Progress report:
My two former trunk monkeys, Kevin and Jeff came over, and having 3 trunk monkeys in one place ended up to be quite a party!
Kevin brought some wheels and tires, and he picked up one from Jay as well for me to test fit. We decided on 9x28- 15 on a 7" rim as the biggest that will fit my stock wheelwell without getting custom offset wheels. So I ordered a pair of MT ET Drags.
I spent a bunch of time finding parts and digging them out of various storage hideaways, and got a couple of workbenches halfway cleared of clutter so I had a place to work. Got the block cleaned up and onto the bench. I found some slight rust in a few areas like the main bearing bores, so I polished them up with scotchbrite. The #1 and #5 main cap parting surfaces had some material transfer from cap walk, so I carefully honed the block surfaces with a stone, and the cap surfaces with 600 grit paper on a granite surface plate. I installed the 3/4 groove competition main bearings and caps and checked all the main bearing clearances. They are right at .0020. I wouldn't mind seeing .0025-.0030, but I think they will be OK.
I like to do the crank work on the table, so I can then test fit all the flywheel/clutch/bellhousing/transmission/starter stuff and dial in the bellhousing while the crank is easy to turn and Im not under the car. The bell is a new quicktime scattersheild, and it was concentric to the centerline of the crankshaft within .006". Close enuff. But the counterweight levers on the Advance clutch hit the inside of the bell. So I put some washers between the block and the block plate to push the bell rearward .125" as a test. That solved the clearance issue, so I ordered an extra block plate to put in there as a long term solution.
Jeff came over and got busy pulling the F.A.S.T. fuel tank, and installing the new caltracs and mono leafs.
I hope to get the new slicks mounted and test fitted this week, and the short block all assembled over the upcoming weekend.
