LocostUSA.com

Hi Ron! Saw your little rocket ship was up and running. Nice video!

The instructions from Edelbrock said to use Fel Pro gasket P/N 9333-PT1, so that's what I got. Since I posted that question, I have talked with my partially housebroken Ford mechanic/Son-in-Law Earl who said the same thing you did. So that's two votes for the "bare metal" approach from smart people.

Those Fords do like to weep coolant and/or oil around the corners of the intake (oil) and some of the water passages. I have a tube of gray Ford-branded RTV sitting on my work table for just that purpose. Thanks for reminding me, though. I keep saying I need adult supervision... And it's TRUE!

Thanks for stopping by!

JDK

_________________
JD, father of Quinn, Son of a... Build Log
Quinn the Slotus:Ford 302 Powered, Mallock-Inspired, Tube Frame, Hillclimb Special
"Gonzo and friends: Last night must have been quite a night. Camelot moments, mechanical marvels, Rustoleum launches, flying squirrels, fru-fru tea cuppers, V8 envy, Ensure catch cans -- and it wasn't even a full moon." -- SeattleTom

Ditto

_________________
Perry

'If man built it, man can fix it'
"No one ever told me I couldn't do it."
"If you can't build it safe, don't build it."

Perry's Locost Super Che7enette Build
Perry's TBird Based 5.0L Super 7 L.S.O
Perry's S10 Super 7 The 3rd
Perry's 4th Build The Topolino 500 (Little Mouse) Altered
Perry's 5th Build the Super Slant 6 Super 7
Perry's Final Build the 1929 Mercedes Gazelle

OK guys, this is a serious inquiry (I know, unheard of in one of Gonzo's threads, right) involving the internals of the classic Small Block Ford engine. What's with the eyebrow above the intake valve pocket in the tops of the pistons? Anybody???

_________________
Mike - Read my story at http://twinlakesseven.blogspot.com/

It was the pistons being surprised that JD got them in.

_________________
mobilito ergo sum
I drive therefore I am

I can explain it to you,
but I can't understand it for you.

I believe you are right. There is a wink and a smirk on the piston. It might just have a hidden surprise waiting for JD to find it, probably on his 1st outing. OH NO! I didn't mean to write that. I do wish him the best of luck on this build. Really I do!

_________________
Chuck.

“Any suspension will work if you don’t let it.” - Colin Chapman

Visit my ongoing MGB Rustoration log: over HERE

Or my Wankel powered Locost log : over HERE

And don't forget my Cushman Truckster resto Locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=36&t=17766

Trick Flow twisted wedge heads have relocated valves / valve angles.

Ahh, a voice of wisdom, here in this vast wilderness...

_________________
JD, father of Quinn, Son of a... Build Log
Quinn the Slotus:Ford 302 Powered, Mallock-Inspired, Tube Frame, Hillclimb Special
"Gonzo and friends: Last night must have been quite a night. Camelot moments, mechanical marvels, Rustoleum launches, flying squirrels, fru-fru tea cuppers, V8 envy, Ensure catch cans -- and it wasn't even a full moon." -- SeattleTom

JD, it is heart warming to see you upholding the finest Slotus standards for the next generation. Teach 'em young before they become corrupted!

Bill
It is truly amazing how we can look but not see.

Ha! Finally opened that video... Yeah, castanets as wielded by two hot Spanish chicks in fancy dresses are pretty cool. However, I've heard noises like that from an engine and while does qualify as "dramatic" it ain't at all cool. Thanks for the visual, Lonnie!

Mike, it's what Ron said. The pistons are intended for use with a variety of heads. Some use the "stock" valve angles/positions, others require a "cut" where that eyebrow is... Ya learn something new every day...

Bill Blue- Hey, good to hear from you! Yeah, we have standards to live down to here at Team Slotus and we do our best (Worst?) to maintain them!

Chuck- Tryin' to voodoo me, are ya? No need, I make my own bad luck. I took a shop towel and wiped the smirk off that piston's face. Literally... Wiped it right off...

_________________
JD, father of Quinn, Son of a... Build Log
Quinn the Slotus:Ford 302 Powered, Mallock-Inspired, Tube Frame, Hillclimb Special
"Gonzo and friends: Last night must have been quite a night. Camelot moments, mechanical marvels, Rustoleum launches, flying squirrels, fru-fru tea cuppers, V8 envy, Ensure catch cans -- and it wasn't even a full moon." -- SeattleTom

You think a little shop towel can undo centuries of real voodoo? Ha!

Honestly JD, I don't know why I keep jinxing your build. You have to admit, it was a good smirk!

