Usually figure they are a one time use anyway. The Mr Gasket reusable seem real nice and should be reuseable . Me being me if I'm changing something it's changing. Hate doing a job twice ! Think my leaks were due to not all bolts in and the headers needed "massaged" to have stuff work. Couldn't make a left turn due to pitman arm hitting tube, can now turn left just not a sharp turn. Clearanced at shock tower tubes hitting and at the steering gear box. Lots of Paulaner was consumed, started on Oktoberfest ! Not sure weather the 5/16" heads would help a lot of it was reach issues, my "sausages " just don't fit those areas. Will have to get pictures on here at some point. Number 5 tube has a bolt in it that the head all but hits shock tower #6 couldn't get one in that had clearance. They sealed and hopefully I don't have to visit them anytime soon! Thanks for the offer ! Went to get inspection today and the mechanic couldn't believe how tight it is in the bay. Oh and have to go back next week for a sticker as he didn't have enough at shop. He stated he loves this ride and he claims to be a Bowtie guy. Torque came in at 550 . Have now dropped 2 jets all around as we were running rich on dyno day. Also they had another engine up after mine and found the timing light was off by 10 degrees, the way MSD will mess with some. SO have been playing with stuff minorly to pull some more power. Need drive time to really get her dialed. We were both figuring she should have been about 500 hp. I'm just happy that finally came around to a good block, the original sleeved 428 CJ. 3rd block was the charm, so original .03 over 428 and 4,250 stroke puts me at what 462/465? Yeah it's a 428 CJ ramair like prego it's in there !!!!
Prost !! BB Here's a couple pics of front of engine as it was all going together . Just for an idea of how close it is in the engine bay.
Usually the MSD wires have a "bendable" spark plug connector on them, maybe the extra room was needed to try and get all the header bolts in - holy close!!
As Phil said MSD is a bendable plug end . Have a new set in a box 135 degree boots. Right now that's the least bothersome issue to me. These wires were on car when I bought it like 7 years ago, so who knows how old they are. No missing so no reason to replace also MSD isn't offering the blue wires anymore just red and black. Yes that is one tight fit in engine bay. Most guys leave top bolt out of #5 and #6 header tube.Some of the bolts are turn with open end wrench then flip wrench turn repeat add nauseam !! It's definitely one way to make you drink !! 3/8" -16 bolts x 1" long takes awhile.
Here's a couple more pics for you guys as the engine install is all done and this is what it looks like. Other than some cleaning and touchup I'm done under here hopefully.
The definition of fun is really starting to elude me !!! Had to call the tow truck today to get home. Back round went for a ride this past saturday and noticed oil pressure was low, hot idle in gear nadda and only around 15psi at 3k. Parked car and did nothing to it sunday. Monday started going in for an oil pump swap after work. So that stretched it out a little bit. Actually got the pan dropped and pump swap done Tuesday night but needed to button things up today ie reinstall sway bar , motor mount bolts and refill oil. Pics attached of what I found never seen this happen before ! Oil pressure much better now so went for a ride. Transmission decided to stop working other than low gear and reverse. If you shift out of low gear locks up the rear tires. So now I get to yank the trans out for a rebuild ! Yippee. Guess I know my plans for the next couple nights ! Might have to look for a Kegerator for garage at this rate. Not to worry this car is not going to be a garage queen no matter how much she tries!!!! I'm a mechanic I will win !
Likes to kick you where it hurts, huh? I'd try the valve body first, instead of the whole trans - all the control is in there, the case is just passages and servos.
She be trying !!! One of first calls I made was to a hunting buddy that manages a trans shop. Went over what all was the symptoms and he said sounds like it's deeper in trans. Trust me I'm not looking forward to pulling this out C-6 being an R code car it gets a cast iron tail housing, more weight. Can't bench press this one! It will make one more part that is rebuilt, eliminate another part from list that hasn't been redone.
Well yanked the trans out saturday. Came out without removing headers, I just hope it goes in same way. Fluid in pan had lots o'glitter! Dropped trans off sunday with my buddy and he took it to work with him. They tore it down today pics attached. Basically the sprag left loose and is what jammed me up. Clutches had some flaking this is usually do to setting in damp area when not used. I know the car had set for at least 8 years prior to my purchase in a under house garage. Bits and pieces of sprag were setting on top of valve body. So a rebuild is underway !!! Unbelievably a 70 mustang 428Cj showed up at his shop today, trans leaking. They will be fixing that one as well. He says it does not have the castiron tailshaft on the trans, hmmmm.
This weekend for "fun" put the trans back in car. Running now and shifting just need to fine tune the shift points a little. Pics here to show a method I use to get trans up on jack when working on jack stands. Not much room under there. No leverage to lift . At least I didn't have to unbolt the headers from the heads. Get a little creative on twisting the trans in there it will go! Was all getting bolted up and putting in the driveshaft when one of the U bolts stripped. Ran a die over it to make coarse thread and got running, tonight I bought a real one at Autozone. It was in stock believe it or not. First test drive wouldn't shift a slower speeds into next gear and never into drive. Adjusted modulator and got a little better finally found a small split in vacuum line feeding it. So now get to keep adjusting until I like where it shifts.
I feel your pain, for sure! I had a "transmission Guru" modify the AOD I swapped into my money pit and now he is nowhere to be found! The last time I had him adjust the shifting because it shifted so hard it would actually bump the shift lever out of Drive in Neutral and now it shifts too soft to be "enjoyable". Maybe I can still find him...???
Well, he told me at that time if I remember correctly (which IS always debatable) that it involved a spring inside the trans....
Yes, there's a spring inside, but the cable that runs from the carb down to the transmission is NOT the old "kickdown" cable, it controls line pressure in the transmission, which in turn changes how it shifts. If he used a "Lokar" brand cable, there will be an adjuster right up at the carb linkage, otherwise you have to adjust it at the transmission end.
