Daverods 52

[daverod]

Starter works. After I grounded my engine to the frame with some jumper cables. Still need to weld a bit before I put in some gas. Bottom of the exhaust in places and alittle on the bottom of the notch.

[Layedoutsonoma91]

I bet you are excited man, all that hard work is close to paying off big time!

[daverod]

Still need to hook up the vac. lines to my carb. not sure about that yet. holley550 street avenger. Fire started up were I was working they wont let me back up there so I have the day off.

[daverod]

Found a good pic of how the heater stuff use to work. Had some leakage were the fuel rail hooked up to the carb. The guys at auto## were a big help. Said I needed more tape and some gas resistant o rings. Funny thing is I knew they were full of it and I still bought and tried the o rings.The carb was missing the fuel inlet fitting. Ordered what I needed. Could just mcgiver it for now.

[daverod]

classic.. Tried to start my engine thought I saw some fire. Stopped looked around abit. Tried again heard a bang and smelt like electrial burning. I ran to the engine to see where the noise was coming from I could'nt see anything but I could hear and smell it.Ran around looking for more light the noise was getting louder and louder I was in a panic I could believe how loud it was. Turned out I never grounded the engine I was using jumper cables to ground it before and I took them off. It grounded to my air hose.

[Strodder]

DOH!!!!!

[daverod]

ya i thought i had a big fire and my harness was burning up. Did turn it over a few got some smoke out the carb.

[daverod]

I did install a nice grounding strap. Turns over nice

[99 to Life]

dave, yeah def gotta have sealer on them bolts, also now that that gasket has been wet and not seated properly, it might be warped, but I'd def try that, let the engine set for a day if you put sealer on it and torque, then come in and retorqe, cause the bolts will relax. Then I'd try rolling it over without spark and then check every cylinder.

[daverod]

stripped a head bolt wtf.

[daverod]

Took the antifreeze out dont know if I should take the engine out or not..hmm

[daverod]

I looked at the threads on the bolt you could hardly see any of the rtv sealer on it at all i used the red stuff. I think I only put it around about ten threads or so.about a 1/4" Ill bet my other engine is the same way.

[99 to Life]

ahhhhh, been in your shoes kinda. My previous engine (one I put in when I started building my 51') was just a stock engine that I put a cam and intake on yada yada. Thing never had good oil pressure to begin with. I ended up flooding it out a ton because somehow the main vacuum port in the back of my carb got unscrewed. Couldn't figure that out till I switched carbs. It slowly ran worse and eventually blew a main, my oil when squirting right up and over my fenders all over the garage in the dead of winter. SOOOOOOO..... it will feel like it will never get done, but I assure you it will. I am actually sooo glad that happened to me, cause now I know what to look for and I rebuilt my current engine, all but the crank and mains hey time was a factor. I like it and understand it more now. I'm working on a vortec engine too, so hopefully I'll swap them out next year.

Anyway, I'd just take the engine out, pop the heads, make sure your threads are good in the block, put new gaskets in and put more sealant on your threads. I used the white stuff and my buddy just uses rtv black high temp silicon, that stuff is nice and thick, but hard to clean outta threads. Maybe change your oil. Also use break in additive if you have to break the cam in, sux cause all that oil and additive is money wasted if you got water and anti freeze in it.

keep us posted and good luck, your truck will be awesome.

[Strodder]

How can you strip a head bolt? Got any pictures?

[daverod]

thats what I was thinking,I was at 70,

[Strodder]

You need to tap all the head bolt holes and blow them out to clean the threads This is so you get the correct torque, and not strip the bolts
Just a thought incase you didn't know.

[99 to Life]

yeah strodder made a good point, especially now that you have all that sealant in them, run tap down and blow em out, double check the hole that your bolt was in. Honestly, I'd just buy all new head bolts, old bolts actually stretch and are just weaker. Also torque in steps, 25, 45, 65 for example.

[daverod]

I think I'll just take the engine out of my 66 take the heads off it. Put them back on right. Then swap it to the 52. Good thing is I have some good work coming up. So more parts. Really the head thing just cost time more than anything. Maybe I'll learn how to put heads on right. Think a longer bolt in the head would help?

[daverod]

Damn new bolts are $$..Engines out. Came out fast and easy. Any idea on the tap size?

[daverod]

My god. Head gaskets price any where from 10 to 200. Any ideas on which to use? I think the ones I put on were fel pro i see their the cheapest.

[Strodder]

Fel pro is the best. Check the head bolts for the size dummy.

[daverod]

Originally Posted by Strodder

Fel pro is the best. Check the head bolts for the size dummy.

thats the sad part i am a dummy.Autozone heads bolts 16 a head and 12 for heads gasket.Fel pro nothing but the best.

[Strodder]

It could be that your too lazy too look aslo.

[daverod]

Cleaned out the bolt holes. Big diff.

[coulter]

dang dude i need to get out of the 60-66 forums more often!!! dave this truck is sweet!!! i just read the whole thread and dig everything about ur build!! well except for the stripped head bolt =(
cant wait to see it finished man keep it up!!!