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Hot Rods Olds Powered '29 Roadster Build. Marty Strode

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by Marty Strode, Apr 2, 2021.

  1. Marty Strode
    Joined: Apr 28, 2011
    Posts: 8,796

    Marty Strode
    Member

    I bought a pair of Edelbrock Valve covers from Joe back in '84.
     
  2. Marty, I have 2 good used pistons in the shop. Might be a 324 or maybe 303. I will check tomorrow.
    54 blocks ran from V10001 to V355083 so Paul's notes are certainly correct.
     
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  3. alchemy
    Joined: Sep 27, 2002
    Posts: 20,404

    alchemy
    Member

    I have at least one old Ford trans with little notches filed right where those adapter bolts go.
     
  4. Marty Strode
    Joined: Apr 28, 2011
    Posts: 8,796

    Marty Strode
    Member

    Ooooh, I hate to grind on Jim's beautiful trans case, but I will consult the boss !
     
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  5. Marty Strode
    Joined: Apr 28, 2011
    Posts: 8,796

    Marty Strode
    Member

    Thank you for checking.
     
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  6. Paul
    Joined: Aug 29, 2002
    Posts: 16,380

    Paul
    Editor

    Last few sets I bought were forged from Ross,
    never bought singles.
    Edit: I thought I might have a used piston for you but I was mistaken. Sorry.
     
    Last edited: Jan 10, 2022
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  7. Marty Strode
    Joined: Apr 28, 2011
    Posts: 8,796

    Marty Strode
    Member

    For now, I decided to minimally grind the trans case, and grind the heads of the Allen bolts down. I could have put them in the lathe, but since this is temporary, I stuck them in a drill, and spun them while the belt sander ran. I just had to accessorize the engine, for inspiration, while building. I have had the Edelbrock and Moon stuff since 1984, and my friend Ron Urback did the polishing 30 years ago. IMG_8265.JPG IMG_8267.JPG IMG_8268.JPG IMG_8269.JPG IMG_8270.JPG IMG_8271.JPG
     
    Last edited: Jan 11, 2022
  8. DDDenny
    Joined: Feb 6, 2015
    Posts: 19,132

    DDDenny
    Member
    from oregon

    I've had to do a lot of "machining" like that since I sold my lathe Marty.
     
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  9. Marty, I do have 2 decent used 324 pistons that came from my '54 build. You are welcome to them, pay the postage and they are yours if you want them.
    324pistons.jpg
     
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  10. Marty Strode
    Joined: Apr 28, 2011
    Posts: 8,796

    Marty Strode
    Member

    I sent you a PM, with address, thank you very much !!!!!!
     
  11. atch
    Joined: Sep 3, 2002
    Posts: 5,625

    atch
    Member

    How 'bout that? Two pistons taking up shelf space in Vermont that are needed in Oregon! The power of the H.A.M.B.

    Thank you Ryan.

    Oh; and one more thing. Thank you Marty for all the cool stuff you post.
     
  12. 57JoeFoMoPar
    Joined: Sep 14, 2004
    Posts: 6,138

    57JoeFoMoPar
    Member

    Love seeing the power of the HAMB come through. Good people everywhere.

    While we're on the topic of pistons and rods combinations, I have been wracking my brain to try to think up a combination of parts that would work with the Olds from the other makes. The Olds engines are insanely tough, but I feel like shaving some weight off of the rotating assembly would go a long way in helping one these things rev. Utilizing a more modern rod and piston design would achieve those ends while likely increasing strength. The best of both worlds.

    The stock 324 is a 3.875" bore, and can be overbored .125" to 4" for 345ci of Olds goodness. 4" in a common bore size, being that of the 327 and 350 Chevy. The problem with the Chevy pistons is that the compression height is much too low. Folks often say to use a 371 Olds piston in the 324, which is also a 4" bore, and has a slight bump in compression height. Compression height for the 324 is 1.875", and the 371 is 1.895". However, the SBC piston has a compression height of less than 1.6" so thats not going to work.

