Woooooohoooooo!

After YEARS of sitting in the garage, my T/A is finally getting it's heart transplant.

When I bought the car, it was an '85 T/A with the 305 motor in it. It has basically sat in my garage since as it was a $500 special and was open header.

Well, I am now ordering the final grocery list of parts I need to finish the 412 build and should even be dropping it in the car next weekend... I'll check back after a full day of working on it on Wednesday and then again when it goes into the car next weekend. Wish us luck!

 

cant wait to see pics!

 

bring on the pics!!

 

 

definatly keep us updated. i got a 406 i'm workin on also!!

 

Can't wait to see some pics! Good luck and keep the updates comin!

 

Thanks for the encouragement...

I pulled the heads today off the old 305 so I would have the head bolts and yanked the fuel pump off to get the rod to re-use...

Here's the 412 before and after paint:

 

T-minus 23 hours until the build starts

 

haha have a good time with the build man. im in the process of building a 383 stroker . i cant wait to get it finished :-D

 

Hey, good luck! Maybe when you are finished you can come over and help me!!!

 

Haha, yeah... I'm an advertising rep in the Beavercreek and Xenia area, so small world.

The only reason I'm really able to do all this is because of my cousin and my buddy who built his own 383 beast.

 

Heeeerrreeee we go!

The first pic is of my block and the pile of crap about to get dealt with...

Then we started disassembly to clean and prep the block.

And this is my cousin installing the cam bearings. (The pics you see are all taken by me, so despite the fact that I did quite a bit, many will have him in the frame doing something.)

 

Then we installed the expansion plugs. (2 pics)

And then prepped the block to work on installing the crank.

 

Then you have my forged crank.

Crank setting in the block to test clearance.

And then bolted down to test clearance.

 

Starting to place the seals in their seats.

I THINK this has the lower main bearings in ready for the crank.

And crank installed for good.

 

Setting the piston rings and then took a lunch break once done.

And then putting the pistons into the block.

2 of 8 installed at this point.

 

All the rod bolts snugged up.

Final tightening...

And setting the oil pickup into the high flow pump.

 

High flow oil pump installed.

Cometic gaskets being used in this build due to chip issue on the top of one of the cylinders.

One head installed to torque specs and the other gasket laid up.

 

Beginning install of my Comp Cams XE284.

Timing gear attached to cam.

And timing set now complete between crank and cam.

 

And now rocker arms, lifters, push rods all installed.

And as it looked as I left it today. The plans are that we'll install the oil pan and timing cover tomorrow. We'll also bead blast the intake to make it fresh looking again.

Soon to come... a 750 Holley re-freshed carb, shorty headers and custom exhaust once installed... WOOT!

 

I know nothing about building engines but you guys make it look so easy.

 

Not easy, but a lot of fun!

The oil pan (chrome) is now on, timing chain cover (chrome) is now on, fuel pump (chrome) is now on and the harmonic balancer is on.

The motor comes home tomorrow and then the swap begins on Saturday...

 

Looking good so far. What kind of heads are you using?

 

They are 'stock' heads off of a 400. Casting number 333882. Nothing fancy.

 

Do you plan on dyno-ing it (in or out of car) when its done?

 

looks good, glad you're getting it done so quick. not trying to be a buzz kill ,but don't you think that cam is extremely large for a stock set of heads? I think you would have been much happier with low 270s on the duration side. You just won't be making any real high power at those higher lift #s where that cam will come alive.

Although if you are adding it now in anticipation for a set of heads down the road then good for you. G/l getting her buttoned up, i'll be awaiting your vid.

 

The place where these pics are taken is a community college locally and they have a dyno. I'm hoping I can do a pull or two to get numbers once the car is actually driveable.

I have read up on the head and intake issue and you hit the nail on the head. This is 'stage 1' to get the car driveable and not have to redo the bottom end. It'll be an easy fix later on to swap heads and intake as opposed to pulling the 406 back out and rebuilding the whole thing. Add in the fact that the cometic gaskets are SUPPOSED to be good for 3-5 rebuilds so once to replace the heads should be ok.

Thanks, all!

 

Starting off with the pics of the T/A itself...

 

And the old 305 gettin' the old heave-ho!

 

The old, crummy engine bay.

The newly painted engine bay with towels to prevent scrapes from any accidental shifts of the new motor as it goes in...

