Heckeng

I've actually been to 3 tracks in MO and none have had any issues with them but maybe that is just MO! I found some billet ones that will work.

Well, I guess I cheated a little. I got home late tonight with my Optima that turned out to be good--not sure what was going on there, it may be my charger unfortunately, and a 5 gallon gas can. I put the battery in while still dressed in my work clothes and then changed, and got the gas in and carb primed. Started it right up, but not on video. It wasn't too exciting at first anyway. It did not want to idle very well at first but I think that was because the lifters had not gotten pressurized with oil even though I primed the crap out of it. I even turned the motor over while priming. Anyway, it settled down and I got the timing adjusted but by that point the garage was so stinky with fumes I had to go in--my eyes were hurting and I'm sure I killed some brain cells with the fumes. More tuning tomorrow on the carb and I'll get a video hopefully tomorrow or Sat. Now, why is everybody picking on my fuel filter I actually like that style because I can see what is going on in there and they filter pretty well too. I do understand that they aren't as nice as a nice little billet AN version but I don't have enough room there to fit an AN filter and the fittings required. I do have another big cannister filter between the fuel cell and the mechanical pump but I like having a filter after the pump too--just in case. I'll look at Summit and see if they have any nicer nipple style filters I could switch to--just for you guys

Yeah, I'm with you David. Also, how about things taking about oh, I don't know, 5 times longer to do than they should?

Mike, they are good batteries as long as you use them regularly and don't use a trickle charger on them. The battery tender I have cooked the gel and trashed my first red top. This second one just died on its own from sitting for a year I guess. It always did real well as long as I drove the car regularly. Nice thing is they don't leak or anything, bad thing is they are more temperamental than lead acid batteries.

I have one but I don't use it on the gel cell, that is what fried my first one. This time I will be getting a regular battery so I can utilize the battery tender. It seems like about half of the people who use the BT on a gell cell battery end up frying them. I was one of the unlucky ones.

I am (I think) all ready for startup finally. I found out tonight that I am out of gas in the garage, and I also need a new battery as mine has apparently gotten lazy from lack of use and decided to kick the bucket. This is the second Optima Red Top I've trashed. I think I'll get a normal battery this time. If all goes well, tomorrow I will have it running. . . fingers crossed.

Awesome Mike, I am looking forward to see how it runs!

1 full turn is quite a bit, I would only do 1/4 to 1/2 turn for that cam. I would also adjusts them differently. Your method works ok, especially on smaller stock style cams, but once you get cams that are a little larger, you can run into problems because the duration is large enough to hold the valves partially open. That would give you too little lash though which you don't appear to have. What I like to do is either adjust each cylinder separately when it is on the compression stroke and you know the valves are shut. After you get the first valve adjusted, turn the crank over 1/4 turn and adjust the next one in the firing order and so on until you are done. Or, you can adjust them while the engine is running but you have to have them semi-adjusted to do that at all. I wouldn't think your oil pressure is causing this, but it sounds like it has happened to others. I've run 75 lbs of pressure with nothing goofy happening.

If someone would ever ask me if I thought a yellow monte would look cool, I would probably chuckle and say yeah right, but this car proves me wrong and just looks MEAN!! I REALLY like that. It looks nearly identical to Robyn's old Monte! Love that color combo, and the wheels.

Fuel pressure drop maybe?

Nice Dave, 1.39. . . Wow. . . That thing sure is running well! When is it cutting out?

Productive day today I have ordered pushrods from Summit, they will hopefully be here Friday or Monday. Only hiccup was that the hole that my alternator bolt goes to in the head was 3/8's not 7/16 so I had to adjust that but it is all good now. Getting closer.

Mike, are you guys going to get any of the snow and ice that has pummeled the midwest? I hope your heads get there before it does!

Pushrods were ordered from Summit so i would guess they might be here monday? I am wondering if all of the snow and ice will mess it up.

Heads are on but not torqued. I got the pushrods ordered, and valve clearances checked. We're on our way now. Tomorrow I'll get them torqued and the intake and carb on.

Awesome Mike! looking forward to some pics! I ordered my pushrods and valve cover gaskets tonight. I still need to double check my piston to valve clearance but it is looking good so far--figuring out pushrod length was a pain with those stinkin' squishy lifters!

Weather is pretty nasty, there is salt everywhere and the Monte won't be going out in it. It will still take me a week or so to get installed and get pushrods ordered.

Ohhhhhhh Yeahhhhhhhh, Baby, that's what I'm talkin' about. . . (in my best Barry White voice!)

Don't worry Andy, I treat her pretty well Heads can wait

They are the standard size for BBc, 2.19/1.88 valves So the next question is. . . On this Saturday, Michelle and my anniversary, should I give HER some attention, or the Monte. . . I don't think I'll be getting the heads done that day for some reason!

Whelp, I mostly avoided working much today as I stayed at home waiting patiently for UPS. The package was finally delivered at about 6:30 and I am very happy so far! I've only looked one head over but it looks GREAT and I am very happy with how the ports look. And finally, the highlight of the show. . . The intake Port!

I haven't seen anybody with one like that yet, but we have some turbo'd and roots style blowers on the forum. Maybe somebody else will chime in with one. Welcome to the club too, it is nice to see some new people!

Some more food for though. . . It doesn't just depend on HP for a specific ET, it also depends on how the driveline is set up and good conditions like mentioned already. Take Al's new engine. If you have a high hp SBC that is not the highest on torque and you use a torque converter that isn't high enough, he will bog off the line and that will slow his ET significantly, BUT his MPH will be nearly identical to if he had a higher stall that got the engine right in the desired power band off of the line but his ET will be MUCH better. As another example, I raced my car with street tires once a couple years ago and It spun off the line so I just stayed in the throttle for fun and it quit spinning half through second gear (tracks are slick when using street tires) and I ran a 13.3 at 106.XX. My best time with slicks and hooking up well is 12.64, also at 106.XX. I just thought that was really interesting. I was moving forward the whole time I was spinning, but id didn't make much/any difference in MPH, only ET. The moral of the story is that Torque is your friend off the line if you hook and are in the powerband, and if you want the best ET (i.e. 11.5), it will help to have your converter and gears matched up decently to your engine. Does your car have AC?

Just shipped--supposed to be in Missouri on Jan 26th. I'll post some pics once they get here!

Just got an e-mail, my heads have shipped. They will be her about 2 weeks early, so hopefully yours will come early too Mike