Air Force '69

[Johnny Blaze]

Apparently I did not get the antifreeze mixed well enough with the water. There must have been pure water in the block. It got cold out, the water frooze, and cracked the block.

[John Wright]

Ah man, that stinks....sorry about the motor. Truck looks good though.

[Johnny Blaze]

Yeah, its a real buzz kill for sure!
Thanks, I can't wait to see how it performs. I drove it with stock suspension and cut coils,drum brakes, and 250/3 on the tree. Can't wait to see how the suspension responds. The 4 speed should be more fun as well.

[Johnny Blaze]

Time for an update!

The crack slowed my progress. Here is a pic of the crack I found.


I was going to have it welded and be done with it, but after pulling the intake, I found this,




And after pulling the heads I found this,




I searched for months to find a 2 piece rear main that did not need bored so I could reuse all my internals.
Well finally I gave up.

Got a 1978 010/020 block from a truck. 4 bolt main.
Had it bored .030"
Installed, Crank Rods and bearings from crate motor.
Reused Oil pump.

Added Speed Pro hyperutectic flat top pistons in hopes of a little more compression.

Added a Comp Cams Xtreme Energy cam
2-234-12
Intake Duration at 050 inch Lift 212
Exhaust Duration at 050 inch Lift 218
Duration at 050 inch Lift 212 int./218 exh.
Advertised Intake Duration 256
Advertised Exhaust Duration 268
Advertised Duration 256 int./268 exh.
Intake Valve Lift with Factory Rocker Arm Ratio 0.447 in.
Exhaust Valve Lift with Factory Rocker Arm Ratio 0.454 in.
Valve Lift with Factory Rocker Arm Ratio 0.447 int./0.454 exh.
Lobe Separation (degrees) 110
Howards Lifters
Comp Cams Magnum Timing Set.

Put crate motor heads back on with fel pro thin shim head gaskets in hopes of more comprerssion.

Had to buy a new oil pan as the one off the crate motor had provisions for both side dipsticks and would not seal.
Used Fel Pro one piece oil pan gasket.
Added studs to timing cover and valve covers.



Using Brad Penn Break in oil.


Got the engine fired up! 70psi oil prerssure and no leaks!

[Johnny Blaze]

Got Rear mounted Blazer tank install finished.

All that is left now is building my exhaust and reinstalling the bed. Hope to get some new wood for the bed soon, then its done for now.

One It is drivable, my focus returns to the Orange Iroc. When it returns to the road, the truck will get paint!

[acegto]

Love your truck. Keep up the good work.

[Johnny Blaze]

Got the exhaust cut, and welded up Sunday, just need to do the tips, but waiting till the bed is back on.

[SickSpeedMonte]

I love this truck, I'd love to daily drive something this cool! Especially with the military background.

On the block cracks, if the 'stat never opened, it won't mix what's in the block with the anitfreeze in the radiator. IDK if it was warm enough after 2 minutes to open the thermostat.

[Johnny Blaze]

Thanks.

I can't wait to start driving it again. Got to get a stereo, and maybe AC some day as well!

[Johnny Blaze]

Your Monte looks pretty slick too!

[SparkyRnD]

I love the look of that truck, and always wanted one (missed buying two stepsides years ago by minutes, still kicking myself over those).

[SickSpeedMonte]

Your Monte looks pretty slick too!

Thanks! And likewise with your 3rd gen! Mine is a "never ending project" as well...

[chunger]

Wow, I have NEVER seen a block do that before, but I guess it gets pretty cold there? Dunno, I just have known 3 ppl personally that have had issues of one sort or another with crate motors.

Anyway - glad to see you overcoming the challenge and keep working to get this thing on the road!

[Johnny Blaze]

Wow, I have NEVER seen a block do that before, but I guess it gets pretty cold there? Dunno, I just have known 3 ppl personally that have had issues of one sort or another with crate motors.

Anyway - glad to see you overcoming the challenge and keep working to get this thing on the road!

Actually, it never got 'that cold'. I am in Southern Indiana, and I bet it never got colder than, 20F. Not too mention it was in a concrete block garage.

I really think it was more due to the poor casting of the made in mexico block. It is noticably thinner than the old block I got to rebuild. If it had been an old block, I don't think it would have cracked, esp. this bad.

Gotta keep moving forward though, I got too much in the truck to give up now, and would not have been able to sell it for any real money.

It should be on the road by next month. I'll get some good shots of it then to post here as well.

[Johnny Blaze]

Ordered a DDM Tuning HID headlight conversion kit, with their conversion housings. Also ordered a wiring harness upgrade from LMC. Since this is my driver, I figured I might as well get some better lights on it!

Had issues with the carb dumping fuel when I tried to start it. Asked the guy that rebuilt the carb about it before I tore into it as I am not to familiar with quadrajets, and he said 'send it to me and I'll go through it." Pretty good considering I bought it from him 2 years ago. Aslo sent him the cam specs and such, just gotta wait for it to get back to me.

Its almost on the road! Can't wait!

[Johnny Blaze]

Carb is on it's way back home.
Here is what the guy did to it to match my engine set up
"went clear through the carb dismantled every part installed bigger jets 2 sizes*larger ,enlarged the air mixture ports for more intake vacuum to the power piston*changed*the secondary air valve tension install new power piston bushing,enlarged the primary choke pull off port *and added a new finish i wanted it to look good on that good looking engine "

don't know much about quadrajets, do the mods sound good?

[Johnny Blaze]

Success!

After a trip to the emergancy room forum, and some investigation, the truck is alive!

Good the engine running last night, broke in the CSM, adjusted timing and idle, rowed the M-20 through all the gears, and it's all good!

The Muncie came from craigslist, so I wasn't really sure how got it was, so that's why I went through all the gears.

No master cylinder on yet, so it didn't leave the driveway.

Foot get the master cylinder on and bleed the brakes.

Tach isn't reading much, so I gotta figure that out as well. Needle barely moves off 0. Ground seems good, and connection at tach seems good. Lights up well. Only thing left to check is power wire. I did switch it from 6 to 8 cylinder.
Sounds pretty good. Revs good etc...

Guy did great work on carb, highly recommend him, Dlataa in Ebay.

[Johnny Blaze]

Finally got exhaust finished today. Sounds good and real aggresive, a bit louder then I expected. Thrush welded 2 chamber mufflers, I used oddest in and out as they are supposed to be a little quieter then other setups. Pipes are 2 1/4", has and h pipe as well.Tips are from a 2010 camaro.Can't wait to hear it at cruise speed, hope it doesn't drone too much.

[rodriguez69]

What year of blazer is that gas tank you have rear mounted ? I have been looking for a efi tank to fit thr rear and this looks awesome

[Johnny Blaze]

67-72 blazer