SoCal Jet Boats
Tech Talk => Projects => Topic started by: 1975_Challenger_461 on February 20, 2011, 09:58:38 PM
-
Have a 75 Challenger with a 461 Olds. Did a mild rebuild in October and ran ok. Was still working the bugs out when a week ago at Elsinore I was racing Eric and it died in the water. Wouldn't start and sounded like crap. Kept the Olds for nastalgia and to beat up on all the guys that go chevy but it's just not fesable. The aftermarket world is huge for chevy parts and lets face it, trying to get parts for my Olds is like trying to pull my son's tooth when it's loose. Here are some pics of the destruction. I pulled the heads off, i've never seen heads that the valve seats are removable, but they fell out and slammed into my pistons. I also noticed that the ring landing was blown out on my #3 and 5 pistons. So when I saw this I threw in the towel on that Olds and hopped on the chevy band wagon. I have been wanting a big block ever since I bought my 79 camaro at 15 years old. (still have the car and it runs 11's in stock trim) So here we go! Need parts still and maybe some advice. After I saw the destruction to my Olds I went straight to Ecology and picked up a 454 for $230! Going to pull the heads off tomorrow, if the cylinders look good i'll run it for the rest of the year with just a cam swap and head rebuild. If not, i'll have to bump the compression up with some flat tops and possibly stroke it out.
-
Pics
-
Tore down the 454 today. Cylinders measured out at 4.251 on all. Still hash marks in em'. Bearings looked alright, not good but not bad. I think it may have overheated at some point because the oil that came out of the main caps smelled burnt. Went to go drop it off at Machine Tech in Oceanside but they talked me out of dropping it off saying that "the stock pistons, rods and heads will just break in my application" and that they want to see the Olds motor. Saying that the Olds had more potential. I don't see how that works when I can't find parts for the dang thing. I went and did some research and found that the only difference between marine and auto engines are brass freeze plugs, cam and some other small things. Nothing huge though. So i'll drop it off tomorrow for sure to get the block cleaned, mag'd, crank polished, heads and pistons tanked. Not going to anything special on this build. Just looking for something reliable I can race around a bit but more importantly have fun! Anybody have any ideas for a Cam? Looking for a kit with springs, retainers, etc. Oh yeah! Lucked out and got a 4 bolt main. Gotta call the Dealer tomorrow and find out all the specs, Comp ratio, cam specs, heads, etc.
-
pics
-
pics
-
pics
-
That must be one seriously Old School machine shop. I think I would shop around for another place that builds boat motors for today instead of 1969. I love my Olds, but there is nothing that a properly built BBC won't do better. The Chevy will make more torque, more HP, more RPMs, and will stay together longer under a heavy foot. Oh yeah, and it will cost less to build. Damn I hope no one reads what I just wrote. Its gonna be bad for my rep O0
-
Yeah, broken hearted that I am swapping. I loved the Olds. She was just too problematic. Thanks for that by the way, I was actually back and forth all day contemplating fixing the Olds. I figure i'll rebuild it later and just drop it into a ratrod.
-
If you have an undamaged N crank I might be interested. Call me a glutton for punishment, but it the only part of my 800 hp 1000 ft/lb 482 cu. in. Olds that I don't have yet. :screwy:
Seriously though, I have one crank but I think a std. one would be better for what I'm doing.
-
The crank has been turned 10 thou on the mains. I'd have to double check if it was the main or rod journals. You still interested? I'd like to get rid of the rods with it. I had the rods resized with ARP's but if you are pushing that much power I doubt stock rods would hold no matter what hardware is in em'.
-
. . . but if you are pushing that much power I doubt stock rods would hold no matter what hardware is in em'.
Only in my dreams 8) Most everyone on here knows my boat and understands when I hoist the Olds flag that I have tongue firmly implanted in cheek. Other will tell you it is more like head implanted in azz . Run whatchu brung, that's how I roll (for now).
My longterm plan is to build the largest amount of torque for the least amount of cash that I can. I figure offset ground stroker is as cheap as it gets. Keep me in your prayers ;) (and let me know when you have looked it over real good.)
-
Looks to be a GEN V block . You need to check the heads before you look for cams etc. Most gen v's do not have adjustable valve trains. You must convert them . Check the casting #s on the heads
-
Yeah they are the peanut heads. I already have square ports lined up. ^-^
-
So three days ago I started with nothing. Just a broken Olds motor. I can't thank Nick enough for coming through with most of the parts I needed and hooking me up. Just shows and made me realize how close the boating world is...especially jets! I've always known jets stick together but i've never seen such unselfishness for people that barely know eachother. Thanks again guys for your help.
