The Restoration of SRL311-0275

[jamesw]

OK so it's been g*d knows how long, but the I have the transmission back from the rebuild and the engine is going back together!

Here are a few photos of the engine after assembly. Just waiting to get the head back and finish it off. Then mate my Al flywheel, clutch, and transmission, then she goes on the frame!

I also picked up the last of Dean's big headers or close to the last one. I get the feeling he doesn't have many left.

Cheers
James

[Alvin]

Powdercoated frame and suspension...with spray painted engine parts
I am disappointed with you James

[Skyman]

Wow. That's better than porn. I never get tired of looking at fresh U20's. Looking good James!

[Linda]

I would think hi temp engine paint is better than powdercoating for an engine.

Linda

[jamesw]

Geeze you guys - I guess you HAD to find something to pick on Alvin . FWIW it's Dean's "original" color engine paint, which is a good match to what the car came with. The other engine parts were blasted and painted so that they will last.

Cheers
James

[Kurt]

Outstanding effort James!

I just read this entire thread. Thanks for some of the insight. I'm inspired yet again!

[sleepyzzz]

James. just took the time to read your thread on the rebuild. congrats on the new boy, and sorry i am late finding out. the roadster is looking nice.

one day,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, i would like to tackle that.

[jamesw]

Thanks guys. I forgot to post that there has been some progress on the body too. The floorpans have been replaced and the bottom of the body has been painted/sealed and undercoated.

I think the major hurdle is going to be getting the body painted and out of the body shop. I almost have the engine/tranny done and then I can get the body on the frame and into my garage for the detail work. At least then it will be under MY control again.

Cheers
James

[jamesw]

Well now that my 1500 has driven out of the garage under her own power (:-) I can get back to work on 275's engine and frame.

Tonight I mounted the Al flywheel. Per Dave P's advice, I got some Grade 8 flat washers to help spread the load from the cap bolts into the softer aluminum. The washers are actually an SAE size and are a PERFECT fit.

Hopefully I'll get the clutch and tranny on tomorrow and get that sucker up onto my frame soon.

Cheers
James

[Lee2000]

One thing I noticed that's different from my U20 is the lack of valve cut-outs on the piston crowns. Have you checked for piston-to-valve clearance issues? I DO know that my pistons are not original so maybe the reliefs are not needed on your engine? I did, however, check deck height and CC the chambers to make sure I didn't exceed 9.5-to-1 compression on my slightly shaved block and head...14 thou total shave. I had to remove some material from a couple of combustion chambers to get the correct AND equal compression ratios in each cylinder.
Either way, I highly recommend you take the time to CC the chambers AND the area above the pistons(assuming they are below deck). IIRC, the valve reliefs on my engine came to about 3 or 4 cc per piston, so it did make a difference when calculating compression ratio. Awesome project, BTW.

[jamesw]

Thanks Lee. My engine has flat topped .040 over pistons. My head has been worked on a bit w/ porting and a more agressive cam in a C profile. The head was also cut at one time so the cam towers are shimmed. I will definitely pull the engine through to check valve clearance.

I do have set of domed and eyebrowed pistons but they won't go in this engine.

Cheers
James

[jamesw]

Time for an update on 275. I have the engine and transmission back on the frame with new mounts.

I fitted my exhaust manifold and had the exhaust run by a fantastic local shop called Mayco Extreme Motorsports. It's 2" through the x-member and 2 1/4" back from there. They wanted to hold off on fitting the resonator and megaphone tip until the body is on - as it has to route between the gas tank and leaf spring and is tight w/ this big a pipe.

Cheers
James

[Alvin]

very tasty
maganaflow muffler?
need more updates!

[jamesw]

OK here is some more info Alvin.

The exhaust is a Magnaflow (14" I think) and will get a resonator + megaphone.

I received my head back from Dave Premo and installed it last night using the ARP stud kit that Dean sells. This head is a thing of beauty! Some of the work done includes:

Pretty agressive porting on intake and exhaust
Dave match ported my intake ports to my exhaust manifold
Competition valve springs w/ L series retainers and custom lash pads to accomodate
C Cam grind
Resurfaced rockers

I installed it w/ the newer Nissan head gasket w/ the seals around the oil delivery line and the front cover. I used a little of the high temp sealant that Dean sells also - as I don't want the dreaded oil leak at the back. Major kudos to Dave on the head work. I really wish I had gotten some photos of the combustion chambers but I forgot to in my excitement to get the work done :-/

I also installed a gear reduction starter using the recommended mod from Bob2 - so that you can get a wrench on the top bolt in from the wheel well.

I also put everything back on the engine like the top tensioner, fuel pump, dipstick, etc. The frame is now going back to the body shop. They were sanding my body yesterday and it's going to get primer/sealer this week I decided to get my exhaust manifold ceramic coated so I dropped that off too. I need to get the manifolds and heat shield back on before the body goes onto the chassis.

Cheers
James

[Alvin]

Premo knows a thing or two about building U20s
the section past the muffler will be the OEM megaphone/resonator or custom?