Installing a Blueprint engine

[78BO]

Well I'll be intalling the engine soon. Any advice? Has anyone done this? Is there anything I need to know first?

Thanks
Bryan

[old Rusty C10]

the only afvice im going to give you is to go slow and methodically.. do all the bolts in order and make sure you complete one step before you go onto the next and do things in the order that makes sense like engine to tranny bolts first then torque converter to flywheel then motor mounts then fuel line then starter etc etc

[78BO]

Thanks,
I'm not too worried about the intall as I am the start up. The install guide guide talkes about setting the initial timeing set at 13-16/and 34 total.

Here is a link for the guide, http://www.blueprintengines.com/tech...ils&tech_id=24
Page 5 is what I'm looking at.

[78BO]

Well I've got the engine, tranny and drive shaft in. But Jegs sent the wrong balancer and flex plate. I got a flex plate form Auto zone, but the balancer I'll be getting from summit. They have the one with the timing numbers on it. So far the only that that went as plan was the part that went wrong. I knew somthing was going to go wrong, just didn't know what. But in all, it should be running in a couple of weeks.

[3r!c84]

what motor a 383?

[78BO]

Sorry, yea it's the 383. I've kinda got a few threads around. I figured I'd list the progress in this one.

[71STPSDE]

I went to the shop today and they finally got the engine running. It sounded good, but really loud with open headers. It will be going to the exhaust shop tomorrow. So hopefully I'll have my own thread with lots of pics and a video so you can hear what yours will sound like.

[78BO]

Originally Posted by 71STPSDE

I went to the shop today and they finally got the engine running. It sounded good, but really loud with open headers. It will be going to the exhaust shop tomorrow. So hopefully I'll have my own thread with lots of pics and a video so you can hear what yours will sound like.

Did you get it back yet?
I can't even get mine started. I've got everything from the back to the front on and wired (drive shaft, trans, speedO, shifter, trans lines, kickdown, starter on and wired, headers, temp guage). But when I went to install the pulleys and brackets I found out that the crank pulley doesn't fit! yea, I know. I should have known that a 350 crank pulley won't fit a 400 crank. Everybody knows that. Can you hear the sarcasim?
No one in town has one, they all have to order it. I could have had it the next day, but they wanted 70+ for it. So I ordered one from summit, along with a new water pump pulley. That way they both look the same. Anyways, SOON real soon.

[chevybuldr]

Why wont it fit were is the problem? The pulley is the same for a 350 and a 400. Used all the ones off of my 307. The 400 blanacer is just different for external weight. Also I was curious do they tell you what flywheel and balancer to use? Internal or external?

[78BO]

Originally Posted by chevybuldr

Why wont it fit were is the problem? The pulley is the same for a 350 and a 400. Used all the ones off of my 307. The 400 blanacer is just different for external weight. Also I was curious do they tell you what flywheel and balancer to use? Internal or external?

When I went to bolt up the pulley there is a lip on the back side (that tuches the balancer), it's about 1/8 long. It wont allow the pulley to snug up to the balancer. I called jegs to ask if they were different the guy said yes. So I spent an hour driving around to find one and one on had it. I ended up ordering a crank and water pump set from summit for 70 bucks. After reading you post I called them to ask if the pulley fit both the 350 and the 400 crank (I already knew they did because I looked up parts for both). The guy on the phone said that they did infact fit both engines. I'M PISSED! But that's just how things have gone with this install. I call for advice and if I'm lucky I get the right answer. Now I'm wondering why my old pulley didn't fit. Maybe the washer is bigger then the old one. From what I was told the washer should sit inside of the dia. of the pulley. If so, I could have this thing running yesterday!
O'well, I really didn't want to put the old rusty part's back on. I was wanting to replace the brackets and pulleys with chrome ones. Guess now I will.

As for the flex plate, they don't say that you have to change that either. I found that out after I was ready for the install and had my buddies waiting on me. It uses and external balanced one. The center dia. is smaller then the one used on the 350. Isn't even close.

[71STPSDE]

I just got it back today. It's at the audio place getting a new stereo and new speakers in. I should have some more pics and a video of it. I really love my Dakota Digital guages. I didn't really get on it. It only has 16 miles on it. I'll try and vary the RPM's for the next 500 miles. Then after that, I'll give alot more. Hope everything works out for you.

[78BO]

Well I got it in. Broke in the cam yesterday. Hoping to get it driving today. Found out the trans pan gasket was leaking so I have to change that. I also have to hook up the carb linkage and rig an exhaust. Getting closer

Almost there! Video by Bryan - MySpace Video " title="Almost there! Video by Bryan - MySpace Video" target="_blank">Almost there! Video by Bryan - MySpace Video

[78BO]

I don't know what's going on, but click the link on top of the video.

[chevybuldr]

Sounds good, bet your heart was pounding. Nothing like starting a new motor for the first time.

[78BO]

Yea it was. I'm so close to driving it I can taste it. But I made a bone head mistake with the transmision. I didn't put the rubber grommit on the kickdown and it leaks like crazy. So I have to wait until next weekend to fix that. We got to rig up some 2.5 in flowmasters so I can get to the shop, and we set the timing on it. Man it sounds good. I'll be shotting another video once I have it on the road.