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Video Transcript
(ANNOUNCER)>> TODAY ON
ENGINE POWER, MIKE AND PAT WERE ASKED TO REFRESH
THIS 30 YEAR OLD BLOWN BIG BLOCK FORD STRAIGHT OUT OF
THE MOST NOTORIOUS TRUCK IN THE WORLD, THE ICONIC,
ORIGINAL BIG FOOT.
(MIKE)>> THIS YEAR MARKS THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ORIGINAL MONSTER TRUCK. THERE CAN BE ONLY ONE BIG FOOT.
(PAT)>> AND IT'S UNHEARD OF THAT THE ICONIC MACHINE WOULD EVER PULL INTO YOUR DRIVEWAY IN NEED OF A LITTLE HELP. THAT'S RIGHT, THE TRUCK THAT STARTED IT ALL, BIG FOOT ONE, IS BEING DROPPED OFF BY NONE OTHER THAN THE GREAT BOB CHANDLER AND BUSINESS PARTNER AND LONG TIME DRIVER JIM KRAMER.
(MIKE)>> THAT THING LOOKS AWESOME.
(RYAN)>> I WANT TO SEE IT WITH THOSE BIG TIRES ON THERE.
(MIKE)>> SHE DOESN'T RACE ANYMORE, BUT OUR TEAM IS
GONNA GET THE CHANCE TO FRESHEN HER UP, CLEAN UP THE CHASSIS, AND DO SOME MUCH NEEDED MAINTENANCE. AND MORE IMPORTANTLY FOR US, WE GET TO REBUILD THIS MASSIVE BLOWN BIG BLOCK FORD THAT WAS STATE OF THE ART BACK IN THE DAY.
(PAT)>> FIRST THINGS FIRST, GET RID OF THESE SKINNY TIRES.
(MIKE)>> ALRIGHT BOB, WE HAVE BIG FOOT ONE HERE, THE ORIGINAL TRUCK. IT'S RETIRED FROM RACING BUT STILL DOES ALL THE PARADES.
BUT THE RUMOR IS THIS WAS YOUR ORIGINAL TRUCK BACK IN '74, PERSONAL VEHICLE.
(BOB)>> YES, I ORDERED IT FROM THE DEALERSHIP. AND OF COURSE BACK THEN THEY DIDN'T HAVE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLES. SO IT TOOK SIX, SEVEN MONTHS TO GET IT. AND MY WIFE AND I USED TAKE IT, WE'D GO CAMPING WITH IT. I PUT A CAMPER ON THE BACK OF IT AND TAKE DOWN THE RIVER. BUT IT WENT FROM THE DEALERSHIP TO MY HOUSE AND THE TIRES GOT CHANGED IMMEDIATELY. THAT WAS THE FIRST THING THAT GOT CHANGED. IT ENDED UP BEING A VICIOUS CYCLE CAUSE I'D PUT BIG TIRES ON IT AND THEY WEREN'T BIG ENOUGH FOR ME, SO I'D PUT BIGGER TIRES ON IT. THEN I'D START BREAKING AXLES, SO YOU PUT BIGGER AXLES IN IT. AND THEN YOU RUN OUT OF POWER, SO YOU'VE GOT TO PUT A BIGGER ENGINE IN IT.
THAT'S WHY I WENT TO A 460 IN IT. IT WENT THAT WAY FOR PROBABLY THREE OR FOUR YEARS WHERE I JUST KEPT CHANGING IT.
(PAT)>> FOUR DECADES LATER BIG FOOT IS STILL A WORLD WIDE PHENOMENON, RUNNING SIX RACE TRUCKS AT A TIME,
THREE MORE JUST FOR DISPLAY, AND EVEN AN ALL ELECTRIC BIG FOOT. BUT THERE WILL NEVER BE ANOTHER ORIGINAL.
(MIKE)>> A TRUCK OF THIS STATURE DESERVES A LOT OF CREDIT. SOMETHING LIKE THE SMITHSONIAN, IS THAT SOMETHING COULD BE IN THE FUTURE?
(BOB)>> I WOULD WELCOME IT. WE'RE STILL USING IT RIGHT NOW. YEAH WE HOPE, IT'D BE GREAT TO DO.
