Blowthrough build repeat.

[WarWagon]

I put this project on hold while other life events are taking priority. I do intend to finish and having this running again this year but no rush at this time.

 

[WarWagon]

Dangit! Soo much getting in the way of getting the car back out. This is the longest it has been off the road. I have been able to drive the 3.8 swapped Impulse to get the Buick 6 noise and feel fix, but it's all motor. One of my newer daily drivers ('11 BMW X5 35D) helps get the boost fix and is nearly the same for the delivery of power like the Buick. When I get focused, I'll put together a stock bottom end 140 casting hot air block. It will have steel piston rings this time and the rest of goodies and heads from the last 109 that popped. I also have some of the last off the shelf ring sets for the 4.1L, I can get that up as a spare short block with stock pistons as well as my old '79 3.8 block that needs cam bearings. The 109's and the 10:1 comp 4.1L builds are on indefinite hold for now.
Updating the interior of my V8Corvair has taken an unexpected priority this year.

 

[WarWagon]

Picked up another complete engine to help get the Regal back up.
An '83 turbo 3.8, I'll strip it down and make it the new blowthru testing mule.
Need to check the bottom end but I have two sets of Speedpro steel piston rings to use this time, it will get the 206 roller cam setup and topend from the hurt 109.
This will be better than the current mishmash of parts I was putting together in a 140 block but I'll still build that too as spare engine.

 

[WarWagon]

While it's in good shape the new to me engine has bores enlarged more than I prefer.
It's .040 over, so I will to use it as is. It had GM shim steel head gaskets on it and cylinder 5 was leaking some water into the bore.

 

[WarWagon]

Actually my mistake cylinder 6 was leaking coolant and the turbo was bad.
The bores are really nice at this size, looking in the bottom end next.

 

[WarWagon]

I wonder if this is a GM rebuilt engine, it has .040 over turbo pistons with the steel inserts, I believe the bearings are gm and standard. The rods appear to be installed backwards but it has been running this way, standard turbo crankshaft.

 

[WarWagon]

Ooo it almost got me, I thought the 1st cam bearing was installed wrong and almost pressed it out as the oil hole is random. I then looked at it from block side where brass oil T goes. It's grooved! press on with assembly

 

[WarWagon]

The front cover I want to use from my '79 engine isn't so good right now.. probably get recycled.
Tore down the cover from the new '83 engine, did the Earl Brown oil mods to it, go clean it up and resurface the pump cover and replace the oil pump gears. Also I need to clean up the crank seal area for a rubber seal it still had the rope in.
The heads are back from shop with fresh gasket surface, that's all I had done to them.
Waiting on: turbo oil drain kit, GE silicone for RJC heads gaskets.

 

[mikemcvaney]

What cam.are you running ?

 

[WE2Regal]

That prep work is always a thankless job. Sure seems to be a previous GM rebuild. Odd that the engine was assembled with the rods reversed. Mr. Goodwrench must have been having a bad day.

 

[WarWagon]

What cam.are you running ?

Comp 206 roller, it's been in 5 different blocks now.

 

[WarWagon]

That prep work is always a thankless job. Sure seems to be a previous GM rebuild. Odd that the engine was assembled with the rods reversed. Mr. Goodwrench must have been having a bad day.

For sure. More odd things: there's a tapped plugged hole in the rear valley bulkhead, the cam button had a dab of silicone on it and seized to the front cover so the cam was spinning on the spring. Not one single broken bolt anywhere.

 

[WE2Regal]

I've seen that tapped/plugged hole in the back of the lifter valley on several '82-'85 blocks. Doesn't seem to serve any purpose, so I don't know what the original intention was. Those original non rollerized cam buttons sure could do some damage.