Gary H's 51 GMC

I've been following his build. Look's like he's making some good progress.

I want him to build my intake, lol.

I just went through the whole thing. It reminds me of following efi-diy's 292 thread and seeing GH come to the 4.2 crossroad. You know two guys building updated versions of old engines and just saying "$@#* it" and going with the up dated engine design.

At some point you realize the stretch from A to B is a bridge too far with the older iron.

If I had started with the 4200 I'd be even money now even with having to redo it. That 292 build was close to $8k all said and done. The only thing was it was piecemeal affordable to do the 292 - the 4200's at the time were hard to come by.

Not so now.

Thanks for the compliments guys. I really enjoy this part more than the ride later. I guess that's why I have had a turboed GMC, a roots blown GMC and now the 4200. I only work 3 mornings a week at a stainless steel fabrication plant and that's give a lot of time in the shop. In fact, 2 weeks ago we got real slow at work and I told them, "call me when you get some work, I am not going to come in and sweep the floor." I've worked there 3 different times starting as far back as 1964, been a total of 19 years. Me and another guy had a business for 29 years doing the same kind of work.

GH,

just curious what ET's did you run with your different engine combos?

Thanks

MBHD

Hank, ETs weren't good at all, too lean at RPM with both combinations. I sure hope it runs better this go around.

Might want to install EGT bungs in the exhaust manifold 1 per cylinder.

Scott came down a couple weeks ago, finished wiring, started it up first try, did some tuning. Boy does that engine run smooth. I have a boost controller coming and will drive the truck up to Scotts and he will dyno tune it in July.

Scott is super super excited to get that thing dialed in. It's going to be wicked for sure. I'm trying to see if I can coordinate with him when he'll be in California for Bill's car to possibly get my Firebird on a chassis dyno while he is around.

Where in Ca are you going to be?

My friend does dyno tuning on these: http://www.dynapack.com/

Using those really helped a lot when tuning my truck.


MBHD

I don't remember where Bill goes to get his engine dyno'd, but if they have a chassis dyno I'll drive there (some where in southern California), and if not I'll go to Westech.

Randal, you could take a vacation and come to Ohmaha in July when I go.

haha, as much as I'd like too, I'm all out of vacation this year already! I'm not going to make Drag Week unless I ask and receive unpaid time off. I didn't register for Drag Week for the same reason.

You're going to miss DW.

I just need my old house to sell (it's going to really suck if its still on the market come September), and I'll have zero issue financially taking the time off. My boss is a car guy and likely sympathetic to the cause and would let me do it if the work load permits.

It looks like it's going to be an awesome 10 year anniversary and there are some wild cars that are going to show up and be interesting to see if they make the whole week. The drive looks like it could be boring as hell though. I'm hoping for some good back roads this year to lengthen it out. I'll be happy as a passenger even if I can't get my car in.

I have been driving the old truck quite a bit lately. Trying to get some of the rattles and squeeks out of the old thing. It sure runs great. It was 90 degrees plus yesterday and I drove it to two different cruise ins, ran great but sure was hot even with the two wing vents pointed inward.

GH,

Are you going to the inliners convention? Be an eye opener for a lot of floks if you did....

No, Marc, can't swing it.