Friday, August 27, 2010

Sneak Peek



A quick look at the new motor.
I've pulled all the front end of the old motor and transplanted it. Water pump, alternator and harmonic balance. I located a compressor for the A/C with the bracket still attached and that's been fitted as well.
Fingers are still crossed that this is going to run. One thing that's got me puzzled is the firing order, based on the leads, is not the same as the motor I just pulled out. It's either got a very different cam in it, ( I was told it was an experimental Dodge block and the engine number starts with an "X") or I'll have to re-organise the leads.
The guy I got it off told me he had it in a VC Valiant. He'd restored the car, sprayed the car and the motor. Took the car for a spin, planted the foot and twisted the chassis in the car about 300mm, writing it off. (His VC had a 6 originally and the chassis wasn't strengthened for the V8)
I was also told it was a Canadian Dodge block, that they build for racing. The only things I have to go on to verify this story is that the stamped serial number on the block starts and ends in an "X". Also, the original water pump on it fed in at the bottom on the right and not the left as per the VIP pump. Now when everything is set up on the front of the block, the bottom radiator hose goes over the timing marks. This will be fun to tune!
I was also told it was very, VERY loud!!!!
Itching to get it in but I still have to clean up the engine bay.

A lot of cleaning up to do



Now the motors out, the extent of the engine bay cleanup is a bit daunting!
This one might take a while!

Point of no return!



Out it comes.
Judging by the dirt and oil on the block, I'm pretty confident no-ones had a "play" with this one. Hopefully will just be a case of rings and valves.

Thursday, August 12, 2010

Getting serious now

I did what I could to get the motor to a road worthy condition, but I couldn't stop the fumes. If I accelerated heavily, there was quit a lot of smoke which wasn't good.

Time for the motor to come out!

Fortunately I've got one to replace it that I was going to use it in the hot rod, but for the moment it might see a bit of life in the VIP. Once I get the ol girl registered, then I'll rebuild the VIP motor and swap them back over.
Once it's in and running (fingers crossed), I'll let you all know more about the motor. From what I've been told it's not a standard 318

With the motor out, it'll also be good opportunity to clean up the engine bay. It has a bit of surface rust and is also a combination of every colour the cars been painted