New Bullet!

[frankeeski]

Picked up the new short block yesterday, it's a really nice piece. I got to spec all of the parts myself and got a balance/build sheet with the motor when I picked it up. The heads you see in the third picture are ones I have been working on porting for the last few months in my free time. I have approx. 30 hours into them at this point and they are now ready to be cleaned and assembled. Valves need to go back in and new springs, retainers and locks will follow. Not in any hurry at this point but still a nice milestone. Down to the last few things to get before buttoning it all together.

[David Hodgkins]

She's gonna be beauty Frank! What is your timetable for installation?

[Gale K]

That looks really good!

[frankeeski]

She's gonna be beauty Frank! What is your timetable for installation?

Not sure right now,trying to do this all cash. As I get a little here and there, I buy a few parts. Not many left to buy but still not 100%. Specs on the motor are 347 CI with Probe flat top forged pistons. With the head combination I am running I should be in the 10.5-1 comp ratio.

[StromSpeed]

I wouldn't mind putting that in my living room, looks so good! Sweet!

[dallas_]

Hey Frank, that looks great!
Keep us posted as you get it together.

[seagull81]

Mmmm, engine porn! I love it. What cam are you going to use?

[riptide motorsport]

Dats purdy!!

[frankeeski]

Had a little time this evening to work on the motor. I found that the windage tray needed to be clearanced a bit to allow the oil pump pickup to sit where it need to be. Here you can see the tray before surgery.

Here it is after a little cutting

Windage tray mocked up on the main studs.

And finally with the pump and pickup mocked up in place

[frankeeski]

More progress on the motor. I started reassembly of the cylinder heads.

http://thefactoryfiveforum.com/showt...3927#post63927

[ehansen007]

So cool. That's on my bucket it list. Build your own motor.

[frankeeski]

Work is continuing on the short block heading it towards a long block. I did pick a a re-manufactured water pump this past weekend and figured I would pass on a tip I learned from my father many years ago. Most people miss this step and later end up having a leak in a place they never spent the time to seal the first time around. What you want to do is take the backing plate off of the water pump, this is assembled by the manufacturer or in this case the re-manufacturer. Take the two bolt on the back of the pump off and split the backing plate from the water pump itself. Next take some RTV (Blue or Black) and run a small bead around the water pump back. Then place the gasket you took out during dis-assembly and place it back on the water pump. Now take the RTV and again run a bead around the gasket you just installed. Next install the backing plate using the two bolts it came with. Lastly take some spare bolts and nuts and use them to clamp the whole assembly together until the RTV sets up around the entire water pump. This one little tip may save you that pesky leak that stains the garage floor. Hope this helps.

You can see the RTV squeezing out at the edges

After the entire assembly is all dry you can take a straight edge razor and trim all of the excess RTV off.

[frankeeski]

More progress, front of motor is complete. Balancer, timing cover and water pump are all installed. I have some parts out to the polisher right now along with a couple of parts powder-coated ready to be installed

[frankeeski]

I've been continuing work on the long block. Today I took some time to install the lower intake manifold. A few weeks ago I went ahead and installed the push rods only to find out I had a clearance problem with the studs for the push rods. A quick trip to Ziol's and had the machining done. Now all is better with no clearance problems. Here is a picture of the gloss black lower manifold sitting on the engine.

And another one with a more full view of the rest of the engine and roller rockers.

[frankeeski]

And finally a few pictures of the pretty stuff. I sent out the upper manifold and the valve covers to the polisher quite a while ago. Nice to finally see them sitting on top of the engine.

Also went ahead and installed the oil pan and gasket.

If the valve covers look familiar, they are actually stock 5.0 aluminum covers. JJ gave them to me a while back and I had them polished out. They sure came out nice. Shiny too.

I have a polished intake adapter to go along with the upper manifold but ran into another clearance issue. To be continued...............

[David Hodgkins]

Wow Frank, that's incredible!!

Can't wait to hear it run...

[conmech]

Now THAT looks GORGEOUS Sunglass warning next time.

[QSL]

looks really good frank! When is the install planned?

