New 110 engine build for my '65 automatic

[reidmier]

Over the past few months, I've been gathering parts to build a new engine for my '65 automatic. This is for a car that's been driven over 32K miles in the past 5 years so its basically a daily driver. Trips often include 8,000 to 9,000 foot elevation changes and long 8% to 12% grades that the old 110 has trouble maintaining speed on. We also live in an area where triple digit temperatures are common so we've been considering adding AC and the current 110 just won't cut it. I didn't want to take my daily driver out of commission long enough to rebuild the engine, so I decided to just build a new engine and pull mine as a spare when the new one is ready.



My plan was to build an engine that has more torque and a slight bump in HP in the RPM range that best matches the Powerglide. Keeping heat as low as possible is also important since this car may end up with AC at some point. Money matters too, so there are some basic compromises to keep the total cost under control. I'll be re-using my alternator, distributor and starter but everything else will be new or reconditioned where possible.



My parts list included new Clark's full fin cylinders, cast pistons, moly rings, reconditioned rods, Elgin lifters, std/std 8409 crank and a new 889 cam without an offset key. I'm using a Clark's oil pan and a set of their economy aluminum covers. They dress things up a bit but the main reason was to reduce heat as much as possible. I hate the double brass temp sensor plug that Clark's included so I'm going to replace that with a simple tapered thread plug.



I have a set of carbs that were rebuilt by Steve Goodman at Rear Engine Specialists http://www.rearenginespecialists.com/ and I'll be using a Roger Parent full bearing throttle linkage. I've already installed Roger's full bearing tunnel throttle pivot and the workmanship is excellent.

The biggest single expense was a set of American Flat Six big valve 110 heads. I'm sure many will ask why I didn't just use a set of 140 heads... I could try to explain my reasoning but it would be simpler to have you read about the heads on Tom's site and remember my basic objectives above. http://www.americanflat6.com/products/b ... sions.html. There's a good review of them by Ted Brown on the "other" forum http://corvaircenter.com/phorum/read.ph ... msg-730966 if you're interested.



I've also been assembling a new set of tins. Most of the pieces were sourced from a friend's yard and were pretty rusty. I have no access to a blaster so after a lot of sanding and painting, I've got my new set ready to go. The front piece is missing in this picture but I've since gotten it ready too. Trivia: The '65 PG front tin is a 1 year only piece with 5 holes.



After 6 months of planning and gathering/ordering parts, I took some vacation and spent the past week out at a friend's shop putting it together. I took some pictures as the assembly progressed but they're mostly just stage completion shots. As of Friday afternoon, the major assembly work was done but I still have a few parts to clean up and install before it will be ready for the tins.





Hopefully I'll find time in the next couple of weeks to finish it up and find out if all works out as planned.

[cad-kid]

Nice work and planning! The money spent on heads is money well spent. I went with a full rebuild through Ken Hand on my 140. Pricy but the knowledge of a job properly done and steps taken to address weak points make for worry free driving

[chris]

Looking good there, Reid. Thanks for the update!

[reidmier]

UPDATE

The new engine is in the car and I'm loving it!

The big valve 110 heads from American Flat Six have far exceeded my expectations. Throttle response is immediate with no loading or hesitation and the engine pulls hard in low. I've got the shift point up to around 40 mph and the engine still pulls hard after it shifts into 2nd. I've got the timing advanced to 18 degrees with NO ping at wide open throttle going uphill in 2nd. I used mostly new parts, but these heads and the 889 cam are the only non-stock items in this engine. I'm still using the stock 2 into 1 exhaust, but now it sounds like it's growling. I was shooting for the most power I could get between zero and the speed limit, so when the rings are fully seated I'll post some 0-60 times to see if my seat-of-the-pants impression can be backed up by numbers. IMO, torque is king with a PG and this engine is giving me exactly what I was looking for.

PICTURES

I pulled my old 110 engine. This engine was in the car when I got it and I've put over 40K miles on it since then. It was getting tired and starting to sound like a steam locomotive.



I tore down the old engine enough to split the engine from the transaxle.



Got the new engine mated to the transaxle and installed my old starter.



Started putting on the reworked tins.



Moved more parts from my old engine. Installed a set of rebuilt carbs from Steve Goodman and a Roger Parent full bearing throttle linkage.



Got the engine installed into the car but had to stop and run home and watch the Royals win the ALCS.



Finished up the installation. Fixed a couple of small fuel leaks, then fired it up and broke in the cam.



I've been playing around with pushing the advance out as far as I can without ping. I got up to 22 degrees before I could manage to get even the slightest rattle. I decided to set it back to 18 and fill it up with some 85 octane to see how it does. No ping detected so far.

My wife keeps telling me to "stop hot-rodding it".

[cad-kid]

Excellent!

Are you running a cruise control?

I am a huge fan of the Parent linkage (great product!)

[reidmier]

Yes I am running cruise control. It's an old Cal Custom unit that I found on eBay. It has the advantage of not requiring an axle speed sensor (though it can use one if needed). It only requires a speed sense connection to the coil like a tach. It works great on a PG car where there isn't any shifting at highway speeds. Not sure it would work so well on a manual.

[cad-kid]

Cool! With how the manuals are geared - once up to highway speed (45 and higher) there isn't any shifting either.

[County98]

Great thread. Thanks!