1969 Starcraft Chieftain Restoration

[Bondo]

Re: 1969 Starcraft Chieftain Restoration

Ayuh,... I was gonna ask if you studied the Quench factor, 'n how it makes the Vortecs do what they do so well...

The motor I'm having built is using D-dish pistons, 'n a Quench of about .045"...

The D-dishes keeps the compression ratio low enough, yet allows a Tight Quench...

Whatcha got'll work,'n goin' the way I'm goin' don't yeild alotta power, but every tiny bit Helps...

 

[Greg Mrozinski]

Re: 1969 Starcraft Chieftain Restoration

If you are not familiar with reversion read this article.
http://www.michel-christen.com/ExhaustElbows.pdf

Very interesting and informative. Thanks for the link.

 

[Alpheus]

Re: 1969 Starcraft Chieftain Restoration

Ayuh,... I was gonna ask if you studied the Quench factor, 'n how it makes the Vortecs do what they do so well...

The motor I'm having built is using D-dish pistons, 'n a Quench of about .045"...

The D-dishes keeps the compression ratio low enough, yet allows a Tight Quench...

Whatcha got'll work,'n goin' the way I'm goin' don't yeild alotta power, but every tiny bit Helps...

I didn't look at the quench factor at all I must admit. I just got the same type of piston that came with the vortecs from the factory. Although the ones I ordered have 3cc more material, the compression height was lower to keep the compression down. I will have to look at this quench factor in the future...

 

[prblygnasnk]

Re: 1969 Starcraft Chieftain Restoration

Wow ,just wow.Great thread, lots of info. You put a little summer in my SNOW day,and I now know the name of my afflictions...
starcraftitus (77 chieftain) and MBS (a parts glass starcraft).
I'll be watching ,and keeping for reference. Can't wait to see the finished product....what next week?
I think I'll go check on my tarps.Thanks for posting.

 

[fat fanny]

Re: 1969 Starcraft Chieftain Restoration

Alpheus I have to add my thanx for the info on balancing the rods. So when the pistons arrive is there any wieghing and or balancing required to match the rods? Also I seen an episode of horsepower on spike where the used a liquid to measure the cc's of each cylinder I believe is that something you will be doing or is that only done for high output engines?

 

[Alpheus]

Re: 1969 Starcraft Chieftain Restoration

No I never mess with pistons. I have been using Kieth Black pistons for a long time and they are always perfect. These are the cheapest pistons I have ever bought I might add, but I am sure they will be fine. If they are not, I dont modify the pistons I send them back.

Keep in mind that this is a boat engine and will never be taken to the RPM of the high HP muscle cars. This engine will never go over 4600 RPM. The mods I am doing is just out of boredom and not out of necessity. I like to compare a boat engine use to a truck that is pulling a heavy load uphill stuck in 1st gear. I am not porting or polishing the heads,gasket matching,piston and combustion chamber cc matching or crank balancing which is just some of the mods that I like to do when building a high HP car engine...

 

[proshadetree]

Re: 1969 Starcraft Chieftain Restoration

Thanks for the info. I was wondering why one would do this without doing crank. I just have to wonder if it would save me some cash to do this my self before shipping parts out to be balanced. At least I could get specks tighter.

 

[Alpheus]

Re: 1969 Starcraft Chieftain Restoration

Today I was able to get allot of work done. My pistons had arrived in the mail so as soon as I got into work I went to work installing them on the rods. (No broken planes today)

After some quick measurements to get the rod centered in the piston, I made a quick little jig to hold the piston in place and to act as a stop for the pin.

I had a buddy of mine heat up the end of the rod adding just enough heat to keep the rod end from getting red hot.

I couldn't get no pictures of me putting the pin into the piston because it has to happen very quick. I just grab the rod hold it in the piston and slide the pin through the piston and into the rod until it bottoms out on the jig. Hold it in place for about 45 seconds until the rod cools and grabs the pin.

After about 10 minutes I had all 6 pistons done.

I installed my new Sealed power rings and they are ready to install in the block.

I also was able to get the rest of the engine parts bead blasted and ready for the green paint.

I am hoping to get the rotating assembly of the engine put together tomorrow night...

 

[Alpheus]

Re: 1969 Starcraft Chieftain Restoration

I havent got to work on anything in the last couple of days. When I arrived at work on Friday I had one of these parked outside the hangar to take to me Syracuse,NY. (Stupid busted airplanes)

After I got it fixed I was on the way home and snapped a pic of the sunrise.

Today I got a couple of things done. I am experimenting with the engine cover. The sticker on the front was put on very crooked so I peeled it off. I am going to put it back on and put a couple of coats of clear over everything.

When I got home tonight I ran a hone through all six cylinders and got the pistons reinstalled in the block. My camera is dead and I will get a couple of pics up of that later...

 

[jasoutside]

Re: 1969 Starcraft Chieftain Restoration

Sunrise shot is a beauty!

 

[Luhrs28]

Re: 1969 Starcraft Chieftain Restoration

This is a great thread, especially for the engine work pics! Good job man.

 

[proshadetree]

Re: 1969 Starcraft Chieftain Restoration

Cant wait to see that mill together. The suspense is killing me.

 

[Alpheus]

Re: 1969 Starcraft Chieftain Restoration

Here is the pic of the engine where I left off last night.

Today after calling every parts store in the area I was finally able to find a timing chain cover gasket set. So after an hour of driving to pick it up I started putting this engine together again.

I started by installing the new Melling oil pump. This is just a stock pump, no high pressure or high volume. I have had real good luck with Melling pumps and will stick with them. I also put a tack weld holding the pick up tube in place. It gets pretty bumpy on the water and its just a little added security.

I then buttoned up the bottom end for the last time. I like to put a nice dab of silicone in all four corners of the pan for luck.

Next I put on the heads. I also like to put silicone on the threads of the head bolts because they run right into the water jacket of the block. The silicone just makes a good seal.

 

[Alpheus]

Re: 1969 Starcraft Chieftain Restoration

After the heads were all bolted and torqued to spec, I installed the rockers and push rods adding lots of assembly lube along the way. I put a nice big drop every place there is metal to metal contact. This stuff is really thick and sticky and pretty much stays where you put it. This is also used on the rod and crank bearings when I put them back in.

Here it is all put together.

I am still waiting for my intake so I just started adding some parts that I had laying around until it gets here. Its a little lop sided but I get some stuff added to the other side pretty quick...

 

[Triton II]

Re: 1969 Starcraft Chieftain Restoration

You're definitely the man Alpheus. We're really short of LAMEs over here... want a job?

TII

 

[proshadetree]

Re: 1969 Starcraft Chieftain Restoration

Alpheus How much to come to Tennessee and do mine? No way I have that much patients. Looking good man.

 

[jasoutside]

Re: 1969 Starcraft Chieftain Restoration

Wow! It looks like you added 25 hp with that paint scheme!

 

[Greg Mrozinski]

Re: 1969 Starcraft Chieftain Restoration

Great job dude. Very informative as well. Thanks a lot.

 

[Alpheus]

Re: 1969 Starcraft Chieftain Restoration

Couple more pieces cleaned up,painted and installed while I'm waiting for my intake.

The exhaust manifolds and risers are in really good shape on the inside so I did a quick leak check using acetone and they passed. I hit them with the bead blaster real quick and put on a new coat of paint. I also put on the fuel pump and water separator housing...

 

[proshadetree]

Re: 1969 Starcraft Chieftain Restoration

Man thats awesome! Maybe I will get some initiative and do mine. Na way to much effort. I might just have to pretty up my old winder mill though. One day if I can ever get started on her. I cant wait to see what you do to that hull.