400hp engine swap? purists skip this thread..

[phoenix37]

Well the 350 crate motor is getting tired. Runs fine but she doesnt pull the truck or spin the tires like it should...

I was offered a great deal on a heavily built Chevy 355 (actually traded for a firearm). It puts outs out approx 400hp/400ftlbs now Ive got a feeling this is going to be serious overkill and I may miss the tame 350. The other question is winter romp is only 2 weeks away. A friend has generously offered his heated barn to do the swap but Im not sure if Im crazy to cut it so close....stay tuned. Pulling the motor tomorrow.. More pics to come.

[aka rover]

No way! not crazy that thing will be awsome!! DO IT......


Your truck rocks and deserves this heart transplant!

[the rover shop]

Whatcha waitin for boy...stop typin and start wrenchin...

[bjf]

Wait until after winter romp. Two weeks is too close

[phoenix37]

Wait until after winter romp. Two weeks is too close

too late... she goes under the knife tomorrow. Just dropped it off at my friends barn. If these guys can do it in 32 mins Ive got to be able to do it in two weeks.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NX3zBSAbpYQ

[o2batsea]

Why not stroke it to 383? It's a proven and common mod. Longer stroke will give you more low end poop. A short runner intake manifold will help too

[phoenix37]

I dont have time to mess with swapping out the crank right now. I had put a 383 stroker in my Fj40 and I loved that motor. This should be a huge improvement over what i have in there.

[JSBriggs]

Wait until after winter romp. Two weeks is too closeThpppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppp!

Do it!



I'm guessing it has a high lift cam judging by the height of the valve covers. Will fit under teh hood with that highrise manifold?

Cant wait to see how it turns out.

-Jeff

[phoenix37]

Its got a decent sized cam but Im actually going to have to pull those valve covers and put on short ones. Ive got zero clearance with the compressor and alternators literally resting on the valve covers. I think ill have clearance for the manifold but its possible that will have to get swapped also.

[JSBriggs]

Just be careful, the rockers can punch through the standard valve covers if the cam is too extreme. Judging by the fact that you have the thinner car air cleaner (not the tall truck one) you are already limited on height, and my guess is that the taller manifold is going to cause the air cleaner to hit the hood framework.

Be sure to take plenty of pics. I need to live vicariously though you while Im busy playing home builder.

-Jeff

[phoenix37]

You could be right on both counts. Ill have a better idea when I get into it tomorrow. I do think i have clearance on the air cleaner but the valve covers could be an issue.

[junkyddog11]

You don't need no stinking bonnet. It's the romp. just run it. OR.....I have a spare SI bonnet we can "clearance" or stick a hood scoop from Pep Boys on it LOL.

I assume it is ON at the Vail compound?

[rover4x4]

A cowl induction series hood would be appropriate.

[oilburner]

Edit: Nevermind. I had a frozen brain moment. The Edelbrock is a Q-jet.

[MudD1]

Motor is out and ready for tear down.

[JSBriggs]

Looks like you could have borrowed the wheels off of Wolf's "Francis".
Keep it up.

Great shop space, BTW. Jeff is that you place?

-Jeff

[GYM]

Its got a decent sized cam but Im actually going to have to pull those valve covers and put on short ones. Ive got zero clearance with the compressor and alternators literally resting on the valve covers. I think ill have clearance for the manifold but its possible that will have to get swapped also.

Solid lifter cam?, (or were the thumb screw VC bolts just some bling added by PO?)

[phoenix37]

You don't need no stinking bonnet. It's the romp. just run it. OR.....I have a spare SI bonnet we can "clearance" or stick a hood scoop from Pep Boys on it LOL.

I assume it is ON at the Vail compound?


Can you imagine the snickers if I showed up with a hood scoop and lopey idle?! Yes the Vail compound which is like Rover nirvana. Im ready to move in! Working in a heated space with all the tools and toys at your finger tips is amazing. Thanks Bob!

Got the motor out without too much difficulty. Thanks to Jeff for all his help. We didnt break any speed records but got it out.. Ill start swapping parts over to the new motor tonight. New clutch kit is on the way. Hope to have it in by the weekend.

[NVail]

Can you imagine the snickers if I showed up with a hood scoop and lopey idle?! Yes the Vail compound which is like Rover nirvana. Im ready to move in! Working in a heated space with all the tools and toys at your finger tips is amazing. Thanks Bob!

Got the motor out without too much difficulty. Thanks to Jeff for all his help. We didnt break any speed records but got it out.. Ill start swapping parts over to the new motor tonight. New clutch kit is on the way. Hope to have it in by the weekend.