[JJ'snakepit]

Well Frank..... Looks like I have to get over to this forum more often. I just found the thread. I have been following this in your garage but didn't know you had the thread going. Man that engine looks nice. It makes me want to get my intake polished. Yours looks awesome with those valve covers. It is going to be a screamer.... JJ

[Dan Babb]

Looks great. Maybe get those polished pieces clear powerdcoated. Otherwise, you'll have a hard time keeping them that nice. I think powder coating does dull the look a bit, but better clean & dull than dirty.

What type of power do you think that will put to the rear tires when you're done?

[QSL]

Yea Frank, YOU should clear powder coat those things. Its wicked easy!!! LOL...

[frankeeski]

Looks great. Maybe get those polished pieces clear powerdcoated.

Been there, done that. As a matter of fact, I spent most of last Sunday stripping off the failed clear powder coat on the upper manifold. I spent a few hours this past week re-polishing it in the evenings. I had very good luck when I had the rear suspension parts powder coated clear but not so lucking this time. Needless to say, these parts will not be getting another round with powder coating. I can deal with a bit of upkeep on the polished aluminum under the hood.

Yea Frank, YOU should clear powder coat those things. Its wicked easy!!! LOL...

Hey Mike, BITE ME!

[frankeeski]

What type of power do you think that will put to the rear tires when you're done?

Same short block with same cam on another builders car produce a bit over 400 HP at the rear wheels. That number seems reasonable to me.

[MRSQSL]

Wow! The engine looks amazing! I could've used an arrow or two, but mostly understood what you were talking about. Don't quiz me though.

[frankeeski]

Well, I haven't posted in a while. I have been helping out a few local builders get their build going again or helping new builders do a bit of fabricating. This afternoon I had a bit of time to get back at the engine. I took this time to finally install a t-sat in the housing, bolt up the power steering pump and install it's pulley. The pump has been MIA, forum member QSL has been putting together an assortment of fittings and hose material for my power steering system. It's a bit complex, in that, I will be running a pump, steering rack, Heights valve and an external cooler. Mike managed to get all of the fittings ready to go and as soon as I get the engine between the fenders we will measure all of the hoses for length and get them installed. I also managed to get the injectors and fuel rails installed this afternoon. Hard to believe I got the fuel rails for $12 at Pick-A-Part a few weeks ago. I cleaned them up and they look as good as new. Still need to order up a fuel pressure regulator, spark plugs and wires, a drive belt and an assortment of sensor. But soon enough we will be doing a first start of this new power plant.

[QSL]

frank, that's really looking good!!! And thanks for the help bud! It was really appreciated!

[David Hodgkins]

That's a great looking motor Frank! Slow and steady wins this race! I can't wait to see it run!

I hope you don't mind me saying this old friend, but Paul would be so proud of you! You have turned into a real angel to the newbies and vets alike. I have really benefited from the help you have given me. And there is a growing list of builders who are very lucky to count you as a friend. Not just a build buddy, either. You sir are good peeps.

You're doin' good buddy, doin' good. BTW when's the next breakfast? Can we get one in before the show season starts?

[dallas_]

Lookin good Frank! Keep us posted.

[MRSQSL]

That's a great looking motor Frank! Slow and steady wins this race! I can't wait to see it run!

I hope you don't mind me saying this old friend, but Paul would be so proud of you! You have turned into a real angel to the newbies and vets alike. I have really benefited from the help you have given me. And there is a growing list of builders who are very lucky to count you as a friend. Not just a build buddy, either. You sir are good peeps.

I can't agree enough. (We really need a "like" button) I just wish we could help you as much as you've helped us.

[frankeeski]

BTW when's the next breakfast? Can we get one in before the show season starts?

Let's see if we can do a breakfast next Saturday, the week before AHA. It would be nice to get a game plan for all of the upcoming shows and I have a favor to ask all of the locals about an upcoming Toy 4 Tots show in May

Those fuel rail beauties don't look quite stock. Nice score!

They are actually stock Ford pieces from a 95 Mustang GT. I didn't want to have to transfer a whole lot of parts over from the existing motor. I have other plans for that mill. Can you say Competition Coupe?

[QSL]

dave, your pm box is full, cant send you anything.

Frank, we might be able to go to the breakfast.