(JIM)>> I THINK IT WOULD BE THE HIGHEST HONOR, I REALLY DO, BECAUSE IT IN FACT STARTED THE WHOLE INDUSTRY OF MONSTER TRUCKS, WHICH HAS BECOME A GREAT FORM OF RACING AND FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT. THE TRUCK RIGHT HERE, THERE WAS NO OTHER TRUCKS PERIOD BEFORE THIS TRUCK CAME ALONG AND THIS MAN DEVELOPED IT.
I MEAN IT'S TIME, IT DESERVES TO BE IN THE SMITHSONIAN.
(PAT)>> WELL NOW THAT WE'VE SEEN THE TRUCK, FOR
US AS ENGINE GUYS, WE WANT TO SEE THE IMPORTANT THING. LET'S TAKE A PEAK AT THE ENGINE AND SEE WHAT WE HAVE. ( )>> LET'S GET A LOT OF HANDS ON THIS BIG BOY.
(PAT)>> THIS IS A PIECE OF MACHINERY RIGHT HERE.
(MIKE)>> LOOK AT THIS THING. WELL THERE SHE IS THE ORIGINAL HUH?
(PAT)>> TELL US A LITTLE HISTORY. THIS IS AUTOMOTIVE ARCHEOLOGY FOR US CAUSE
THIS THING'S BEEN AROUND A WHILE.
(JIM)>> IT ACTUALLY STARTED OUT LIFE AS A BOAT MOTOR, AND CONVERTED TO WHERE WE COULD USE IT. 640 INCHES, I FORGET THE HORSEPOWER ON IT NOW, BUT HAD THE NOS ON IT AND EVERYTHING.
(MIKE)>> HOW LONG HAS IT BEEN SINCE IT'S RAN?
(JIM)>> PROBABLY 20 YEARS.
(MIKE)>> GOOD RUNNING ENGINE WHEN IT WAS PULLED?
(JIM)>> YES IT WAS. I THINK YOU'RE GONNA ENJOY THIS BECAUSE WHEN YOU DIVE INTO THIS THING, IT'S LIKE DIVING INTO THE PAST. YOU'RE GONNA SEE HOW ENGINE BUILDERS DID IT MANY YEARS AGO. I MEAN YOU GUYS ARE UP TO EVERYTHING RIGHT NOW. YOU KNOW ALL THE NEW TECHNOLOGIES AND THE METALLURGY AND EVERYTHING ELSE. WELL THESE GUYS HAD WHAT THEY HAD.
(PAT)>> SO IT'LL BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHAT'S IN THERE.
I'M VERY EXCITED TO GET INSIDE IT.
(MIKE)>> AND WE'VE GOT ONE OF THE BEST IN THE BUSINESS.
(JIM)>> AND I WANT TO SAY THIS TO. I THINK BOB YOU'RE KINDA SAYING THIS. IF YOU'VE GOT A GOOD IDEA, SOMETHING TO MAKE IT A LITTLE BIT BETTER. YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT OPPOSED TO MAKING A CHANGE HERE AND THERE, WE'RE REALLY NOT.
(PAT)>> WE'LL BE VERY KIND TO IT. LIKE MIKE SAID, WE'LL TREAT IT LIKE ITS OUR OWN. AND WE'RE JUST VERY FLATTERED AND HONORED TO BE PART OF GETTING ABLE TO WORK ON SOMETHING LIKE THIS.
(BOB)>> OKAY, BUT TALKING ABOUT THIS. WHY DON'T WE JUST QUIT TALKING AND GO TO WORK.
(MIKE)>> WE NEED TO ROLL IT TO OUR SHOP. SAY GOODBYE!
(ANNOUNCER)>> NEXT WE CRACK OPEN THIS ENGINE BUILDER'S TIME CAPSULE.
(MIKE)>> IN CASE YOU MISSED IT, THE ORIGINAL BIG FOOT ENGINE IS HERE AND READY FOR A COMPLETE REFRESH BEFORE IT AND THE ORIGINAL BIG FOOT TRUCK GO ON DISPLAY FOR GOOD. LUCKY FOR US THEY TRUSTED THE POWERNATION CREW TO FRESHEN UP AND UPDATE THIS AWESOME PIECE OF HISTORY. PAT AND I GET THE ENGINE, THE ORIGINAL ALLEN ROOT 640 CUBIC INCH BIG BLOCK FORD.
