Legacy GT Wagon conversion
Subframe is a bitch and we decided to modify rather then start from scratch.
What are your plans? Steering rack ja a pain as you will see.
Tunnel mod and transmission mount are done now just need to get back into it.
One thing I'm jealous of: his mock-up engine. I shopped online for one, but decided to pass on the 350+ dollar price tag and just deal with the engine itself
Subframe is a bitch and we decided to modify rather then start from scratch.
What are your plans? Steering rack ja a pain as you will see.
Tunnel mod and transmission mount are done now just need to get back into it.
Entirely custom front engine cradle is the plan. It just makes more sense than to try to re-engineer what Subaru had put there. Steering rack mounting I will have to see once we actually start get going. I think I'm going to have room to actually move it higher than it currently is. If not, I'll just convert to heim joint steering and flip the tie rods. First thing is first though: get the engine all put together!
I'm in no way knocking on his build! As I tell other people that have pioneered things before me, he has given me some great ideas on how to go about some things, and other ideas on how to do a few other items differently.
Last edited by Dusty B; Dec 22, 2013 at 09:17 AM.
In the case if sucha build money talks if that is not a constraint than you can build anything.
My miata build was donw with a budget in mind

Keep us posted maybe you have some ideas.
What will you do for rear?
Entirely custom front engine cradle is the plan. It just makes more sense than to try to re-engineer what Subaru had put there. Steering rack mounting I will have to see once we actually start get going. I think I'm going to have room to actually move it higher than it currently is. If not, I'll just convert to heim joint steering and flip the tie rods. First thing is first though: get the engine all put together!
I'm in no way knocking on his build! As I tell other people that have pioneered things before me, he has given me some great ideas on how to go about some things, and other ideas on how to do a few other items differently.
In the case if sucha build money talks if that is not a constraint than you can build anything.
My miata build was donw with a budget in mind

Keep us posted maybe you have some ideas.
What will you do for rear?
I haven't made up my mind on a rear end setup yet. Was going to do a custom DS, and blow the R160 up pretty much, then maybe go up to the R180, before I have to step up to R200 and really have custom everything in the rear.
Had some time to stop at the shop. Parts still haven't shown up, so, I decided to play around and just clean and paint valve covers, after I removed the one broken exhaust bolt that I found when I stripped the motor down. My trademark purple won't be for most of you, but I've been using the color on the wagon for years
Couple days of PB, and some heat made quick work of broken exhaust bolt:

After cleaning and a little primer, a coat of metallic silver:

Let that bake a little, then couple of coats of metallic hammered:

Laying on some purp!
:
Let that cook in the shop oven, aka heater: hit with clear, bake, repeat a couple times. Output temp about 220, great for curing paint!:

Aaaaaaaaaand sneak peak:

Last edited by Dusty B; Dec 22, 2013 at 09:41 PM.
Before that I had about 4 ft of breaker bar boucing on it, and NO GO. With heat, it loosened right up.
The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time
Parts are due in Monday, so I just may wait until then. Going to order up some poly mounts so I have them on hand when time comes to do subframe and mounting work. Most likely will get 2 of these and build everything else.
http://www.ruffstuffspecialties.com/...t_Code=BUSHDOM
Going to make my own lifter holder tool using 5/16" aluminum rod, and grind the "D" shape. I don't see the point using 16 pen magnets, which are are least $5 bucks a piece for decent ones, and you could still have a lifter fall. $10 and a little elbow grease works for me.
Last edited by Dusty B; Dec 31, 2013 at 07:53 AM.
Buddy and I had time to play in shop today, after he came over and helped me pull a Subaru tranny.
So, heated up crank bolt, hit with impact, and out it came. then slapped the 3-jaw puller on.:

Defeated:

Once that was off, then the front cover came off. A little surprise followed, as for some reason it came equipped with the damn 3-bolt, 1X cam gear.... any one seem this before?!?! I was puzzled, yet happy. So It looks like I have a band new cam gear to sell or become a paper weight. My block is also drilled/tapped for ls2 chain damper. This, however, is where my good day and fortune ended
Last edited by Dusty B; Jan 1, 2014 at 09:05 PM.

To be fair, we're hitting the thing with 130psi, I know that cranking pressure are higher than that though....Without a pressure gauge on hand, I decide to just introduce air to each cylinder. So cyl 2,4, and 6 have some blow-by on intake side, hook it up to 8, hit the air and "POW" blows the take clean off, violently, and loud *** hissing. Can you can burnt valve? So I move over to other bank, 3 and 5 leak, but past the rings into the crankcase.... rings. Decide to pull the heads since I have no choice at this point, and these are some of the scary sights.

Pics looks worse than it is. Walls are silky smooth and mirrored. They are just reflecting the top of piston and make it look nasty.



How I left everything at the shop tonight. Happy New Years!!!!

Last edited by Dusty B; Jan 1, 2014 at 09:02 PM.
If the heads are straight, do I bother milling? If so how much? With higher lift cam I don't want any interference, and I also don't want to heighten compression any further if I can avoid!
I'll most likely just re-ring myself, and do the ARP rod bolts while I'm at it.....
I would just re-ring it and have a valve job done if the rest of the block checks out.
If you don't want to mill the heads then as long as they are still straight and the mating surfaces are ok I would see no reason to do so.
Tipsy
I sent them some photos, and details on the condition of the engine. I told them there was no way this engine didn't run without a dead skip at the very least. All thier engines are confirmed running and in good working order before they are supposed to sell them. The response I get:
"Although we verified that the motor ran, we do not always make note of how well the engines run. We cannot give you a refund, or a percentage of the money you paid for the engine. However, we can try to give you a good deal on a set of replacement heads for the engine."

Oh well, live and learn. I'll make sure I give them GREAT reviews and send all my friends there.
In other news, I have another toy car I've had up for sale. A 420whp 50 trimmed PT Cruiser GT 5spd



