276 stroker from 35 years of parts

[petehoovie]

Originally Posted by GB SISSON

Dang, you guys are killin' me. All the stuff I need to know to be happy on a Saturday morning. I have had a longtime love of #2 permatex, sounds perfect for head bolts, on the graphtite rope I used permatex black Ultra like the Best gasket sheet recomended. I also used it between the block and the die cast holder. Claims excellent oil resistence, so probably good for timing cover too, but I will check end play. And yes to the post type distributor. No more dual points behind the V belt for me. After all, it's a little late to be worried about staying 'original' on the phantom woodie. Two more questions for this morning. Cast iron or aluminum timing cover? and I have NORS main bearings by Michigan Bearing Co. I bought on barn swap. I will post a pic. Surface is very shiney, oddly so. Should I buff them out with fine scotchbrite?

[GB SISSON]

Thank you once again Pete. The bottom photo shows a couple more parts I picked up from my friend that sold me his father in law's block collection. He had mentioned he had some more bellhousings and oil pans for me in an old airstream on his property. All those good blocks and so many parts 1 1/2 miles down the road, and up until seven or eight years ago I knew nothing of them.

[cadillac512]

Originally Posted by GB SISSON

Thank you once again Pete. The bottom photo shows a couple more parts I picked up from my friend that sold me his father in law's block collection. He had mentioned he had some more bellhousings and oil pans for me in an old airstream on his property. All those good blocks and so many parts 1 1/2 miles down the road, and up until seven or eight years ago I knew nothing of them.

It amazes me how many good flathead parts (and trucks!) you have on your island.

[51504bat]

Originally Posted by GB SISSON

Thank you once again Pete. The bottom photo shows a couple more parts I picked up from my friend that sold me his father in law's block collection. He had mentioned he had some more bellhousings and oil pans for me in an old airstream on his property. All those good blocks and so many parts 1 1/2 miles down the road, and up until seven or eight years ago I knew nothing of them.

That Airstream might be worth more than the flathead stuff that's in it to the summer people on the island

[GB SISSON]

Originally Posted by flatford8

Not trying to piss in the middle of you parade Bud but, do you have room between the fan and radiator for the front mount distributor? Everything is a little further forward…..but I’m sure you already know that…….Mark

I'm no expert on the 8ba for sure, but I know I installed one in my '47 2 ton in 2014. I don't recall anything tricky or unusual. But wait, I may have used the forward set of crossmember holes for the radiator and support that Ford put in there for the longer 6cyl G engine (or perhaps a future 8ba).

[51504bat]

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8ba fit fine in the '40 1 1/2 ton I used to own.

[petehoovie]

Originally Posted by GB SISSON

I'm no expert on the 8ba for sure, but I know I installed one in my '47 2 ton in 2014. I don't recall anything tricky or unusual. But wait, I may have used the forward set of crossmember holes for the radiator and support that Ford put in there for the longer 6cyl G engine (or perhaps a future 8ba).

[GB SISSON]

Originally Posted by cadillac512

It amazes me how many good flathead parts (and trucks!) you have on your island.

I have had a lot of flathead era ford trucks but the vast majority got here the hard way. My first flat V8 came from the island. Once the hook was set, I had haul them from the mainland. Oregon, Eastern Washington, Parker's Praire Minnesota, Montana, N Dakota etc. Here's my first, that '38 tonner before and after. Most of the blocks came all at once, but I collected plenty of them the hard way too.

[petehoovie]

Originally Posted by GB SISSON

I have had a lot of flathead era ford trucks but the vast majority got here the hard way. My first flat V8 came from the island. Once the hook was set, I had haul them from the mainland. Oregon, Eastern Washington, Parker's Praire Minnesota, Montana, N Dakota etc. Here's my first, that '38 tonner before and after. Most of the blocks came all at once, but I collected plenty of them the hard way too.

[GB SISSON]

Quick-Draw McPete

[Bored&Stroked]

Originally Posted by cadillac512

Those super shiny bearings are the "micro" polished version and are good stuff, no buffing needed.

Except they have a bit of rust on the thrust surfaces.

[GB SISSON]

Originally Posted by Bored&Stroked

Except they have a bit of rust on the thrust surfaces.