BEING ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS PIECE OF AUTOMOTIVE HISTORY IS WAY MORE THAN AN HONOR. IT WAS A DREAM JUST AS A YOUNG CHILD TO MAKE IT TO THE LOCAL STADIUM TO SEE THOSE BIG BLUE TRUCKS SOARING THROUGH THE AIR AND CRUSHING WHATEVER
GOT IN THEIR WAY. NOW TO BE A PART OF THE REFRESH OF THE ORIGINAL ONE THAT STARTED IT ALL MAKES THAT DREAM A LOT LARGER THAN LIFE. NOW BEFORE WE GET STARTED, JIM AND BOB NEED A FEW MORE MOMENTS WITH THE POWER PLANT THAT SET THE PERFORMANCE STANDARD ON 66 INCH TIRES.
(JIM)>> IT WAS ACTUALLY DESIGNED FOR A BOAT. I HAVE NEVER SEEN AN ENGINE LIKE THIS ONE. WHEN THIS THING ROLLED IN I GO, OH MY GOD!
WHAT THE HELL IS THIS? I HAVEN'T EVER SEEN AN ENGINE LIKE THIS. ALL ALUMINUM BLOCK, ALUMINUM HEADS, LOOK AT THE MANIFOLD, TALL DECK, YOU DON'T SEE STUFF LIKE THIS AROUND THE MIDWEST. WE JUST DIDN'T HAVE THAT, AND THE GUYS THAT WE RAN WITH DIDN'T HAVE THAT EITHER. THEY HAD BIG BLOCK CHEVYS OR SMALL BLOCK CHEVYS, OR FORDS. NOBODY HAD A SPECIALIZED ENGINE AT THAT TIME, NOBODY DID.
(BOB)>> IF WE GET IT BACK IN THE TRUCK IT'S
GONNA BE A KICK FOR ME. JUST TO SEE IN THERE NUMBER ONE, BUT JUST TO BE ABLE TO DRIVE IT AROUND IS GOING TO BE SPECTACULAR. I KNOW WE'VE HAD PEOPLE COME IN THE SHOP THAT WANTED TO BUY IT. IF IT WAS UP TO ME, IT'S NOT GONNA BE SOLD. THERE'S TIMES WE NEEDED MONEY WHERE WE MIGHT HAVE THOUGHT ABOUT IT.
BUT YOU KNOW, THAT'S BIG FOOT, THAT'S BIG FOOT ONE RIGHT THERE. IT'S GOT TO GO BACK IN BIG FOOT ONE. THAT'S THE ONLY PLACE IT CAN GO AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED.
(PAT)>> THIS IS A RARE OPPORTUNITY TO STEP BACK IN TIME AND SEE WHAT WAS STATE OF THE ART IN PERFORMANCE TECHNOLOGY BACK IN THE MID 1980'S. IT'S AUTOMOTIVE ARCHEOLOGY AT ITS FINEST. PLUS THIS COMBINATION HAS SOME UNIQUE PARTS SPECIFIC TO THE APPLICATION, LIKE THE PREDATOR CARBS, THE BDS BLOWER, THE MSD MAGNETO, AND AN EXTERNAL OIL PUMP, AND WE'LL COVER THOSE AS IT COMES APART.
BEFORE MONSTER TRUCKS SWAPPED OVER TO INJECTED ENGINES, THEY ALL RAN PREDATORS. THEY'RE KNOWN TO BE THE BEST OFF ROAD CARBURETOR AND HAVE GREAT CHARACTERISTICS LIKE THROTTLE RESPONSE, EXCELLENT LOW END TORQUE, AND A UNIQUE LOOK THAT SAYS PERFORMANCE. THE ONLY PROBLEM THAT AROSE FROM THEM WAS FROM
INEXPERIENCED TUNERS.
THESE THING HAVEN'T SEEN THE LIGHT OF DAY IN 20 YEARS. WE'RE GONNA BE AS CAREFUL WITH DISASSEMBLY AS WE ARE WITH REASSEMBLY OF THIS ENGINE. WE ALL KNOW IT HAS SERIOUS HISTORIC VALUE AND WE WANT TO PRESERVE EVERY BIT OF THAT. THAT IS NOT YOUR TYPICAL FOUR BARREL RIGHT THERE.
(MIKE)>> I'VE NEVER SEEN THE INSIDE OF ONE.
