Art McKinley's Journal

Update 8-12

Wed, 22 Aug 2012 06:41:29 -0500

Art McKinley's Journal --

I have been lazy about adding to this. Engine is in car, running well, etc. I don't have many pictures of installation, but this one shows the oil thermostat that I decided to add. A bit of a pain, would have been easier to do with barbed fittings, but I was keen on 'doing it right'.

<Thermostat and bracket>

<Oil thermostat and front hoses>

Posted 2012-08-22 06:41:29 by Art McKinley

Rocker Arms And Shaft

Thu, 27 Oct 2011 05:38:57 -0500

Art McKinley's Journal --

I bought a new rocker shaft and had the arms rebuilt with new bushings and the valve ends refaced. In the photo you can see the mat'l removed for balancing the flywheel. I lightened the flywheel myself a few years ago and had a bit more taken off this time along with the balancing. I forget the weight, I'll post when I look it up.

<Rocker shaft and arms>

<Lightening flywheel-3 yrs ago>

Posted 2011-10-27 05:38:57 by Art McKinley

Carbs Rebuilt

Wed, 26 Oct 2011 07:24:39 -0500

Art McKinley's Journal --

Slightly out of order, I did these while waiting for the block ass'y. Took all apart except for the throttle plates since the shafts were not loose. Cleaned everything at home and took to work to put in the ultrasonic. Amazing how much more dirt came off even though they were pretty well cleaned. Don't seem to have the parts pics on this computer, but here they are back together and mounted.

<8-2-11 008>

Posted 2011-10-26 07:24:39 by Art McKinley

Shortblock Home

Wed, 26 Oct 2011 07:18:12 -0500

Art McKinley's Journal --

I picked up the assembled shortblock. It sat in my office until the snow cleared this spring ('11) to get it into my basement. Took a bit of effort to get surface rust off it and painted.

<engine 6-27-11 004>

<8-2-11 003>

Posted 2011-10-26 07:18:12 by Art McKinley

Shortblock Visit

Wed, 26 Oct 2011 07:15:08 -0500

Art McKinley's Journal --

This is the shortblock at the machinist.

<12-3-10 004>

Posted 2011-10-26 07:15:08 by Art McKinley

Crank Measurement

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 14:03:56 -0600

Art McKinley's Journal --

I measured the crank, looks good. Hard to read in the photo, so here are the data:
M1 2.1265
R1 1.8762
M2 2.1265
R2 1.8762
M3 2.1266
R3 1.8763
M4 2.1266
R4 1.8762
M5 2.1269

All journals looked good, so I think a polish and I am good to go. I checked them at 90 deg to each other and they are round. I actually had one of my shop guys make the measurements, I did not check but I assume they are good. I'll have the machinist confirm. I now have .060" over pistons on order along with all of the other parts. New cam, lifters, etc. The cam is a step up from the std grind, still good torque and should be fine with an SC if I go there.

<Crank and micrometers>

Posted 2010-03-11 14:03:56 by Art McKinley

Engine Number Plate

Wed, 24 Feb 2010 08:39:02 -0600

Art McKinley's Journal --

I asked the machinist about the survival of the aluminum plate during hot tanking, etc. and he said to remove it. His advice on how was good, these are spiral rivets that turn out with a few taps with a chisel on the OD.

<block 2-23-10 003 sm>

Posted 2010-02-24 08:39:02 by Art McKinley

A Teardown Photos Of The Block

Wed, 24 Feb 2010 08:36:11 -0600

Art McKinley's Journal --

Boring stuff here, block seems to be in good shape, bores are only tapered at the very top, there is a ridge of ~.003", but the bore measures good, stock size below about 1/2" from the ridge. I will bore by .060" I'm guessing.

<mgb 1-31-10 010 sm>

Posted 2010-02-24 08:36:11 by Art McKinley

Engine Rebuild First Entry

Wed, 24 Feb 2010 06:08:14 -0600

Art McKinley's Journal --

I've been tearing down my ('74 18V) engine and trying to decide how to rebuild. I may add a supercharger, so I was thinking of using low compression pistons. I'm told the 'high' compression pistons only being 8.8:1 are still compatible with supercharging.

I'm pretty sure I'll be buying all parts from Brit-Tek despite other offers of good prices, these guys seem to be good to work with and they are relatively local to me.

I'm using a machine shop, Mason's Racing Engines in Scituate, RI. He did my head last year (not installed yet) and is a very nice guy and good to work with. Top notch shop equipment. He has encouraged me to go with some custom pistons, but I have not reopened that discussion. It does not seem to be necessary. He has a dyno, so I may splurge and get some good info from that.

I'll add some photos when I get a downsized set. I have a photo here of one of the combustion chambers (38cc) on the head-in-waiting.

<mgb head 4-09 003>

Posted 2010-02-24 06:08:14 by Art McKinley