73 Cuda resto

[Deezel]

I then got busy fitting up the windage tray and oil pan. I used the stock 340 windage tray and it only needed minor tweaking to get clearance. I did order a Milodon windage tray but it needed quite a bit of massaging so I opted for the stock one. The Milodon pickup and Melling HV-72 oil pump all bolted up without issue.





That was pretty much as far as I could go on the build as I had to check piston to deck height before I ordered my head gaskets. Turns out the pistons are at zero deck, right where I wanted them. I ordered a set of Cometic 0.040" x 4.125" head gaskets. Block was bored to 4.070". That should put my quench in the sweet spot and my compression ratio at 10.58:1.

I'll be checking piston to valve clearance and measuring for pushrod length once the head gaskets are in. Hopefully I can have that completed before I head back to work for 2 weeks.

In the meantime while waiting on more parts, I'll be busy getting the engine run stand put together.

[Jay M.]

Very nice! I tried to do business with the dash pad factory in El Paso, TX. I had to get my credit card company involved to get my money back. I was dealing with Alana (sp?).  Keep us posted. Jay M.

[Deezel]

Very nice! I tried to do business with the dash pad factory in El Paso, TX. I had to get my credit card company involved to get my money back. I was dealing with Alana (sp?).  Keep us posted. Jay M.

Dashpad Pros was good to me but far too many have had issues dealing with them. I can't even bring myself to recommend them anymore. I believe the dashpad factory are the same people as dashpad pros.

If you haven't got a dashpad yet, I keep hearing good things about ABC Moparts for getting a dashpad. I know you have to call them as all my inquiries to them via email went unanswered.

[Deezel]

Motor is alive!  

I know there are varying opinions about break in for a hydraulic roller but I figured it couldn't hurt so I ran it for 20 minutes or so at 2000 - 2600 RPM. Initial timing is set at 14, that's where it seemed to be the happiest. Motor never got over 195 degrees and on the second run, settled in at 185 degrees.

Zero issues on the initial run. No weird sounds and no fluid leaks. One thing that I forgot to check is how much vacuum it's pulling, for my power brakes. Comp said it should be sufficient. I was surprised to see the oil pressure drop to 35psi or so at hot idle but I don't think it's anything to worry about. When I first bought the car, the hot idle pressure was around 20psi.

I dropped the oil and found next to no metal filings in it. Magnet on oil pan plug had just a small trace. Still need to open the filter to see if there's anything in there but that will have to wait until I have my filter cutter.

So far I'm pretty happy with it. First motor I've rebuilt in over 20 years and it seems to have gone off without a hitch.
I made a couple short videos and uploaded to youtube. Tach on that run stand is out to lunch. Idle was set at 800-850.
I'm definitely not a videographer....

[Deezel]

Motor is off the run stand and back on the engine stand. I won't fire it up again until it's found it's resting place in the car.

Put the front serpentine system on it and just hung the headers to see how it looked.
I think it looks pretty darn good! 
I'm thinking my next step will be to get some sort of k-frame stand figured out and start getting as much put together as I can before the car shows up.

[YellowThumper]

Good times on the motor fire up.
Solid progress.