304 VN AERO REBUILD (304 stroked to 350ci flat top pistons std 4" bore)

[bjf66]

I'll take some happy snaps following the visit

 

[bjf66]

Modified the fuel pump bracket to be able to support the 60mm Dia #044 pump
still wroking on it finish tomorrow, then can run the fuel lines

Firewall
4 coats of black gloss
came up pretty nice
Need to order some new rubber grumlets and clips for the wiper motor plenum

Just waiting for spray nozzle and needle to come from UK for the Iwata spray gun

 

[bjf66]

spring locators, got them back from machinist opened them up from 0.530 to 0.630"

After chasing around for rocker stud cutter and tossing up whether to save some $ and get it over in USA, decided to order from Roland in NSW, as couldn't find the proform 67568 or Comp cams 4729 tool any cheaper for < $180
so may have this at end of week and can finish heads
Machinist quoted + $100 to have the rocker bosses trimmed down 0.350"
However thought if I had the tool, can play with it again https://www.proformparts.com/product-detail/67568/stud-boss-cutter

 

[bjf66]

Fuel pump mounted
Had to modify the GMH fuel pump bracket to adapt the raceworks clamp to mount the larger diameter bosch #044 pump, bolted up tonight hooked up the hoses to take, electric wires for pump need changing from clip to bolt on type
Now for the nice task of getting the fuel lines back under chassis

 

[bjf66]

Paint: Maranello red paint (code 1F075)
Placed the order today for the acrylic paint and goodies with Bays Auto Paints, and pickup tomorrow
still waiting on spray gun needle and nozzle being shipped from UK
Asked for a few aerosol spray cans as hopefully get going on the firewall over next few weeks before going on tour of duty to USA

Taped up the black paint on firewall
Started rubbing down the engine bay with #400 grit
I'll do a little each night, should only take 3-4 nights

 

[bjf66]

stud boss cutter turned up today in mail
had a play tonight and cut down the pedestals on one head by 0.350" then bevelled the hole/thread
came up great
7/16" stud I'm using is from BBC so the 7/16" UNC threaded section that scress into head is approx. 0.100" too long so will trim the studs down to suit
just need to cut the guides for new 0.530" positive seals tomorrow morning

 

[bjf66]

Cylinder Heads

• cut the ARP rocker bolts down to suit the depth of thread in cylinder head
• cut the valve guides down to suit 0.530" positive seal
• reduced the guide height a little
• dummy fit springs, had SBC lifter rev kit, so borrowed a few springs from them as they fitted the CC retainer and allowed easy compression. measured between underside of retainer and top of valve guide: 0.900"
• Need 0.100" safety + allowance of cam lift of 0.600",
• behieve spring PSI LS 1516 are good for 0.660," lift cam, coil bind 1.080"
• one head down, one to go

 

[bjf66]

Had the other head up on bench and gave it same treatment
Then went through and checked again the installed height of each valve/ retainer combo

Wasn't happy @ 1.75" installed height
so went back and increased depth of spring pockets to achieve installed height of 1.79", so we are much closer to the correct installed height of 1.8" with 150 lbs seat pressure

I can see why the head guys, charge what they do there is a fair amount of work in all this stuffing around, ... anyways done now

lapped the valves into each guide, margin is good
just the positive seals to install
Installed a few of the beehive springs into the head and used the trusty proform valve spring installer to pull the springs down.
Much easy installing single beehive springs than mocking those 1.55" Dia double and triple springs with 260lbs on the seat for the BBC

 

[bjf66]

Had another play this morning
decided to recess the springs seats a tad further to achieve 1.800" installed height
went through and checked everything, all good now
ordered a set of 0.015" and 0.030" shims as well as CC-518-16 positive steel/viton seals.

Thinking should get the heads skimmed 0.005" just to clean them up, however when they were run last 17 yrs there were no issues or overheating
will put a straight edge on and check
Think I'll run the valves as is
Heads need a good clean and then can be assembled

 

[bjf66]

• spray gun parts turned up from UK
• rare spares nick knacks turned up in post
• Comp cams shims/ valve seals turned up
• 50% through sanding done inside engine bay with 400 grit, hopefully not too coarse and it shows too many scratches, so looks like I may get a little paint on engine bay in weekend when weather improves