    On the other end, I think a Pontiac rod, 6.625", would work in the Olds, though it may have to be narrowed a bit. It also shares the same pin size as the Chevy piston. It seems the answer is a set of custom pistons that would essentially be 350 Chevy pistons with an abnormally tall compression height. But that sort of defeats the purpose of doing this quick and dirty with readily available parts from other makes.

    John Edwards of Costa Mesa R&D machined Chevy pistons to fit in an Olds 394, which of course uses a different rod (7"), but I don't know what pistons they are, and I don't know what rod package he put together to use them. Unfortunately, John passed away and took that knowledge with him. Here is a video he was kind enough to upload.



    If anybody has any insight on this, I'd love to hear it. I certainly don't mean to highjack Marty's killer thread here, just thinking this info might be pertinent to both this build and others.
     
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  13. Marty Strode
    Joined: Apr 28, 2011
    Posts: 8,796

    Marty Strode
    Member

    Thanks Joe, for posting that video, everyday that passes by, we loose precious information from those who have done this stuff for years.
     
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  14. Six Ball
    Joined: Oct 8, 2007
    Posts: 5,775

    Six Ball
    Member
    from Nevada

    That Is "traditional" but back then it was easier to find good used parts. Thanks you Marty for having the status and the confidence to post on a very popular thread that you are willing to stick a previously owned piston in your hot rod engine. I was just talking with a friend a few days ago about how many engines I have rebuilt needlessly just because I could. This feels real!
     
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  15. GearheadsQCE
    Joined: Mar 23, 2011
    Posts: 3,375

    GearheadsQCE
    Alliance Vendor

    A Chevrolet 283 piston has a 1.805" compression height. This would be the same for a 301.
    The piston in the video looks to be from a BBC. 366?
     
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  16. Marty Strode
    Joined: Apr 28, 2011
    Posts: 8,796

    Marty Strode
    Member

    2014-10-31 205027.jpg
    Tom, funny you should mention it being traditional swapping out a used piston. Back in '65, I was a 16 year old kid, with a 49 Olds Fastback, with a 54 -324 and Hydro. There was a 1/4 mile marked off about a mile from our house in the country, called Peavine Rd. We used to go there to do some racing, or just open it up on that mile long straightaway. Well, me and a buddy were hauling it, and around 90 it started vibrating and rattling. So I slowly drove it back to the house, as it had plenty of oil pressure. I assumed it was a piston, so I pulled the heads, and couldn't see anything wrong. I pulled the valley cover, and found small pieces of piston, so I went ahead and dropped the pan. It was a broken skirt, and the cylinder wall looked fine. So, I did what anyone without any money would do back then,, I went to a nearby wrecking yard. The owner said, "yeah, there is short block laying on it's side out between some junk cars". It was a 324, so I pulled a rod and piston out, went home and slid it in, rings and all. That thing didn't smoke, and the Olds was as fast as ever. So I am going to take up the offer, and when the pistons arrive, I will have my machinist, bring a dial bore gauge, and check the clearances. Since it had been in a boat, and not a lot of use, I may be usable as is.
     
    Last edited: Jan 12, 2022
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  17. GearheadsQCE
    Joined: Mar 23, 2011
    Posts: 3,375

    GearheadsQCE
    Alliance Vendor

    Marty,
    A dial bore gauge isn't traditional. Just slip some feeler gauges in and check the clearance. My old buddy John used to say, "Loose is FAST!:D
     
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  18. Dave G in Gansevoort
    Joined: Mar 28, 2019
    Posts: 2,598

    Dave G in Gansevoort
    Member
    from Upstate NY

    That IS old school! At least use inside calipers, and a mic...

    But it does work in a pinch.

    And the corollary to loose is fast, is they run best just before they blow up!
     
