NikwoaC's "Commitment Issues" Engine Build

NIKwoaC · Apr 1, 2025

As for the rear main seal-

I'm pretty sure I learned this trick here on StangNet- carefully drive a screw into the old seal and use it to pull it out. Works great.

The crank surface at this point is almost 40 years old and with 130K-ish miles, it has some light grooves where the rear main seal makes contact. So, I put one of those Fel-Pro crankshaft sleeves on it (part No. 16250) with a thin skin of anaerobic sealant. I didn't care to spend the money on the elusive install tool, so I modeled one up and printed it. Worked beautifully. If any of you guys are into 3D printing, the model is on my Printables page. https://www.printables.com/@NC_Fabrikation (it's free, this isn't a marketing post)

NIKwoaC · Apr 1, 2025

Nothing too exciting, but here is the front end of the engine with the new gaskets installed. I have had issues over the years with coolant leaks causing timing cover and water pump bolts to rust, so this time I went all stainless. This tiny mom and pop shop out of PA called Totally Stainless sells a really nicely organized and comprehensive kit with the same wacky studs you need for this install. It's a bit pricey but worth it, IMO.

Monkeybutt2000 · Apr 1, 2025

NIKwoaC said:
Yessir. Also a past member of PAPA, if that's still a thing.

Yeah,had to have my GF who is a Purdue grad look it up,LOL. I've lived in Lafayette since 94'

AeroCoupe · Apr 1, 2025

So Astro is still in business. I got some parts from them a few months back.

Rebuild kits are stupid pricey. A good complete one is $400+ from Halen or D&D.

85GTStangGuy · Apr 2, 2025

NIKwoaC said:
.... the elusive install tool, so I modeled one up and printed it. Worked beautifully.

Is the 1/2" bolt used for the actual installation process of the sleeve itself or is it just a "handle" for ease in handling the install tool?

NIKwoaC · Apr 2, 2025

85GTStangGuy said:
Is the 1/2" bolt used for the actual installation process of the sleeve itself or is it just a "handle" for ease in handling the install tool?

Just a handle.

hoopty5.0 · Apr 2, 2025

Man this is cool, welcome back!
Remind me about the heads, TEA trick Flow 205s and a small cam, right? Glad to see you still have it.

FastDriver · Apr 2, 2025

Yeah... Was one of the early rebels to the 'port velocity' reasoning at the time. Did well.

NIKwoaC · Apr 2, 2025

hoopty5.0 said:
Man this is cool, welcome back!
Remind me about the heads, TEA trick Flow 205s and a small cam, right? Glad to see you still have it.

Thanks man! Also, yes.

hoopty5.0 · Apr 2, 2025

So is the goal just to get it running and driving as it was again? Any other oddball goals to be considering?

NIKwoaC · Apr 2, 2025

hoopty5.0 said:
So is the goal just to get it running and driving as it was again? Any other oddball goals to be considering?

Actually... Yes to that second part. Not ready to reveal it yet, but I'm working on something a little different.

Noobz347 · Apr 2, 2025

It's a machine gun, isn't it?

C'mon, you can tell me.

NIKwoaC · Apr 3, 2025

Noobz347 said:
It's a machine gun, isn't it?

C'mon, you can tell me.

All gun laws are an infringement!

But unfortunately, no, it's not a machine gun.

limp · Apr 3, 2025

Noobz347 said:
It's a machine gun, isn't it?

C'mon, you can tell me.

I watched a " shooting in memphis gas station" video yesterday.... fully automatic guns were spraying..... A bit scary.....

NIKwoaC · Apr 12, 2025

As a small update- I built a little engine cradle so I can get the engine off the roller stand and start mocking up the bellhousing and getting it concentric to the flywheel.

...I've been traveling a lot, so unfortunately progress is slow

FastDriver · Apr 12, 2025

Nice pic of the motor. Progress is orogress brother. One step at a time... Just keep steppin'

NIKwoaC · May 4, 2025

Making slow but steady progress...

Got the new flywheel in and dialed in the concentricity of the TKO bellhousing. This took ENTIRELY too long. As you can see in the video below, it was originally ~.022-.024" (indicator reading) out. About .011-.012" off center. So, I bought .014" eccentric dowel pins from Summit. In theory, this should put me within .002-.003 on center. However, the Summit pins were about .004 undersize (.496" vs the OE .500"). This made it basically impossible to get consistent, repeatable readings when the pins were installed with their eccentric axis parallel to each other. At this point, I should have returned the pins, but I was impatient and wanted it done, so I played around with clocking the pins at different angles relative to each other and found that, at about 45 degrees apart, it took enough slop out of the assembly that I was able to consistently get the indicator reading within the required .005". It's maybe a little hack, but it worked.

Video with OE pins (yes, my dial indicator only barely fits )

NIKwoaC · May 4, 2025

Video with Summit eccentric pins installed:

NIKwoaC · May 4, 2025

Some pics of the new flywheel and old clutch (with new friction disc) reinstalled.

And finally, with the new bell. I also replaced the pilot and throwout bearings while I was in here. I'm reusing the 39 year old fork and pivot... They are still somehow totally serviceable

NIKwoaC · May 4, 2025

But wait, there's more...!

Not actually much more. But, for some of my upcoming plans for the car, I'm installing aftermarket fuel rails. Not so much because I'll need the fuel flow, but because I need the clearance on the throttle body side.

Unfortunately, the Anderson Ford Motorsport rails that are supposed to be the best for intake manifold clearance... Aren't. My Trick Flow long runner R upper has zero chance of clearance. I'd need a 1" spacer to make this work.

It's kind of frustrating, but AFM doesn't own Trick Flow, so I can't fault them. These are super nice rails and they do clear the OE distributor. I'll be keeping them for future use.

NikwoaC's "Commitment Issues" Engine Build

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Mustang Master

lube between the nut and the face. I know my lubes

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mechanicus terribilis

I was uncomfortably high & wearing a helmet

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mechanicus terribilis

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Stangnet Facilities Maint Tech... Er... Janitor

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wrap a little cheese around it and its a done

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I was uncomfortably high & wearing a helmet

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