Vintage 302 chevy.


Thanks for the links grumpy. I've been reading through them and the links within, there's a lot of good knowledge. I haven't went through and measured all the pistons and bores yet but I think on top of the gas ports I'll be looking at getting the skirts coated by line2line with their abradable powder coating. I have to do some research on the thermal barrier coatings for the crown. There are some local shops that do cerakote coating just don't know if they do it on pistons I'll have to stop in and talk to them. Line2line offers a barrier coating at $30 a piece and the skirt coating is $32 a piece according to their order form. I'd probably pay a little more than 500 for both coatings if I went through line2line.
 
I know its a bit too late now in your case, and yes I'VE also done this, that's how we ALL gain experience....
I find it really amazing how often I see guys get 1/2 way into an engine assembly process and they suddenly want to change or modify some major component,
now in most cases that get expensive and the change will result in having to make corresponding matching changes in other
components
you could have saved a great deal of time and money,
by taking extra time in the research, phase of the engine build,
by simply shopping carefully,for each component and calculating how it will match the other selected components and it generally helps if you deal with a well known major name brand manufacturer and ask lots of carefully thought out questions and know exactly what your trying to accomplish and what your options are that you would want or prefer to have, especially in major components like the rotating assembly, and valve train components ,
ordering custom made 2618 forged aluminum, pistons with,
light weight tool steel wrist pins,
gas ports,
and thermal coated domes,
and friction reducing skirts,
a BALANCED 4340 forged steel rotating assembly,
with connecting rods that use ARP 7/16" rod bolts of the correct for the application strength rating.


Piston Alloy Comparison
4032..
......................... ................................2618
High silicon ......................................... ...........No silicon
Low expansion ................................... .........High expansion
Tighter piston-to-wall clearance . ...........More Piston-to-wall clearance needed
Quiet Operation .................................Noise when cold
Less ductile ........................................... More ductile
More stable & consistent.................... ...... Higher resistance to detonation
Longer life cycle.............................................. Shorter life cycles
Harder .................................................... ........Softer

http://www.venolia.com/


RELATED LINKED INFO
http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/snap-ring-pliers.11029/#post-48839

http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/precision-measuring-tools.1390/

http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/piston-suppliers.2208/#post-19329


http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/thermal-coatings.2610/#post-12861

http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/piston-related-info.110/#post-31943

http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/types-of-crankshaft-steel.204/#post-240

http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...ore-clearance-on-your-block.14251/#post-72471

http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...lling-connecting-rods-pistons.247/#post-57737

http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...y-in-building-a-good-engine.11682/#post-54682

http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...a-scat-rotating-assembly-be.11495/#post-52962

http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...-calculators-and-basic-math.10705/#post-46582

http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/rod-bolts-rpm-vs-stress.341/#post-68856

http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/rotating-assembly-bearings.9527/#post-70329

http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/piston-to-bore-clearance.4630/#post-12417

http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...n-you-plan-for-quench.11298/page-2#post-51613

http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...-displacement-street-engine.10961/#post-48185

http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/piston-coating-deburring.4516/#post-16279

http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/engine-balancing.3900/#post-10338

http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...ns-one-really-over-looked-part.978/#post-1711


 
Last edited:
I know its a bit too late now in your case, and yes I'VE also done this, that's how we ALL gain experience....
I find it really amazing how often I see guys get 1/2 way into an engine assembly process and they suddenly want to change or modify some major component,
now in most cases that get expensive and the change will result in having to make corresponding matching changes in other
components
you could have saved a great deal of time and money,
by taking extra time in the research, phase of the engine build,
by simply shopping carefully,for each component and calculating how it will match the other selected components and it generally helps if you deal with a well known major name brand manufacturer and ask lots of carefully thought out questions and know exactly what your trying to accomplish and what your options are that you would want or prefer to have, especially in major components like the rotating assembly, and valve train components ,
ordering custom made 2618 forged aluminum, pistons with,
light weight tool steel wrist pins,
gas ports,
and thermal coated domes,
and friction reducing skirts,
a BALANCED 4340 forged steel rotating assembly,
with connecting rods that use ARP 7/16" rod bolts of the correct for the application strength rating.


