C5 427 forged motor?

[shakedown067]

Well at least things are moving along...better than going backwards. May tomorrow speed up for you and may you see some great progress. :thumbsup:

 

[Rich Z]

Well, things went better today, even though Chris had a meeting to go to in the afternoon.

When I got there, the oil pan was on and they were working on mounting other stuff. Come to find out that the mounting bolts for the intake manifold are too long. So we need new ones.

Then the motor mount brackets had to have some areas ground off to work.

Then the alternator bracket needed to be modified.

Then the pulley for the power steering pump just WOULD NOT come off. Luckily I have a billet replacement pulley as well as a chromed alternator/pump bracket. So I just asked Chris to buy a new pump and be done with it.

Seems like everything going from the LS6 to this Warhawk is fighting us tooth and nail........... :banghead:

We'll see how things go on Monday, I guess....

But I am regretting going with a Warhawk block and heads at this point.....

 

[Bradzvette]

Well, things went better today, even though Chris had a meeting to go to in the afternoon.

When I got there, the oil pan was on and they were working on mounting other stuff. Come to find out that the mounting bolts for the intake manifold are too long. So we need new ones.

Then the motor mount brackets had to have some areas ground off to work.

Then the alternator bracket needed to be modified.

Then the pulley for the power steering pump just WOULD NOT come off. Luckily I have a billet replacement pulley as well as a chromed alternator/pump bracket. So I just asked Chris to buy a new pump and be done with it.

Seems like everything going from the LS6 to this Warhawk is fighting us tooth and nail........... :banghead:

We'll see how things go on Monday, I guess....

But I am regretting going with a Warhawk block and heads at this point.....

It will all be worth it in the end. Hang in there brother. These are all the hurdles one goes through.

Cheers

 

[Rich Z]

I took some pics yesterday of those "fixed" holes on the heads for the intake manifold mounting. I have to admit that I'm not really all that enthusiastic about them....

And I'm guessing that they just were not drilled DEEP enough if those bolts for the FAST intake manifold stick this far out after bottoming out....

 

[Rich Z]

Oh, and another thing that caught my eye.. The head casting of one of the heads itself just seemed, well, of "lesser quality", then the other to my untrained eye.

To show you what I mean, here are some photos of the casting around the valve springs. This is on the driver's side of the engine...

This is what I would expect to see in a quality head. In the next post, I'll show you what the head on the passenger side of the engine looks like in comparison.

 

[Rich Z]

OK, here's the pics of the same areas on the passenger side head....

Yeah, maybe this is just normal and I just am jumping at shadows right now with all the other issues, but still.........

 

[RevXtreme 1]

Rich, as long as they port matched everything those hole will be fine. Also, the head castings are normal as well. The machining of the spring seat shows no defect under so I would not worry a bit. Watch, I am confident that all is good.:thumbsup:

 

[Rich Z]

Rich, as long as they port matched everything those hole will be fine. Also, the head castings are normal as well. The machining of the spring seat shows no defect under so I would not worry a bit. Watch, I am confident that all is good.:thumbsup:

Yeah, you are probably right. Perhaps my being there every day and seeing stuff that most people wouldn't see a builder go through in a normal build is really not all that good for me. But I watch for Chris's reactions to things. He just takes this stuff in stride. So if he doesn't get upset, then I try not to as well. Yeah, this is a harrowing experience, but I'm hoping that when it is all finished, this will all seem like some bad dream I had...

 

[shakedown067]

Four days without an update? Hope Rich didn't get the sickness that's been floating around... Hope she's starting to come together for you. :thumbsup:

 

[Rich Z]

Well actually Chris is having a bout of kidney stones again. I was out there on Tuesday (yesterday), but Chris wasn't feeling all that spiffy and spent time on the fuel system and some of the stuff supporting the drivetrain. Keli told me Chris was going to the doctor's today so I didn't run out there, of course. I'm hoping Chris feels better tomorrow (Thursday) but I've had kidney stones myself....

Connie was asking me about us doing the show in Venice later in March but is reluctant to sign up for it because she doesn't believe my car will be done by then...... Heck, I couldn't argue with her, because back in November I would have laid BIG money on any bet that my car would be done by now. :shrug01:

Actually from all the bad omens on this build, I am predicting that upon initial start up, the engine will throw three rods through the block, a flying piston will sever the fuel line, and my entire car will go up in spectacular flames. :thumbsdown: The only plus to this is that the video will be a BIG hit on YouTube.....

 

[shakedown067]

Wow, that car is pissed. It gave Chris kidney stones? Tell Chris that from now on, when he gets in to work, that he has to go over to your car, pat her on the fender an say, "It's going to be all right, you'll be better than new in no time." Then maybe she'll let things start going more smoothly. Either that or I recommend a vacation to New Orleans where you can pick up some killer voodoo to kick the bad spirits out.

