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[Mark_99GTP]

Any of you guys been working on your car or truck doing some new projects or maintenance? Winter can be a good time to get a few things done for the up coming nice weather in a few months. I have a list of things I want to do for the summer ride. I haven't done too many things lately, just a few small things. I'll have to get a few pictures when I can I guess. Anyone?

 

[3whiterag]

Oh man, I have to learn to scroll down farther in the forum. Just saw this post. I am not doing a damn thing. My oldest boy, however, has been working on getting his Puma ready for the spring when he hopes to have it on the road. Roght now he is trying to sort out the wiring. I think he may be getting real close to finding the right combination.

[Maxrpm]

We have our hands full finishing off some winter projects that got put off.  a head gasket
went on or tow rig so its in the shop right now. As much as I love the duramax's finding
the almost 40hrs the book calls for to do the repair is hard to look forward to . I'm
just glad they're not like the newer ford diesels that require you to lift the cab off to do
the job. Who thought that one out.lol
 The second one I'm doing is putting my 73 Firebird back together with a new engine
I've been working on for last couple yrs. Its a pump gas friendly 434 cubic inch
small block chevy that puts out close to 600 hp/600 flbs  NA and should be well over 800hp
with the nitrous.
  The old engine made great power with over 685hp at the wheels. but between wearing out
blocks and using VP c16 fuel at $14.50 a gallon because of the 14.75-1 comp ratio it was time
to try a different approach. Mind you there's nothing like coming out of the hole at 6200 and
shifting at 9200. The rotating assembly has been together for 20 yrs but would lift the heads
after couple yrs because it pulled the threads out of the block so had to keep machining new
blocks. Might try a new Dart block for next assembly but for now its all boxed up.

Mike

[Maxrpm]

Just thought I'd put up some pics of my progress on the Dmax.

[Maxrpm]

One more of the head and one of the 434 thats going into my 73 bird.

[dlangbroek]

That looks awesome Mike! Great work there.

[Maxrpm]

Thanks. One of the reasons I'm documenting the head rebuild is to show that
they can be rebuilt. The specs on these heads say that any more than .0039
warpage and they need to be replaced and say not serviceable. I had to take
.008 thou of both heads to get them straight and get rid of the fire rings
impression in the head. But by knowing the valve depression from head
surface and putting them back at same theres no reason they cant be rebuilt.
The early dmax 2001-2004 had known problems with their head gaskets. They
have since changed the gasket design and the torque specs on the bolts.
Shelling out close to 3 grand for new heads based on their limits was unrealistic
especially if you add that to what a dealer charges to do the job,hrly rate plus
parts/gaskets it would be almost 10 grand to do head gaskets on these things.

[J_Ferguson]

Yeah winter turned to spring and here it is summer but i am almost done
A little motor work

And a little touch for the inside


Yeah had to do it... a new face lift for the ol girl


New Face


A little bling in the trunk




Am hoping to get some paint splashed on her by the middle of this month

All this work was done right there in my parking space ... got to love a low or no over head

[dlangbroek]

Car sure has come a long way.  Nice work and very patriotic.