Project "Captain Insano"

[suspect]

My 383 short block showed up today.

4 Bolt Main roller block, bored .030" over, clearanced for 3.75" stroker crank
Scat 9000 Crank
Probe Forged flat top pistons, .030" over / floating pin
Pro Comp H Beam 5.7" rods
Hastings rings
Pro Street Balancer
King Bearings
Scat 168 tooth Flexplate

I'll bring home my OD & ID mics from work tomorrow and check the piston to cylinder clearance. Once I get this assembled and check my piston/deck measurement, I'm ready to order some AFR 195 Eliminator Heads. Also, I ordered this from Skip White Performance out of Tennessee. By looks, everything looks great. The decking & clearancing on the block looks good. I'm sure everything is going to assembly fine.

[suspect]

more pics

[suspect]

I mic'd up everything today. All the bores are at 4.030" and the pistons at 4.026". They did an excellent job on all the grinding and machine work. I'll put the rods & pistons together this weekend, and block clean up. Maybe paint it a different color. Should be ready to assemble Christmas weekend.

[mcbassin]

Bunch of super nice parts! Congrats
Posted via Mobile Device

[Bomp]

Ahhh, ain't nuthin' better than opening up boxes and smelling new parts.

[suspect]

Thanks guys. There's nothing like playing with clean new parts!
I started on assembling the piston/rods yesterday.
Sprayed the block with a few coats of Cast Iron paint. (It looks greenish in the photos, but it's more of a grey look. About time to invest in a new camera) Nothing extreme. Well, extreme dull I guess. lol
Ring gaps checked at .020"
Piston rod bearing tangs mounted pointing down & large chamfer towards crank
Valve reliefs towards intake
Rings installed

These pistons take 4 spiral locks per piston. The first one is definetely tough to figure out, but after 32 of them, I'm now a pro at installing them.

And of course, I had to get my beautiful wife in on the action.

[67c10rustbuket]

Great looking engine stash. First it was camshaft curls, now piston curls, I think she needs to step it up a notch to crankshaft curls That will get the bicepts goin

[suspect]

Originally Posted by 67c10rustbuket

Great looking engine stash. First it was camshaft curls, now piston curls, I think she needs to step it up a notch to crankshaft curls That will get the bicepts goin

I think we'll stick to the light stuff. lol I was sweating inside if she dropped the piston. I would've been screwed if the skirt snapped.

[suspect]

Got the crank and pistons/rods put in yesterday. Everything went smoothly. It takes about 25 ft lbs to turn it over at the crank.

It looks about time to get a new camera. These photos are starting to not look as clear.

[67c10rustbuket]

Great job on the block assembly!

[suspect]

I needed something to do while I'm waiting on money for the rest of my engine parts, so I figured rebuilding the 700r4 would be a nice project. I got it all but the lo/reverse assy. gutted. I need to rig up a spring compressor this weekend for that.
The only problem I've seen with it so far is the 1-2 accumulator spring is broken. I haven't taken apart any of the steels yet, so I'm not sure how those look.
I ordered a TCI Pro Super kit from Summit, and a "Beast" sun shell, corvette servo from Pro Built. I'm sure I'll order some more upgrades once I inspect all the parts.

[gringoloco]

Brave man. Nice work!
Posted via Mobile Device

[suspect]

I slapped together a spring compressor. I just made a ring at work today, then welded some flat stock to some all thread. I'll use the broaching press at work monday to get the spring pack out of the input drum. The shaft is in the way.
I'll spend the day tomorrow power washing, cleaning, and deburring the case. Probably take the pump apart also.

[suspect]

I got the case cleaned up and painted. Started on reassembly. I still need to get a 29 elem. sprag, lo/rev spring assy., and rev input piston orifice plug. I thought I was going to have to order these parts and wait another week, but I found a place local that sales internals. So, I can get those things tomorrow and get this put together in the next few days.
Got the vette servo assembled.
Pump rebuilt with .500 main boost & .296 inter/rev boost valves, motified pressure regulator valve, and new seal & ring.
Polished the reverse input drum and it mic'd perfectly straight.
And I also added a TV anti-stick spring in the valve body. (the last photo is of the tapered spring)

I made a couple ring resizers for the solid rings on the turbine shaft and pump. I wrapped some shim stock around the shaft to slide the rings on. You can also use a hose clamp as a resizer, it works pretty good.

[suspect]

The only special tools that you must have is a spring compressor. I didn't really even need the ring resizers since hose clamps work. But I can't think of anything else right now that is a must.

[suspect]

The last photo is the coned shaped TV anti stick spring.

[Bomp]

You are one brave man.
I have two books Hydormatic 350, Hydromatic 400 and a video on transmission rebuilds. I am still too chicken to dig in on them.
You ROCK!!!

[suspect]

This is what I'm using, plus there are tons of write ups on other forums. Just do google searches and you'll find them all. I have never seen inside a trans and still have no idea what 75% of these parts do. I was very intemidated before I started, but I just can't bring myself to paying someone else to rebuild them for me. I spent atleast 40 hrs over 3 weeks reading over rebuild threads on the 700r4. The only thing I've paid someone else to do on my truck so far is sandblasting the frame, and that's all I intend to farm out. Putting 3.73's in is next, and I'm a bit worried about that too.

Doing this trans build turns out to be the funnest part of my truck build so far, of coarse I'm talking a big game and it's not in the truck running yet. lol But if it doesn't work, I have no problem tearing into it as many times as I need until it does. I just have an extremely hard time to pay someone to fix anything on my vehicles.

I encourage anyone (well, everyone that works on their on vehicles.....with some mechanical talent) to give it a shot. Take lots of your own photos for your reference. I just think most people get psyc'd out from all the special tools talk. They're not needed.

Okay, I'm done with the novel. I just really want others to give it a shot. If it's not your daily driver, then just take your time without a time limit. And enjoy learning something new. I'm not putting up these photos to teach how to rebuild one, but just to show that a first timer can do it. (crossing my fingers that it works the first time.)

[suspect]

I just about have this thing buttoned up. The closer to being finished, I get just a bit more nervous for it to work. I know I talk a big game, but there's still a part of me that'll be a little surprised if it holds up the first try to 350+ rwtq. So far, I don't see any obvious reasons why not. All my clearances and end play are checking out just as the manual says.

[suspect]

Few more photos.

[suspect]

One more.

[MTCK]

Nice work! I respect your bravery with the tranny rebuild... Get that TV cable set just right.

[Bomp]

Thats gonna be nice.
Now that my foot is holding up my progress and with your inspiration I dug out my books and video and have started doing major studying.
Thanks for the inspiring work.
Posted via Mobile Device

[mcbassin]

Nice work on the overhaul. I have one ready for you to build when you want me to drop it off?
Posted via Mobile Device

[suspect]

Originally Posted by mcbassin

Nice work on the overhaul. I have one ready for you to build when you want me to drop it off?
Posted via Mobile Device

I have no problem helping you out. You might want to wait until I try mine out first. I'm either going to be a hero or a numbskull. lol
If mine works out just fine, I'm going to find a couple more 700's and maybe a few 350 & 400's off craigslist, rebuild them, and sale them for some extra cash. But I've got to test mine for a good 6 months or so first.

I'm assuming you're going with the 4L60E? Is it not running? Or are you just wanting to freshin it up plus some upgrades?

EDIT - I just found in your build thread, you mentioned you picked up a 4L60E off craiglist.