My new Wildcat 455 has arrived..SWEEETT!

you may want to take the old flex plate and the new one to a machine shop and have the new one balanced to match the one that came with the engine.

 

exactly where I was leading ...:beers2:

 

Is that easy for them to do? Meaning can most machine shops do that easily? What does something like that run? Anyone know one in NJ or Phila area that could turn this around quickly?
Thanks

 

If your motor was balanced, then yes you should have it done. Prolly aroung $50-$75

I'd call Rob Chelinski at Stage1 Automotive and ask if the machine shop he uses can do it.

http://www.stage1automotive.com/

STAGE 1 AUTOMOTIVE
422 Route 23 North
Pompton Plains, NJ 07444
973.839.4900

 

well i talked with trans specialties and they said they can give me a large bolt pattern converter which will save some hassel from getting the flexplate off. for some reason my 455 had a large bolt pattern flexplate rather than a small from what they were telling me. so i wil drop the trans out take this back and get the correct one on there. Also its 3 click or clunks till its seated not 2. On there direction it has 2.uzzled: so like Larry said it ain't seated.
will let you guys know.

 

So this is what I have to look forward to in a few weeks? This is also my first time doing an engine swap with an automatic. After we pulled the 400 we were pushing it back into the garage and the converter plopped out onto my driveway.ou: We had a haz mat disaster that needed the attention of a lot of kitty litter (and the stain is still there ... as my wife reminds me everyday now)

Did you have any problems with your Poston valve covers not being (machined) flat or bolt holes not lining up properly??

Everything is looking sweeet!!!

Keeps those pics coming ...

 

Did you have any problems with your Poston valve covers not being (machined) flat or bolt holes not lining up properly??

Everything is looking sweeet!!!

Keeps those pics coming ...[/quote]

I did not assemble my engine I had Wildcat Engines do that so I am not sure if he had to do any mods to the Valve covers. My assumption is that they did not.

As far as you dropping in your motor just take your time have fun and make sure your coverter is in and lined up corrrectly or you will be dropping the trans out anyway like me. I am doing that tonight an hopefully getting new converter in correctly this weekend.

 

Only slightly off topic--when you have a "haz mat" incident, rub the kitty litter into the concrete with a short piece of 2x4 or equivalent. You will be amazed how much good will this can earn...

 

Good luck tonight!! I'm planning my install through your efforts, learning from your mistakes and advice from members!!!

Sloop, I did the flat nosed shovel shuffle but I guess too much timed elapsed from incident to clean up effort. I didn't realize it was that nasty....

 

When is the englishtown meet? I'd like to come since its only 15 minutes from home. Thanks

 

I had no mods with these beautiful valve covers. Direct bolt on. They even fit in my 65 with AC!!!!!!

I did however put in a new GM stamped 9 inch power booster.

 

well got the car up, unbolted trans, drive shaft and the other little things you need to drop the trans lowered it down no problem. From what me and my brother and I can determine we think that the angle or the way we came in with the motor was not straight and it kicked the converter off alittle so it was not lined up in the crank perfectly as well as not seated in the trans far enough. Which is obviously why it would not spin freely. I will be taking this converter back to Transmission specilaties tomorrow and they are giving me the large bolt hole pattern converter. Now we will have full control of getting the new proper size converter on the trans and lined up to the flexplate. Im sort of happy and not happy this happened:
a) didn't damage anything= happy
b) I am learning quite a bit= happy
c) one less weekend I am driving it= not happy
Hopefully more pics this weekend when I get the new converter in and bolt it up for goodray:

 

take some measurements of the bolt pattern on your flexplate so when you're at the trans shop you are sure what you get is correct.

 

Hey, you trying to pull a fast one on us .. you got two guys there or three !!:beers2:

I'm dropping out my tranny this Saturday for its rebuild. Based on my experience so far, I will probably drain it first before I tilt it too far and cause another "Exxon Valdez" experience in my garage as well.

 

Yea I know...nice use of English huh? Its my brother and I doing the work. He is way more experienced than I am, and that third guy whoever he is thinks he knows everything:grin: .

Just get one of those end caps for your tranny so it dosen't all leak out the back.

 

Well I got the new converter which has both bolt hole patterns for the flex plate Thanks to the folks at Transmission Specialties in PA made it real easy!. Finially had a couple hours too play around with everything and we were able to get the converter on properly this time (thanks wizard) and checked and double checked clearences and bolted everthing up nicely. started getting the front of the motor back on and some wiring. I have to wire up a new tach, gages and 6al box.should have it fired up next weekend:grin: . I am too :sleep: tired to post pics now and am going to bed. try and get some more up this week.

 

Hey Kick...

Congrats on your Wildcat motor !!! I have one in my Suncouope and Mike is a very detail specific guy that is wonderful to deal with.

You are curious about what your car might do. My motor is a little tamer than yours, dynoing at 422HP and 511 FtLbs. I am running a 2500 stall with 3.42 gears through a TH400 and putting it to the ground with P175/60R15 BFG drag radials and I have a 12.97 under my belt and MANY 13.0s. I am running manifolds and not headers, but the numbers I quoted was exactly like I am running it. ichard set me up with a dual pattern cam that allows more exhaust valve duration to not depend on the flow of headers and I only lost 5HP and 8 FtLbs of torque this way. My car is a non-air/non power accessories 72 Suncoupe.

I hope this helps you get an idea of what you will be able to run at the track. If you have A/C and all, you may hit some 12.90s and may hit 12.70s without A/C. You may get even better than that through time and testing different combos. I am hoping to hit 12.7 or 12.8 though.

Mike

 

Mike, you have a nice car and a nice setup pretty close to mine so thanks for taking the time to comment. Gives me a pretty good idea. I am running the AC since beause I think one of the cool things is to have a nasty sounding BBB in a nice car that still has fuctioning AC and can get down the track in the 12's. I hope to slowly reduce weight here and there in the car and work on the suspension alittle more to get it down to 12.5 range but no hurry. Also I only plan on racing it once ore twice a year. Good luck with you quest at lower times which are great already especialy with manifolds!

Mike

 

Very much welcomed Mike. I think the thing I love the best about my Wildcat motor is peace of mind of the build. Additionally, it is just plain awesome to go out to the garage, pump the gas pedal once and turn the key and she fires right up. Runs smooth as silk, and is as responsive as I hoped to be. I drive this car several times a week, all over the place. I drove it almost 200 miles on the interstate to Daytona last year, and she cruises nicely at 80MPH on the interstate.

Keep us posted on your progress and results on the track. :3gears:


Mike