Sounds like a fun build, sure it will run just fine.

What lube are you using for prelubing the bearings?
Do you also use it on pistons and rings?

Melling makes an assembly lube that I use for the bearings. If I planned to install it immediately, I would have used 20w-50 oil. However, it will be months before it fires.
On the rings, I use a very thin coat of lightweight oil. On this build, it is "3 in 1" brand oil.

Just got a call from the machinest. Block #3 is ready, and the crank is getting balanced.
I guess it is time to start a "Budget 383 Build up Thread".

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I forgot about this thread until now.
Compression ratio came out at 10.20:1
I would prefer 10.5, but close enough.
Pushrods needed were 7.300 in length.
As of this evening, motor is in the car, heads are on, valve covers are modified, and I only need to install my injectors (sent them out for cleaning), and finish up the top end of the intake manifold, distributor, fluids etc.
Time now to hook up with mseven for a tune.

Hey Pete, was this a motor for your own car, or was this a customer car. Sounds like it should turn out nice. And some AFR's won't hurt either!

It is sitting between the frame rails of my own 87. Looking forward to firing it up, but that likely won't happen for a couple of weeks. I have to head out to San Franciso for a week.
I am really pleased with my cam and cylinder head selection. I plan to use this build as a stepping stone to a big inch small block.
This 406 has a set of 195 AFR Eliminators, but I will likely try a set of the new 235's for a big cube combo.

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Too bad that it's this coming week. You could have run over to Sonoma for the Wednesday Nite Drags at Infineon. But the track's closed to prep for Nascar.

I thought I would add a few pics.
Pushrods
[IMG]http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t221/vrodpete/100_6801.jpg[/IMG]
Lifters soaking in the pic below:
[IMG]http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t221/vrodpete/100_6799.jpg[/IMG]
Heads installed, rocker arms adjusted:
[IMG]http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t221/vrodpete/100_6803.jpg[/IMG]
1205 gaskets in place, ready to receive the lower intake.
[IMG]http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t221/vrodpete/100_6807.jpg[/IMG]

Not engine, but new line lock:
[IMG]http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t221/vrodpete/100_6819.jpg[/IMG]

What brand line lock do you use Pete?

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http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c4-pa ... -rsd-line-loc-for-c4.html
It is a custom bracket, custom braided lines combined with a B&M solenoid. $230 bucks delivered to your door. Nice piece, and worth the extra money.

It's alive!
Hit the key and did the open header thing, as is customary on any new build. I just wanted to confirm oil pressure, no severe leaks, or bad, bad noises. The 5 or 6 seconds it was running sounded fine. I don't want to run it until I have the datalogging stuff in place, and start up chip from Mick (mseven).
It's a good day.

Looks great Pete! Good luck and keep us posted!

BTW, looks like we decided for the same tuner.

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Thanks!
My hope is to lean on Mick just enough to get the car somewhat squared away, with a safe tune up as the primary goal. Once I start to become comfortable, it is my hope that I can evolve into someone that can tune well. I know there will be a huge learning curve, but I am excited for the opportunity to learn something new.

Just a quick update.
I was on the west coast for a while, so bench racing only for me lately.
I did receive the start up prom from mseven.
Holy cow, what a difference. Fired up immediately, idled almost perfectly too. After setting the minimum air setting, it smoothed out near stock idle quality (with the cam lumping as it should).

Neighbors actually commented how nice the car sounds.
No drips, or funny noises, and oil pressure is rock solid.
I have not figured out the datamaster thing yet, so I hooked up my scanner to watch the displays.
Block learn was 124-128. I was impressed to death. I realize Mick had to throw his best guess at the car for a start up chip. In my eyes he hit the bullseye so far. Slightly rich was just what we were looking for.

Anyhow, after the holiday family stuff, I will shoot a video and post it up, log some data, and send it back to mseven, and continue to work the tune.
Numidia Dragway has a $1000 to win streetcar race on July 24, so the goal is to be ready for it.

cool, take some vids when you get a chance.

Congrats on the successful build...

Mike

Looking forward to seeing this complete and getting some track #s!

Matthew

Thanks guys. I am quite curious myself. On paper, it has all the ingredients of a stout package, but we don't race them on paper, so I am not too cocky about my expectations.
No matter what, I will figure out a way to hook it up, and drive it pretty well. How well my chosen combo works is gods will, at this point. I would sure like to see a solid 11 second run though.

Where do you run at? There's a couple of us that go to Cecil County / Capitol quite a bit. I'm not sure how much a haul that is for you, but I can let you know next time we roll out if you want.

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Wow, been to both many times, brings back memories. But I ain't saying how long ago that was.

One of my pet peeves is lack of updates on a thread. I am guilty in this case

I have not been able to really enjoy this new combination yet.
I had multiple gremlins pop up. A couple of wiring issues, oil leak, slight trans leak etc. All minor stuff that just took a little time to sort. I travel all over the US for a living, so time is tough to grab.
Anyhow, motor is leak free (today ) and runs well.

New trans is working perfectly.
New driveshaft and axle safety loops are installed.
New Dewitts rad is in, and their new fan is about to go in.
19 year old exhaust has been re-welded (cracked at a few brackets), and a fresh coat of paint misted on.

Currently, mseven is going out of his way constantly to help me sort the tuning. Mick is a huge resource to the forum, and I owe him big. He has provided part numbers and companies for all of the things that are voo-doo to me.
Sent me his best guess for a start up chip, based on my build info, and it worked well.
Next, I need to gather more data for Mick, and lean on him for all future tuning tweaks.
Going to Cali for a week, then off to China for 2 weeks, so I don't expect to race the car before the first week of october. Once Mick is satisfied that the tune is safe for the track, I will run it, and post up the timeslips. When he really likes it, I will hit it with a 150 shot of spray.
Thanks again mseven

You're very welcome, good to hear the new build blues are fixed.....I hate it when I have any leaks, as you know.

BTW, I thought that this is an excallant build thread and aside from the tech aspect of assembly, notating the prices puts it into better perspcetive for those that are considering a new motor and overall prices...very cool

Short Video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ufAr6h8jDm0

Looks and sounds great Pete!

Sounds good Pete, nice and pipey

Changed the video. Tune is coming along great, and it sounds (and runs) even better now.

Nice!

Nice! Is that a slight whistling sound at idle? If so, my modified '91 does the same thing and I believe it's the IAC. I wish I could eliminate it but the idle is fine so don't want to mess it up.

It sounds a little different in person. Pretty sure it is just the old belt chirping a bit.

11-9-10

Update time.

Car has been running very well. Every time Mick (mseven) makes some changes, it responds in a positive direction.

A couple of steps backwards though.
By having an expert like Mick working with me, it opened my eyes to things I would not normally have seen. Although my tuneup is great, I have about maxxed out the 30# injectors. Both Mick and myself are slightly concerned that once I spray it, the margin is tight enough to be nervous.

So, I did order new injectors, and need to pull that rotten Superram manifold apart, yet again.

Lesson learned is that solid data is critical to tuning. Having a pro on the other end is worth it's weight in gold.

Awesome! Mick is da man!

Also, what injectors did you go with?

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36 pounders may have worked, but are very hard to find. I stepped up to 42# injectors, and Mick is very comfortable he can work them in easily. They give me room to grow, as my next build will likely be a 421 or 427 cube small block.