_________________
Chuck.

“Any suspension will work if you don’t let it.” - Colin Chapman

Visit my ongoing MGB Rustoration log: over HERE

Or my Wankel powered Locost log : over HERE

And don't forget my Cushman Truckster resto Locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=36&t=17766

Remember, JD, we can get you some help.


Cheers,

_________________
Damn! That front slip angle is way too large and the Ackerman is just a muddle.

Build Log: viewtopic.php?f=35&t=5886

That's why I asked, so's I could learn sumpthin"! Being a die-hard Chebbie guy, the only Ford motor I've ever rebuilt was a 312" Y-Block out of an old F-100 that I useta had!

Thnx 4 the lesson!

_________________
Mike - Read my story at http://twinlakesseven.blogspot.com/

Ha! Wish you still had it? Don't feel bad, I'm definitely still on a learning curve about Fords and engines in general. (Lesson 1: Don't put pistons in upside down. Lesson 2: More importantly, don't post pictures of it.)

The engines I've worked on most were the ol' 1800cc MGB lump and a late model Jag Twin-Cam Six. (With the occasional MG Midget, MGA or even a TR6 thrown in.) While I'm not familiar -at all- with working on Chevvies, I have been present when 4 or 5 of 'em blew up. The company I worked for in WV way back when had a fleet of Chevy 4X4 field vehicles. They got thoroughly abused. We used to say if GM knew what we did to their trucks, they would either make us the stars of their next TV commercial or have us arrested. (More likely the latter...)

But hey, this is Team Slotus, we don't judge, we welcome all people... Even Chevy fans...
Come on back any time!

JDK

_________________
JD, father of Quinn, Son of a... Build Log
Quinn the Slotus:Ford 302 Powered, Mallock-Inspired, Tube Frame, Hillclimb Special
"Gonzo and friends: Last night must have been quite a night. Camelot moments, mechanical marvels, Rustoleum launches, flying squirrels, fru-fru tea cuppers, V8 envy, Ensure catch cans -- and it wasn't even a full moon." -- SeattleTom

Not particularly! That engine was 20 years old at the time (late 70s) and parts were already getting hard to find. The Y-Block design must have come with one helluva weight penalty because when I replaced that ol' lump and its three-spd tranny with a BBC and a Turbo 400, the front springs didn't sag one little bit!

_________________
Mike - Read my story at http://twinlakesseven.blogspot.com/

Hey Lonnie! Don't call in the artillery yet... I performed an exorcism this afternoon, casting out the evil (and somewhat smirky) spirits from the motor.After annointing my tonsils with holy (and Fizzy) water and placing the Sacred Octagon talisman on the motor, I called out the evil spirits in the name of the Father (Henry Ford) and the Son (Arthur Mallock) and the Holy Ghost (Colin Chapman*). I even pointed at them with two fingers like the Pope does on TV. I might also have accidentally mentioned Chuck by name...

I think we're good to go now. If I don't get struck by lightning for this irreverent post. I'm also concerned that my Mama (1917-2006) may slap me on the back of the head at any minute.

*I feel certain that Mr. Chapman would want to be the Ghost, because anything else would be too much weight.

Oh, and aside from all that silliness, I also managed to test fit and start on installing the cylinder heads. To put the Edelbrock heads on the 302 block, I had to install bushings to center the head bolts in the holes in the cylinder head that are oversize for a 302, but work just fine on a 351. They're cute little boogers, see-- They replace the washers on the head bolts, and just push into the holes in the head with a well aimed finger.

Next thing was positioning the head gaskets, which hang nicely on the two corner stud locations with the stick-ups, and then put the heads in place.So, are THOSE damned things on right-side-up???

And now, TWWTFM tells me it's time to shower off and go to Hand Grenade's house to get our grandson, Ducky. Then dinner with HamDip and JJ and we keep the little guy over night. He's just past 1 year old, so he really doesn't catch on to the off-color rugby songs I try to teach him, but there's plenty of time for that. Gotta raise 'em up right, don't we Bill/BBlue?

And that's all the news from this corner of the continent. What are y'all up to?

Peace, Love and Holy Fizzy Water-
JDK

_________________
JD, father of Quinn, Son of a... Build Log
Quinn the Slotus:Ford 302 Powered, Mallock-Inspired, Tube Frame, Hillclimb Special
"Gonzo and friends: Last night must have been quite a night. Camelot moments, mechanical marvels, Rustoleum launches, flying squirrels, fru-fru tea cuppers, V8 envy, Ensure catch cans -- and it wasn't even a full moon." -- SeattleTom