-
Still looking for parts but here's what I got so far. Basset Headders, free (thanks Nick!!!). Machined block polished crank resized rods with ARP bolts $543. Mallory Unilite Billet Distributor with wires and coil, flexplate and driveshaft adapter $200. 049 casting heads from a way cool dude up north, $250. And just bought a marine cam (270) from Comp with springs, lifters, retainers, locks and seals for $450. Anyone know where I can get a single plane victor oval port intake, mounts, roller rockers 1.7, and sick valve covers for cheap let me know! I need an oil pan too but I may just make my own out of the stock auto one. On a budget and trying to get this thing ready for Blue Water this month.
-
new stuff
-
new stuff ;D
-
new stuff ;D
-
;D
-
Dropped in the bottom end. Measured out ok. I keep reading that the tolerances are supposed to be a little loose. The number 3 main cap is .004, don't like it but I guess i'll roll with it. Still waiting on Fedex to deliver my Cam, springs, etc. I had a little time left over so I ran over to a car wash, yanked out the valves and scrubbed the crap outta' the heads. Going to lap the valves tomorrow or monday. Wish I could afford new ones. lol Got em' in a ammo can sealed up in a mixture of diesel and carb cleaner. We'll see how they turn out. Also recieved my valve covers today. 70 bucks! They are gorgeous! Feel like i'm running out of time. Still need an intake and thinking about modifying my auto pan. Has anyone done that before?
-
Valve covers
-
thanks bro, they look good
-
Modified Auto pans for cars in my previous life. Can be done, in this application I would only consider a rear sump to do so on, but honestly, drop the few bucks for an Armando's pan or a Dooley. You'll thank yourself, and me, later.
Personally, I've used a couple Milodon Jet Boat Pans with zero problems, but apparently, several others on the site have had issues. I'll leave it at that, not going to get into improper install and all that crap, but I have one running currently, and the other that is not running was NOT due to a problem with that pan. Held 90 PSI at 6000 rpm every time. Take that recomendation for what it's worth.
Ray
-
Jeg's has 10 qt Hamburgers for 200. Think i'll save myself the hassle and just pick up one of those.
-
Spent another $440 today on the correct flexplate, Air Gap intake and bolt kit for the coupler flange. Also got the heads on. Piston to valve clearance was .089. Hope it's good! :D
-
Still having a hard time finding an oil pan and pickup that I don't have to give the lower part of my torso for. But other than that i'm almost done and ready to drop in. I want to try to get it done by sunday to take it out on a test run before parker. Wouldn't want to end up with a broken boat that far away. Fittings are expensive!!! I spent more on fittings than I did on those sweet valve covers! Well here are some pics. I picked up those rockers off of ebay along with the valve covers. Mounts are sitting in my living room but they aren't polished so I think I may just paint em black or if anyone knows a good cheap place to get em done by Oceanside i'll do that. Fresh paint, covers on, fittings and some oil plugs today. Getting real close! I'm getting more and more excited for Parker!
-
pics
-
looking good! :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:
-
Update! So I finally found an oil pan from Jegs. It's pretty sweet but the oil runs a little hot and gets thin so i'm open for ideas. I spent 2 hours aligning the bbc to the stringers and the pump. I ended up being 1 degree off! ;D I was asking around and found out that most people don't do this on their own. Why is that? Patience is key! So I had it dropped in by sat night with most the stuff hooked up. Sunday I finished her up and took it to Lake Hodges for the cam break in and got yelled at by the lady that runs the dock half way though the break in. :mad: So I had to shut her down and take it to the other ramp. I ran it without a alternator and throttle bracket cause I was waiting for them in the mail. Ended up making the Parker run and had a blast! Had a little prob with my elec fuel pump overheating and a tank of bad gas that left me at the dam but no probs other than that. Thanks to Nick and Mike for their huge help! And it was good meeting all the SCJB guys that were there at the Blue Water! Ralph thanks for the tow and Skip for not bouncing on us. It's a bummer i'm gonna miss the whole season :beer:. I'm definitely going to miss the Mushroom burgers from RoadRunners. I'll post pics as soon as I can. Moving right now, only have a little over a week left in the "States"! Good luck guys and drink one for me!
-
c push ups . in 6 months ...u should be able to do ...at least 2!!
-
Sorry it took so long to post pics! Deployments are hectic. Here are some pics I took of the new engine and the boat up at the Parker Opening a week before I left for Okinawa.
-
Looks good man. Im going to be doing the same thing once my olds bites the dust.
-
Hey Gas Can! Your boat runs pretty good, I didn't know that was a fresh motor.
-
@74hondo- let me know if you need any advice. The swap was pretty simple. Hardest part was lining up the chev motor on the stringers and drilling holes. Took me two hours! DEGREE it! It's a must! Mine ended up one degree off which is good. That one degree on the shaft eliminates vibration.
@Luckie Stiff, Can't tell if you're being sarcastic. lol Bad tank of gas and some issues with my fuel pump overheating. Other than that yeah it ran alright. Ran my buddies 21ftr, said he's pushing 640hp plus a ton of bowl work and he barely walked me. Coarse he did have 2 more people than I did. Can't wait to get back! Okinawa sucks! How's the season coming anyway?