Hoorah, some actual progress today.
Rings are on the pistons, pistons are on the rods.
Spark plug relief facing out, big end chamfer to the left.
Triple checked before installing the double spiral locks.
Locks were not hard to do, I had heard horror stories about them but using a sort of smooth spoon shaped tool I have they were actually pretty easy.
This engine has been a bit of a soap opera to build.
First I decided to build a 327, "LS" sounds like some sort of infection to me.
Build is supposed to be somewhat "Day 2" vintage vibe even if it is a "Resto-Mod".
Can never be Pro-Touring as I despise oversize wheels, they just look out of proportion to me.
Back to the engine, I started with a virgin 67 327 small journal.
Then I got a deal* on an Eagle rotating assembly from a member of one of the forums.
Eagle 327 is large journal, so I had the wrong block.
Of course this was after I basically gave away an 010, Std. bore, 4-bolt 350 block.
So then I had to buy another 010 4-bolt 350 block.
Of course I could not find one in standard bore.
Finally got a block and had it machined.
When I checked bores they seemed to not match and also appeared to be a bit oval.
That put my custom JE pistons fit out of whack.
Ended up taking the block to another machine shop in Reno.
These are the guys that do all the Ferrari and Lambo engines.
Not cheap, but they were able to true up my bores.
At their suggestion I wound up applying an APC skirt coating to help with my piston fit.
This is a coating that is popular with forced induction guys.
Skirt coating.
So now I may finally assemble my 333" lower end.
With that done I will be able to check valve clearance for the Brownfield (AFR) heads.
Might get lucky and avoid shaft rockers?
But after assembling my truck engine and seeing how Summit/Dart heads do not align every rocker centered on the valve as well as I am sure they should shaft rockers may be a must.
With a little bit of luck I should have the lower assembled tomorrow.
I will try to get some pics along the way if anyone is interested.