(PAT)>> THESE PLATES, THEY DON'T PARTICULARLY MOVE. IT'S A VARIABLE VENTURI TYPE DEAL, WHICH IT JUST
GOES ON AIR DEMAND. IT'S A UNIQUE SETUP. THERE'S NOT A LOT OF STUFF THAT FLOPS AROUND IN THERE, NOT A LOT OF MOVING PARTS IN IT.
(MIKE)>> VERY COOL.
(PAT)>> TO KEEP TRACK OF WHERE EVERYTHING GOES, WE'RE TAKING PHOTOS SO WE KNOW WHAT THE UNTOUCHED PIECE LOOKED LIKE.
(MIKE)>> ALRIGHT, GOT ALL THE LINKAGE.
(PAT)>> VERY GOOD, THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT. THIS WILL INSURE US THE ORIENTATION OF THE PLUMBING AND THE EXTERIOR OF THE ENGINE WILL GO BACK THE SAME WAY.
WE'RE ALSO BAGGING ALL THE PARTS AND PIECES FOR EACH COMPONENT. THIS KEEPS THE HARDWARE FROM GETTING MIXED UP AND COSTING US TIME LATER TRYING TO FIGURE
OUT WHERE THINGS GO. WHERE IN THE OLE ONE, TWO, THREE HERE.
THESE PREDATORS ARE EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO BOB, US TOO. THEY LOOK GREAT ON THE OUTSIDE AND ALL THE LINKAGE FUNCTIONS PERFECT, BUT WE WILL GIVE THE INTERNALS A REFRESH.
(MIKE)>> THING'S A LITTLE DRY ISN'T IT?
(PAT)>> YEP, SURE IS, 20 YEAR OLD DUST IN THERE TOO.
(MIKE)>> THAT'S COOL THEY'VE GOT THE CATCH SCREEN FOR ANY PARTS THAT COME OFF UP TOP CAN'T GET INTO THE BLOWER ROTORS. THE CARB BASE IS A TWO PIECE DESIGN AND WE HAVE TO REMOVE THE UPPER CARB PLATE FIRST TO GAIN ACCESS TO THE FASTENERS THAT SECURE THE BASE TO THE BLOWER. NOW THE CUSTOM NOS NITROUS ASSEMBLY CAN BE REMOVED. WE'RE NOT SURE WHAT THE HORSEPOWER LEVEL WAS ORIGINALLY. NOW THIS ENGINE WILL MAKE GOBS OF POWER BLOWN. SO AT THIS POINT THE NITROUS IS JUST FOR LOOKS.
(PAT)>> WITH THE BLOWER BELT REMOVED, WE'LL FEEL HOW WELL THE BLOWER TURNS OVER. IT FEELS GOOD BUT THERE ARE A COUPLE OF SPOTS ON THE ROTOR THAT CONCERN US, AND IT'S AN OBVIOUS SIGN OF REPAIR. THE BLOWER STUDS ARE ALUMINUM AND MADE TO BREAK AWAY DURING AN ENGINE FAILURE. IF THAT HAPPENS, THE RESTRAINT PLATE STRAPS KEEP THE BLOWER FROM LEAVING THE ENGINE BAY.
BDS HAS BEEN IN THE SUPERCHARGER BUSINESS FOR DECADES. THIS IS ONE OF THEIR 871 UNITS, WHICH IS STANDARD ON A MONSTER TRUCK, AND WE'LL BE SENDING THIS ONE BACK TO THEM FOR A COMPLETE REFRESH.
(ANNOUNCER)>> THE HISTORY LESSON CONTINUES COMING UP!
(MIKE)>> WE ARE BACK AND READY TO DIG DEEPER INTO OUR AUTOMOTIVE ARTIFACT.
NOW THIS IS THE ORIGINAL ALLEN ROOT 640 CUBIC INCH BIG BLOCK FORD THAT SET THE MONSTER TRUCK WORLD ON FIRE BACK IN THE '80'S. NOW WE'VE GOT IT DOWN TO LONG BLOCK FORM BUT IT'S NOT GONNA STAY THIS WAY FOR LONG.
(PAT)>> THE TALL DECK CAST ALUMINUM MANIFOLD WAS BUILT FOR PERFORMANCE, WITH NITROUS BUNGS FOR A WET KIT AND A BLOW OFF PLATE IN CASE OF A LEAN BACKFIRE. THIS THING WAS READY FOR SERIOUS POWER. NOW WE'RE STARTING TO SEE THE EFFECTS OF IT SITTING FOR 20 PLUS YEARS. THE CYLINDER HEAD WAS GROUND FOR PUSH ROD CLEARANCE.
