Ryan Weaver's 1969 Olds Cutlass S W31 Club Coupe

[Ryan1969Chevelle]

Had a work trip to Wixom MI yesterday and mixed a little pleasure with business:-)

I dropped a few parts in Wixom that will be taken to Chicago area for some love. Dan Vasic has agreed to slip a few items into his restoration ballywick for me:-) He has known suppliers for all the coatings and such, so I bagged up my jack, spare tire hold down, brake distribution block and bracket, and gas cap.

Thanks Dan for taking these items off my list:-)

On the way home we stopped at Inline Tube to get my next little order of parts and to switch out three items, as expected Chuck had everything ready and double checked:-) They have a very impressive business, not your average two guys and a stack of catalogues type business:-)

As soon as I walked in I had met the customer ahead of me at PSMCDR last year in the Pontiac "camp" Jim Mattison PHS and I had a nice chat:-) I checked and his driveshaft/pop can twisted by uber Poncho torque has been upgraded and his new GTO is ready for more drag race action:-)

I really enjoy the hobby all together, a chance meeting like that and nice chat makes me even more motivated to kick my cars ass at PSMCDR:-) Al recently shared some W31 tire burning stories and I plan to carry on where he left off in 1976:-)

Ryan

New parts:-) front wheel cylinders, outer tie rod, rear axle bumpers, some additional fuel line covering, brake clips that I lost, u joint straps, spindle dust caps, and rear exhaust hangers.

[Ryan1969Chevelle]

Loosely installed the wheel cylinders and ex hangers, and put the bumpers on the axles.







I soaked the manual steering box in solvent for a few days and the grime came off fairly easily.

You can see the original markings, and the copper coating on the splined shaft:-)









Ryan

[Ryan1969Chevelle]

A few micro updates:

A FB friend in FLA offered up a spare manual steering box, which I would like for spare. (I am pretty careful not to buy stuff just to have it, but this is pretty reasonable).

I did a little more disassembly of the core engine.
Head gaskets measure 0.050"
Piston dishes 2.465 X 0.084"
Pistons 0.045" in the hole, the cast replacement Pistons have a compression height reduced by 0.015" and they must have not decked it much at all:-)
End play 0.007"
Timing cover is pitted under the water pump:-( I want the Dick Miller Racing split cover for cam swaps in future:-)

I received a partial quote for the main machining processes and a complete Comp Cams valve train, and the prices were in line with my spread sheet:-) I will visit again this week to firm up as much of the rest of the engine build as possible. Some decisions are made after disassembly of course but I will have costed out the worst case scenarios as well as best case scenarios. I get pretty aggressive in situations like this as "to my way of thinking" there is no reason not to do the homework upfront and make a good plan including costs and timing that works for both parties:-) I am sure my scope of work document forced a few potential engine builders to increase their verbal price by 33% to 50% when pen hit paper, and this although frustrating and time consuming is exactly what should happen, UPFRONT!!!!! No hurt feelings, and not at my expense.

Step off soap box, now:-)

Ryan

[Ryan1969Chevelle]

I raced to the machine shop after work today to further discuss my engine build.

I received a quote for the machine work and a partial quote for the parts and they were in line so I asked for a quote for a long block rebuild.

I am waffling seriously, between DIY and pay an experienced tradesperson to do the rebuild and learn as much as possible.

I have a budget and if I can swing it I will go for the assembled long block.

I am confident in this machinist and his son in law works for me in a Millwright leadership role (he shared how detailed and passionate about engine building his FIL is and how he hires only the best guys). Also the parts he quoted so far were at similar cost to me buying from Summit Racing, plus exchange, plus tax, without shipping cost. I very much prefer to have the parts purchased by him in coordination with the machining and assembly..........

He is working on pricing the full long block rebuild and next week I will take my cylinder heads so he can look them over. My rusty W31 heads and my clean 310hp heads, not sure which to use yet.

I have been getting some last minute info from "Cutlassefi" on ClassicOlds.com he is a respected Olds engine builder and lots of guys look to him for advice so I jumped in line. THANKS Mark!!

Ryan

[Ryan1969Chevelle]

I did a bit of reaching out today to make a plan for my distributor. RamblerDealer had a very good piece of advice, "I think you know the right person to set up your distributor in the circle of PSMCDR people you know" Very true, I back and forthed a few times tonight with Dan Jensen "Mr PSMCDR" and he has the machine to set up distributors and then switches them to Crane XRi and PS20 Coil, with stock cap, and date code wires. (I may skip the date codes depending on the cost)

I plan to do everything I can here and have all the parts ready and have it set up perfectly by Dan after PSMCDR and that way it will be ready before my engine is ready.

I may prepare my original and the extra distributor I bought to have a spare prepared?

Casey Marks and Dan Vasic shared enough info with me so I can prepare my manual steering box. THANKS!!

I am looking into replacing/restoring my manual steering rag joint with the horn ground in it..... TBD.

I have chassis parts to install but I need to look ahead and get plans in place for the next step and the step after that....... plus I need to learn how to do drum brakes:-) I have a bit of information to get started so I may get some done Sunday afternoon..... after getting spoiled for Fathers Day:-)

Ryan

[Ryan1969Chevelle]

Jamie wanted an update:-)

So I gave him a four stroke lesson, he picked it up quickly.

Ryan

[Postsedan]

You need to protect that new work bench.....all the dirt and grease being soaked into that wood.....just not right in my eyes. Some nice gray paint would make that workbench glimmer [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif[/img]

Hi Jamie [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif[/img]

Dan

[Ryan1969Chevelle]

Grey paint, on the list.

Ryan

[njsteve]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Postsedan</div><div class="ubbcode-body">You need to protect that new work bench.....all the dirt and grease being soaked into that wood.....just not right in my eyes. Some nice gray paint would make that workbench glimmer [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif[/img]

Hi Jamie [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif[/img]

Dan </div></div>

That's not dirt and grease...That's an Alpha male marking his territory! [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif[/img]

[Ryan1969Chevelle]

Nice!!!

Ryan