Hey, don't scratch my lightweight, I just had it detailed!

[phoenix37]

and a very nice detail job it is indeed. Dont worry your Dad made sure to put his truck in between in case there was any shrapnel! Where is your build thread?

[JSBriggs]

Hey, don't scratch my lightweight, I just had it detailed!

Pics? And speaking of pics...what happened to Jeff getting pics of the various cool trucks from the RN catalog pg 20-21 spread?

-Jeff

[phoenix37]

Nate is building a very cool Lightweight but Ill leave it to him to post pics. Amazing this motor fit in an S1.

[JSBriggs]

Oh, I can see is peaking through back there....

-Jeff

[tommyd]

And speaking of pics...what happened to Jeff getting pics of the various cool trucks from the RN catalog pg 20-21 spread?

x2...

[oilburner]

So are you guys doing hot laps with this thing yet?

[junkyddog11]

The only hot laps they'll get are down at Marks Doughnuts.......

[phoenix37]

Sadly Matt is right I didnt make much progress yesterday. Hoping to get more done tomorrow

[JSBriggs]

Based on your posting time, were you working on it late, or just a case of insomnia?

-Jeff

[phoenix37]

I wish i was working late it would be done already. My son has a double ear infection so I was up all night with him and hence the delay getting this thing running.

[JSBriggs]

Ugh, I feel for you. Ive had too many of those nights. Thankfully, not recently.

-Jeff

[phoenix37]

Well got to wrench for a few hours today. Still need to install a few things but I was really curious to see if it would start so I hooked up the fuel pump and starter.. turn the key and she fired right up!!....then died and gas poured out of the top the carb. Guessing the floats are stuck. Back at it in the am.

[rijosho]

Awesome! Can't wait to see this thing in action finally.

[JSBriggs]

Well got to wrench for a few hours today. Still need to install a few things but I was really curious to see if it would start so I hooked up the fuel pump and starter.. turn the key and she fired right up!!....then died and gas poured out of the top the carb. Guessing the floats are stuck. Back at it in the am.

You could swap your old carb on there (hoping the jetting works for the new lump) and give it a whirl. Some of the older seals in the Qjet don't like the ethanol...fuel pumps too.

-Jeff

[Cube II]

so I hooked up the fuel pump and starter.. turn the key and she fired right up!!...

What, and no video??
:(

[phoenix37]

You could swap your old carb on there (hoping the jetting works for the new lump) and give it a whirl. Some of the older seals in the Qjet don't like the ethanol...fuel pumps too.

-Jeff


I was thinking that. Im not going to spend too long on trying to fix it before I swap the carbs and see how it does.

[phoenix37]

Got some advice from a local chevy guy. Recommended tapping the carb with a hammer... wouldnt you know that did the trick! engine fired and ran...shut it down to install radiator etc only to find out ive got a leak coming from the water pump and the new clutch needs the throw adjusted...Why did i want to do this now?! back at it on thurs.

[130Tdi]

Very cool project John. Now that its in, does it look as theough the hood will clear ? Any snow on the ground for next week's romp ?

[cgalpin]

A couple of pictures would be nice!

[phoenix37]

Thanks Doug. I actually havent tried putting the air cleaner and hood on yet but it looks like it will clear the Qjet carb is taller than the Edelbrock so it should even out.

Charles Ill take more pics Ive just been trying to work as fast as I can to get it in and running so that I work the kinks out before Romp... Should be just enough snow to make it fun.

[JSBriggs]

...Why did i want to do this now?!...

Don't say that out load. Barry is going to get a big head (post #4)

-Jeff

[phoenix37]

Water pump leak fixed....Clutch adjusted. Need to swap the carbs tomorrow since this one has more issues than I have time to deal with it but hoping to road test tomorrow afternoon with a week to spare!

[JSBriggs]

Its clean. You are going to have to earn that grimy look back. Might need to submerge it in a mud hole a time or two at the romp.

-Jeff

[phoenix37]

Its actually not that clean. I didnt bother with dressing or detailing it. I think the flash makes it look shinier than it is but dont you worry it will all be one consistent brown color soon enough.

[JSBriggs]

So, road test today?


-Jeff

[phoenix37]

Sadly no...had to replace my pos Napa starter which ill put in tmw and fingers crossed see how it runs.

[phoenix37]

Still no road test and only 5 days till Romp! Im starting to think Barry might of been right.. Swapped out the carb with a brand new out of the box Edelbrock and it still flooded and it wouldnt run right...not to mention killed my starter. Spent Friday running around getting a new Powermaster starter since I think my heat soak issues are eating the Napa ones. This was my 4th starter in about 5 months.

