DodgeCoronet.com

I found some weird chrome flakes in the oil pan & filter, searched high and low for the source and eventually found it . . . #2 cam bearing coming apart, #3 also but not as bad. Looks like I screwed up installing the cam bearings. Had to tear it down completely to get the cam out - had to scrape out the mushroomed bearing in order for the cam to come out. Luckily no block or cam damage. Block is back at machine shop for fresh hone. I got very lucky on this one . . .

What a bummer.

Making a new valley cover plate, I'm too cheap to buy one so I found some scrap aluminum sheet and went to work -

Cut it out -




Drill holes, sand old paint and crud off of it -




Painted -

Since my custom PanEvac system was a bust I will be going with different valve covers with the breathers in them. I settled on these Summit valve covers, they were pretty cheap and are polished. They came with holes in them, I used one hole for the oil fill and enlarged the other for the breather grommet then added another hole for the other breather.

I also fabbed up some baffles to go under the breathers and welded them in -

In a further effort to make this engine easier to work on/install in the car I wanted to get away from the stock type oil dipstick. Mainly because of how it bolts to the mount bracket bolts. I found this Locking dipstick to use. I think it is a Mr Gasket unit. Here it is between the old one and some brake line i am using for a pattern to bend it.




It was a real pain in the ass to bend - it will now come straight up from the pan rail and bend towards the front of the engine and be mounted to the front header bolt.




You have to drill and tap the hole in the block for a conpression fitting -

naw.. you ain't being cheap... you just being a fabricator is all...I'd do same...

Engine assembly begins,washing the block in my front yard. I bet my neighbors love me!

Second times a charm!

I had to move the O2 bungs because they were pointed straight at the torsion bar. I did the same thing on both sides - nice welding huh?

12479