  19. I have a bunch of stock pistons out of 54 and 55 Olds blocks. All standard bore. I'll have a look this weekend and could pop one in the mail to you.
     
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  20. I've seen a bunch of transmissions that were notched at the bell housing to accommodate the bolts.
     
  21. Six Ball
    Joined: Oct 8, 2007
    Posts: 5,775

    Six Ball
    Member
    from Nevada

    I don't remember having to notice the trans when I put the 303 in my '38 coupe.

    Across the street from my girlfriend in high school there was another girl not near as pretty but she had a beautiful Maroon '50 Olds coupe her big brother had built for her. I thought of changing girl friends but her brother didn't like me. He was in his early 20s and big. My friend started dating her and the brother kicked his ass. I just stuck with my pretty girl for a while. That was a nice Olds but not worth the cost. :D
     
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  22. Marty Strode
    Joined: Apr 28, 2011
    Posts: 8,796

    Marty Strode
    Member

    That was traditional to get beat up sometimes, but someone decided it was cooler to use the term "beat down" !
     
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  23. Marty Strode
    Joined: Apr 28, 2011
    Posts: 8,796

    Marty Strode
    Member

    Thanks Speedy, @vtwhead is looking into sending me a couple, I will let you know if I need one.
     
  24. Marty Strode
    Joined: Apr 28, 2011
    Posts: 8,796

    Marty Strode
    Member

    @vtwhead, thanks Walt, I picked up the pistons at the Post Office today, they look great, thanks again. Now, I will get my machinist buddy to check the piston to wall clearance, and hopefully it will pass muster. One way or the other, I will swap the mount on the trans, and get ready to set the engine in place tomorrow. I needed to form a hood for the Track Roadster thread this evening.
     
  25. Glad to see them go to a good use rather than taking up space on my shelf. They have been there for almost 10 yrs:rolleyes:
     
  26. Marty Strode
    Joined: Apr 28, 2011
    Posts: 8,796

    Marty Strode
    Member

    I changed the trans mount to fit the 32 chassis, and got the package set in place. Look Maw, no firewall work needed ! Front engine mounts are next. IMG_8325.JPG IMG_8326.JPG IMG_8328.JPG IMG_8329.JPG IMG_8330.JPG
     
  27. wheeltramp brian
    Joined: Jun 11, 2010
    Posts: 2,551

    wheeltramp brian
    Member

    Looks like a fan just might clear.nice
     
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  28. Marty Strode
    Joined: Apr 28, 2011
    Posts: 8,796

    Marty Strode
    Member

    The radiator will have to be forward of the front crossmember, similar to the Sam Conrad '29.
     
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  29. Marty Strode
    Joined: Apr 28, 2011
    Posts: 8,796

    Marty Strode
    Member

    I am at a stopping place until I locate the proper parts to connect the torque tube to the 32 mount. Everything I have worked on has been 37-48 and I don't have what I need. I did install a main leaf on a hollow QC with 37-40 housings, for the ease of setup, to determine the length of the torque tube. Much easier that fighting the complete rear axle assy, with 35-36 arms, that I will be using. IMG_8331.JPG IMG_8332.JPG IMG_8333.JPG IMG_8336.JPG IMG_8337.JPG Edit: I thought the pivot cup was different, but it does fit after all !!!!!!
     
    Last edited: Jan 20, 2022
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  30. Marty Strode
    Joined: Apr 28, 2011
    Posts: 8,796

    Marty Strode
    Member

    With the rear axle in place at near ride height, and my "stub" torque tube attached, and swung to the proper angle, I measure the distance from the face of the QC, to the groove on the tube. I measure at the centerline. The groove is 22" from the bell, and the dimension from the groove to the face is 30-7/8", added together, is 52-7/8". The stock torque tube I have measures 71-7/8", so I will shorten it 19". IMG_8339.JPG IMG_8340.JPG IMG_8343.JPG
     

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