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Re: Justin's retroactive build thread
Posted: Mon Sep 23, 2019 10:08 am
by Strike2
Damn sorry to hear about the issue, were the heads redone before install, how long had it been sitting before firing it up?
Re: Justin's retroactive build thread
Posted: Mon Sep 23, 2019 10:11 am
by Justin
Heads were gone through (cleaned and new valve springs) by Scott at MPG heads and later machined by Western Engine. Engine sat for 12-18 months before being fired.
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Re: Justin's retroactive build thread
Posted: Mon Sep 23, 2019 7:32 pm
by crawlercreations
I'd bet you lost a head gasket. I'm guessing Kirk might chime in but I sold him an engine many years ago that I knew nothing about besides it being a fresh build before sitting for about a year. He fought head gaskets on that thing for a while. Everything was new, it just ate the head gaskets for some reason.
Re: Justin's retroactive build thread
Posted: Mon Sep 23, 2019 7:39 pm
by Justin
Thanks. I'm hopeful that's all it is. This is the first engine I've built and the first time installing head gaskets, so messing it up seems like a likely explanation. I've drained the coolant, hit the cylinder with compressed air and wd40. Anything else I can do to protect from rust?
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Re: Justin's retroactive build thread
Posted: Tue Sep 24, 2019 6:57 am
by Jesus_man
Doesnt seafoam protect from rust and might reach other areas that wd40 wont
Re: Justin's retroactive build thread
Posted: Tue Sep 24, 2019 8:40 am
by ZOSO
quick tear it down. I believe I have a set of standard head gaskets in the garage.
I sure hope you don't have the bronco curse.
Re: Justin's retroactive build thread
Posted: Tue Sep 24, 2019 5:36 pm
by crawlercreations
This is why I'll only use cometic head gaskets if they're made for the engine I'm building. No soft material to fail.
Re: Justin's retroactive build thread
Posted: Mon Sep 30, 2019 8:21 pm
by Justin
Got the head taken off. Gasket was intact, but there was something that looked like scuffing on the underside of the #6 cylinder (the one that was barfing coolant). I managed to bang up the gasket during disassembly, so this could have been user error. Checked the flatness block with a straight edge and can see light under it. There appears to be a .002in dip in the block towards the top of the #6 cylinder, so I'm wondering if this is the source of my issues. The mating surface of the heads were milled, but the block wasn't. Pics of the block, gasket and head attached.
Anything else I can do or check before I put this back together and pray?
Re: Justin's retroactive build thread
Posted: Tue Oct 01, 2019 2:58 pm
by landshark
I think they make thicker head gaskets that you can try.
Re: Justin's retroactive build thread
Posted: Mon Jan 20, 2020 10:20 pm
by Justin
Got the engine back together with all new head gaskets. If I can get off work early enough the plan is to strap on my triple ply underpants and fire it. Really hoping it works this time. If anyone is in the neighborhood and wants to give it a look-see before I run it I'd be appreciative. Otherwise prayers to the diety of your choice are gratefully accepted.
Re: Justin's retroactive build thread
Posted: Tue Jan 21, 2020 6:44 am
by Strike2
I know the feeling the first motor start up was gut wrenching. I will light a candle for you

Re: Justin's retroactive build thread
Posted: Sat Jul 25, 2020 9:37 pm
by Justin
Proof of life. Finished the transmission mount today.
Re: Justin's retroactive build thread
Posted: Sun Jul 26, 2020 4:56 am
by Rox Crusher
Justin wrote:Proof of life. Finished the transmission mount today.
Great to see you back at it...........how about the engine.............did you fire it up successfully?
Re: Justin's retroactive build thread
Posted: Sun Jul 26, 2020 8:52 am
by Kinder
Justin wrote:Proof of life. Finished the transmission mount today.
Nice!
Re: Justin's retroactive build thread
Posted: Mon Jul 27, 2020 10:27 am
by Justin
Thanks! Engine fired, but I'm having issues with some cylinders running very lean. Lean enough that I've had some of the header primaries glowing just running it in the garage. Current best guess is that the heads were shaved too much for stock pushrods. Going to do a compression test and see where things land. Also looking at bad coil, clogged injector, etc. Props to Gary for much excellent tech support! Hoping to get a new battery in today so that I can get that done.
Re: Justin's retroactive build thread
Posted: Mon Jul 27, 2020 10:29 am
by Justin
Contracted some very local, very cheap labor and got the crossmember installed. Pretty happy with how it came out.
Re: Justin's retroactive build thread
Posted: Wed Aug 19, 2020 6:37 pm
by Justin
This weekend was exhausting (#intentionaldadjoke). As long as everything was apart, I took the time to re-lego the exhaust to behind the tire so that I don't go deaf every time I drive it.
Re: Justin's retroactive build thread
Posted: Wed Aug 19, 2020 6:48 pm
by Justin
Also, Gary came over today and made it run right. I'm doing a massive, full-on white guy happy dance. It's not pretty, so I'll share this video instead.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-7MXuQOyS4Since I'm not smarter than phpBB you all get a link instead of an embedded video.
Re: Justin's retroactive build thread
Posted: Wed Aug 19, 2020 8:27 pm
by phyler
Woot! Can't wait to see you driving it.
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Re: Justin's retroactive build thread
Posted: Thu Aug 20, 2020 5:19 am
by Jesus_man
Ahhh yeah!!!
Re: Justin's retroactive build thread
Posted: Thu Aug 20, 2020 6:43 am
by Strike2
SWEET!! motor sounds great

Justin's retroactive build thread
Posted: Thu Aug 20, 2020 9:44 am
by Kinder
Nice, IΓÇÖm a huge fan of running motors! Ha!
Re: Justin's retroactive build thread
Posted: Thu Aug 20, 2020 9:48 pm
by Digger
Love the video!
Good to see it running!
Re: Justin's retroactive build thread
Posted: Fri Aug 21, 2020 11:10 pm
by Justin
Thanks, guys! Here's the real reason my rig has been down so long. Bet the new Bronco won't have this feature.

Re: Justin's retroactive build thread
Posted: Sat Aug 22, 2020 5:23 pm
by Jesus_man
Auto pilot! Nice! Getting all tesla on us!
Re: Justin's retroactive build thread
Posted: Sun Aug 23, 2020 8:49 pm
by Justin
Didn't have enough speed holes on the Bronco, so I made a bracket.

Re: Justin's retroactive build thread
Posted: Mon Aug 24, 2020 5:50 am
by Jesus_man
Looks like a t-case mount? What is the going ratio of mph per hole these days?
Re: Justin's retroactive build thread
Posted: Mon Aug 24, 2020 7:06 am
by Justin
Coil pack mount. Thats the cross bar running between the shock towers. I believe its 3mph per hole, 2mph per sticker.
Re: Justin's retroactive build thread
Posted: Mon Aug 24, 2020 8:06 am
by Strike2
Looks at those pretty welds !!
Re: Justin's retroactive build thread
Posted: Mon Aug 31, 2020 4:41 pm
by Justin
Front end.....Monday?
