Posts: 484
Yeah I have read a bunch of varying opinions also. Bottom line for $2400 I gain significant HP so I am going for it.Originally Posted by Helirich
$2400 doesn't include the cost of the exhaust but I needed a new exhaust system anyways.
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Posts: 1,152
I got the exhaust for the same reason as you and was very pleased. The minor power improvement was just a bonus. $2400 doesn?t sound like very much for a noticeable improvement. I would gladly pay that right now if it were that simple. In your case, it?s a no brainer.
Posts: 484
Yup that's the phrase I have been saying. We already have the engine down to the bare block. Gaining hp (and knowing the heads are reconditioned for an additional $2400 (plus shipping charges) is a no brainer.
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Posts: 484
Tonight I got the heads ready to be mailed for a core.
I'm trying to find the right size boxes and the cheapest way to ship them.
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Posts: 484
Did more digging in the VOD (valley of death). Just when I think I have dug and scraped all of the crap out if there I manage to dig out a bunch more. What is coming out now reminds me of the stuff that grows on old batteries when they leak. So far no holes through but some pretty good divits. I can't believe how deep these are once all the crap is dug out!
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Location: Leonardtown, MD
Posts: 8,885
My VIN: 03572
I used wire brushes on a Dremal hand held flex extension to clean my VOD.
Posts: 484
I ordered some plugs on Amazon. I plugged every port I could on the block. I am going to yank out all of the factory plugs to clean the oil galleys after blasting but I figured the more stuff I keep out of there the better. I blasted the heck out of the valley. Man I forgot how much of a pain in the butt my bead blaster is. You can't see what the heck your doing, my dust collector motor is dying, I have some junk in the glass beads that keeps plugging up the gun. Ugh...I need to spend some time working on my equipment one of these days.
Anyway after an hour or so I got the VOD cleaned up pretty good. It looks pretty good but there didn't seem to be any holes through the block....yet.
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Posts: 484
I know I am going to take some flack for it but I feel strongly that I can and should use this block. I also think that JB weld will work great to patch up the existing block rot and to prevent future potential damage. I am also really leaning towards painting the VOD with something.
I sprayed degreaser onto the VOD to remove any remaining oils. I filled the four deep pockets with 1" of degreaser with the block on an oil soak pad and paper towels to test and see if there was any leakage. Good news. No leakage.
So my plan is to buy a bunch of JB Weld. I'm going to mix it up, start by laying some down in the base of the voids. I'll take a dowel or something and use if to push the JB Weld down into the clean, porous surface. Next I'll do the same on the walls of the voids. Then last but not least I think I will finish filling the voids 3/4 of the way full with JB weld.
Here are some pics of testing for leaks with degreaser.
I feel very fortunate to be doing all of this work with the engine out of the car and torn apart....and that I have a blasting booth.
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Posts: 484
The wife vapor blasted parts while I cleaned them really well, dried them, and sprayed a mist of oil on them to protect them.
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Posts: 484
Scraped what I could of the timing cover gasket off then used my pneumatic tool to finish the job. Man what a pain!! This had to be one of the worst gaskets I have ever dealt with. It was rock hard and thoroughly stuck to the cover. It took me at least an hour to get the old gasket removed.
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Last edited by SupercoolBill; 09-10-2023 at 10:25 PM.
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Dave M vin 03572
