1978 Pontiac Firebird Week 2009 08 17

 REMEMBER TO CLICK PICTURES FOR MORE DETAIL / LARGER PICTURE

This was a huge step forward. The engine was test run, the cam was broken in, the car nuts , Frank Serafine, Don Schafer, Tom Deyle, and George Nick showed up to help put the engine in the car and get it running.. All are welcome at the car nuts gatherings, you should come out some time. It is a good time

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 P8110001_small Here the engine has been put together, to see the assemble see last week’s update. It is ready for test run. Note the external balance flex plate on the engine. We almost did not catch this. The engine has been internally balance and therefore need and natural balance flex plate.
Setting the engine up on the dyno stand. It will be used as a run stand to test run the engine and brake in the cam.
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The engine has been test run and the cam broken in. Now we check everything over for problems, this included resetting all the valve lash gaps.
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Now the fun starts. Dyno runs, final tuning.
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 P8140002_small These are the results form the first two Dyno runs on Thursday 2009 08 13. They were made with a 750 CFM carburetor with 72 jets in the front a 8.5 power jet and 85 jets in the rear. The EGT’s were to high (1400 degrees +), the input are volume was 750 CFM (the carb was maxed out).
below are the final results after switching carburetors, jets, timing, mufflers / no mufflers, and gas octane. Best all around run was with a 1050 dominator, 95 jets in the front, no power valve, 97 jets in the rear (it wanted more, but it would not idle with bigger jets) 30 degrees total timing, with mufflers (wanted some back pressure)

HP = 524 at 5800   Torque = 557 at 4400
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Time to take the engine home. It arrived Friday night at 5:00
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The next step was to dig the car out from all the clutter that had gathered around it in it’s rest period. The intention is to get it ready for Club racing on Wednesday.
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One of the problems with taking the engine in and out of the car is the after market motor mounts when bolted up to the original frame motor mount holes, do not line up with the bracket on the side of the engine. To make this process easier we removed the motor mounts from the frame. Bolted the new mounts to the engine, set the engine in place and bolted up the cross member  and transmission mount. Then the engine mount locations were marked on the frame of the car, and the engine was removed. New holes were drilled for the mounts. the mounts were bolted up , and the engine was put back in place 
In past extractions and insertions of the engine it has taken as many as four car nuts, four hours with pry bars and much foul language to get the mount to line up. Now we can set the engine in place and screw the mount bolts in with out fingers. It was well worth the time.
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 P8150039_small   The torque convert was installed, transmission was bolted up and the toile bowl was set on top of the engine for a look see.
Next project was to make oil changes easier. The old oil filter adapter was removed, the block was drilled with 1/2 inch holes for better flow and then tapped.
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A remote oil filter was installled with -10 lines.
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 P8160065_small   The front clip was installed Monday night.
 P8160068_small The engine ran today (Tuesday). I have to make a new throttle cable bracket because of the height of the carburetor. The hood need to be put back on, and an air filter needs to be installed. I will be ready for racing on Wednesday!!!!!!!!!

 Trip to the track!