A military rebuilt 6.5

[n8in8or]

I hope that's just a stain on the main web and not what it looks like.....

If they did caustic soda bath on the block with the cam bearings in place, you should consider replacing the cam bearings.

Don't forget the clean and chase the blind holes with a bottoming tap. Run each hole a couple times until the tap comes out (mostly) clean. Dipping the block doesn't clean that stuff out....

Those are just stains, not the "C" word. Before sending it out I cleaned it with brake cleaner and then let it sit to see if anything seeped back out...it didn't.

They did the block cleaning before changing the cam bearings. I had them put new Clevite cam bearings in for me.

Yeah before assembly I intend to clean all threaded holes with thread chases.

 

[bowtiebutler956]

I'm excited for you Nate!

Matt

 

[n8in8or]

I got the rings filed last night. They're all lined up and bagged per cylinder.

Tonight I'll be doing piston cleanup and some other random tasks. I'm waiting on my thread chases to show up so I can clean the threads in the block before cleaning it and starting assembly. I should have them Wednesday.

 

[SS FORCE]

Lets like everything is coming together nicely. Can't wait to see it all together. I may have missed this earlier in the thread, but are you going with head studs? Seems there is a lot of mixed opinions on them.

 

[n8in8or]

Lets like everything is coming together nicely. Can't wait to see it all together. I may have missed this earlier in the thread, but are you going with head studs? Seems there is a lot of mixed opinions on them.

Thanks SS. Yes I have head studs in the old engine and I'm going to pull them out to put in the new engine. In the old engine I only sealed them with Permatex Teflon sealant...and I'm getting coolant in my oil....for the new engine I'm going to seal them with Blue Loctite.

 

[n8in8or]

As stuff rolls in it's starting feel like Christmas in here...or maybe Valentine's Day presents for my 'hoe??

 

[bowtiebutler956]

As stuff rolls in it's starting feel like Christmas in here...or maybe Valentine's Day presents for my 'hoe??View attachment 44251

That heater hose sure is purdy Nate. Thats a nice looking pile of parts, but my problem is, as the new parts pile gets heavier, my back pocket feels lighter. In fact, sometimes it gets to feeling like there's nothing there at all.

Matt

 

[n8in8or]

That heater hose sure is purdy Nate. Thats a nice looking pile of parts, but my problem is, as the new parts pile gets heavier, my back pocket feels lighter. In fact, sometimes it gets to feeling like there's nothing there at all.

Matt

I hear you Matt...this engine should have been my diet plan, I've lost a lot of weight so far this year and it's all from my back pocket!!

That's not heater hose, that's the fuel hose that came with my Raptor fuel pump from Leroy! I bought it last fall when I thought I had a fuel leak problem and I never installed it. Now will be the perfect time! Also I did have a fuel leak....the hose clamp I neglected to put back in place on the return line at the pump when I did my lifter repair job.

Oh and the oil cooler and lines from Leroy also weren't in the pic. Thanks Leroy!

 

[n8in8or]

Chased all the bolt holes with my new thread chasing kit. Crankshaft is in with a nice 2-3 thousandths bearing clearance. Tomorrow night piston and rod installation begins. It's going to be an engine again soon!

 

[bowtiebutler956]

Your doing very nice work there Nate, and I love your new thread chaser set.

Matt

 

[n8in8or]

Thanks Matt. Getting new tools is almost as much fun as getting new engine parts. I should have gotten a set like this a long time ago.

 

[n8in8or]

I've been making slow progress lately and I'm calling it a day today, but as it sits right now I've checked rod bearing clearance on all 8 rods (all around .0015 so right on the tight end even after crank polishing) and I have rings and pistons installed for #1 & #2. I should have the short block pretty much done tomorrow. I think I'll be pulling the truck in the barn mid week next week to start disassembly since I nees the studs, rockers, oil pan and other parts off of it to complete assembly. I also need to do all the fuel system upgrades and get the trans rebuilt....so a ways to go still.

 

[bowtiebutler956]

I know its a tedious process, but it will be very rewarding. Keep up the great work Nate.

Matt

 

[n8in8or]

Thanks Matt! At least I see progress now. Oh and it's nice not being filthy when I come inside since I'm just working on clean parts now. That will all change again of course when it comes time to pull the old one out.

 

[n8in8or]

Short block is assembled wirh the exception of coolant and oil plugs - I need to get some more sealants first. Tomorrow will be head assembly.

 

[bowtiebutler956]

Very nice Nate! So what color are you going with for your paint?

Matt

 

[n8in8or]

Thanks Matt. I originally wanted to stay true to the heritage of the engine and go with the Alpine Green, but I didn't know how much I'd like that after a while. After looking at a few colors I decided to go with Cast Iron Gray. It will look industrial but go well with the color scheme of the truck.

 

[n8in8or]

Ok another fun part showed up today!! The Fluid Damper from Leroy...nice and shiny and black, mmmmm. I got the heads assembled too. This is about the last thing I can do without the parts from the old engine so I'm done for now. Tomorrow night I have some chores to take care of then Wednesday night should be pulling the Tahoe in the barn to start disassembly

 

[bowtiebutler956]

Nothing like pics of shiny new high quality parts! So Nate, whats the plan on the precups? I assume your Optimizer came with NA cups, so are you swapping over the diamonds you just put in your other 6.5?

Matt

 

[EWC]

When Crane reground my cam they took .030" off the base circle . I didn't think that was a problem and just reused the pushrods . I also have a new DSG girdle kit for the 10mm bolts that I can't use if you are interested .