Messages

31

General Discussion / Re: bakersfield march meet

« on: March 07, 2015, 03:12:31 PM »

There's a lot going on this weekend.  Fontana features a two-day race that will include Stock/Super Stock cars.  Also, Irwindale will open the Summit Points season tomorrow.  Either of those options will be more attractive to me than a 175 mile tow over the Grapevine.

Hope you continue to enjoy the good weather.  Don't forget the sunblock!

c

32

General Discussion / Re: Anyone here heard of this car? Pandemonium

« on: January 26, 2015, 12:29:13 PM »

The original "Pandemonium" label was associated with Bob Sullivan's program that was based in Kansas City.  Over the years, I've been aware of Sullivan's place in drag racing history but  not being a particular fan of funny cars in general, I can't comment on this specific car.  I have always associated that team with Mopar bodies but the posted photo and another currently for sale on ebay suggest that he used a Camaro body in at least one iteration during the 70's.

33

General Discussion / Re: 1969 Burnished brown Z/28's

« on: December 15, 2014, 02:58:01 AM »

Firewall tag from an L78 coupe that was for sale in this area a little over a year ago.  Paint was not original.

34

General Discussion / Re: Slick Tire Size

« on: December 08, 2014, 12:56:42 PM »

As requested.

c

35

General Discussion / Re: Slick Tire Size

« on: December 07, 2014, 03:12:01 PM »

Phoenix, bias-ply 28.5" x 9" on a 4.5" back-space rim fits with no modification.  I have pictures.

36

General Discussion / Re: Looking for recommendations for poly locks for use with 302

« on: October 20, 2014, 12:58:13 PM »

I've had good success with ARP 12-point Perma-Loc hardware (part # 8241 for 3/8-24 thread studs or # 8242 for 7/16-20 thread studs).   Any poly-lock will work better if the stud ends are trued for a flat surface. the way ARP studs are finished.  A dimpled stud end does not provide a solid seat for the set screw.

c

37

General Discussion / Re: valve confusion

« on: August 10, 2014, 02:57:34 AM »

I got a call from my machine shop today letting me know the valves I had purchased to replace my originals were too small.

Valve head too small or valve stem too small?

38

General Discussion / Re: 69 Z28 stuff

« on: May 30, 2014, 03:49:48 PM »

My memories recall certain Nova 283,s being different. A friend who Pro raced in the 70,s always said they were stronger and had more meat but I cannot remember why he said they were.

If memory serves correctly, the Nova blocks were cast with the oil filter boss on the driver's side of the block raised somewhat in order to clear the clutch linkage.  Because those blocks were only used in Nova applications, it was apparently not cost effective to cast a separate block for 283 and 327 usage.  Since the casting had to be able to accommodate a 4" bore, any block that began life as a smaller bore 283 had somewhat thicker walls.  I've always encouraged my Stock Eliminator guys who run 283 combinations to search out Nova blocks for that reason.  As I said, I'm relying on recollections that are over 40 years old and I'm currently having difficulty remembering what I had for breakfast, so...

39

General Discussion / Re: Your Friday Photo

« on: April 21, 2014, 07:39:27 PM »

No livestock or flowers around here.  Just a candid shot of Ol' Blue in her natural habitat!

c

40

General Discussion / Re: CRG t-shirts - How to order

« on: April 13, 2014, 01:06:59 PM »

I'll be ordering t-shirts, Steve.

41

Decoding/Numbers / Re: Early VIN?

« on: April 08, 2014, 08:00:35 PM »

My neighbor has LOS body number 889 and it is tagged as 09C.  I've never asked him for the VIN but I saw the firewall tag.  The 327 that came  out of the car was stamped VO915MF.

c

42

General Discussion / Re: Cars in action !

« on: March 05, 2014, 04:32:48 PM »

There have been many cars and thousands of passes over the years, mostly in NHRA Stock classes.  Here are two of my favorite rides.  The '68 F/SA  ran between 1980 and 2000 and the '94 C/SA has been here since about 2002.

43

Restoration / Re: connecting rod reconditioning

« on: February 28, 2014, 03:36:05 PM »

these rods are from a 67 SS350 engine with a dimple up by the piston pin.  11/16 bolts   They were reconditioned and I'm wondering  if it is possible to take too much material off while reconning them...  Maybe somebody could tell me if a rod can be reconditioned more than once.  My instints tell me if too much material is taken off with a loose fit that I could spin a bearing more easily.

 I hope you'll pardon me but in fifty years of working with small block Chevrolet motors, I've never encountered a set of rods with 11/16" bolts.  I think that dimension should be carefully re-measured. 

To answer your direct question, a connecting rod could conceivably undergo the reconditioning process more than once and, if the procedure is done correctly, wouldn't be necessarily at risk of spinning a bearing.  Personally, I would not want to use such a rod because of the odds that the center-to-center length could be compromised or inconsistent across the set.

44

Restoration / Re: connecting rod reconditioning

« on: February 27, 2014, 03:12:44 PM »

There are a few considerations when using re-conditioned rods.  The first is a slam-dunk:  make sure that new rod bolts, preferably ARP or some other recognized fastener, are included.  Rods should be re-sized any time the bolts are changed.

Second, double-check the center-to-center dimension.  A sloppy job of re-conditioning can result in variations in length if too much metal is removed from the rod.  Shortening the rod lowers compression slightly because the piston does not sit as high in the cylinder.  Of course, that difference can be compensated for during block prep but the center-to-center dimension should not vary more than a .001" if the job was done correctly.

Visually inspect the rods for nicks or grinding marks that could become stress risers and eventually result in cracks leading to rod failure.  This is a less common problem but it's always worth the time to hold the rods in your hand and visually inspect them for visible flaws.

If you're particularly concerned, you might ask to have them magna-fluxed.

45

Decoding/Numbers / Re: Late 69 z28 build date?

« on: January 18, 2014, 02:13:29 PM »

As a point of reference, my 10C '69 body number is 112565 and the VIN is just above 700000.  Of course, there was nothing special about the drive train combination of that car.