94 Formula bolt-on-a-thon

[BP_Z28]

damn that blows. No one likes set backs when your itching for a finish

[ITSSLOW]

As much as that sucks for the setback its VERY VERY VERY nice that it happened now. Imagine if you torqued it to say 60ftlbs and it would break at 63lbs. That would be a very expensive mistake.


A snapped rod bolt isn't fun at all. I tried and convince my cousin to use ARP studs when we put his 355 together. Instead he used Carquest house brands. About 600 miles after the build, he took it way up in RPM and snapped one. Very expensive mistake!

[Gottork]

yes great it happened now, would have been worse after while it was running.. it sucks but be thankful it did it now..

[98blackbeauty]

When I put my heads on last fall, I bought new head bolts made sure I did not get torque to yeild bolts. 1 side fine the other side I broke 3 before I hit torque spec. looking closer at the bolts 4 were not stike marked for hardened bolts. someone goffed at factory they replaced bolts also gave me new head gaskets. Still lost time though.

[Caveman]

Yeah I wan pretty po'd right when it happed, I set everything down and left but I don't feel so bad the more I think about how much worse it would have been if it went when the engine is running. I wouldn't mind running arp studs for the rods, I've got em for everything else just about, but that's a stroker crank, I've got 1/4-3/8" max clearence between those bolt heads and the block not to mention even less on the oil pan....I'm not sure how much closer going with studs will bring me

[meissen]

Make sure there wasn't something in there that made the bolt bottom out early. If there's any crud in the hole that causes the bolt to bottom out early then it will be really easy to snap.

[Caveman]

alright so update here...had my buddy come by and pull that bolt out with no problems, called arp and theyre sending me one...i tried for a hole set saying it might have been a bad lot# or batch but he wasnt having it at all...either way im going to have brand new rod bolts..again..so if arp wont send a new set then ill buy one from summit and just have an 'extra' rod bolt. got a few of my gaskets in so i decided to not let that rod bolt hold me up so i put the new seals in the timing cover, and rear main, gaskets, sealer and bolted both of them down. next up was the heads...pulled them out of the closet and cleaned them for a few hours and put in new lunati springs, retainers and locks, installed my arp main studs, dropped the heads and torqued them down. put in my new comp cams hyd roller lifters and installed the guide plates and retainer then checked pushrod length with a new roller rocker of mine... i got 7.125" recomended pushrod length...sound about right anyone? anyways, figured while i was at it id put in the moroso oil pan studs in and check the pan for rod/crank and pump clearence, im good on rods and crank but my pump pickup hits, called summit and friday ill order the moroso pickup i need.
aside from the engine i decided to check into the power windows and what im going to need to do to get them working...i ran the wires ill need, just need to get a switch for them to work right. also i checked out my fuel cell a little bit and i think i found the way i want to run the fuel cell, pump, and filters so friday i have to pick up some angle iron and get something set up for the fuel cell. friday im also going to be picking up a couple sq. yards of headliner and doing the headliner in black carpet instead of that dye...it didnt work too well with the fabric. lot of stuff going on next week but hope to make some killer progress.

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[sman]

Lookin good! I think you made the right decision in regards to the bolts, better safe than sorry.

Are you repainting the block?

[Caveman]

Are you repainting the block?

Yeah, I want to get it all together first, temp. Instal the intake, get the oil pan perm. Installed after I get my new pickup. The paint that's on it made it through 2 hot tanks at my engine shop, didn't think that stuff was that good but looks like imma run the same stuff lol

[Gottork]

awesome work..

[92conv]

Looking good!!

[Caveman]

Just got my new oil pickup and rod bolts in today and I got my fabric to redo my headliner. Got some stuff to do this weekend so come monday I should get that bottom end sealed up and dropped in so I can work on my wiring for the sensors and ignition

[ITSSLOW]

What you painting red on the new engine? I like the look of the heads and pan like that.

[Caveman]

What you painting red on the new engine? I like the look of the heads and pan like that.

I'm just repainting the parts of the block that were already red..all the parts that are exposed still with the heads, pan and timing cover on. I'm going to leave the heads natural..I like the look of the heads and pan too.
I forgot about my headers though...should I powder them black or silver or just wrap them with fiberglass header wrap? The wrap will probably be less expensive and better for heat, but I also think silver powder would look good....suggestions anyone?

[Gottork]

either way they can flash rust, I had a set of ceramic coated header that pit rusted after 5 -6 years