BBC 489 build

[Craig Nedrow]

Got a call, will pick up the engine on Monday...Yeah!!

 

[Craig Nedrow]

Brought my 454 aka 489 home from the shop, it was later in the afternoon, so I did not get to much done. However I did set up my bore gauge to 4.280 and measured one bore, and it was exact from top to bottom, and at 90 degrees, so very pleased. So round and straight. I will trial fit the crank, one rod and one piston and measure my deck height today and show how I do that, and what it ended up at. Here are a few pics of the block and bore which is nice and smooth, but not finished. I will show that as later. for reference I am using chrome moly rings.

 

[Craig Nedrow]

Deburr bearings on both sides, install crank with light oil, and spins freely, so no line bore needed. Installed piston and rod on #1 deck height is about .015, so ok. Indicator used to find TDC.

 

[Craig Nedrow]

Surprisingly, no interference with crank so also a plus. Massive interference between the head and piston. Checked piston CH +1.280 so that is correct, and the rod length is 6.386 with calipers, supposed to be 6.395, so close enough. So winning some and loosing some. I did an extensive measurement of all the bores, and very impressed. My method is to set the gage @ 4.280, measure top, middle, and bottom, then the same but 90 degrees from the first. All bores min/max an incredible .0005 from nominal. That is good machine work and a great hone, (sunnen SV15).

Sunnen | Sunnen - Vertical Honing Machines - SV-15

Sunnen's SV-15 Vertical Hone is designed with power, precision, durability and advanced technology to deliver state-of-the-art performance.

www.sunnen.com

The only reason I share this, is that, in my opinion, the cylinder hone is the most important machine in the shop as it finishes the bore id. If thinking of building a block, look for a machine like this in the shop.
Calculated static compression ratio, and it is right @ 10.75 which does not take in account the .004 clearance for the piston, X the depth to the top ring, which in my case is .300. FYI piston crown is approx., .230.

 

[Craig Nedrow]

More done, I had the piston on backwards, was so excited to try it out, but now nothing hits. What a relief as I paid to have the motor balanced to .2 grams, not the usual 2 grams. Pulled apart again, and painted the block black because it is more thermally efficient then the blue.

 

[Craig Nedrow]

Shop cleanup day, but here is the engine painted. Tomorrow I will start various block modifications, mostly oil control. Ordered the front timing cover. Makes it a fool proof cam shaft end play adjustment.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000CIPOOC/

Will buy a timing chain like this, as cam will go in +4* advanced to give me a 106.5 center angle. Should allow me to take advantage of exhaust flow to pull low lift intake air.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003TQ11G4/

 

[Craig Nedrow]

Installed my valley screens, and drilled drain back holes in the block. This is all an attempt to keep the oil off the crank, routing it down the timing cover, and the back of the engine. Also should speed drain back to the pan. Few pics, bolts are holding screen down. Bought screen from amazon, used JB weld epoxy.

 

[Z28 Guy]

Love the attention to detail on your build. Looking to build a 489ci for towing soon for my truck.

 

[Vbb199]

I like the attention to detail my fellow machinist

 

[Craig Nedrow]

thank you my squarebody brothers. Town day, went to Harbor Freight and bought four tables. I saw Nick's (Nick Trans fame,) work bench on two tool boxes, thought it was a good idea/ $119.00 ea for two benches which will give me 8' of bench space and lights and peg boards on each one. Plenty of room to tear into the 205 and upgrade the input bearing. Also on sale for $89.00 were single drawer service carts, so I got one yellow, and one green. With these I hope to get stuff off the floor and my shop more organized. Got 10 gal of kerosene for the two parts washers to help speed parts washing up. Gray, cold miserable weather, still 8" snow, and probably 1000 elk below the house.

 

[Craig Nedrow]

Love the attention to detail on your build. Looking to build a 489ci for towing soon for my truck.

I like the attention to detail my fellow machinist

Hope you do Jermaine, only have one short life, what took me so long. I did not know you were a machinist Vince, though I follow along with everything that you do. Still got a 475 BW turbo and a LQ4 just waitin....Decided to put the 194 six back into the nova....for now to get it on the road this year. Thinking it needs a little turbo love. eventually could put that LQ4 in there, already have ported 317 heads, (who ports those?) and Launiti rods, have the rocker trunnion thing done. However think the ls1 aluminum 2002 engine and t56 trans is a better practical fit.

 

[Z28 Guy]

My 6 speed Z28 LS2 powered made 480 to the tire with HOME PORTED 799 heads with a fast 102mm intake and a camshaft from cam motion. By head porter/builder has a similar combo thats been 10.2s at 130 plus in a 3500 pound 99 Z28 car. Almost forgot to mention that 480 to the tire was done on a dynojet with a 48 inch drum that reads way lower than the 24 inch drum most dynos have. If interested just send me a pm and i will help you. I dont much about big blocks but i know LS motors very well.

 

[Craig Nedrow]

Here it the Cloyes timing cover, has roller button to control cam walk, and is easily adjustable. Will need to buy/make a timing pointer, my balancer is degreed.

 

[Craig Nedrow]

each day, lil' closer. Installed freeze plugs, using Permatex #1 brown form-a-gasket, rated for this application. Also installed all the pipe plugs formally removed for cleaning, used pipe dope. Started in finishing the bores with the green scotch-brite pads, and fingernail drag test is significantly smoother. Still more to do there, maybe finish tomorrow. Also finished the underside of the bores, all in my quest to control oil in the motor. This was first found to be helpful in moto gp and f1 20000 rpm engines, which the 489 is not. However test have shown a slight increase in power, (3 hp) but more importantly gives the air under the piston a smoother transition up the cylinder thus reducing oil particulate in the air. If I was not running mufflers, I would a Moroso exhaust exac system, but while the Holly aero chamber mufflers are free flowing, and the exhaust piping is 3", they say it won't work. 1st pic original very nice finish from the machine shop done on Sunnen SV15. 2 and 3 pic after some scotch brite work. 4th pic is the radius on the bottom of the bore, but hard to see, 5th pic is just plugs and soft plugs. Drive the plugs in with the biggest socket that will fit inside the freeze plug.

 

[Craig Nedrow]

finished the heads except assembly some pics. Got a bunch of parts coming in Friday, Hope to assemble heads tomorrow, but need cleaned up, but got the parts washer with new kerosene, so that will help some. I am close to having all the parts to begin assembly, just a little bore work to do. Pic #1,2 original runners, the rest are mostly finished runners. I had AFR do the combustion chambers so will not have to do anything there.