The time difficulties are surely frustrating, but for the rest of it, one word, "CLASS". And for-what-its-worth, I agree with BB on the tool marks.

KS

A couple of comments come to mind. First, Carl Holbrook was known to furnace braze eight sleeves into a block and then completely go over all the machined areas, treating it as if it were a raw casting. And at one time he used chrome moly tubing as sleeve material. I was a metallurgical process engineer at T&C Livonia at the time and we had a number of discussions about the ideas he dreamed-up. (Bill Coon was actually doing the brazing)

I was amazed at the lay-out of the block in the Jag engine I'm using for Maxton racing. Although when Jag first spec'ed this V-8 design, they intended to use nikasil bores, there was an extended run of gasoline in Europe with high-enough Sulfur content that the combustion process created enough sulfuric acid to attack the bore surfaces. This became a warrantee nightmare, and, although the sulfur content contretemps was solved in fairly short order after identification, the factory has used cast-in liners ever since.

These cast-in liners fit into an aluminium block laid-out in such a way that there is a significant water jacket surrounding each cylinder---but the water jacket only extends down the cylinder for about an inch and a half. Most of the ferrous liner is not cooled by water.

Since I first saw this way of doing things, on an engine that earned a 'Ten Best' on the first year of its introduction, I have believed that the use of properly-installed Hardblok is very justified for high performance applications. About the only drawback is the extra weight. JMO

KS   

When Roush's engine shop for NASCAR engines was in Livonia, one small corner of the storage mezzanine was taken up with a set-up to coat pistons. The coating was applied by a guy using an airbrush. After allowing the pistons to dry, they were baked in an oven. This wasn't a 'let's try it' sort of operation---his engines had this technology incorporated.

My latest set of Ross pistons for a turbo application came to me coated also. But where the coating Roush's people were applying was a dark grey, the Ross material is almost a gold color.

KS

Hey 'cat---

Do you ever visit LVC, the Lincoln/Cadillac forum? Lotsa good stuff there!

KS

Way to go, Jay! I'll be looking in regularly!

KS