And the 412 making its way over.

 

Mating the motor to the transmission...

In and starting to complete it...

And the last photo is how it sits rights now.

 

lookin pretty good so far :-D keep it up

 

We are on course to have the engine broken in on Monday. I'm going to get the last parts buttoned up over the weekend after Christmas and then the fun starts!

 

Well, progress has been relatively slow as my buddy, "Slow", has gotten called into work a lot and he is my resource for engine swaps...

Anyone have any experience getting creative to get the starter to fit? I had to get a new starter to fit the new flex plate and now it is rediculous tight with the header and I'm afraid its too close. Has anyone shaved the ear closest to the header? Thanks in advance.

 

I love that Bible verse man on your signature. Blessings!

 

And as quickly as it started, it is now DRAGGING...

My buddy had a family emergency and has been MIA for a while. The wires I got arent right because I need all 90* bends at the plugs due to header clearance.

The poor thing is still on stands because of the alternator issue... meh...

The bright side is that it's still January and cold so even if she was done, I wouldnt be driving her.

 

Keep your chin up. Looking forward to hearing how it runs.

 

Yeah, it's not really anything more than frustration..

My buddy did call and the carb is back together. Hopefully more progress this weekend.

 

I sat down last night to put the new electric choke on the carb and to start running the plug wires (Accel custom kit). Found out the lever the choke is asking for is different than the one that had been on the carb... ugh

THEN I go to start mounting up my plug wire guides and the passenger side one fits with no issues, but the driver's side has the oil dip stick in the way. Has anyone had this issue and what was the fix? The guides are polished / chrome so I really dont want to hack at them...

 

For anyone using this as a tutorial (bad idea)...

Found out that the choke lever I have is different than what the instructions asked for because it is a one piece design and not two. Evidently the one piece is better and cant even be bought as replacements (so says a local carb shop). Electric choke is now on the carb and on the motor waiting for adjustment.

Then with the Spectre plug wire guides, I used a tube bender to slightly move the dipstick out away from the block and VOILA! the wire guide fits.

I have to get a better quality wire cutter / crimper to install the distributor side plugs and the wiring will be in business... WOO HOO!

 

Did three of the plug wires last night and had to stop... here's a before pic...

 

To solve oil dipstick clearance issues, you can use the braided cover dipstick tube, that is commonly used in street rods. Then you aren't restricted to it being along the block, but rather, you can mount it on a firewall or inner fender panel (or wherever you want).

 

Just so you know your aircleaner is called the"triangle of death" for a good reason.

If you get so much as one backfire from that sucker that thing is TOAST. Not to mention it's substandard filtering qualities, the only thing thats gonna stop from getting into the engine is rocks/moths/junebugs. I think a fruitfly could make it through no problem.

Get yourself a drop base 14x3 with a good paper element and be finished.

Nice swap btw!

 

X2

 

Thanks for the advice. I had planned to get a drop base anyway since I want to use the T/A hood and clearance is a big issue.

Finished the spark plug wires today. Getting close!

 

Looks great man! More pics please.

 

X3 Had one on my chevelle. It sucked..... and not in the good way lol.

Setup's looking nice! Alot prettier than my big block swap thats for sure.

 

Lookin good.

My 412 is still on the stand.. Me lazy.

-- Joe

 

Thanks, guys. Here's a pic back when I got the drop base...

My buddy who is my v8 guru broke his finger AND is expecting a munchkin anytime now, so there hasnt been too much progress. Hopefully, the weather is mostly past and I can get things rolling again.

 

Well, my engine guru was SUPPOSED to be around but never materialized. So I'm going to the mountain and seeing if anyone on here can help...

First off, the mechanical fuel pump... It is this: http://www.summitrac...s/SUM-250000-1/ And my guess is that looking at it while bolted up, the left port is the intake and the right port is the feed to the carb, but I dont know for sure. Can anyone confirm?

Secondly, the bracket that the alternator mounts to does not fit anymore due to the chrome water pump. The extra thickness from the chrome has caused issues for both the power steering and the alt. My initial thought is to leave one of the bolt holes in the bracket and cut the other one to make a 'channel' and then just lock it down as tight as possible. A.) Would this work and B.) which hole would be safer to make a channel (block or water pump bolt)?

I appreciate any help in advance. Thanks!