The poncho is dead

[Last Mohecian]

Just got home with my new std bore 67 year model 9786133 casting.  It's a little dirty and rusty but I think the lifter bores will be fine and the cylinders will bore out .030 no problem.  I gave $150 for it.  If I can't make it work because of an issue with the block he will either give me another block or give me my money back.  All the Pontiac guru's agree this casting is equal too if not the best stock casting to build.  I'll start a thread in the engine forum once I get going on the build.

 

[Crusader]

Wow, that was quick. Great news!!

 

[neverenuf]

Just got home with my new std bore 67 year model 9786133 casting.  It's a little dirty and rusty but I think the lifter bores will be fine and the cylinders will bore out .030 no problem.  I gave $150 for it.  If I can't make it work because of an issue with the block he will either give me another block or give me my money back.  All the Pontiac guru's agree this casting is equal too if not the best stock casting to build.  I'll start a thread in the engine forum once I get going on the build.

'67 was a good year...maybe the block came out of a gto?

 

[Last Mohecian]

Just got home with my new std bore 67 year model 9786133 casting.  It's a little dirty and rusty but I think the lifter bores will be fine and the cylinders will bore out .030 no problem.  I gave $150 for it.  If I can't make it work because of an issue with the block he will either give me another block or give me my money back.  All the Pontiac guru's agree this casting is equal too if not the best stock casting to build.  I'll start a thread in the engine forum once I get going on the build.

'67 was a good year...maybe the block came out of a gto?

That is a possibility.  That the main reason he wanted $150 for this block.  It has a higher value to someone restoring a GTO.

 

[Patchman]

If one could afford it, they all would be worth grabbing! I'm glad you got one so quick! :smile30:

 

[Crusader]

Just got home with my new std bore 67 year model 9786133 casting.  It's a little dirty and rusty but I think the lifter bores will be fine and the cylinders will bore out .030 no problem.  I gave $150 for it.  If I can't make it work because of an issue with the block he will either give me another block or give me my money back.  All the Pontiac guru's agree this casting is equal too if not the best stock casting to build.  I'll start a thread in the engine forum once I get going on the build.

So what's next, send it to the machinist and have them bore it out and clean it up?

 

[Last Mohecian]

Just got home with my new std bore 67 year model 9786133 casting.  It's a little dirty and rusty but I think the lifter bores will be fine and the cylinders will bore out .030 no problem.  I gave $150 for it.  If I can't make it work because of an issue with the block he will either give me another block or give me my money back.  All the Pontiac guru's agree this casting is equal too if not the best stock casting to build.  I'll start a thread in the engine forum once I get going on the build.

So what's next, send it to the machinist and have them bore it out and clean it up?

I'll do some initial cleaning/inspecting myself before it goes to the machine shop.  Chase all the threads, run a hone lightly through the cylinders, clean all the gunk out of the lifter valley.  Basically just make sure there are no obvious signs of an issue.  Once the clean up and visual inspection are complete it's off to the machine shop for a check out there and machining if it all looks good.

 

[Crusader]

Very cool Matt. If you don't mind, could I help ya with the build up too? I realize you may do a little bit here and there...just want to see how it all goes together and help out.

 

[Last Mohecian]

Very cool Matt. If you don't mind, could I help ya with the build up too? I realize you may do a little bit here and there...just want to see how it all goes together and help out.

We'll see how it goes come assembly time. Assembly is one of those things that is a little more tedious.  I kinda like to stay focused on what I am doing with as few distractions as possible.  Just less of a chance of overlooking something.  I'll let you know when assembly time comes.

 

[Last Mohecian]

If one could afford it, they all would be worth grabbing! I'm glad you got one so quick! :smile30:

Thanks Patch.  For a fleeting moment I thought about buying the other blocks.  Then reason took over.  I got to much junk around here already.  If I had the other blocks laying around,  I'd eventually have to build them and find a GTO or TransAm to put em in.  That $100  each would get expensive real quick.  LOL

 

[Last Mohecian]

All the pieces are at the machine shop.  Should have them back in a couple of weeks.

