Hello to everyone on the forum. I always enjoy coming here and there are so many interesting engine rebuilds posted.
I would like to outline my own rebuild to this forum. Unfortunately, I cannot post pictures directly so a web site has been provided. I hope everyone can access it.
I started with an XD Fairmont (1979) sedan. Originally had a 351 Cleveland and FMX tranny in it. Also started with stock 4 barrel spreadbore manifold and Carter Thermoquad carby.
Price of gasoline here too high to justify the cost of a daily driver. Therefore, went to dedicated propane gas as fuel of choice.
Wanted to initially go the stroker route, then thought a 400 block 0.030" oversize would give an alternative 408ci.
Used a 400 block (truck block) '77-78 Cleveland Foundry. Bored 0.030" oversize. Used 10.5:1 CR Hyper pistons (from Tim Meyer in Minnesota) with increased compression height to give "zero" deck clearance.
Heads iron Aussie 2V open chamber. Hardened valve seats and bronze valve guides. Combustion chambers cleaned up with die grinder. Inlet and exhaust gaskets matched to inlet and exhaust ports and manifold and heads. Stainless 4V inlet and exhaust valves. Roller rockers (Crane 13744-16, 1.7 ratio), 7/16 rocker studs, 5/16 guide plates, dual springs (Crane 99893-16).
Romac double row timing set, Romac harmonic balancer.
5MA crank machined and polished to 0.010"/0.010". Clevite cam bearings. Standard Mellings oil pump, standard 351C sump.
Camshaft specs: Hydraulic: Adv. duration I: 272, E: 286, Duration @0.050" I: 218, E: 224, 110 lobe separation.
Ford electronic distributor.
Gas Research propane carby (initially single, flowing 510cfm). Dual GRA flowing 800-850cfm will be installed soon.
FMX tranny with big block bellhousing. TCE 2700rpm stall converter. External tranny cooler.
Holley Street Dominator inlet manifold.
The following site has pictures of my rebuild as it progressed from start to finish.
The web site is:
http://homepage.mac.com/kionga/PhotoAlbum6.html
I would like to thank everyone on the forum for all their help. Your advice was greatly appreciated. Without this forum it would have been impossible to have completed 400 rebuild.
A special thank you to George of TCC Racing Engines, 391 Station Street Thornbury, VIC 3168. George's determination, belief and experience-not to mention considerable skill-got us through every set back (and there were a few). The result was worth the wait George!
Cheers
Craig
on edit title change -blizz