308 V12 conversion begins

Runners bandsawed and I got most of them weld-prepped. Welding tomorrow. I think I'm going just put the top flanges on as solid and do all the machining afer weld so I don't have to get anything lined up very well to the lower flange.

 

I was looking at some older pics compared to the recent manifold pics…and I’m thinking there is a good chance I can make this thing fit under the stock deck lid. I’m thinking once I weld the runners to the lower flanges I’ll throw the engine back in the car and have a good long look the space I have to work with.
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I am enjoying "get it done" mode and the morning update.

Looking good Mark.

 

Sadly there is still a long way to go.

Erik has signed up to come out and start making the cylinder liners which will be a big help. The 5lb(ish) blanks need to turn into 1 lb(ish) liners and that's a lot of lathe time....and I can't have a short block build without liners.

 

OK Mark, we're going to have to push you now... when will you be hooked up the ECU to the engine and attempting to start it?

All the best,
Andrew.

 

October....maybe

 

Gotcha.

 

We'll see....things are moving along nicely but there's still a lot to get done.

 

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here's a qick list of what pops to mind that needs to be done.......I'm sure I've missed quite a few.....spring 2011 is probably more realistic....


Short block
fix liner o-ring seats
Make liners
finish hone liners
fix water plugs on top
machine for remote oil filter
finish tapping head studs hole
fit 365 bearings
shorten the harmonic damper
Balance the rods
fix bolt pattern on flywheel
get rotating assembly balanced
fit starter
sand for looks
fit crank pickup
add TDC indicator

Long block
remove and weld old oil returns
weld new oil returns on heads
Weld on bosses for timing cover
line bore cam journals
Machine 35mm bucket holes
make valve guides
install valve guides
finish valve guides
machine valve seat holes
install valve seats
finish machine valve seats
finish machine valves
finish porting
sand for looks
machine head studs
heat treat head studs
add cam position sensor
finish timing cover mods
machine spacers for cam sprockets

complete engine/trans
build intake manifold
fit TBs
build TB linkage
build air box
build injector mounts/fuel rails
modify cam covers
machine cam end covers
machine water pump off oil pump
machine 360 oil retune pump to fit
mount water pump
mount alternator
Heat treat drop gear stuff
finish machine trans gear
Finish machine drop gear housing
modify drop gear cover
fit bearing to housing hydraulic line
fit oil pick-ups
Additional to run
fit ECU
fit ignition expander
fit ignition modules
fit coils
make wiring harness
make ignition wires
fit fuel pres regulator
make fuel lines
fit oil tank
make oil lines
fit starter wire
finish collectors
install mufflers


additional to drive
fit clutch master cylinder
fit clutch hydraulic lines
fit brake master cylinders
fit brake bias adjuster
fit brake rotors
fit calipers
make brake lines

 

That's a really big list.

 

I know, and I've been checking stuff OFF the list for 2 1/2 years now.

So...which items can I put your name next to???

 

I'm off to a good start on task assignments with Erik on the cylinder liners and Rick now on the wiring harness.

Anybody else what to make something on the list? Finish balancing the rods is available and needed soon

 

Hmmm.... something inconsequential, certainly not electrical, given my track record working on cars (FChat link).

Perhaps I should be confined to making the coffee to keep the more skilled hands fuelled for the project. I'm pretty good at making coffee.

All the best,
Andrew.

 

Maybe when you are done with this monster, we can run it through this process so we can all have one!

http://widgets.nbc.com/o/47f1317f105123ad/498ebd00a62edaa0/47fe70d4555df05a/9e46bd46/-cpid/ba4377d3bfd6c81

Amazing technology -

 

Erik was kind enough to come out tonight and got going on balancing the rods so they are ready to go out with the crank and pistons when the pistons get here.

I got to work on welding up the intake, 8 down 4 to go.
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Looking good Mark.

Now go get some sleep and leave the staying up late to the professionals.

 

Man this is going to just be too cool when it's done!! It's good to see so much progress lately. Really makes me feel like a slacker though!! Keep up the good work Mike!

 

Yeah…I’m paying for it this morning.

 

I wonder how big the neglected Honey do list has grown to over these 2 1/2 years.

 

I wish! Lana has a "pay to play" system

 

Late start today so I only got 2 more runners welded, 2 to go.

 

Finally the pistons came and look pretty good. They weight 300.4g....I don't have anything here to compare it to but it seems light. The wrist pins are quite a bit longer then the 360 pins but have a much larger ID so they weight 83.5g compared to 82.9 fro the 360 pin.
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Mark go take a look at my " building a slightly tweek 308 " I think all the 360 weights are there !

 

You have the 85mm bore 360 piston at 301g with rings.

I just weighed my rings at 20.5g, so I'm 322g for my 86mm pistons, 6.5% heavier.....I'm guessing all of it in the longer bosses for the long wrist pins.

Forgot to mention, the is a pretty deep dish on these pistons but I ordered them to be 10.7:1 CR, but since I haven't done the final set on the valve the CR could go 10.5 - 11.0 I guess. I was surprised how small the combustion chamber is on these heads....flat top pistons would make something like 20:1 CR. I am a little disappointed in the shape of the dish....I kind of expected it would match the chamber shape which would yield the most compact design rather than a simple round job.....not a huge big deal but not really optimal.