AAR resto

[don selleck]

got the 4 corners in deck height is super close to flush I'd say flush on #1 and #7 maybe .010 below on #2 and # 8, gonna install all of them, before ring install, John has a straight edge he's gonna bring over later and see exactly what we have. rod clearance in between on the crank seems to be pretty tight, moves freely but doubt i could fit a feeler gauge inbetween. looks like plenty of rod clearance to the block at the bottom of the cylinders, so that should be good. Had an issue with one of the piston clips, kind of waffled one, got it in and looks like the rest but for the price of a clip its not worth the risk.

 

[Xcudame]

Attached is some of the factory recommended clearances from the shop manual. Be sure to check the thrust end play.

 

[don selleck]

thanks i can use that.

 

[don selleck]

well rod to rod clearance specs at .0060 to .014.
ranging from
.000 to
.030 to
.007 to
.002
not sure what to do with that at the moment. It does turn over nicely but it Looks like will be calling CNC tomorrow to see what they wanna do. it is the crank journals, rods are consistent
piston deck height is nearly perfect.
haven't checked the vavle piston clearance yet, or plastigauge anything kinda useless until i get the journals taken care of.

 

[Xcudame]

Keep us posted on what CNC says/does for you. Because anything less than .006" rod clearance will likely cause very bad things to happen when normal operation temperature is reached and you've got too much labour and money in your AAR Cuda for that kind of headache! And the .030" will allow a lot of oil to leak out! Not good either! Glad you're checking everything!

 

[don selleck]

absolutely, pretty much everything on the car has been checked and haven't found much that was right. even the reconditioned stuff.

 

[Xcudame]

Honestly that's kinda sad Don! But at least you're having fun!!

 

[don selleck]

ya it is, but that's today's world, but I know one thing I will be checking it all, every time.

 

[don selleck]

well packed up the stroker kit and sent it back in waiting for the verdict to come in, been working on the Grand National for now. Going to have to go back to work again Monday to my regular job, lined up some metal framing to do on a few small jobs should keep me busy for a week. By then hope to hear some news from CNC Motorsports. Here's a few pics on the GM, descaled everything shot it with encapsu

lator and some SEM matte black and some light undercoating in the fenderwells

 

[don selleck]

well got my stroker kit back, they looked at the rods and said some were in backwards, which caused the tightness, John was unaware that there a top and bottom on the rods. So they had an attitude right away, I was being cool with them and accepted my fault asked if the bearings needed replaced they say no, I talked to Clint on the phone, and asked very nice to please check the .030 clearance between the rods on 3-4 crank journal, He said they will check everything. Well got it back late last week, I used green painters tape to seal each layered box that protected the crank, they never opened the box. CNC motorsports is not impressing me at all. left them a very nice email today with videos of the unopened box and installed the 3-4 bank on the crank to show the .30 way too big clearance. Dead in the water, again. Expecting a phone call tomorrow I hope they come to there senses, I would hate have to go to south Dakota just to throw this crank thru there front window.

 

[Xcudame]

That sucks! Yes, on Mopars the rods have a bigger chamfer on one side that faces away from the other rod on the journal. Measure the widths of all four rod journals. They should be within a few thousands of a inch from each other. If the 3-4 rod is noticeably wider, CNC has a problem!!

 

[don selleck]

we were aware of that, the rod bearings are marked upper and lower which we were not. Thats where our mistake was, that caused the clearance to be tight on two of them. one was right the bearing we got lucking and installed correctly and 3 and 4 has a .030 clearance. I made this aware when I sent the crank and rods back to south dakota for $286, and they did not check the crank at all didn't even open the box it was taped shut with green masking tape, it was never removed. And they requested that I send it too. I usually have the rotating assembly completed then assemble the rest.

 

[Xcudame]

Got it. So your waiting for CNC to respond to their defective part. Grr!

 

[don selleck]

ya pretty much, I was straight forward and courteous in the email, but some of my video comments on showing the issues of not even opening the box, installing the 3/4 bearings and rods on the journals, etc were lets say colorful. They are a few hours behind so will wait till noon for a call, if not I won't be so nice, this is ridiculous. basically just need a new crank balanced for the bob weight. Glad I bought it with a credit card, so I can dispute it if they get shitty about it.