit the girdle and run towards the roller tip. BTW, full roller rockers.

I respect your opinion, what do you think?

by bracketchev1221 Thu Aug 08, 2019 10:18 am

That does sound like it would work. Also prevent oil from flying out the breathers as well. Any oil you can keep on the rockers and springs will help them live. Just make sure the poly locks match. There is a .550 diameter one and a .600 one. If your rockers came standard with the .600, you may have to buy new girdle locks to match.

by Sponsored content