7 hours of jag work

"Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To" (murdersofa)
07/15/2017 at 00:13 • Filed to: None

Exhaust, spark plugs, fluids, wiper arms, fan. It’s a good time. Time for pictures and more details.

I had to use two different handles and three different sockets to get these stupid spark plugs out. The only reasonable way to do this crap is with a flex-head ratcheting wrench.

These headers kinda suck. And by kinda I mean they really suck. Better than the cast iron manifolds most of these conversions have, though. I also discovered that my engine is a 3970010 350CI engine from before 1975 from either a Corvette or a truck, with 175-320hp. Not terribly precise. The relocated alternator blocks the casting numbers on the front of the block so who knows. Might pop off a valve cover and go hunting for casting numbers on the heads.

Headliner glue sprayed all over the carpet falling out of the trunk

All better :)

This covers the rear 5mph bumper. It’s all faded and nasty.

A few minutes with some plastidip cleared that situation right up.

These wiper arms had really seen better days. Paint flaking everywhere... awful.

A few minutes with the angle grinder and a wire wheel

MUCH better. Better than peeling. Better than black. Goes way better with the character of the car.

I bought a fan clutch for $40 at Autozone to replace the hard-mount of this fan. That mount system has no centering mechanism. I believe the slightly off-centure nature of this garbage plus the fact it’s spinning at 3000+ rpm on the highway is the cause of a pulsing vibration at highway speeds. Unfortunately this fan is the wrong type for the clutch so I’ll need to go to a junk yard and find the appropriate fan.

This muffler was hanging on for dear life. Took it off the car and re-did that side of the exhaust. Just left it dumping behind the rear wheels for now, will probably do a side exit just fore of the rear wheels due to a BITCH of a flange for the section that bends around the IRS. Clearances are utter bullshit for that, by the way. Another argument for exiting out the side.

After cutting off both mufflers I noticed something amusing: the car is quieter now. As near as I can tell a combination of holes in the mufflers and bullshit rattling around in them was making the exhaust louder and a lot more haggard sounding. Now it’s a smooth V8 idle thanks to the two unmarked Flowmaster Super 40-style mufflers in the middle of the exhaust system. When I finally got back to the house and walked around the car while idling it was honestly quieter than many modern cars. No super loud lifter noise or direct injection ticking from up front, just the gentle whoosh of the fan. From the rear, a subdued burble from the V8. It was nice.

The problem now is that I need a radiator fan. That means going to a junkyard. That means I’m going to have to try very, very hard to go to a junk yard and not leave with a set of Vortec heads.

All of this work was done rolling around in my dad’s driveway under a Jaguar dropping rust and dirt on me. Girlfriend took a picture of me when I walked in completely covered in junk.

I’d kill for consistent lift access :(

DISCUSSION (17)

TheHondaBro > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
07/15/2017 at 00:17

I wasn’t convinced about this post until the tank top pic.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > TheHondaBro
07/15/2017 at 00:18

Tank tops are good for working on cars. Nothing that can easily get snagged, and super cheap in 10 packs at Walmart.

EDIT: also good because it’s fucking 103 degrees and 1000000% humidity here. Probably double both of those numbers when in/around a car.

19JRC99 > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
07/15/2017 at 00:27

305 explains the lack of power. The only decent 305s were in the late 80s G92 and IROC-Z Camaros.

Bolt in a 383 stroker and I bet you it’d be a shit load quicker.

(sorry if that came off assholish, didn’t mean for it to. I just remember you mentioning that, at least I think I do)

Or do what I’d do: say the loud rumbly noises are good enough and drive it as is.

Oh, and Chevy didn’t introduce the 305 until the 1976 model year.

Kiltedpadre > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
07/15/2017 at 00:32

Vortec heads will lead to all kinds of other purchases. Since you’ll need a new intake anyway you’ll start looking at fuel injection. Well, now that you’ve got fuel injection, why not a new cam.

I’m not going to discourage you in the least. You should definitely get the heads if you find a set while there.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Kiltedpadre
07/15/2017 at 00:49

Vortec heads preclude an edelbroc Vortec Performer intake ($250 or so) and a larger cam ($100). Without the cam the heads aren’t going to make much power on their own, I’m told. I’d probably buy them and sit on them a while and make sure they’re solid before buying the rest of the stuff and slapping it on the car.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > 19JRC99
07/15/2017 at 00:50

SHIT I MEANT 350. 305s didn’t ever have 010 casting numbers.

19JRC99 > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
07/15/2017 at 01:04

Oh, okay! Then there’s hope yet! Sure, gas mileage may not be great, but like I said, it’s ridiculously easy to get power out a 350.

(I don’t know *too* much about casting numbers)

Kiltedpadre > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
07/15/2017 at 01:11

I completely support this plan. If you find good parts at a pick n pull you grab em while you can. I have wishlists on file at the three yards near me for parts I might need someday but don’t want to scramble to find when I need them.

Get the heads and you can start checking for deals on an intake and cam online.

punkgoose17 > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
07/15/2017 at 01:22

You are an inspiration. Now lets see if I actually get some work done on my car.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > punkgoose17
07/15/2017 at 01:52

I’m blushing.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Kiltedpadre
07/15/2017 at 01:55

It’s amazing how cheap cams are. As far as intake manifolds there’s the $230 Edelbrock Performer dual plane aluminum square-bore intake, which is exactly what I have now but for Vortec heads. Or for $160 there’s the Summit Racing house-brand dual plane aluminum square-bore intake manifold. Hmmmm...

Kiltedpadre > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
07/15/2017 at 02:05

That is one of the major advantages of the SBC. Parts can be very reasonable. Just think of the parts cost for the original Jag V-12 as a comparison.

I want to do some upgrades on my 06 Silverado. Thankfully nothing critical enough that I can’t wait for them to hit a junkyard or be on a truck being parted out on Craigslist.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Kiltedpadre
07/15/2017 at 02:47

I wonder if I could hit 350hp just by getting the vortec heads and the stock vortec cam + edelbrock or summit intake manifold?

Kiltedpadre > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
07/15/2017 at 03:08

Its hard to say where you would end out for sure. I can’t imagine it wouldn’t be a big improvement over what you have now. At the yard near me cams are only $25 so wouldn’t hurt to try.

Die-Trying > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
07/15/2017 at 17:35

heads are probably 441, 882, or 993. if youre real unlucky they will be 624..........

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Die-Trying
07/16/2017 at 01:26

Where are those marks at that I could check?

Die-Trying > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
07/17/2017 at 00:02

Kinja'd!!!

under the valve cover. its between two of the bolt holes to remove the valve covers there on the left. the whole number is the casting number, but are usually referred to by the last 3 of it. like this one below is a 416. those are usually standard on 305.

Kinja'd!!!

casting numbers can be used to figure out a general idea of what you have . once you have a good idea, you can look up flow bench numbers for stock heads. if you take the lift numbers at the valve where they about peak out at, you can use that information to buy a cam to optimize what you have...........