Big Motor, Little Truck. The BBR... aka "Tooth and Nail"

[BBR]

Re: Big Motor, Little Truck. The BBR is getting fixed

You should probably compare the weight and dimensions of the new piston compared to the other 7 to make sure it's a good match for the set... you can't be too carefull.

I weighed them last night. ;D

New one is about 8 grams heavier. I am going to match it to the old one.

[BBR]

Re: Big Motor, Little Truck. The BBR is getting fixed

New piston is in! I weight matched the new piston to the old one and had to file fit the top ring for these KB pistons. Slammed it all together and decided to check PtoV clearance with some playdo. The intake was at 0.155+ and the exhaust barely touched the playdo, so it was well above the minimum. Cleaned out the yellow stuff and bolted on the udder head and put in the lifters, pushrods and rockers. ll it really needs is the pan, intake, balancer and valve covers and it's back together. :mrgreen:

Unfortunately for me, we have begun another round of home improvements... painting the halls and dining room....

[BBR]

Re: Big Motor, Little Truck. The BBR is getting fixed

Home improvements are done AND the big motor is done. ;D

Been waiting on a longer set of pushrods to arrive.

[milner351]

Re: Big Motor, Little Truck. The BBR is getting fixed

NICE!

I'm stuck in home improvement hell - my ranger will not even move this year - I might as well fog the engine and drain the fuel tank.

As soon as I finished the kitchen (which still requires some finishing details)

we started on the new stairs / deck....

at some point I'm going to loose my cool, set down the hammer and screw gun - go into my shop and start working on cars, and not come out till next spring!

[BBR]

Re: Big Motor, Little Truck. The BBR is getting fixed

Just tell your wife you are getting burned out on the home improvements and need a couple of weeks to "recuperate" in the shop. All work and no play......


Everything is all ready to set the motor back in.

I added some reinforcing straps to the engine mounts since this thing is a little more violent than I first imagined.

I also figured out a big wire brush is the shiznit for removing old copper RTV off header flanges.

[milner351]

Re: Big Motor, Little Truck. The BBR is getting fixed

are you using header gaskets and copper RTV, or just the RTV?

[BBR]

Re: Big Motor, Little Truck. The BBR is getting fixed

Last time I just used RTV. Seemed to work OK, just messy as all get out if you are not super careful.

This time, I decided to give these a try: www.remflex.com

[BBR]

Re: Big Motor, Little Truck. The BBR is getting fixed

Fiiiiiiiinnnnnnnaaaaalllllyyyy had time to work last night.

Motor's in. I'm really wishing I had just used a motor plate. I may still at some point.

[milner351]

Re: Big Motor, Little Truck. The BBR is getting fixed

issues with motor mount alignment?

glad to know she's back in.... where's the start up video? ;D

[BBR]

Re: Big Motor, Little Truck. The BBR is getting fixed

"Video video video" that's all I hear from you intraweb mechanics... ;D ;D ;D

It's just tough to get to the motor mount bolts under the xmember because the I-beams are in the way. A whole lot of crawl under, get out, crawl under, get out..... it *really* starts to wear thin on me.

[milner351]

Re: Big Motor, Little Truck. The BBR is getting fixed

I hear you, I am NOT looking forward to pulling my whole power train - but I'm pretty sure that's what I'm going to have to do. The whole thing is coming out, then the new headers and engine are going back in to check fit, then the C4 in place of the busted C6, and we'll see how everything works.... that's all a winter project... that and the 8.8 install.... my truck wont even see the light of day this year.... damit.

So-- does it run yet? ;D

[BBR]

Re: Big Motor, Little Truck. The BBR is getting fixed

Nope not yet. I *did* work on it again last night.... all the planets must have been aligned for that to happen....

Starter, radiator, wiring and hoses, etc are all reattached. Sure goes faster the second time around. :D

I messed around with remounting the fans and transmission coolers since I didn't like the plastic zip straps. I just haven't come up with a good way to mount them yet.... Do those and the headers and she will be ready to light up again.

8) 8) 8) 8)

[milner351]

Re: Big Motor, Little Truck. The BBR is getting fixed

SWEET!

I know it looks sort of hokey depending on the set up, but I've run flat stock, say 1" wide by 1/8" thick straps across the radiator support top to bottom or side to side, bolted in place at both ends, then bolt the coolers, fans, etc, to those.... sometimes using heater hose sliced down the side for insulators to the radiator core to prevent any rubbing issues.

[BBR]

Re: Big Motor, Little Truck. The BBR is getting fixed

I think I hear the four horsemen of the apocalypse.... I got to work in my shop 3 nights in a row....

:o

Made some brackets to mount the fans and tranz coolers. I used 3/4" x 1/8" aluminum flat straps to mount everything. It took a little while to get a design for the fans figured out because of the mounting tab configuration, but it seems to have turned out pretty nice. Certainly much better than the

Sooooo about all I have left to do is bolt on the headers. Unfortunately, this weekend is already filled up so I doubt I will have time to work on it.

:'(

[milner351]

Re: Big Motor, Little Truck. The BBR is getting fixed

any progress is good progress - you used aluminum flat stock instead of the steel I used - smart man!