My "New" car, 79 Monza HB

[beakerztoyz]

Ran to the parts store this morning and got more brake-clean. Spent the morning cleaning the rest of the intake. Set the intake and other stuff on the motor so I could start taking measurements for the install, and I wanted to see how it looked. I like it. I found out I will need to get a shorter oil filter to clear the headers, but other than that, everything is fitting good.

Brad

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was just curious you mentioned in one post that you were gonna build a high compression 383 but then backed off a bit. is this still a 383 cubic inch motor your building? what kind of power are you hoping for ? what brand of heads are you using?

thats a badass looking carb on that motor

never having seen real monza headers myself, or pictured on an engine not in a car I gotta say those ones look like they could be quite the nightmare.... on my v8 sunbird I just have stock exhaust manifolds, but since aquiring a set of double hump heads have been thinking that if I install the heads the manifolds might become a choke point.... but damn those headers look like they could be a pia to put in.

nice car, thanks for sharing the build, and I figure the stock rearend should last at least until you smack the throttle hard

[Monza Harry]

Got good news Monday, jegs emailed me with shipping confirmation for the parts I didn't think I was going to see for another 2 weeks, so I should have all of my tranny parts by Friday. Hooray!

Christmas comes early for Brad Harry

[77nighthawk]

Hey beakerztoyz, thanks, I've been working pretty hard on it. I didn't build a 383 this time, but still have plans for it in the possible future. This one is a .030 over 350. The horsepower, making an educated guess, 600+ at the flywheel. The heads are Dart Pro 1's. They have a large exhaust port, so I have to run the 1 3/4" tube headers. With double hump heads, you could run the much easier to install 1 5/8" tube headers, maybe even the 1 1/2". I really do appreciate the compliments. I think I'm going to have to call Moser on one of those 12 bolt camero/firebird housings with the torque arm mount soon after it's driveable.


Hey Harry. I was pickled tink when I got the email. I almost couldn't contain myself. I have to work Saturday , but hopefully, I can get the tranny together this weekend.

Brad

[beakerztoyz]

Hey thanks for the advice and the info on your setup. I'm pretty sure smaller headers would work fine on my car, it's a .30 over 350 too but right now has dish pistons and stock 76 cc heads it's got a L79cam and aftermarket carb and intake. I figure even with the 64cc heads it still wont make that much power, but maybe enough to justify needing headers on it.

you must have a lot of car experience not only have you built a nice motor I see you're now into even trickier stuff like dismantling and building the automatic... you should definitely keep Moser's number handy and remember to look in the rear view mirror before punching it so the factory gears dont hit the guy behind you

[77nighthawk]

Hey beakerztoyz, don't sell dish pistons short. Depending on which piston you have, you should be around 8.5:1. With the right cam, and a set of headers with a good flowing exhaust, you could easily see 275hp, and still running on cheap pump gas(low octane petrol).

Back to the build. After I left work, I came home and started on my tranny. I replace seals, bushings, and thrust washers as I went. I installed Torrington bearings in the tail of the tranny to free up a little power, and to make the tranny stronger. I also installed the case saver. I didn't get done with the tranny, but at least there's less to do now. I'll work on it more tomorrow. Brad

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[77nighthawk]

A couple more pics.

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[77nighthawk]

Didn't get to work on the tranny as long as I would have liked to, but got some more done on it. I went through the forward, and direct clutch assemblies, got the hardened intermediate race installed, and installed all of that in the tranny, as well as the new band. That's pretty much it for today. Maybe sometime this week, I'll be able to finish the tranny, and bolt it up to the engine, in preparation for installing it in the car next weekend. Brad

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[77nighthawk]

Worked on the tranny tonight. Installed the last of the clutches and steels. I ordered a TCI front pump from Jegs, and worked on getting that in the tranny. Installed new seals on the piston, and installed it on the pump. Then I installed the Torrington bearing in place of the thrust washer. Then I found out the sealing rings in the kit I bought aren't the right sealing rings for the TCI front pump. Needless to say, I won't order this kit again. So, yet once again, I am forced to have to order the "right" parts, and have to wait. Brad

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Maybe I'll be able to finish it before the end of the year.

[77nighthawk]

I took the TCI front pump to work, measured the ring lands, and discovered that 2 of the lands were worn out beyond spec. 3 of them were around .093, but 2 were .115, way beyond tolerance. So I took the parts off, that I had installed, and boxed it up. I called JEGS, and they sent me the return label, with postage, for FEDEX. We don't have a FEDEX drop off here, so I had to call them for a pickup. Maybe Monday. Not wanting to let the weekend go to waist, I cleaned and installed the accumulator, then I worked on tearing the valve body down, for cleanup and modification. I ran out of cleaner, so I'll clean and assemble it tomorrow, after I get more cleaner. Brad

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[77nighthawk]

Went to the store this morning and got more cleaner. Cleaned the valve body housing real good. Swapped 3 springs out with 2 new springs, and a sleeve, as per instructions with the shift kit, and assembled the valve body with a new ring on the piston. I cleaned up the front pump from the longtail tranny, and I am thinking about taking it to work and rebuilding it, to use in this tranny, instead of waiting for the one from Jegs. Or I could just put it on my parts shelf for the next one I rebuild. Brad

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[77nighthawk]

Took the pump to work with me this morning. I worked on it before work, and during my lunch hour. Cleaned everything real good, checked for damage to the housings, and gears. The housings and gears looked great, so I replaced all the bushings, and gave the outer housing a coat of paint. When the paint dried, I put everything back together, and installed the piston, springs, and retaining plate. As soon as I get the new rings I ordered from Jegs that I ordered last week(just got an email, says they are on back order, and will ship the 29th), I'll finish the tranny and work on installing the engine and tranny in the car. Brad

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[77nighthawk]

Managed to do a little work on the tranny this evening. Got the front pump in. Sometime this weekend, I will finish it up, and work on getting it, and the engine, in the car. Brad

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[Monza Harry]

Brad you mentioned a "case saver" a few+/- posts back, could you share some info on that I don't think I have seen one of those at least not by that name. Harry

[77nighthawk]

Hey Harry, the case saver takes place of the "anti-clunk" spring(also called the low and reverse clutch support retainer spring). The anti clunk spring pushes the low/reverse clutch support plate into the splines of the case, and over time, can groove the splines to the point of wearing through, or breaking off. If that happens, the case is trash. A case saver costs $11.00 US, and is worth every penny when building any th350. Here are some pics, top one is a case saver, next one is the anti clunk spring, and the last is the location in the housing that it goes. Brad

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[Monza Harry]

Thanks Brad! Now is that a TH350(C) only thing or is that all GM tranny's thing? Did Santa bring you some Good Stuff Brad? I hope your Holidays were great! We see you were out in the garage [working on car stuff with pic's too] Christmas day I can never manage that one just too much going on, but it is getting better with all the kids moved out, maybe next year. Harry