Project Queso

nitroguy

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More delays. Reassembling the heads over the weekend I noticed I have a Valve spring with no damper. Can't figure out how I missed that during disassembly and cleaning.
Must have been a Monday engine.
New Springs on the way. Sucks because I already have one head done. Ohh well.

I keep telling myself, It'll be fine, it'll be fine.

Totally get that! Delays are a huge bummer. Just when you start to get momentum...boom! Something else keeps you down.

I mean... hypothetically of course. I've never personally experienced something like that, but I've heard it's a bummer. ;)
 

krogo

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Weekend Update.

It's official, Cerakoting a whole engine sucks.
Man does that stuff stink not to mention sandblasting every nut and bolt...

Good news!
New Valve Springs arrived, Heads are assembled and installed.
New Lifters (WTFN, I'm here already) Installed.
New rockers (old ones were oddly scarred) installed.
Rear Cover w/ RMS installed.

Can't get the Oil cooler back together.....
Time to get pressy...
 

krogo

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Got home from work a bit early today, got some more work done.

Front cover, Valley pan and Intake installed.
Valve covers on for effect!

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lotzagoodstuff

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I don't know how much time or dollars you have in cerakoting, but the final assembly looks pretty dandy.
 

krogo

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will that cerakote really hold up on those pistons?

If properly applied, Very much so. I'm not reinventing the wheel, the practice of ceramic coating piston faces is quite old at this point.
The Cerakote product used is actually called "Piston Coat." It's a Low Emissivity ceramic coating that effectively shields the piston faces from the heat of combustion.
There should, hopefully, never be any mechanical abrasion, the product is almost completely chemical resistant once cured and is easily able to withstand 1800 °F continuously.
Since I applied the product, I only have myself to blame if it fails, however I highly doubt it will.

I also used "Piston Coat" on the Exhaust manifolds and hot side components. Low Emissivity keeps heat out, but it also keeps heat in.
 

asmith

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Cool. I didn’t realize it was a ceramic coating like that. Or that it was that tough. I have only seen it in gun applications and never in person. Sounds like a great product. Is it tough to apply?


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krogo

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Great stuff, smells terrible!

That ain't no ****!!!!
First time I got a good snoot full of the stuff, I honestly went crosseyed for a few minutes. It's horrible.


Is it tough to apply?
Not particularly. The documentation makes it sound like it's this precise, If you screw it up the whole world burns, kind of process.
Honestly, it's as simple as thoroughly degrease, Sandblast the part, Prebake to degas the part, Spray the product, bake the part to cure the coating.
The trick is applying the correct thickness of product. I can fall back on my Auto Body days for experience shooting the stuff. You spray it alot like a 2K-Clear. Enough to fully "Wet" the surface, but no more.

For degreasing I have a heated ultrasonic cleaner I use with Simple Green. Obviously I have a sandblaster. To bake I use a kitchen range I picked up used for $50.

They also make an air cure product. Many claim it isn't as tough, but I'm not 100% convinced. That's what's on the block and heads.
You'll also assume correctly that I didn't Sandblast my heads or block. I've found that Cerakote will stick as well as epoxy paint on really really clean, non-blasted cast iron.
 
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krogo

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Took a half day today.

Got the Oil cooler pressed back together and bolted on.
Prepped the Fuel Filter mount, pedestal, and fasteners and got those Cerakoted.

Was prepping the Dipstick tube and found a hole rubbed in the side!
Quickly figured out that replacements were harder to come by than I cared to pursue.
Broke out the torch and soldered it closed. Filed smooth, blasted and Cerakoted, cause why stop now!
 

krogo

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Weekend update.

I had forgotten to mention while the heads were off that I played with several different way to clean out the injector bores.
What worked best for me was Brakefree foaming bore cleaner. I filled each cavity, let it sit for 30 minuets, then hit the bores with a 12 Gauge brass brush on a drill. Worked really really well.
That segue brought to you by installed injectors.
Actually installed the exhaust manifolds.
Installed the water pump.
Installed the motor mounts.
Reassembled the Filter head, sans heater. I'm waiting on my adjustable fuel pressure switch. I intend to use the factory "Fuel Filter" dash light. I want it to come where I want it to, not only on vacuum.
Not much else done. Ran out of steam early today.
 

krogo

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Got some work done over the weekend.
Finally admitted I had to pull the hood off... Removed Hood... Grumble...
Lower water neck installed.
Power steering / AC Compressor / Idler / Tensioner bracket Cerakoted and associated bolts chemical blackened.
Yesterday, got the Left bank of injector lines Cerakoted.
The Right bank is in the oven currently.

Some Pictures (Including the fuel filter pedestal I never uploaded).

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krogo

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Been a while. Hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season!

I've been busy.
Took the front end off Queso.
Blasted, Cleaned and Painted.
New power steering lines.
New radius arm and axle pivot Urethane bushings lubed with Schaeffer 238.
New shocks.
New ball joints (w/Moog adjustable camber bushing) and new bearings and races in the hubs.

Waiting on tie rods (ETA Thursday), Cmon Amazon, Step it up!

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