• Got the Contributing Memberships stuff finally worked out and made up a thread as a sort of "How-To" to help people figure out how to participate. So if you need help figuring it out, here's the thread you need to take a look at -> http://www.corvetteflorida.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3581 Thank you, everyone! Rich Z.

427 engine (part 2) - RHS block

After all the bad press it would be FAR easier for him to say srew it and quit, so you are correct Rich. Shows alot at this stage of the game.:thumbsup:
 
RevXtreme 1 said:
After all the bad press it would be FAR easier for him to say srew it and quit, so you are correct Rich. Shows alot at this stage of the game.:thumbsup:
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I know. And also, I'm just not inclined to kick someone when they are down. I doubt anyone would ever give him another chance if I don't try to help him turn things around, simply by pushing my patience level to the limits... I've been there every step of the way, so I have seen firsthand the BS he has had to put up with with semi-compatible (or worse) parts and in some cases (World Products) crappy quality.

I'm giving Chris every opportunity to be able to tell people "Yes, I know I screwed up on some things in the past, but look how well Rich's car turned out that I did for him.." And THIS has been no easy task, by any stretch of the imagination. Actually I can't think of a build being more of a nightmare for all involved, yet he kept in there, plugging away, actually being more blase and cool headed about it than I have been.

I believe he knows that a lot of his reputation is riding on completing this build. This has been a VERY public situation that a lot of people are following. This will be the proof that he can do anything if he really sets his mind to it. I know some people are arguing that I SHOULD pull my car out of there, but I think I am handling this in the best possible manner, all things considered.
 
Friday Chris had to mill off some of the timing chain cover so it would fit. Unfortunately he got his glove caught up in the Bridgeport mill and wound up in the emergency room. Fortunately he didn't have any flesh removed or bones broken, but sounds like he got a pretty nasty sprain in his wrist. Probably scared the beejeesus out of him as well. It could have been a LOT worse... Milling machines can be pretty unforgiving.

He said Justin would be finishing up putting the front of the motor back together while he tried to supervise while on pain pills. He said he might be able to get back to tuning the car later that afternoon, but I suggested that doing so while on pain killers might not be a real good idea.

I didn't hear back from him, so I'm not sure of the status at this point, but I'm guessing tuning will resume maybe on Monday.

It's now officially been 10 months since my car went into the shop.
 
Damn Rich, I don't even want to think about what could have happened. It's hard to say someone got lucky while at the same time they were injured but that could have really been ugly.
 
Wow he is really lucky. I had the same thing happen with a concrete saw. Didn't lose the finger but really luckey because it cut to the bone.
 
NEVER have gloves, loose clothing, rags, etc anywhere near a mill or lathe!! LUCKY MAN!

Back in the 70's when I schooled for this they showed us video of the injuries....gross.




Rich Z said:
Friday Chris had to mill off some of the timing chain cover so it would fit. Unfortunately he got his glove caught up in the Bridgeport mill and wound up in the emergency room. Fortunately he didn't have any flesh removed or bones broken, but sounds like he got a pretty nasty sprain in his wrist. Probably scared the beejeesus out of him as well. It could have been a LOT worse... Milling machines can be pretty unforgiving.

He said Justin would be finishing up putting the front of the motor back together while he tried to supervise while on pain pills. He said he might be able to get back to tuning the car later that afternoon, but I suggested that doing so while on pain killers might not be a real good idea.

I didn't hear back from him, so I'm not sure of the status at this point, but I'm guessing tuning will resume maybe on Monday.

It's now officially been 10 months since my car went into the shop.
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Well, I ran out to the shop today. Got there about 1:45pm. My car was not on the lift, and instead a blue C6 was up there. Chris had someone over helping him out, but obviously the priority for the day was the blue C6, as that is what he started working on. Evidently it had a oil return pump on the turbos go out and they were planning on cleaning out the air intake lines. The apparent owner of that car showed up while I was there, and jumped in to help out. When I got there (and before the owner of the C6 showed up), Chris said the C6 was going to be coming off the lift pretty soon so mine could go back on there. It appeared that this was not going to happen as more and more things got taken off of the C6 (and my car not a higher priority), so I figured there was no reason for me hanging around any longer.

On the bright side (comparatively) the engine was put together, mostly, and the steering rack needed to be re-installed. So at least I didn't feel like puking when I looked under the hood.

I'll be running back there tomorrow......
 
I'm just taking the time here to collect my thoughts and make note of the issues that are still outstanding with my build so I have a reference for them.

