Today is the official begin date of my small block Ford 306 engine build for my 1989 Mustang coupe. It is a budget build with relatively simple and not-that-expensive parts in it. This is the first time I've built an engine completely from scratch, so I'm excited to do and I'm sure I will learn a lot along the way.
The bottom-haf components are as follows:
Production 5.0 (302) block, borded .030", align honed
OEM Crank, ground .010, polished, oil holes chamfered, balanced rotating assembly
Probe forged I-beam rods
Probe forged pistons, 4.030"
Clevite 77 main and rod bearings
Sealed Power gapless moly piston rings, 4.030"
ARP main and head studs
ARP harmonic balancer bolt
OEM harmonic balancer, 50 oz imbalance
Centerforce Billet Steel flywheel, 50 oz imbalance
Double roller timing chain
Trick Flow Stage 1 camshaft (.499"/.510" lift, 221/225 degrees duration @ .050" lift, 112* Lobe Separation Angle)
Well, I stayed up late last night mocking up the entire rotating assembly with a buddy of mine and checking tolerances on the main and rod caps with plastigage. I also checked crankshaft endplay. My tolerances so far are as follows:
Main cap oil clearances:
Cap 1: .0015"
Cap 2: .0015"
Cap 3: .0015"
Cap 4: .0015"
Cap 5: .0015"
Crankshaft endplay:
.0038" (a little tight, spec is .004" - .008", but I will live with it. It should open up immediately upon startup and the first time I push the clutch)
Rod cap oil clearances:
#1 - .0015"
#2 - .0015"
#3 - .0018"
#4 - .0018"
#5 - .0013"
#6 - .0015"
#7 - .0018"
#8 - .0013"
This morning I plan on a trip to Harbor Freight to buy a couple tools that I need, specifically a brass hammer, plastic hammer, and engine brushes. Then I'm going to clean the block and parts like crazy... twice. My buddy (a machinist) is bringing over his micrometers because I want to check the main and rod journal sizes just for good measure. I hope to assemble the entire bottom half of the motor today, and maybe even check piston-to-valve clearance as well. I already have a bunch of pictures, and I'll try to post them later today.
Paul.
The bottom-haf components are as follows:
Production 5.0 (302) block, borded .030", align honed
OEM Crank, ground .010, polished, oil holes chamfered, balanced rotating assembly
Probe forged I-beam rods
Probe forged pistons, 4.030"
Clevite 77 main and rod bearings
Sealed Power gapless moly piston rings, 4.030"
ARP main and head studs
ARP harmonic balancer bolt
OEM harmonic balancer, 50 oz imbalance
Centerforce Billet Steel flywheel, 50 oz imbalance
Double roller timing chain
Trick Flow Stage 1 camshaft (.499"/.510" lift, 221/225 degrees duration @ .050" lift, 112* Lobe Separation Angle)
Well, I stayed up late last night mocking up the entire rotating assembly with a buddy of mine and checking tolerances on the main and rod caps with plastigage. I also checked crankshaft endplay. My tolerances so far are as follows:
Main cap oil clearances:
Cap 1: .0015"
Cap 2: .0015"
Cap 3: .0015"
Cap 4: .0015"
Cap 5: .0015"
Crankshaft endplay:
.0038" (a little tight, spec is .004" - .008", but I will live with it. It should open up immediately upon startup and the first time I push the clutch)
Rod cap oil clearances:
#1 - .0015"
#2 - .0015"
#3 - .0018"
#4 - .0018"
#5 - .0013"
#6 - .0015"
#7 - .0018"
#8 - .0013"
This morning I plan on a trip to Harbor Freight to buy a couple tools that I need, specifically a brass hammer, plastic hammer, and engine brushes. Then I'm going to clean the block and parts like crazy... twice. My buddy (a machinist) is bringing over his micrometers because I want to check the main and rod journal sizes just for good measure. I hope to assemble the entire bottom half of the motor today, and maybe even check piston-to-valve clearance as well. I already have a bunch of pictures, and I'll try to post them later today.
Paul.