 

[Last Mohecian]

Just talked to JE.  Those pistons are $960 with pin fitting.  :smile26:

 

[duanehydro]

damnit..... :smile15: :smile13:

 

[Last Mohecian]

damnit..... :smile15: :smile13:

Not sure what I am going to do at this point.  My crank has a small issue.  The machinist says run it.  I sure would hate to tear up a grand worth of pistons and $400 - $800 worth of Super Duty Forged rods though.  It will suck equally as bad to dump off a set of Pontiac jet boat headers I worked so hard to get without using them once.  Probably going to let this one idle for a few days.  I don't want to do anything spur of the moment that I will regret later.  Stupid free boat. 

 

[duanehydro]

Wow....I know from long time ago experience not to run a poncho hard unless it's perfect, then, don't worry about it...take your time and do it right, you are headed in the right direction. I know spring makes it antsy, but hold on..... :smile17:

I'm stil trying to get my junk going... :smile28:

Don't rush under pressure.... :smile30:

 

[duanehydro]

Oh, and can I steal that smiley from you? :smile16:

 

[Last Mohecian]

Wow....I know from long time ago experience not to run a poncho hard unless it's perfect, then, don't worry about it...take your time and do it right, you are headed in the right direction. I know spring makes it antsy, but hold on..... :smile17:

I'm stil trying to get my junk going... :smile28:

Don't rush under pressure.... :smile30:

I hear ya.  I know what the safe thing to do is.  Chad (Sharkbit) says he already knows what I will do.  New Pontiac cranks can be had for cheap enough.  It's getting it worked that drives the price up.  There is a financial line in there somewhere for me.  I just gotta figure out where it is.

 

[blazeracer]

Not sure what I am going to do at this point.  My crank has a small issue.  The machinist says run it.  I sure would hate to tear up a grand worth of pistons and $400 - $800 worth of Super Duty Forged rods though.  It will suck equally as bad to dump off a set of Pontiac jet boat headers I worked so hard to get without using them once.  Probably going to let this one idle for a few days.  I don't want to do anything spur of the moment that I will regret later.  Stupid free boat.

What's the issue with the crank? Seeing as how a jet boat motor has two speeds, idle and wide open, I'd be leary about a peice that's not right. If it were going in a street car it would probably be fine since the machine shop says run it.

 

[duanehydro]

Wow....I know from long time ago experience not to run a poncho hard unless it's perfect, then, don't worry about it...take your time and do it right, you are headed in the right direction. I know spring makes it antsy, but hold on..... :smile17:

I'm stil trying to get my junk going... :smile28:

Don't rush under pressure.... :smile30:

understood, you'll be happy with the right decision! :smile16:

I hear ya.  I know what the safe thing to do is.  Chad (Sharkbit) says he already knows what I will do.  New Pontiac cranks can be had for cheap enough.  It's getting it worked that drives the price up.  There is a financial line in there somewhere for me.  I just gotta figure out where it is.

 

[Last Mohecian]

Not sure what I am going to do at this point.  My crank has a small issue.  The machinist says run it.  I sure would hate to tear up a grand worth of pistons and $400 - $800 worth of Super Duty Forged rods though.  It will suck equally as bad to dump off a set of Pontiac jet boat headers I worked so hard to get without using them once.  Probably going to let this one idle for a few days.  I don't want to do anything spur of the moment that I will regret later.  Stupid free boat.

What's the issue with the crank? Seeing as how a jet boat motor has two speeds, idle and wide open, I'd be leary about a peice that's not right. If it were going in a street car it would probably be fine since the machine shop says run it.

I cringe to even say it.  Very tiny little crack in the front main journal.  This is a very knowledgeable machinist with years of experience including race cars and boats.  He knows it is in a jet boat.  He is checking my pistons and rods now.  I almost hope he finds issues with them too so I can just day screw it and move on to a different platform.  If the rods and pistons are good though, I have an awful lot of good Pontiac parts to just up and change platforms.  Maybe tomorrow will shed some more light on it.