CommodoresPlus

OK, well quite a bit has happened since my last post, prety much have finished the full tear down.  So basically the main bearings are toast.  I chucked a pic up on FB and it seems to have got a bit of discussion.  Anyhow, the plan has been formulated.  I am going to work with Brenton Marusic who does his own stuff with Marusic Inductions, but als…[Read more]

This car will never be FI, totally understand its the easy and maybe cheapest way to make power but that’s not what its about for me, I want something different.  One day maybe a nice stealthy nos set up to make it a legitimate 1,000hp streeter, but tbh I reckon that’s a long way off.

Hey mate nothing wrong with kicking around ideas, that’s what the forums for

Yes agree on ring is overkill.  Good quality gasket fitted properly and engine tuned right should be perfect. Wonder if it was related to the IM240, he told me he had to run it super lean to pass.

Not sure, Adam is looking into that for me,  but the best I can get within reason.  But I think I have settled on CP pistons.  Will wait until the blocks checked/bored/honed to see what size.

http://www.cp-carrillo.com/pt-3544-bullet-series.html

Someone had some fun

Yea gotta say though Cav, I first rocked it before I pulled them out with the rings etc on them, it like seriously was rocking and making a huge knocking sound like a boss. And it was top bottom or middle of the bore, prob should have videoed it.   But I admit I have no experience with forged pistons, Will suss it all out properly once its all…[Read more]

That is at the top with the rings removed, but yea will do.  Yea I reckon the gasket is tuning.  I really dont think its been right for a while.  Bores look good actually, but nothing is measured yet.  Ant doubt at all will bore it, even if I just go 5 thou, then I will have it all re honed and pretty much start off like a new engine again.  But…[Read more]

Project “Beyond 700HP” is in full swing

Well got it out and partially torn down over the weekend,  was actually a very time consuming job pulling it out, working on my own.  Not hard just very time consuming with everything.  Doesn’t help I am paranoid about scratching the paint etc.  Pulled it out by dropping the sub frame, never done it…[Read more]

Project “Beyond 700HP” is in full swing

Well got it out and partially torn down over the weekend,  was actually a very time consuming job pulling it out, working on my own.  Not hard just very time consuming with everything.  Doesn’t help I am paranoid about scratching the paint etc.  Pulled it out by dropping the sub frame, never done it…[Read more]

Legend, cheers mate, love info like that

I id mention it once in passing the engineer, from memory, he wasn’t concerned as it didn’t change the safety aspect of the collapsible column etc.  But no nothing in writing.  I actually have a manual VL rack here I bought way back, and also an electric Astra power steering pump I got of IJ.  Trouble with the electric pump is I really dont ha…[Read more]

Eventually I would like to only as it will give a little more room around the steering shaft, and just removes the reservoir & pump from the bay, and less to go wrong. But its not high on the priority list.

Thats THR yea?

edit ; no its not

Thats THK yea?

Thanks all, well a bit more discussion and research done, sort of developing a plan of attack.  Obviously a little dependent on what I find when I get it apart but sort of imagining it wont be wrecked given ts running etc.

Gong to stay hydraulic, for the type of car it is which is basically a fun streeter I dont think the gain of the solid…[Read more]

Really liking that mate, beautiful work.

Yea something awesome about seeing an engine on the stand!  I am guessing this is sorted by now, but when I put my starter swap plate on it actually fouled the flex plate at the starter and stopped the crank turning, we had to grind some relief.  If you haven’t (you prob have) make sure its all spinning freely

So Cav, can you school me up and the pros and cons of hydraulic vs solid to make sure i am right in my thinking?  Is this right;

Hydraulic (current in mine)

no need to set valve clearances
no need to change lifters
no need to change rockers
has to be less aggressive lift,slope so less potential power
better suited to street…[Read more]

^yea thats what i am thinking too.

This is interesting, this is a comparison of the LSx454 (top) and LSx454R (bottom).  Looks like actually the internals are pretty much same, so obviously can they handle the power.  Interesting bore/stroke are actually identical.

The only differences I can see are solid cam, heads (valve sizes as w…[Read more]