Piston Alloy Comparison
4032..
......................... ................................2618
High silicon ......................................... ...........No silicon
Low expansion ................................... .........High expansion
Tighter piston-to-wall clearance . ...........More Piston-to-wall clearance needed
Quiet Operation .................................Noise when cold
Less ductile ........................................... More ductile
More stable & consistent.................... ...... Higher resistance to detonation
Longer life cycle.............................................. Shorter life cycles
Harder .................................................... ........Softer

http://www.venolia.com/


RELATED LINKED INFO
http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/snap-ring-pliers.11029/#post-48839

http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/precision-measuring-tools.1390/

http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/piston-suppliers.2208/#post-19329


http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/thermal-coatings.2610/#post-12861

http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/piston-related-info.110/#post-31943

http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/types-of-crankshaft-steel.204/#post-240

http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...ore-clearance-on-your-block.14251/#post-72471

http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...lling-connecting-rods-pistons.247/#post-57737

http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...y-in-building-a-good-engine.11682/#post-54682

http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...a-scat-rotating-assembly-be.11495/#post-52962

http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...-calculators-and-basic-math.10705/#post-46582

http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/rod-bolts-rpm-vs-stress.341/#post-68856

http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/rotating-assembly-bearings.9527/#post-70329

http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/piston-to-bore-clearance.4630/#post-12417

http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...n-you-plan-for-quench.11298/page-2#post-51613

http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...-displacement-street-engine.10961/#post-48185

http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/piston-coating-deburring.4516/#post-16279

http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/engine-balancing.3900/#post-10338

http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...ns-one-really-over-looked-part.978/#post-1711


I did plenty of research on the name brand pistons and to get close to the original piston would place the new ones around $200 a piece (the price of custom right), that's a great deal more than I paid for mine. I haven't found much in the way of bad talk about ICON so I wouldn't see why they couldn't be considered a good brand. Sourcing the coatings and doing the gas ports on my own will still net me in cheaper than the brands. Below is a post I found from I presume an Icon employee on another forum.

"Although this post is over two years old ICON would like to state that ALL ICON pistons are 100% forged, both the Premium 2618 alloy and FHR 4032 alloy. The FHR that once stood for Forged Head Relief was referring to the valve pockets as they are formed in the forging die unlike the Premium series that are machined in. We now state the FHR as Formed Head Relief as to not confuse customers that only the top is forged, which of course cannot be done. The forged FHR series is an excellent choice for street performance that can be used with mild boost (15lbs) or nitrous (250hp). For more serious applications it is recommended to use the Premium 2618 alloy series."
 
Update: I've shifted my focus more towards the body work on my car and have postponed my engine build for the time being. Besides adding the new studs to suit the girdle its pretty much sat idle for the past few months. Also the addition of my second son has consumed a lot of my garage time.
 
Update: I've shifted my focus more towards the body work on my car and have postponed my engine build for the time being. Besides adding the new studs to suit the girdle its pretty much sat idle for the past few months. Also the addition of my second son has consumed a lot of my garage time.
Kids will do 4hat.
My boys are 7 & 5 now.
 
Kids will do 4hat.
My boys are 7 & 5 now.

My oldest boy is 2.5yrs and he's a nightmare. The youngest boy is just over 2 months.

When I'm outside working and it gets beyond quiet in the garage I have to do a yard check because the oldest likes to get into everything. Here he is on top of my 4 door chevelle.20180113_122822-2419x1814.jpg

Honestly the boys don't consume to much of my time it has been more of my job as I've taken over as the head of the quality control department at work. The added stress sucks but the $$$ is good.
 
Now that pic is funny!!! You need to give that boy an old lawnmower to Tear Apart ...... or
Tear Up, but it will keep him busy for awhile.
 
Paying for Daycare while the Wife & Me both worked for 5 years was Murder on Finances.
$80,000 Bucks spent on Daycare for both the Boys.

Wife is self employed now & stays at home.

I am the Sole Bread Provider.
Only way for me living in the sticks to do is drive commute to Chicago 150 miles round trip.
6 days a week.

Spring is coming & they will be looking for Mechanics like me.
Job hopped a few times in the last few years.
I keep going back to the same Auto shop in Joliet. The Boss is A-OK.
Rest are A-holes so far to work for.
 
Now that pic is funny!!! You need to give that boy an old lawnmower to Tear Apart ...... or
Tear Up, but it will keep him busy for awhile.

I need to buy a crappy set of tools for him to play with first. He wants to keep taking all my snap-on stuff so I have to keep tabs on him.

I'm sure you've set a tool down in a certain spot and came back a minute later and it was gone. I find myself more and more doing a walk around on my vehicles to make sure nothing is setting or stuck in it somewhere before I drive it.
 
Paying for Daycare while the Wife & Me both worked for 5 years was Murder on Finances.
$80,000 Bucks spent on Daycare for both the Boys.

Wife is self employed now & stays at home.

I am the Sole Bread Provider.
Only way for me living in the sticks to do is drive commute to Chicago 150 miles round trip.
6 days a week.

Spring is coming & they will be looking for Mechanics like me.
Job hopped a few times in the last few years.
I keep going back to the same Auto shop in Joliet. The Boss is A-OK.
Rest are A-holes so far to work for.

