Don Terrill’s Speed-Talk

According to Plato we must talk about politics or we are destined to be ruled by inferiors.

I only mention this because it looks like the Politics section is locked down.

Is it a dumb idea to back half something like a 2006 DTS for a fun street car? What does something like that cost? It seems like one is better off just buying a pre 1976 racecar to make a fun street rod. Just wondering if I should devote anymore thought and energy towards getting crazy with my old C...

I can't seem to find one one line.

I am wondering how many hours a shop might charge to replace my rusted out trans cooling lines - 2009 Trailblazer.

Any Ideas? Thanks.

Comp Cams ground the cam and yes, I have the cam card. Using a Rollmaster timing set with +6, +4, +2, 0, -2, -4, -6 keys. The card states the Intake opening and closing at .050 but I was not going two full valve cycles in the normal crank rotation, the chain is so tight it does not seem to matter bu...

Thank you. Just got done taking a look... I put the dial at 12 o'clock on the chain and lifted on the distributor gear and got the dial to move maybe .002. It is late, gonna put it on the lifter closest to the front and try again tomorrow. Did not see any different colored links. Having trouble gett...

When I line up the dots, it sets up on the Intake Lobe Centerline on the cam card, but my intake valve opening and closing is 2* retarded. Advance the cam 2* and the results are repeated as expected: the intake valve open and closing is now right on but the centerline is off. If it were 1* or less I...

Got a .005 under, just like last time, but this timing set feels too tight. I was not sure it was going to fit - had to get tough with it to get it on. It is a Rollmaster on a turbo Buick so the timing tensioner has been removed. This time EVERYTHING seems to be tighter than what makes me happy. So ...

update:

Machine shop said it looks like a stain from something dripping on it and because it is on the back side, it will be fine...But he just glanced at it. Blow up a pic and it looks like it will open up - I got a new cam....now if I could only find an engine cam plug for the back of the block

Any value to this thing?
It is a 1972 2 barrel, 2 bolt main. Just the block, main caps, and complete heads...forgot to ask about the crank but assume no crank.
Thanks.

The cam is fine except for this one spot on the base of a lobe. It seems like a defect in the metal - it is not a rust spot. I have not yet inspected the roller lifter that was riding on that lobe. I am also nervous about reusing the roller lifters on a new cam. The new parts were installed about 10...

The base of the spring can be pushed to the side. The cut in the head is about 1/8" wider then the spring.

Man I wish I asked about this before putting the engine in the car.

Is there an advantage to using one type of locator over the other?

There are bee hive springs on the iron heads now that were part of a roller cam change. Many years ago when the heads were rebuilt, the shop called the springs that were used, LT1 springs and yes, they were cylindrical. It has been said that because it is a low RPM engine, about 6K, and it has iron ...

What needs to be done to go from stock-like replacement springs to bee hive springs? The Buick V6 was using LT1 springs and they just were sitting on a shim but it sounds like the bee hive spring needs more then that.
Thanks