"Therapy" Progress Report With Pics

So what have you decided to do on the Buick V8 decision. Are you going to go with the 300? If you are still considering it, there is a 300 Buick V8 buildup in the March 2011 edition Hotrod Magazine page 82. It has some good details and resources. They end up using a 340/350 crank and Olds 307 pistons to stroke the 300 to 349 cubic Inches. With some head porting and a comp cam they manage 390HP and 422Lb/Ft of torque. Most of the buildup is off the shelf parts carefully selected to work together. It is a hell of a recipe for a performance 300 and even with slightly milder build would make a hell of a Jeep engine. I am sure you can still grab the magazine in newstands but it is also on the web at Hotrod Magazine here is the link http://www.hotrod.com/techarticles/engine/hrdp_1103_how_to_hot_rod_any_engine/index.html I am thinking some of these mods might work on the V6 as well. Let us know what you end up doing.
Greg

 

I saw that article. Oh, the timing! I have decided to try out the 300. The short block is sitting on the engine stand right now, heads are back at the machine shop, 4bbl intake on its way. Cylinders look pretty good. Need to clean up one of the lifter bores, a new lifter and pushrod, new gaskets and I think I might just bolt it in and see what happens. Not really trying to put any money into it at this point. If I like it, I know where another 300 sits that I could do a full rebuild while I run this one as-is, or even get the 350 that I intended to start with. I'm a huge Chevy 283 fan, and the specs on this engine are very similar, so I'm waiting with anxious anticipation.

I've also decided I think I'm going to put the V6 in a corner of the garage and rebuild it for some down-the-road project. Thinking about 231 standard bore pistons with a 231 head gasket, and get the odd-fire GM TBI project working that I've been accumulating for 2yrs.

 

I've been holding my breath,I have a '72 Buick 350 4bbl.in the wings.My 225 runs good but have saved the 350 just in case.I'm trying to decide (due to me being BROKE) if I should sell the Buick 350,or if I should do the v8 conversion & sell the 225.Your Jeep looks great

 

Where did you get them brake lights?

 

Got some time during my lunch break the other day. Pulled the V6. She was TIRED:


Now the frustrating set backs. Heads have been at the machine shop for almost 2 months now. Called him last week and they had just made it out of the parts washer. Gasket kit is backordered from Summit. Bought an intake off a guy online, but when it arrived it turned out to be for a 340. Mocking up my Saginaw swap and realizing it's going to be way tighter than I hoped (trying the Herm style setup with an Astro box).

On a positive note, I was able to get the one sticky lifter bore honed and bought new push rods, rebuilt the dist, got all the accessories off the V6 ready to bolt onto the V8.

 

Yet another month goes by, still no heads. I really do like the guy a lot, he does exceptional work, but he's a one man outfit and so I'm waiting in line.

In the meantime, Jeepin' weather is upon us and I'm getting anxious to get the HEEP rolling again. So today I went out and picked up another 300. Tore it completely down, picked the best between the two engines, everything into the parts washer (and did some electrolysis, too), reassembled it tonight. I think I got lucky and have enough decent parts between the two to make one good engine. I rolled it over by hand and it's making good compression on all cylinders.

I still need to do the timing cover and oil pan tomorrow, maybe next week I'll be able to test fire it. If it runs good, then I think I'll work slowly on the 2nd 300 and do something like what Hot Rod did in this magazine article: http://www.hotrod.com/techarticles/engine/hrdp_1103_how_to_hot_rod_any_engine/photo_01.html

On a side note, found out that the 300 is externally balanced, just like the 225, so Dauntless flywheel is a bolt-on.

 

Nice looking Jeep! I can empathize with the waiting, it seems like my entire project is hurry-up-and-wait. Took the seats to the upholsterer (pretty much the only guy in town) and he said it might be July!

Good luck with the engine.

 

Point of no return. The bell crank really put up a fight:


Point of no remorse. Astro intermediate shaft and steering box, Cherokee pitman arm and mounting spacer:


Buick 300 #2 ready to go in. Gave it an overhaul, STILL waiting on machine shop parts for engine #1, I hope this one's a runner:

 

Looks great. The steering box pic is deceiving. when I first saw it I thought it was sitting right on top of the axle took a minute to realize what I was seeing.

 

Worked on test fitting the engine tonight. Engine is 1" forward of final resting position in this pic. Accidentally tore my pass side motor mount jacking around with the hoist:


I'll be honest, I did not anticipate this set back. Might be looking at an electric pump: mehh


Intermediate shaft clearance is going to work out nicely. Guesstimating around 3/8" once the engine gets slid back into final position. Depth perception is kind of hard to judge in this pic, but the shaft ended up at the manifold downturn inbetween the "donut" and the #7 exhaust port:

 

They are trailer lights. Mine are the plastic style, but you can get similar metal or plastic at any Tractor supply.

Thanks. The inside doesn't look too shabby, either, especially for how little $$$ I have into it. From what I can sleuth after taking it apart, looks to me like it sprung a head gasket leak on the #1 cylinder shortly after a total rebuild and was abandoned. The seller gave me a story of having it in a Wildcat for a while and wanted a 430. It is making good compression on the engine stand now. Waiting to see how it runs.

 

Redneck tranny jack:


I got the motor setting on the mounts, clutch installed and bellhousing bolted up. It just barely fits. Had to remove the mechanical pump as there was no amount of persuasion that was going to clearance it away from the Astro steering. Put a blockoff in place. Picked up a Ford inline electric pump, going to mount on the driver's side frame rail. Figured EFI is in my future anyway, might as well get started now.

 

Haven't had any time to work this for a while. Got to tinker in the garage for a little while today.

I was worried when I painted the JEEP that I might get bored with the color over time. I can honestly say 5 years later that I still get excited everytime that first pass of 258L goes on over primer. This is that late CJ grille I picked up last winter, still needs a little wet sanding, a 2nd coat, and some clear:

 

I really like that pain too. Nice work.

 

In the process of modifying the position of the Skylark steering pump bracket relative to the position of the gear box, needed a way to accurately line up and mark a new hole to bolt the bracket to the front of the head. Came up with this solution, thought I'd share as it has many applications for marking holes in the blind.

I had this LED flashlight and pointing laser combo that I picked up at at my FLAPS a few months ago on sale for $3.99. I set it on my shop stool and shimmed it with random garage items that were laying around until I got it pointing right where I wanted. The sanding sponge turned out to be the correct height:


I adjusted the direction of the laser until it was pointing straight down the bolt hole in the front of the head where I wanted to mark the bracket. Look closely down the outboard bolt hole near the manifold:


Next I swung the bracket into the desired position. The laser is now exactly marking the hole where I want to drill:


Lined up exactly:

 

nice!

 

That's cool. I will probably have to build a power steering bracket for my V6, I'll keep your idea in mind.