XXO/BVGC '38 Chevy Coupe Build

[38flattie]

Thanks, I'll contact him.

I agree that we could do it, given more time. You have to remember, that everyone, with the exception of Jeff Fowler, Fowler Engines, are team mates and volunteers. So, there is only so much time and money.

A year seemed like LOTS of time to do this, but we are running out of time fast. We are going to have to farm some stuff out, to finish in time.

[38flattie]

This just in from BoredandStroked:


Chris brought over his latest SolidWorks models as well as a lexan "gasket" surface that he CNC cut from the CAD model. We use the gasket surface to validate bolt hole, bore and valve locations. As we've added 7 new studs, we wanted to validate the locations on the block one last time.

Chris "tweaked" his head model in a few places and we decided to raise the combustion chamber over the piston about .037 to increase the transfer area into the chamber a bit more.

Also we've added steel ARP 'Insert Washers' for all the studs -- they have an insert collar that centers on an ID recess of the stud hole. The tops of the stud holes are relieved just a bit to allow the larger insert collar ID. If you look closely at the stud locations, you'll see the relief.

We're also going to make the water manifolds separate pieces (one on each side with hoses) - so it will be easier to re-torque the heads when they are hot. The previous across-the-head one-piece manifold would have made that difficult.

Chris is going to have a complete prototype head CNCd this week out of 'ren' prototype material -- we'll validate everything with a physical head on the block . . . then Kevin can fire up his CNC mill! Don will probably be doing the combustion chambers - as they require some specialized tool-path software.

Here are a few pictures . . . you'll even get to see Chris' mug shot  He's really a lot worse in person (just kidding Chris  )

[Peter Jack]

You can tell right away he's talented. He knows the correct hand to hold the pen.

Pete

P.S. - Any good fabricator should be able to turn you out a pan. He'll need either a block or a strong jig with the holes correctly drilled to build it flat and accurately. A crank and a couple of rods would really help to build a good windage tray system. Good luck!

PJ

[38flattie]

We're trying to 'round off' some of the edges of this old brick, so we have some fiberglass parts being made. I'm pretty excited about these parts.

The gent making them does super work, and was crew chief on one of the record setting cars at Bonnevile. We feel not only privileged, but also extremely lucky, to have his expertise on our side.


Any idea who it is?

[38flattie]

John Kimbrough did the body work on Hooley's car, and was Hooley's crew chief. We all know how that worked out!

Here is John's latest work, and the note he sent me this morning:

I made the plugs for the faring bubbles in the area where the headlights were removed. I will glass over the plugs Monday. They mount from the inside with four bolts that go in to threaded inserts in the faring's . The are just a smooth 3D teardrop shape. I hope to be done with my part this next week. The picture is not a good one but you get the idea I hope. They will be made to fit after they have the fiberglass on them. Right now they are smaller than they need to be to allow for the thickness of glass.

Oh, and John- Congrats on the new Daughter in Law today!!!!

[Tman]

John K is a good guy! He helped us with our HAMB Drags BBQs the first few years.

[GH]

 And John is helping me with some missing parts on the GMC I am doing.

[38flattie]

I agree- John's a great guy!

Gary, I'm sure he'll do you a great job!

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Steel Main Caps . . . Some Heavy Stuff!

Don and his CNC guy (Allen?) have been making steel chips for the last couple days - whittling out some big-Acura steel main caps. These are full-height designs that go from the bearing saddles all the way up to the bottom of the block - about 3.00" tall.  The full steel girdle will then put a bit of a 'squish' on them.

I'm going to be in the Los Angeles area next week, so I'm going to go to Deist and DJ Safety. I plan on getting the fire suppression equipment, parachute,helmet, and some type of HANS device.

[38flattie]

I received the flow numbers from Joe Abbin. As you can see the flow pick up substantially with a conventional port & relief, but improvement was disappointing on the intake at high lift. Any further improvement might take major surgery as it appears port limited, although more/better porting will also help. The cylinder tested was second from the front on the passenger side.
The exhaust picked up very well, essentially matching the intake.

There are 3 Flatcads going to Bonneville this year, that I know of. I'm going to see Bob Brooks Tuesday, and check out the fuely Flatcad that is going in his liner.

Garry Odbert is building a roadster with a Procharged blown Flatcad. When I talked to Garry this morning, he had some interesting info for me. Garry had been working with Joe Mondello (RIP), on porting and flow work. Following Joe's advice, Garry has been able to get 167 cfm on the intake side, and 144 cfm on the exhaust side, using STOCK valves and heads.

Needless to say, we're working with Garry to replicate his porting success.

[Milwaukee Midget]

Curious as to what your intake valves look like.  Waisted stems might help, if you haven't already gone there.

Chris

[desotoman]

I am curious as to why you are relieving the block since you are making new heads? My experience on the flow bench told me air does not like to turn sharp 90 degree angles, so we put a radius instead of a relief on the block. You are not running normally aspirated so compression is not a issue.

Tom G.

[38flattie]

Chris, what do you mean by "Waisted stems"?

Tom, I agree with you. Joe is fairly set in his ways, and did what worked for him on his Ford flathead. Relieving has always been controversial, to say the least.

Joe Mondello had different porting ideas for this engine, and Garry followed his advice. Garry got 17 more cfm with this method, using stock valves and stock heads.

Guess which way we are going to go?!

[Milwaukee Midget]

Gripped this picture from another build by Brian Sidebotham on the performance Vaxhaul site.



The biggest obstruction in a tight port is almost always the valve itself.  

[38flattie]

Chris, I got you! I call them sculpted, but never really knew what they were supposed to be called.

In the end, we'll have something similar to your pic.

[38flattie]

I just returned home from California. I planned on staying longer, but had to cut the trip short. I was able to meet up with a bunch of people, and had a great time.

Stan, thanks for the burrito, beer, and laughs!

I went to DJ Safety, and quickly learned that unless you're wealthy, safety equipment is damned expensive! I would have rather got my wang caught in my zipper, than make the phone call to my wife, that I had to make, explaining why I had spent soooo much!

Good people there, though, and I was able to get, or order, everything I needed.

Dale is going to start the port work tomorrow.

I showed you all the Cad drawings of the girdle and main caps. Don finished them, and here are the finished products- he did a helluva nice job!