It'll buff out. That must be why it was suggested I hit those areas with some fine emery. Consider it done. Here's some of what got done yesterday. I'll shoot for getting the crank in today. The pump on the far left had the golden pickup to center on the truck pan. I also want to look at my distributor options. I know I have at least one aluminum one and one cast iron. Can someone elaborate on the photo of all the timing covers, for instance which distributor works with which cover? Thanks.

[cadillac512]

The distributor on the right works with cover "A", the left fits B,C,and D.

[tubman]

Originally Posted by cadillac512

The distributor on the right works with cover "A", the left fits B,C,and D.

While I agree with Dale that the piloted distributors are probably more stable and therefore better, I have never had a problem with hem not fitting. And I have swapped a lot of distributors on a lot of 8BA' over the last 60 years. I never knew there was a difference until about 5 years ago and now believe they should match.

[petehoovie]

Originally Posted by GB SISSON

It'll buff out. That must be why it was suggested I hit those areas with some fine emery. Consider it done. Here's some of what got done yesterday. I'll shoot for getting the crank in today. The pump on the far left had the golden pickup to center on the truck pan. I also want to look at my distributor options. I know I have at least one aluminum one and one cast iron. Can someone elaborate on the photo of all the timing covers, for instance which distributor works with which cover? Thanks.

[GB SISSON]

Well it turns out I have 3 timing covers and none of them are the piloted type. I also have 3 distributors. An aluminum piloted one and 2 cast iron with no pilot. One of the cast iron ones is really clean and feels nice and tight. As far as cam end play, I tried my chosen timing cover both with and without a gasket. I cannot get my dial indicator endo on the back because of the stand and couldn't find a way to set it up inside. For now I can say that you can see and hear it move just a bit with no gasket and with the gasket it seems like a lot. My thought is move it back and measure with plastigage. I installed the crank just before I came in for lunch. Snugged down the six bolts and it feels so nice turning with a wrench. Haven't torqued yet. If I was a fishing guy I'm thinking this is fishing for blue marlin in the Bahamas. (without all that awful sun blasting in your eyes).

[GB SISSON]

Is it piston time or am I missing something?

[cadillac512]

Sure sounds like piston time. If you can hear and feel the cam end play without a gasket then that's the way I'd do it for sure. The nice unpiloted distributor sounds like my first choice, and the nice iron cover of course. Might check ring end gaps just to be sure all is correct there.

[GB SISSON]

Originally Posted by cadillac512

Sure sounds like piston time. If you can hear and feel the cam end play without a gasket then that's the way I'd do it for sure. The nice unpiloted distributor sounds like my first choice, and the nice iron cover of course. Might check ring end gaps just to be sure all is correct there.

I'll do that Terry, and I made a very careful inspection of the inside of the pistons to look for aluminum chips etc and they are all surgically clean. It's easy to see in there. I did my cam end play test with one of the two aluminum covers. The nice clean one. The other aluminum one and the cast iron one are HEAVILY caked on both sides with hard grease/oil. If the iron cover is the way to go, I will heat it on the woodstove in the morning, scrape with a putty knife and set it in a bucket of solvent while I get started on a set of rift-sawn white oak cabinet doors in the woodshop. The solvent is of unknown origin as many leftover solvents find their way into that bucket. I do like cast iron....
On the crank, still just snugged down as I wanted to make sure split lockwashers are good and 60,80,100 ft.lbs sequence. The crank shows .003 endplay. With all schooling on the 8ba, I found some really good parts today. Maybe best is a perfect, rebuilt model 94 1 1/16" version. The bores look so much larger side by side with a 15/16". I will pull it apart for deep inspection and a fresh kit. I hadn't realized the 94 came in different sizes.The other thing I found mixed in a full 3lb coffee can of 5/16" bolts was four what must be the special cam gear bolts. I cleaned one up. Short on threads, but a deep shoulder. Been a great day in the engine shop.

[Scotty's 52 F3]

Gary, I always enjoy your threads. Especially this one since I have an 8RT that runs but really needs a rebuild. This is a great reference and I love the bonus items in the background of your pics.

An old bike, a CANNON and a big two blade prop for ?? You have some cool stuff in your collection.

Scott