  1. Waiting on original invoices for the reworked and beefed up transmission and differential. Invoices need to show who did the work, and precisely what work was done to them for my documentation on this build.
  2. Waiting on new 1 7/8 ceramic coated ARH headers.
  3. Waiting to get turbos back from Jet Hot that are being recoated for the second time.
  4. Passenger side front fender needs to have the tab repaired attaching it to the rocker panel.
  5. Rubber hose oil line running to the turbos needs to be replaced with a steel braided hose, as originally specified.
 
Wow, those headers still haven't arrived? Are they on a slow boat from China? j/k Hope you see some nice progress this week. Sorry to hear about Chris' big scare. Mental note, no gloves around power tools that spin...check!
 
Rich,

Are your headers special or something, reason I ask is i thought i saw a post in the other forum where COW had some in stock.
 
chris308 said:
Rich,

Are your headers special or something, reason I ask is i thought i saw a post in the other forum where COW had some in stock.
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They are American Racing Headers, 1 7/8 inch primaries, Jet Hot coated. I've already got 1 3/4 inch LGM motorsport pro headers on the car, which apparently I'm going to have to be satisfied with.
 
September 1, 2010

I went out to the shop today. My car was on the lift when they opened it up after their lunch break (Justin was there as well). It's mostly put together, and things seemed to be going pretty smoothly hooking up all the tubing and stuff and putting in fluids. Bled the brake lines and put on the serpentine belt. They disconnected the fuel lines and ignition signal wires and just turned the engine over with the starter looking for problems. Well they found one. The belt was sitting on the back lip of the harmonic balancer pulley, meaning something was misaligned. They had to move a bunch of crap out of the way again to get to the balancer to see if they could spot the problem. After watching my car bite their hands several times, I just decided to leave. It was 4:30 anyway, and I had my fill of watching auto surgery 101. So obviously no tuning to be done today.

Chris was supposed to contact me this evening, but that didn't happen. I've got to run some errands with Connie in the morning, but am planning on going out there tomorrow afternoon.

Nothing new yet on my punch list of outstanding issues......
 
I am so glad we decided to mock up the entire accessory/blower drive on mine while the engine was on the stand. We found several alignment problems we had to work through. Your situation is obviously less complicated, but I offer this as a tip to anyone else.

Even with the "non-aftermarket" LSX block, there was a change that required machine work on the back of the factory alternator bracket. Plus some other stuff.

It's always something. But hang in there, other guys got their cars done, and ours will get finished too. :thumbsup:
 
Thursday, 09/02/10

Justin washed off my car and it was pulled into the tuning bay at the shop.

Chris worked on the idle and got it running well at 800 or so rpm. Seemed to be stable but I noticed that the engine was making an odd noise, that seemed to be coming from the rocker arms. Chris noticed it too. I used the camcorder to take some closeups of the engine while running and it was VERY noticeable.

I left the shop around 4:30 or so, and Chris was going to be pulling off the valve covers to check valve lash.

Please Lord, grant me the ability to go back in time and kick my own butt for having this idea.....
 
Setting up proper valvetrain geometry is an art/ Also, do you have adjustable rocker arms on it? Last thing I do on a build is measure for proper preload & pushrod length. Possible they may be slightly to short. I target 3/4-1.5 turns of preload from zero lash.

Rich Z said:
Justin washed off my car and it was pulled into the tuning bay at the shop.

Chris worked on the idle and got it running well at 800 or so rpm. Seemed to be stable but I noticed that the engine was making an odd noise, that seemed to be coming from the rocker arms. Chris noticed it too. I used the camcorder to take some closeups of the engine while running and it was VERY noticeable.

I left the shop around 4:30 or so, and Chris was going to be pulling off the valve covers to check valve lash.

Please Lord, grant me the ability to go back in time and kick my own butt for having this idea.....
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Here's a video I took of the engine running. I was handholding the camcorder, and as I moved it closer to the engine, you can definitely hear the clattering noise I mentioned earlier...



Chris called me this morning and said he pulled off the valve covers and checked everything out, but couldn't find anything wrong to pin on the noise. He said he went and put the valve covers back on and started it back up, and the noise is now gone. :thinkin: :shrug01:

He also said he found a water leak behind the passenger side head, that needs some sort of seal that he doesn't have. So he had to order it (them?) and will have that on Tuesday.

BTW, I guess all the smoke is just the oil and crap burning off of the headers from being manhandled into place. I didn't see any actual flames, so that is a good start.....
 
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