It's looking good Nate. But I think your shop help gave up there. :thumbsup:

Moving right along. What color is the car going to be?!
I say paint the block/valve covers orange.:unibrow: :thumbsup:

http://photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos..._2307652_n.jpg

What, this guy? It was a long day....

He was probably busy sleeping off the bone I gave him.

Painting the engine
 

Been a while since I've updated, but I've had a huge curveball in my life. When the time is right I will tell that story, but for now, on with the show.

Between extended periods of time away from home, I've managed to clean, prep, mask, prime and paint both the engine block and the valve covers. I used a ceramic high temp primer and chevy orange rattle can paint. Turned out nice for the $20 I spent on materials.

Just a bit of overspray to clean off the front cover.
http://photos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos..._2987797_n.jpg

Valve covers primed.
http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs511...._1444878_n.jpg

Coated in Chevy Orange a few times.
http://photos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos..._5023524_n.jpg

With the valve covers loose installed.
http://photos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos..._6432068_n.jpg

With the coil packs.
http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs491....09_66159_n.jpg

Carb rebuild
 

Over a few nights I managed to take apart my carb, clean it and replace every part that is made out of rubber. I deleted the choke mechanicals and plugged the hole for the choke rod. I've cut the choke horn away before on previous builds, but I think I will just leave it for now. Turns out the carb is a 4780-5 800cfm double pumper and not an 850 as I was led to believe. Oh well, still plenty for what I'm doing. While I was at it I found that it had factory jets and a 6.5 power valve. I installed a 5.5 for now and will wait to change out the jets when it's time to tune it.

Pile of parts.
http://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos..._2645595_n.jpg

Ended up with this.
http://photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos...2_820786_n.jpg

Sneak preview
 

Took apart two of the stock lifters in preperation of making them into solid lifters for pushrod length checking and piston to valve clearance checking.

http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs511...._1246418_n.jpg

Very cool.The Orange came out awesome.:thumbsup:

I know this is a big jump forward in my install, but between a new baby, my wife almost dying and having to work a ton to make up for lost money...I didn't document anything I've done lately.

I installed the heads on the ARP head studs, installed the valvetrain, and got stuck at installing the harmonic balancer. I didn't have a tool to install it, and none of my local buddies had one. The price to buy one for just a one time use was NOT to my liking. So, I made my own very very simple tool. Cost me $8.45 in materials and $8.99 for a hacksaw (needed one anyway).

Here's the recipe:

1 M16 threaded rod with 2mm thread pitch. Just take your old crank bolt with you.
2" stack of washers
1 large diameter thick fender washer (the washer that comes with the ARP bolt is perfect of course)
1 nut
1 deep socket (mine was 24mm)

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-..._3392034_n.jpg

This is the first try...it was a bit too short.

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-..._3788235_n.jpg

Here's the second one I made, a few inches longer. Note the ARP washer on it.

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-...3_737693_n.jpg

Stack the washers on the ARP washer, toss on the nut and crank away!

http://hphotos-sjc1.fbcdn.net/hs634...._4718764_n.jpg

Viola! Crankshaft harmonic balancer is installed!

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-..._1317344_n.jpg

Motor gets installed soon...

Intake manifold and water pump installed today.

Also fit checked the hughes flex plate designed for use with th350/400/700r4 transmissions. It fit up perfectly with the 700r4 in my car. No need to elongate the holes on this one!

Things left to do:
1. Adjust valves
2. Install motor mounts/adaptors
3. Fabricate bracket for SBC style 1 wire alt.
4. Remove power steering box, install manual steering box
5. R&R heater core
6. Install motor
7. Electrical, cooling, etc
8. Vroom.

Intake manifold and water pump installed.

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-..._2844230_n.jpg

http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs566...._8275516_n.jpg

Went the cheap route and kept the stock top cover and reused the wiring grommet. I just filled the hole for the wire with ultra black, put a nice bead of more ultra black on the sealing surface and squeezed it down. I should work that way for a while. Hardly noticeable, I think.

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-..._3543751_n.jpg

Here's the fit check with the Hughes flexplate. Holes line up perfectly with the ATI torque converter for my 700r4.

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-...1_354606_n.jpg

PROCESS CHECK!

I found the directions for the Edelbrock motor mount adaptor plates to be ambiguous. I THINK this is the direction they are supposed to be installed.

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-..._4077321_n.jpg

And with the old energy suspension mounts attached.

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-..._2528966_n.jpg

One of the last big projects: I need to create a bracket to mount my old alternator. I have already added the pulley I need and have a general idea of where it will go.

http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs586....5_522566_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-..._7689553_n.jpg

I think I will use one hole common to the cylinder head, run a tie-rod to another hole...not sure about a third mount. Maybe a plate the takes up three holes on the head and attaches to at least two points on the alternator.

And one thing that needs to be done in the engine bay before the motor goes in, aside from a general cleaning and re-paint. This old power steering box has got to go. I have a manual box I'm swapping in since I want to run only a water pump and alternator.

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-..._3222687_n.jpg

Still need to adjust the valves...maybe tomorrow.