[frankeeski]

Well, work continues on the engine. I started hunting down the proper size belt to go with the accessory brackets I purchased. I wanted to try the classic V configuration that I have seen quite a few others do. So I measured the belt length using a piece of wire and came up with a length of 58.5 inches. I went down to the local parts house and got a 6 rib 58.5" belt. Oops, to tight, so on to the next size up, a 59.8" belt. This one fit but what I found was that as the alternator was move out to tighten the belt the less the wrap on the water pump was. Also to get the belt tight enough I was at the end of the adjustment of the turnbuckle. Back to the drawing board. I decided to try the FFR supplied belt from the roadster kit I received so many years ago similar to the picture I have posted below. But instead, I first started around the top of the alternator then to the PS pump, back around the WP pulley counter clockwise then down to the crank pulley on the way back to the alternator. This too was a no go. I had about given up for the day and then just for the heck of it I decided to try it around the WP from the other side. Viola, it fit. So any of you trying to get a similar pulley setup now know, the FFR belt which I believe is a 62.5" belt should fit just like mine below. Just a few more odds and ends and in she goes. Hopefully after we get back from our trip late in June I will be dropping this beauty in.

[QSL]

frank, looks great! Cant wait to come to the startup party!

[Avalanche325]

Looking good. I hope to start my engine assembly next month.

Can you clean that shabby intake up please?

I think I saw my reflection from here.

[frankeeski]

I haven't updated here in a while but that is because I haven't done anything with the engine in quite some time. Over the last few weeks I have had a bit of time here and there so I have done a little work on it. One of the first issues to deal with was the power steering pump pulley. I broke one of the studs in the puller kit I got from HF. So I took the part to the store and they replaced it for me. With the new part in hand I was able to seat the pulley all the way down on the spindle and line it up with the rest of the pulleys. While I was doing this I decided it would be a good time to double check some of the hardware. When I checked the valve covers I wasn't comfortable with how I left them and decided to recheck them for torque. Oops, Hand tight. So I took care of that. The following weekend I started the hunt for spark plugs. The guy I bought the heads from insisted they were ProComp heads. Armed with this information, I contacted ProComp. The person I spoke with asked me for a casting # and I provided him with all of the numbers on the heads. I was then informed these heads were not theirs. WHAT???? Keep in mind this was months ago but still not the info I needed or was hoping for. This past week I thought about calling them again and hopefully getting someone other than the person I talked to the last time. Before I placed the call I searched their website and found a picture of what looked like the heads I have. Guess what, same casting # . WTH? Well, with this info I looked at the recommended spark plugs for the heads listed and headed to the auto parts store. I brought back the plugs, 10 of them and proceeded to index the plugs.http://thefactoryfiveforum.com/showt...light=indexing I did this without the use of indexing washers and got what I think is a good relationship of of the ground strap to intake valve. This past weekend I picked up a set of OEM Ford Motorcraft plug wires. I have always had good luck with these and the limited lifetime warranty from the parts store doesn't hurt either. More to come, stay tuned.

[frankeeski]

Today the SoCal boys got together for our first breakfast get together of the year. I think we ended up with 11 of us for breakfast and the restaurant was hammered with other patrons as well. We still managed to have a great time and afterwards I invited all that were interested to head on over to our garage and help with the teardown of FFR6081 in preparation of the New Bullet.
Antny, Bill and Bill discussing the dis-assembly strategy.

Bill and JJ working on removing the full width roll bar.

Another picture of the boys wrenching on the car in reverse.

[frankeeski]

Here is a picture of a portion of the parts we removed from the car today. There are more in a few other places in the garage, this is just the biggest pile of them.

This is what the car looks like at the end of the day safely back on it's perch.

I want to thank all of the guys that came out to help today, I really wasn't expecting to get this far the entire weekend and this gave me a tremendous head start. Thanks to Mike and Jacob Whaley, John Jones (JJ' snakepit), Bill Robertson (Wantin2B), Bill (acth4347),Anthony Connel (Antny) and also my brother in law Greg.

We also got to meet Evan (esff32) and his Dad and were joined by Mike Hartman (Mikey likes it) and Derrick (Pedalmasher) for breakfast this morning. As always guys, great to see you all for breakfast. We just don't see each other enough. Stay tuned, I should be updating this a bit more frequently now that I have some time.

[esff32]

Looks like you are off to a great start and that motor is sick. Can't wait to see the progress.

[QSL]

Cool stuff, sorry we missed it. Looks like I should start gathering your plumbing supplies.

[Hans944]

Very nice. That engine looks like jewelry!