Engine Run stand: Version II

69427 · #1 07-07-2010, 07:27 PM

Building another engine run-stand. I built one several years ago, and test ran the engines currently in the '84 (355 turbo) and the 427 I just pulled out of the '69. I sold that engine stand when I moved south, and a few years later I'd like to have it back (I asked, but the guy won't sell it). So, I'm starting another stand. Despite my good luck with the engines in the '69 and '84 (I'm too modest to say it's because of my engine building talent LOL), I am just uncomfortable throwing an engine in that hasn't been run before. So, I'm building another run-stand. I've got the basics tack welded, and am now working on the radiator brackets. I'm using the stock radiator out of the '69 for this (I replaced it with a DeWitt aluminum in the car a couple years ago). After lifting this radiator out of the box, I'm glad I got the light one in the car.

I've got a bunch of new gauges for the stand, but I might save the fancy panel work part for later, as I'm trying to get back to working on the new engine (in the plastic bag in the background). Once I'm done with the mocking-up of the stand, I'll take the engine off and finish the welds. I'm also reusing a bunch of parts off this engine to use on the new engine, so I'll be stripping parts off it soon.

mrvette · #2 07-07-2010, 07:55 PM

Our wives should be VERY happy we don't live closer, they's never see either one of us....

get lost in some 'man cave' or other......

phantomjock · #3 07-07-2010, 11:00 PM

Hmmm - lets see, Gene is in the NE (Jax area?),
and I'm in NW FL (FWB-panhandle),
that new test stand has got to be in South FL for maximum inconvenience!
But it's lookin' real good.

Cheers - Jim

69427 · #4 07-09-2010, 12:28 AM

Got the radiator situated today. I still need to add some additional bracketry on top to stabilize it. For now I'll use the engine driven fan, but I've got some electric fans in storage that I'll install down the road.

On my previous stand, I had a one gallon metal gas can plumbed to the fuel pump. I prefer those over plastic cans, but so far I've been striking out finding a metal can. So, the search continues.

I'm ready to cut a bunch of holes in some aluminum plate to set the gauges in. Right now I'm not sure where I'm going to put the gauges, but it'll probably be either at the rear of the engine or on the left side. It's easier to to hook up the gauges and throttle cable if it's situated in one of those locations. I also need to pick up a couple switches (ignition toggle and push-to-crank) this week.

As I mentioned earlier I'm reusing the original radiator out of the '69. Obviously these things don't have a radiator cap, so I'm trying to figure out how to terminate the vent tube on it. As a last resort I can pull the expansion tank off the car, but as fragile as they are I hate to mess with it.

big2bird · #5 07-09-2010, 02:02 AM

Looks good Mike. I need more room, as I would like one also.

69427 · #6 07-09-2010, 02:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by big2bird

Looks good Mike. I need more room, as I would like one also.

I'm pretty cramped garage-wise right now compared to last year. We sold our house a couple months ago, and we're temporarily camped out renting a place while we get all our long-term plans worked out. (We're on Plan C, as Plans A and B took a shit.) I've also had to put a lot of stuff in storage, including the '84.
I noticed your stock of engine analyzers in some pics from another thread. I was checking fleabay for a while looking for one (with high voltage probes and CRT), but most were too far away to go pick up. Eventually I hope to find one. I sold my distributor machine when I moved south, so I'm hoping to get another one of them some time, too.

Solid LT1 · #7 07-09-2010, 09:31 AM

I just did a LT-1 break-in on my machine shop buddies break-in stand and I am glad I did. The Vette's paint is too pretty to risk thrashing a newly built motor being laid into the engine compartment with no run-in.

Lucky me! I found out a couple of rocker arm studs are weaping water and looks like the "specialists" that re-radiused the lifters screwed one up and I have to change it out but, the cam seems to be OK (thanks to Joe Gibbs Break In oil being used.)

I'll be able to sleep nights better after pulling all the valvetrain out and checking lifters after 10minutes of run-in time. Glad I'm doing this in an "open enviroment".

Not a single weap of oil out of any gaskets or seals, I feel this is only because it could be quickly fixed, if motor had been in the Vette something would have cropped up.

69427 · #8 07-14-2010, 03:02 PM

I got a bit more welding done on the stand, and I got an idea on what to do with the vent tube on the upper right corner of the radiator. I don't have a pressure cap in the system, but I was thinking about putting a hose on the tube and running a length of it above the height of the cooling system to a pressure gauge (and a ball valve connected to atmosphere by a Tee in the hose). Once the engine has run a few minutes to allow the thermostat to open and help purge some of the air out of the system, I can then close the ball valve to have a closed system. This will allow pressure to build up to simulate having a radiator cap (and also help me find any coolant leaks), but also be a helpful tool to measure what sort of temperature/pressure relationship there is in the cooling system. In the event of a problem or if the pressure rises too much for comfort, I can open the ball valve and bleed off some of the pressure.

Any issues I'm missing here?

thanks,
Mike

69427 · #9 07-16-2010, 12:24 AM

Well, I didn't hear any technical objections to the pressure gauge setup, so I made a fixture above the radiator to mount it. The plumbing ought to be pretty straightforward.

Did a dumbass move when finishing the welding. It's so freakin' hot here in Orlando that I've been working in the garage in a Tee-shirt (I usually wear a long sleeve work shirt when in the garage). I did some fabrication and a couple of tack welds on the stand just to make some progress, but things were going so well that I kept going. I pretty much finished all the welding just before dinner time, so I was pretty happy to get this done so I can get back to working on the engine (checking the piston to valve clearance).
Well, while I was cleaning up in the bathroom and putting on some dry, non-sweat-soaked clothes, I noticed that I had a helluva good "welding sunburn" on my arms. First time I've ever done that. I don't plan on doing it again, though.

big2bird · #10 07-16-2010, 12:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 69427

Did a dumbass move when finishing the welding. It's so freakin' hot here in Orlando that I've been working in the garage in a Tee-shirt (I usually wear a long sleeve work shirt when in the garage). I did some fabrication and a couple of tack welds on the stand just to make some progress, but things were going so well that I kept going. I pretty much finished all the welding just before dinner time, so I was pretty happy to get this done so I can get back to working on the engine (checking the piston to valve clearance).
Well, while I was cleaning up in the bathroom and putting on some dry, non-sweat-soaked clothes, I noticed that I had a helluva good "welding sunburn" on my arms. First time I've ever done that. I don't plan on doing it again, though.