I hear ya. We've been a single income home for quite sometime. It's been tough a few times over the past few years but I'm very wise with my money and have never been broke. (Always have money in savings) I'm not a believer in letting my wife work and theres no way I want my kids in daycare. (Keep it old school) Thankfully I've got a good job that I've been at for 9 yrs and I'm about #4 of 100 employees and #2 on the list of most reponsibility. Do to the nature of my job and the responsibilty that I carry they pay me pretty well and here soon I'll be do for another pay raise being the position I'm in happened abruptly and the pay is still open to negotiation. I will mention that the stress I deal with almost doesnt make the pay worth it.
 
I hear ya. We've been a single income home for quite sometime. It's been tough a few times over the past few years but I'm very wise with my money and have never been broke. (Always have money in savings) I'm not a believer in letting my wife work and theres no way I want my kids in daycare. (Keep it old school) Thankfully I've got a good job that I've been at for 9 yrs and I'm about #4 of 100 employees and #2 on the list of most reponsibility. Do to the nature of my job and the responsibilty that I carry they pay me pretty well and here soon I'll be do for another pay raise being the position I'm in happened abruptly and the pay is still open to negotiation. I will mention that the stress I deal with almost doesnt make the pay worth it.
I dream some days of Northside of Chicago Mechanics Job(s).
I hear a few earn $200,000 per year
Union Scale is $38.00 per hour.
I am not making that.
I would be Ok with $28-32 per hour.
I can work on Autos & Big Diesels.
The Key is not getting hurt or injured at 48 now.
Just do not heal as fast.
 
I dream some days of Northside of Chicago Mechanics Job(s).
I hear a few earn $200,000 per year
Union Scale is $38.00 per hour.
I am not making that.
I would be Ok with $28-32 per hour.
I can work on Autos & Big Diesels.
The Key is not getting hurt or injured at 48 now.
Just do not heal as fast.

Talking to one of the customer reps at work he said his brother is a mobile diesel mechanic in Vegas and charges $600 per call out imagine two or three small jobs a day at that rate. I'm lucky to make what I make and to be close to work. The cost of living is pretty cheap here as well so that allows me to afford all this car stuff.
 
Talking to one of the customer reps at work he said his brother is a mobile diesel mechanic in Vegas and charges $600 per call out imagine two or three small jobs a day at that rate. I'm lucky to make what I make and to be close to work. The cost of living is pretty cheap here as well so that allows me to afford all this car stuff.
Yes there is money in Road Side service calls.
I have thought about it.
I see those guys fixing Semis along Route 80 here in Illinois.
I have been out on a few calls in the past at the Last Diesel shop I worked at.
It can be scary the Traffic zooming by.
Everyone drives 90-100 mph in Chicago. For Real.
I want $32 an hour pay to do it.
Danger Pay.
 
It has been a while. Any updates?
Hey, sorry its been a while since i've been on here. Nothing has really progressed with the engine, life kinda got in the way and i started doing some body work so i might have somewhere to put this engine when its finished. The last thing i was working on with the block was measuring the clearances on the main bore and i figured out they were all screwy after having it align honed. On top of that one of the straps i was using to put pressure on the main caps broke so i bought a girdle and have yet to have everything re-honed.
 
Hey, sorry its been a while since i've been on here. Nothing has really progressed with the engine, life kinda got in the way and i started doing some body work so i might have somewhere to put this engine when its finished. The last thing i was working on with the block was measuring the clearances on the main bore and i figured out they were all screwy after having it align honed. On top of that one of the straps i was using to put pressure on the main caps broke so i bought a girdle and have yet to have everything re-honed.
Get on Facebook and look at your local Market Watch for another used 302 Block or 283 Chevy Block.
Likely best option.
The search engine works pretty good there.
Drag and move the Cursor to find a new location near you.
Want to inspect in person if possible.

Some Pontiac V8 engines did not fare so well also from heavy racing.
Early years is what I found and bought a few years back now.
Fullsize cars not beat on so bad.
 
Hey, sorry its been a while since i've been on here. Nothing has really progressed with the engine, life kinda got in the way and i started doing some body work so i might have somewhere to put this engine when its finished. The last thing i was working on with the block was measuring the clearances on the main bore and i figured out they were all screwy after having it align honed. On top of that one of the straps i was using to put pressure on the main caps broke so i bought a girdle and have yet to have everything re-honed.
If the main bearing shell in the block and caps are clean with no smear marks and part numbers easily read and also imprinted light in the block saddles and caps its a Good one to buy.
Crank turns easy by hand.
My visual checks.
 
Back
Top