Today was Fun Day!!

[69a100]

I broke out the 300 today and drove Tuck over to my crib so we could move forward and put the hood on his monster. Milt73 called to confirm where I lived as he wanted to stop by as we had talked thru the week as he was looking for someone to help dail in his Bee. As a non-B ower I'm glad I could help. I think he's happy with what a few extra degrees of timing can do!
Tuck is even is going to hook him up with some small detail type parts and pocket some coin to fund the monster.
Milt- When you get around to doing the upholstery, give me a call for a hand, I have tools for that! Glad ya stopped by!

 

[milit73]

I was good to meet you all today and got some good help. My car is very happy as am I, plus I could not help but jump on it a little going home. It's nice to have some car guys around and brainstorm ideas. Those were some nice cars over there so now I have a goal to get my engine compartment to looks as good as what I saw today. When I can afford some upholstery I will take you up on that offer.
BTW I laid out the room for tile pretty quite and will be able to get that done tomorrow. Once again thank for the help today. Jim

 

[Pistol Pete]

What year 300 ?

 

[69a100]

It is kinda hard to keep your foot out of a well tuned machine, isn't it? We should hook up on some cruz nites this summer as Mopars are few and far bewteen around here.
66 on the 300.

 

[tallhair]

It is kinda hard to keep your foot out of a well tuned machine, isn't it? We should hook up on some cruz nites this summer as Mopars are few and far bewteen around here.
66 on the 300.

let's see some pics of the 300 .. I used to have a 67 300 and wife still tells me that's the one I should have kept.

 

[Budnicks]

I broke out the 300 today and drove Tuck over to my crib so we could move forward and put the hood on his monster. Milt73 called to confirm where I lived as he wanted to stop by as we had talked thru the week as he was looking for someone to help dail in his Bee. As a non-B ower I'm glad I could help. I think he's happy with what a few extra degrees of timing can do!
Tuck is even is going to hook him up with some small detail type parts and pocket some coin to fund the monster.
Milt- When you get around to doing the upholstery, give me a call for a hand, I have tools for that! Glad ya stopped by!

we need photos guys...LOL... sounds like a great day

 

[cr8crshr]

Yep it was. My Brother Jon helped out Jim fine tune the 68 Bee. Jon has a gift when it comes to tuning up these older rides of ours. And from the look on Jim's face after a test drive, the grin said it all. We did some Bench Racing or "what if" if you prefer, about my noise situation. Right before he showed up I had the car jacked up and while underneath I had Brother Jon turn the motor...minus coil wire...to see if I was getting any contact with the Flex Plate Bolts and the Torque Converter with the block or Tranny Bell Housing. I am here to tell you all that isn't the problem with the knocking noise. Other than the Tranny slipping in drive, there is no contact within the Bell housing, etc. That is a relief now that I can eliminate that that is the core of the problem. With Jim's, our neighbor Dave, Jon and Myself, we all came to agreement that it is in the valve train because of the way the sound is isolated to just a few spots on the Valve Covers. I am going to try and re-do the heads with new Shaft Hold Downs and Shims/Spacers to see if I can eliminate the play that is going on between the Rockers. The Engine Builder...still pisses me off about his work...any way...when he had me over to his shop as he was putting the finishing touches on the engine build, machined and made custom Spacers and Shims. I remember that because he kept running back and forth from the machine room to the clean room as he kept machining the custom ones. The Hold Downs I have now are the stock MOPAR ones and were originally included with the build. And, the heads were not the new ones but the MOPAR 516's that he had re-worked for me. When I switched to the new 440 Source Heads...which by the way are really awesome Heads for the price...:headbang: I just swapped Rocker Arms and Shafts, Hold Downs and Spacers/Shims from the 516's to the 440 Source heads. There is some play now between the Rockers and the Spacers/Shims. So after our Bench Talking, we came to a conclusion that the Valve Train Geometry that was on the 516's was really precise and with the new 440 Source Heads, they just might be off enough to cause the knocking noise. So I will be getting new Hold Downs, Spacers and Shims as well as some Rocker Shaft Shims that fit underneath the Rocker Shaft Pedestals where they are bolted down to in order see if I can fine tune them up. It is worth the buck and a half expense to give this a try and will pretty much guarantee all new parts on this motor. If this doesn't work out then guess what???? Nope I ain't gonna sell just yet because I want to build a Stroker in either a 383 block or a 400 block. I have a great source up here in Northern CA that has tons of blocks so couple that with the new parts I now have on my 383 and with some added Stroker Parts, I just might run with this idea if my current try fails. Here are some pics from yesterday along with some 66 300's. Red one is my Brother's and the Maroon one was mine but now resides in FL....cr8crshr/Tuck/Bill