 

[Rich Z]

Wow, that car is pissed. It gave Chris kidney stones? Tell Chris that from now on, when he gets in to work, that he has to go over to your car, pat her on the fender an say, "It's going to be all right, you'll be better than new in no time." Then maybe she'll let things start going more smoothly. Either that or I recommend a vacation to New Orleans where you can pick up some killer voodoo to kick the bad spirits out.

Yeah, I think you are right. When I was out there on Tuesday, I could swear I could hear my car wimpering to come home...... :hehehe: I think she knows about the nice garage waiting for her...

Chris called me this morning and said he went to the hospital. He finally passed a rather LARGE kidney stone, so hopefully is on the mend. Apparently they have him on pain killers or something as he didn't sound too good on the phone.

Anyway, he said he is planning on being at the shop over the weekend to catch up these last couple of lost days. I'll probably be out there as well. Hmm, I do want to go to the Tallahassee gun show this weekend, though. I need some more .17hmr ammo. The squirrel population has exploded around here and I'm afraid they will wipe out the new bamboo shoots from my groves this Spring unless I thin out the herd some. So I guess I have to do some time juggling..

 

[85vette]

Yeah, I think you are right. When I was out there on Tuesday, I could swear I could hear my car wimpering to come home...... :hehehe: I think she knows about the nice garage waiting for her...

Chris called me this morning and said he went to the hospital. He finally passed a rather LARGE kidney stone, so hopefully is on the mend. Apparently they have him on pain killers or something as he didn't sound too good on the phone.

Anyway, he said he is planning on being at the shop over the weekend to catch up these last couple of lost days. I'll probably be out there as well. Hmm, I do want to go to the Tallahassee gun show this weekend, though. I need some more .17hmr ammo. The squirrel population has exploded around here and I'm afraid they will wipe out the new bamboo shoots from my groves this Spring unless I thin out the herd some. So I guess I have to do some time juggling..

I can loan you a box or two if you get in a pinch Rich.

 

[Rich Z]

I can loan you a box or two if you get in a pinch Rich.

Thanks for the offer, but I have alternatives. The squirrels think they are safe if they skitter over to the other side of a tree trunk to hide. But not if I break out one of my .50 caliber rifles..... :hehehe:

Yesterday was a "three squirrel day"... Only got one so far today.... They were out hanging around where my yellow vivax bamboo grove is located.

 

[Bradzvette]

Rich when you go back to the shop take Chris a large container of apple juice, best thing to prevent the stones. Been there done that.

Cheers

 

[RevXtreme 1]

I wouldn't wish kidney stones on anybody! Worse damn thing I ever experianced.

 

[Rich Z]

I wouldn't wish kidney stones on anybody! Worse damn thing I ever experianced.

Yeah, I had a bout of them back in '91, I think it was. NOT fun. Now you rarely catch me without something to drink nearby. Keep the kidneys well hydrated and that helps to keep the stones from forming.

Actually I heard that cranberry juice is supposed to be the best for those stones formed because of too acidic urine. I'm not sure what type Chris has. Some are formed from calcium, and those can be seen on x-rays. The uric acid type can't be seen that way.

In any event, if you aren't drinking enough and your urine turns real dark, you may be headed for trouble. And you can cause permanent damage to the kidneys that way, so beware....

Drink LOTS of water....

 

[Shadow]

I wouldn't wish kidney stones on anybody! Worse damn thing I ever experianced.

Me too! BTDT 2x's!

 

[Bob K]

Hey Rich, I just read all 30 pages and I have a comment and some questions. Comment: No way in hell would I accept those heads with the threads screwed up that you showed in the photos. That is the sloppiest job I have ever seen. Having seen that I couldn't trust any engine component. What a mess. You paid for everything up front and I would have expected a 2 week turn around max.

Questions:

Whenever I break in a new engine I drive easy for 1000 mi but vary the RPM range. I do not cruise at the same speed continuously so I'm confused about the 3500 RPM limit.

Why do you want all of that power if you're not racing it?

I think you did everything right and still got screwed. Amazing.

 

[Rich Z]

Hey Rich, I just read all 30 pages and I have a comment and some questions. Comment: No way in hell would I accept those heads with the threads screwed up that you showed in the photos. That is the sloppiest job I have ever seen. Having seen that I couldn't trust any engine component. What a mess. You paid for everything up front and I would have expected a 2 week turn around max.

I don't think I have tried misleading anyone into thinking I am real happy about all this.

Questions:

Whenever I break in a new engine I drive easy for 1000 mi but vary the RPM range. I do not cruise at the same speed continuously so I'm confused about the 3500 RPM limit.

My impression was that this is what the engine builder (LME) recommends.

Why do you want all of that power if you're not racing it?

Why does anyone have a Corvette at all?

I think you did everything right and still got screwed. Amazing.

Yeah.............