It turns out my "Original" heads off the '59 were not so original when I looked them up. 1185485 They are dated for 61-66 401/425. If you remember from earlier in this post, THESE Heads have HARDENED EXHAUST SEATS installed from a previous owner, which look "Okay" but Id rather not chance the build on hardened seats that may eventually leak / crack or fall out, especially with as many warnings as Ive had with them. My friend in Virginia Beach has TWO Nailhead builds apart because the seats he installed cracked.. Heres my "New" set of heads I snagged last week. 1196914 They are dated for 63-66 364/401/425 After I cleaned them up by shot blasting, I noticed that they appear to have different/additional water jacket holes/provisions. My head gaskets DO NOT have provisions for this. Why would they have added holes to just dead head against the gasket? Are these more desirable, or is it just a running change of sorts for the casting? Either way, check out the PIX to see the difference! The "New" heads cleaned up nicely, but I don't wanna put MORE money into another set of heads I won't be using...
Thats what I'm saying. Clearly water isn't going to flow into the block at those points w the arrows in the picture. Just a difference I noticed, and made me wonder if they served a functional purpose other than just a part of the casting process. More cooling via different jacket layout..? Just an observation.
Yeah, the only water ports that are used are at the ends..... coolant enters at the back of the head and flows thru the head and exits at the front. Unless the steel gasket rusts thru and then the coolant flow changes.
Very cool stuff! As far as the comments on attitude go, I agree. Sometimes people get annoyed with questions because they've been asked so many times they are weary of it. Or perhaps they're aggravated in some other area in their lives and it bleeds over into their social behavior. Or maybe even are just convinced their knowledge is so valuable that they feel some sort of subconscious need to be condescending to others who have legitimate questions pertaining to the subject at hand--which is ironic when they see it (and condemn it) in others while displaying the same characteristics themselves, particularly when the questions pertain to incomplete information conveyed that they failed to mention in a previous condescending correspondence.
Ha Ha lol I had to start laughing when I read that about bob at bendstens adapters. Years ago I called him and ask him if he could go over my adaptor kit from eelco because it was out of whack and he started yelling at me... Lol.He said he was mad because he had people calling him about fixing there eelco adapters , what the hell is wrong with this Marty guy... I just listened and went along with him. Anyway he fixed it and he yelled at me some more and started on marty at eelco. It was fixed right and works good for my 2004r and was quite a experience :TU:
I got a new flex plate from Bendsten for my naihead when I rebuilt the motor, the old one the teeth were worn a little. he had started making new ones at the time. well the plate was to close to the engine which made it hit the starter drive, plus pulled the torque converter out of the front pump which ruined my front pump. I called bensten told him what happen, he said I f..k it up putting it in and bent it. I ask nicely how did I do that. he said because your a f..k up that's why your a f..k up. lol. maybe I am but how does he know.lol
SMALL Update : 9-22-16 I stopped by my "New" machinists shop today to get a little update. SO FAR, the most damage incurred from the previous shop is a set of trashed Top Rings. They were gapped from .026-.035 (supposed to be .019) Couldn't be less surprised. All 8 Bores look straight, though. Someone was able to let a CNC machine do its job! haha. Nice 'n straight with .0035 clearance for my Forged 4032 Pistons. .005 Thrust As well as I remember, .0018 - .0021 Main Clearance Rods are being resized / balanced soon along w the rest of the assembly after I take him a new set of rings. LIFTER Bores are a little big with (.003) clearance, if I'm remembering that right from yesterday. He (My machinist, Greg) told me the Lifter clearance is a little big, BUT the lifter bores are straight, and not tapered so its nothing to worry about compared to putting a ton more cash in the block to tighten up only .0008 on a lifter bore. We both agreed those 16 hairs weren't worth splitting. This is just a small update, but things ARE in fact, looking up, and on a much more positive note than expected, honestly. Still haven't made any advancement on those heads I picked up. Still gathering notes on what I've found here so far about installing Beehive Springs and 11/32 valves w my Telesco Roller Rockers. The block is coming together, and I should be picking it all up soon to start assembly in the next few weeks!!! Also, I should have a cool video to upload for you guys from my machine shop next week! STAY TUNED
https://youtu.be/TMwMNwpe868 Heres a quick video of my rotating assembly being balanced. The "Ring Gear" of my Bendsten's Adapter Kit has a little wobble to it. Ill potentially have to sort this out with a flat file when I get this all back from my machinist. Hopefully its just a small burr or two. We both seem to think thats the best/only way to try to straighten the Ring Gear wobble, and even as it is, it should NOT have any effect on the Engines Balance. Maybe its from welding.. either originally or my small welds? ou: Either way, its not terrible and seems fixable. As far as balancing, take a look at the numbers on the screen! 1 Gram out looks good to me! Pistons / Rods were balanced as well! I'll have my print-out available for me soon to upload as well.
Thanks Will. I have an adapter kit here ( not Bendsten ) and it has a steel adapter piece and yes it's heavy. I was thinking of manufacturing an aluminium one to replace it and reduce some weight off the rotating mass.
I hope it's OK to mention someone's name on here. When I did the rebuild on John's Buchev pick-up he also thought the steel piece was too heavy. He had it made out of aluminum to reduce the weight of the reciprocating assembly. John would have to chime in, but I don't believe there have been ANY adverse effects from doing so. In reality it DOESN'T have so much stress on it that I don't really think it matters unless maybe in a racing application. Tom T.
Its awesome that he could source someone to accurately re-make that piece out of Aluminum! If I had the resources here, theres a good chance I would've done the same. However, with the set-backs Ive had, I didn't want to chance anything else really, ESPECIALLY considering how much that kit already cost me! Its a damn sturdy piece, but COULD be a tad lighter. Pictures don't do it justice. It HAS to be around 10lbs. But hey, I doubt ill be slinging this old Buick down the track. Just building her up with a few advantages/updates along the way. Whats your take on that Ring Gear wobble, Tom? I hope my link for the video worked. Ive looked into having it straightened and the phrase "Potatoe Chipping" has come up frequently when discussing the possibility of straightening whats there. I haven't gotten this back from my machinist, and neither of us have had a chance to check for burs on the mating threads.
