....use it for a rope tow, up the local sledding hill! 
Lots of options.
-G
Lots of options.
-G
CK5
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First Attempt 71 rebuild: running again!
- Thread starter cwalton
- Start date
cwalton
1/2 ton status
Removed the oil pan & timing chain/gears off yesterday, took apart the connecting arms and popped out the pistons without having to do any reaming which was good. Camshaft and everything else is out now, right down to the bare block.
I mic'ed the cylinders which came out to 4.00, so I was glad to find out it hasn't been bored & rebuilt before.
Now I'm going to take it to work and steam clean it and then it should be ready to go to the machine shop.
I can't upload any pictures right now for some reason, so I'll try later
I mic'ed the cylinders which came out to 4.00, so I was glad to find out it hasn't been bored & rebuilt before.
Now I'm going to take it to work and steam clean it and then it should be ready to go to the machine shop.
I can't upload any pictures right now for some reason, so I'll try later
cwalton
1/2 ton status
Managed to finally get those broken exhaust manifold bolt studs out of the cylinder head. Lots of penetrant over many days, then drilled em out today and they popped out no problem with an easy out tap.
Also here's the pics that went with my last update. Finally able to add them.
Also here's the pics that went with my last update. Finally able to add them.
cwalton
1/2 ton status
well to repost my update since the last one was lost in the ck5 site crash; The block is out at the machine shop getting bored .03 over and getting decked. Should have it back by the beginning of the year. They're a little slow these next few weeks I guess because of xmas vacations etc.
cwalton
1/2 ton status
Heres the pics again of the heads i cleaned up and decided to polish up while i wait for the block to be bored and honed. I might just end up painting them chevy orange though. Havent decided how i feel about the polished look.
cwalton
1/2 ton status
Couple more
cwalton
1/2 ton status
Well I'm still waiting for my engine block to be bored out by the machine shop, hopefully any day now. In the meantime I've stocked up some parts, went picking a bit the other day, an cool old timer had a bunch of parts listed on craigslist not to far from my place. Went up there, spent a couple hours talking to him about his old Blazers and Jimmy's, he had 4 first gen's throughout his years, and had stripped 7 junk ones for his spare parts. He's sold his last Blazer a while ago and doesn't have need for the parts anymore. It was pretty cool seeing all the pictures from when they were new vehicles and talking to him about his passion for them.
Anyhow, I picked up a new front left fender, grille and grill shell, windshield, cap windows, window regulator, badges, seat belts, sun visors, and some other small things. Also he gave me his 69-73 Chilton repair & tuneup guide bought in 1974. It is organized so much better than the assembly manual and chassis service manual.
Seems weird that it includes the second gen 73 blazers, since they were a total overhaul of the chassis and body compared to the 1st gens.
Anyhow, I picked up a new front left fender, grille and grill shell, windshield, cap windows, window regulator, badges, seat belts, sun visors, and some other small things. Also he gave me his 69-73 Chilton repair & tuneup guide bought in 1974. It is organized so much better than the assembly manual and chassis service manual.
Seems weird that it includes the second gen 73 blazers, since they were a total overhaul of the chassis and body compared to the 1st gens.
awesome! I love coming across old stuff like that.
Nice score. That's a lot of spare parts. 
1970worthog
1/2 ton status
I have the same book in my garage desk.
Its come in handy on several occasions
Its come in handy on several occasions
cwalton
1/2 ton status
Coated my cylinder heads Chevy Orange yesterday, and finally took the acetylene to the bell housing I couldn't separate from the transmission, 2 of the bots were not going to budge. It was aluminum and cracked pretty good; it had to go.
Today, once I get the motivation to get moving, I plan to sand blast the transmission & xfer case and throw a coat of enamel on it as well.
Today, once I get the motivation to get moving, I plan to sand blast the transmission & xfer case and throw a coat of enamel on it as well.
Good progress man. Keep it up.
cwalton
1/2 ton status
Sandblasted the transmission today; got it from looking like an old rusty transmission to an old transmission. 
Pulled it the top off to get a good visual on the gears, synchros, etc. Everything looked pretty good and is turning real smooth. Closed it all back up and threw a few coats of enamel over it. Next week when I have a few days off I'll be doing the same thing with the xfer case.
Pulled it the top off to get a good visual on the gears, synchros, etc. Everything looked pretty good and is turning real smooth. Closed it all back up and threw a few coats of enamel over it. Next week when I have a few days off I'll be doing the same thing with the xfer case.
cwalton
1/2 ton status
Well I've decided I am not going to build a 383 stroker. Because the engine is a 1986, has the one piece rear main seal, and they didn't make 400ci engines after 81, so they're all 2 piece rear main seals, it means it requires a lot of aftermarket parts specially made for the stroker kits, and I don't want to deal with the trouble or the price that it involves.
So I'll be going with a standard rebuild yielding 355ci after bored, and just put the money I had set aside for the stroker kit into some performance parts.
I'm wondering if I could get some recommendations on cam/lifter kits to toss in? Thinking of going with an RV cam to get the low end torque I want right off the idle, but I'd like to hear what other people suggest.
So I'll be going with a standard rebuild yielding 355ci after bored, and just put the money I had set aside for the stroker kit into some performance parts.
I'm wondering if I could get some recommendations on cam/lifter kits to toss in? Thinking of going with an RV cam to get the low end torque I want right off the idle, but I'd like to hear what other people suggest.
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cwalton
1/2 ton status
Screw it, I changed my mind again. I will be attempting to put this 383 set up together after all.
If the pre-86 blocks are so much easier to build why not just buy an earlier 350 and start with that?
Seems like you should be able to find a good rebuildable block for cheap....it's not like 350s are hard to come by...
-G
Seems like you should be able to find a good rebuildable block for cheap....it's not like 350s are hard to come by...
-G
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My 383 Stroker is built with a 86-99 block and it is solid. My engine builder actually prefers the 2nd gen block. So I say continue on, Build it
79rustyk10
3/4 ton status
The newer blocks are better.
Some, well most DO NOT have the hole for the fuel pump pushrod machined, so a electric fuel pump would be needed. The plusses however far outweigh the pushrod issue, such as having a far superior one piece rear man seal, and most being setup to run a factory roller cam setup.
There were blocks made that have the fuel pump pushrod machined, that are still one piece rear main, and roller compatable. I have one so I can attest that they do exist. Mine came from an 1989 light duty K2500
Some, well most DO NOT have the hole for the fuel pump pushrod machined, so a electric fuel pump would be needed. The plusses however far outweigh the pushrod issue, such as having a far superior one piece rear man seal, and most being setup to run a factory roller cam setup.
There were blocks made that have the fuel pump pushrod machined, that are still one piece rear main, and roller compatable. I have one so I can attest that they do exist. Mine came from an 1989 light duty K2500
cwalton
1/2 ton status
Is your stroker hooked up to a manual or auto transmission? Ive seen plenty of options for flex plates but its the fly wheel adaptation for the manual trannys that are a bit more uncommon
If the pre-86 blocks are so much easier to build why not just buy an earlier 350 and start with that?
Seems like you should be able to find a good rebuildable block for cheap....it's not like 350s are hard to come by...
-G
Well they have the 1 piece rear main seal, and its overall a better set up, plus i already have]the time and money involved in tearing it down and having it machined. It will be a little more complicated and expensive but overall i think it will be better
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It is connected to automatic.
