I confess, 5 years ago I was trying to test-fit the polyurethane mock block, after (following advice from others) denting the passenger side firewall to clear the big block, and ... unexpectedly (to me, anyhow) there was major interference on the driver's side too. I gave up, for a while, and 'a while' turned into 4 years gone by with not much done, then during last Spring I convinced my neighbor (who was for 40+ years a body man in a Cadillac dealer) to help me refurbish my dented/rusted hood, with the following result:
Then Florida Summer arrived, and no more could be done until Autumn (little garage A/C could not keep up with the constant heat). Then, I went back to building the 496 - next step was finding TDC and setting timing pointer correctly ... but the motor seemed to be too hard to turn over, leading to question if there was an internal problem, or what? Did not want to fully assemble it then discover problems when firing it up.
Then, whilst talking to our youngest son, who just last year took a new job in road construction (Union, pays REALLY well), in Ohio, where they do not work during the winter (cold and snow, alla youse Canadians sure know about that, eh?), and he was going nuts doing nothing at home, so **IDEA!** we'll fly him down for 2 weeks and his mom could spend time with him, and since he is a gearhead (sadly the only one of our 5) he was ready/willing/able to help out. So with his young body doing the heavy labor, we made major progress and now I know the big block will fit.
Summer is almost here but I WILL get the engine compartment sanded (ooh those inside fenderwells are rusty) and painted, so next Autumn the BBC install can be done.
Good to see you back here... Good luck on the job! Please send some heat... We'll send cold your way!
X2
That big black block looks mean! You needed a BFH to "persuade" your car a bit I see.
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Prince Edward Island
'64 Parisienne CS "barn find" - last on the road in '86 ... Owner Protection Plan booklet, original paint, original near-mint aqua interior, original aqua GM floor mats, original 283, factory posi, and original rust.
Yeah Darryl, I did have our son Andy swinging that BFH, too much work for this old guy, eh?
I forgot to mention, while he was here, we took the real short block off the engine stand, bolted it onto a cradle, loaded it into my truck, and took it to a local shop, who pronounced it fine - with new tightly gapped rings, it should NOT turn over easily, I guess. So I can continue to put it together, too.
Dave
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1956 Pontiac Pathfinder 2dr sedan, 496 - dyno'd 545 hp, stick shift, 4.11 posi - Hot Rod