Decided to check my fuel pressure and it pegged the gauge....no idea why but ran out and got a fuel pressure regulator..No more flooding but the new carb didnt want to idle under 1500 and bogged down when you applied the throttle and stalled.

I dont know shit about these carbs so I took the carb down to a local mechanic and he advised me to put the old carb back on since it was tuned to this engine.

Now my third time swapping out the carb and sure enough it ran much better... Its about this time that I was advised by the builder of the truck to junk the edelbrock and put the Quadrajet back on!

After a little research it turns out these carbs dont like to go offroad and stall just thinking about doing a hill climb. Not what I need right before an offroad trip!

So Saturday morning back to Napa (yes im on a first name basis with these guys now) to get a an adaptor for the Qjet. Im so fed up with this thing I dont have the time or patience to think about swapping out the intake manifold. Ive put way too many hours into this and Id rather run without a hood at this point than think about doing the intake.

Low and behold on the 4th carb swap and a little messing with the timing and she roars to life! Now I have to re do the throttle linkage since I cut it to work with the edelbrock. I needed a break from it so Ill be back at it n the am and hopefully she drives as nice as she sounds or Ill be showing up in Waterville driving the LWB!

[junkyddog11]

That sounds so familiar.

[phoenix37]

Throttle linkage fixed this morning... She runs like a champ... Get her out on the road for a road test and its a different story. She is bogging down terribly under load so off to the local mechanic she goes....

[JSBriggs]

Did you swap the distributor? Have you checked the timing? Double checked the plug wiring?

Well, make her pay for it at the romp. Flogg the piss out of her, drive her in anger, and put her away wet!

-Jeff

[phoenix37]

I swapped the cap rotor and wires and yes double checked them. The distributor is the one that came with the motor but It maybe worth swapping it incase its not properly advancing.

I need to make myself pay for it at romp it was my idea to pull a perfectly running motor!

[JSBriggs]

Did you throw a timing light on it? It might just need to be timed.

-Jeff

[phoenix37]

the mechanic replaced the filter in the carb and bent the linkage to the secondaries reducing the lag and oh boy!

[JSBriggs]

So now do you need to go buy a helmet? :grin

-Jeff

[phoenix37]

Probably....and a neck brace.

[evilfij]

Maybe I can bring my lotus to romp and we can race.

[phoenix37]

Sounds good. First one to the top of the power lines? :cool: Loser buys dinner.

[130Tdi]

Probably....and a neck brace.

HANS device...

[phoenix37]

HANS device...

Ha..that would be hilarious.. truth of the matter is this engine has no business in this truck but Ive been driving around like a teenager in his first muscle car with a huge grin on my face... Yes its obnoxious and its life in this vehicle will more than likely be short ... Its better suited for mud bog races than crawling but Ill enjoy it for the time being.

[130Tdi]

Sounds very cool ! Wish I was going to make it up for a ride this weekend.

[junkyddog11]

Just keep grinning, you might get used to it.

[130Tdi]

I want to see a youtube of a 400 hp series 1. Come on John

[rijosho]

I'll probably take one this weekend.

[JSBriggs]

Get one of him driving it around town like a 16 yr old too!

-Jeff

[rijosho]

On our way. Posting from the diner bathroom. Probably get in around 2 or 3.

[phoenix37]

Get one of him driving it around town like a 16 yr old too!

-Jeff

Something like this?:eek:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mFH39T0Z0WI

[JSBriggs]

So that was you!!!

jk

-Jeff

[phoenix37]

I want to see a youtube of a 400 hp series 1. Come on John


Here you go Doug about 1min into this video. It got even icier and I bounced off a bunch of trees on this hill yesterday but here is a video from Friday.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fOV3U-GzJjE&feature=youtu.be

[JSBriggs]

I forgot about the D-ring clank. 'needs more cowbell!'

-Jeff

[don]

Here you go Doug about 1min into this video. It got even icier and I bounced off a bunch of trees on this hill yesterday but here is a video from Friday.


Jeebuz! Those 2 trucks are beasts :eek:

[aka rover]

Those trucks are awsome I love to see these trucks modded and being used

[130Tdi]

Here you go Doug about 1min into this video. It got even icier and I bounced off a bunch of trees on this hill yesterday but here is a video from Friday.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fOV3U-GzJjE&feature=youtu.be

outstanding ! Made me laugh John. Sounds great.

[phoenix37]

Im glad it did! Happy Bday!