 

[69a100]

Heck, why not replace then, you've replaced everything else in the motor. Keep your fingers crossed.

 

[cr8crshr]

Heck, why not replace then, you've replaced everything else in the motor. Keep your fingers crossed.

Thanks my Brother. Hell being retired now I can do anything I want!!!!!:headbang: Might be another year before it is all said and done...NNNNOOOOTTTT!!!

 

[Budnicks]

sounds like Tuck, a fun time, is the knocking a clicky tinny tappet type noise or a thud type of noise, like a spun bearing or cracked flex-plate ?? can you tell it's coming from the valve-train ??, what rockers are you using the stock stamped steel or an adjustable type ??, I highly recommend the adjustable type,if you have a smaller base circle type of aftermarket camshaft, did you check the pre-load on the lifters or the push-od lengths, you could have too short of push-rods or a bad lifter or something too, the stock type stamped steel rockers with the springs & spacers is usually adequate for camshafts with lifts of 0.500" gross valve lift in hydraulic cams...

 

[cr8crshr]

Budnicks...A Tinney Tappet kind sound is the only way I can describe it. All else that you have suggested has been done. I cannot use the stamped rockers with Hughes Cams. Lifters are all brand new along with push rods. They were replaced after finding a 5 lifters that were frozen soild. They wouldn't compress so I purchased a complete new set. The noise appears to be coming from the valve train. Confirmed that with mechanics stethoscope as best as we can tell without removing the valve covers and inspecting again visually. Too much oil spray all over. Adjustable Rockers are used. I went with the CAT Rockers as they are on the Red 300 in the pics and I had them on mine at the time...the Maroon one...and we have had absolutely no issues with the past builds in using them. This one yes. I cannot afford new ones as the better known brands are way too expensive at the present time. I have checked and double checked the preload/lash and have them set at the bare minimum. Cannot get any more out of them unless I completely remove any tension on the locks. Cam is only rated at .506 and .538 respectively. The head springs are rated to up to .600 so I am good to go there. This engine has been nothing but a nightmare since I began this project. What I could use is someone in this hobby that knows MOPARS and lives relatively close that could drop by and really tell me what's up here. So far I haven't been able to get to that point. I have been Bitchin about the Clown that I contracted to build the engine because at the time I was deploying while in the service, and he screwed me royally. It's not just me alone as the rep that they had as a business has now subsequently shot and they are no longer in operation. So I cannot go back to them to correct it. Other than going with a new block and a stroker kit, I have to at least keep on trying with this one. The car and the engine have a lot of "Spunk" and the exhaust note is really good and equal. By the way...both my Brother's 300 and the one I had, the engines were rebuilt using pretty much the same parts and done by ourselves. Never again will I entrust someone else with any and all my engine builds. It is real costly when you get, "FU**ED without at least a reach around.....:angryfire:

 

[Budnicks]

Tuck good luck, sounds like it's been an adventure for sure, sounds like your doing the right things too...

 

[milit73]

So the reason I had to leave yesterday is now done except the grout, that will be later this week. I now have to fix the leak one the thermostat since I did not do a good job the first time!!!!!!!!!! Man I want to get out and drive some more. BTW cr8crshr thanks for the links. Now for a tile job picture (remember first try at this but I think it is looking ok) jim

 

[tallhair]

Nice looking cars Tuck .. thanks for the stories and the pictures guys

 

[69a100]

That floor's goin to look nice.

 

[Budnicks]

That floor's goin to look nice.

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