I've to clearance every cover I've had behind a romac.....no big deal a file and few minutes you good
I haven't updated this thread in awhile but I've made some progress. I ordered a bunch of ARP bolts to replace all the fasteners on the engine and accessories. Basically every bolt on this thing besides the balancer bolt (from TA extra long for Romac balancer, already have ARP balancer bolt but too short using Romac), windage tray, pickup tube (not opening up the pan/gasket to replace them) and the long alternator bolt will be ARP. It took alot of time going over all the thread pitches, bolt lengths/widths and quantities of each and where they go, then cross referencing that info to ARP numbers, then tracking down who had them where and for how much etc etc. Long story short I figured it all out. Was it necessary, no. Did it cost more then using stock hardware, heck yes. Did I want to do it anyways, yep. I dropped my Edelbrock heads off Dec 30 to be port and polished and 3 angle valve job, the guy was just taking them apart to start them on Friday so hopefully have those back within a few weeks. Comp pro magnum roller rockers should be here in 2 weeks, fingures crossed! Going to order Isky adjustable guide plates this week.My new motor mounts from Rockauto arrived today and so did my new custom made polished billet aluminum pulley set from Rob at Precision Billet Inc. I gotta tip my hat off to Rob, man these things are freaking AMAZING to say the least. I bought a water neck from him a few years back and the quality of craftsmanship blew my mind, well these pullies just topped that 100 times over .
If you have a list of the ARP part numbers and bolt locations that might be something worth adding to a sticky somewhere Looking good and have been awaiting an update, keep them coming!
Thanks Brian! Yes that was my plan. I just wanted to make sure that all the bolts were correct and everything worked before I did an official list. I was thinking of possibly collaborating with Todd if he was interested on the list, that way he can offer a complete engine kit to everyone instead of people having to buy 5pc packs to get 2 bolts lol.
Update time. I dropped the heads off Dec 30, he started working on them Jan 14 and I picked them up today Jan 24 (they were done yesterday) I'd say that's good turn around time for a full port and polish job on intake/exhaust runners, combustion chambers and a 3 angle valve job. I did the gasket matching previously to help save him some time plus I wanted to cause I enjoy it. He doesn't have the adapter plates to flow these heads on his flow bench so I'm taking them to another guy next week to have them done and see what kind of flow numbers I get. Honestly I should've had them done before hand that way I'd have a before and after comparison of flow numbers, but I didnt. Anyone have any info on what Eddy heads flow numbers are like out of the box? Pics aren't the greatest but you get the point. I'm getting super stoked cause final assembly is close.
From Edelbrock, https://www.edelbrock.com/cylinder-head-flow-data http://www.buickperformanceclub.com/NewEdelbrockBuick455Heads.htm https://www.motortrend.com/how-to/ccrp-0907-buick-455-cylinder-heads/
Ok so I couldn't help myself I had to do a mock up again. It gave me an excuse to get out in the garage also to check to make sure my bolt selections are correct. So far so good! I'm still tossing back and forth on to leave the heads cast aluminum or to paintthem the black cherry like the block and rocker covers??
Mmm that's a tough choice! I think it'll look great either way, but I vote to paint the heads to match. You don't see such a cool paint job everyday and painting the heads will give you more chance to show off the unique color. Either way you go, nice work!!
Thank you for the kind words! That's where my thoughts are at too. Other people have mentioned that once the engine gets dropped in the car you don't see much of the block/paint job anymore that's what has been in my head leaning towards painting them. I do love the look of aluminum heads but I feel I have quite a bit of cast aluminum, polished aluminum and chrome going on that it would balance out. I may get ridiculed and booed off the board for this but I guess the next question is do I paint my Star Wars air cleaner the Bkack Cherry also or just leave it the Buick Red??
Dang now the air cleaner is an even tougher question! I've never owned one, but seeing how much one in nice condition goes for I would be afraid to paint it! I do think it would look awesome if you do it though. And you know what, paint is easy to strip and redo, it's not like you're welding on it or something . . . I wonder if you could plasti-dip it then spray the Black Cherry over it? Then you could at least decide if the look is good enough to paint it for real. No idea if paint sticks to plasti-dip or not?
Honestly I've been going against the Buick grain on the colour scheme for this build anyways so why not, I'm going to do it. It's only paint after all and it can be removed fairly easy like you said. I don't think paint will stick to plasti-dip too well but I've never tried it to say it does or doesn't.