THEN EPOXY WAS ADDED TO INSURE WATER WOULD NOT LEAK INTO THE ENGINE FROM THE THIN SPOTS. IT'S OBVIOUSLY SHOWING ITS AGE BY SEPARATING FROM THE ALUMINUM. ASIDE FROM THAT EVERYTHING ELSE LOOKS PRETTY GOOD UP HERE. NOW WE CAN REMOVE THE DRY ROTTED PLUG WIRES AND THE NGK SPARK PLUGS. FINALLY THE MSD MAGNETO CAN BE REMOVED.
(MIKE)>> A MAGNETO IS A COMBINATION OF A DISTRIBUTOR AND GENERATOR BUILT INTO ONE.
UNLIKE A REGULAR DISTRIBUTOR, A MAGNETO CREATES ITS OWN SPARK ENERGY
WITHOUT EXTERNAL VOLTAGE. THEY'RE USED IN ENGINES THAT REQUIRE HIGH SPARK ENERGY AND CAN PRODUCE UP TO 20,000 VOLTS. THIS ENGINE CAME TO USE WITH THE UNIQUE ALLEN ROOT VALVE COVERS THAT SPECIFICALLY MADE TO FIT HIS CYLINDER HEADS. NOW THE HEMI STYLE IS AN EYE CATCHER AND WE'RE LEAVING THEM UNTOUCHED. IT'S THEIR TIME TO BE REMOVED AND WE CAN'T WAIT TO SEE WHAT'S UNDERNEATH THEM.
(PAT)>> OH MAN, THAT'S COOL!
(MIKE)>> WONDERFUL!
(PAT)>> THE GASKET CAME OFF IN ONE PIECE. THIS IS A GASKET YOU CANNOT BUY AT AUTO PART STORES. UNIQUE TO THE ALLEN ROOT SETUP. THIS IS A FORD PART NUMBER BUT IT'S ALL ALLEN ROOT AND IT'S VERY UNIQUE, BUT IT ALL LOOKS GOOD.
(MIKE)>> THE VALVETRAIN IS SPECIFIC TO HIS DESIGN AS WELL. LET'S START WITH THE INTAKE SIDE. IT'S A SHAFT MOUNTED ROCKER THAT RIDES ON A NEEDLE BEARING FULCRUM AND HAS A LARGE DIAMETER ROLLER TIP TO HANDLE THE HIGH VALVE
SPRING PRESSURES. NOW THAT LARGE DIAMETER ROLLER ALSO HELPS DISTRIBUTE THE LOAD DUE TO THE LARGE AMOUNT OF SWEEP
ON THE LASH CAP BECAUSE OF THAT BIG CAM.
(PAT)>> WHAT THAT MEANS IS THERE ARE MORE NEEDLE BEARINGS RIDING ON THE ROLLER TIP'S AXLE TO DISTRIBUTE LOAD. THAT EQUATES TO LESS FRICTION AND GREATER DURABILITY. THE ROLLER TIP HAS A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF MOVEMENT ON TOP OF THE LASH CAP, AND IT'S UNDER AS MUCH AS 1,000 POUNDS OF SPRING PRESSURE. KEEPING THAT BIG WHEEL ROLLING ALSO KEEPS THE VALVE GUIDES FROM WEARING OUT BY NOT PULLING ON THE VALVE AND BENDING THE STEM INSIDE THE GUIDE.
(MIKE)>> THE STANDS ARE BILLET ALUMINUM AND MADE TO A CUSTOM HEIGHT, WHICH SETS THE VALVETRAIN GEOMETRY FOR THIS RATIO, WHICH IS ONE POINT
SEVENTWO TO ONE. THE ROCKERS ARE ALSO OFFSET TO ALLOW PORT PLACEMENT IN THE CYLINDER HEAD. THE EXHAUST SIDE USES THE SAME TYPE OF SHAFT MOUNT BUT THEY HAVE A SLIPPER FOOT ON THE VALVE TIP BECAUSE THERE WASN'T ENOUGH MATERIAL DOWN HERE
TO PUT A ROLLER AND RETAIN THE STRENGTH. NOW THE REASON THEY'RE SO LONG, IT'S THE ONLY WAY TO GET PROPER PUSH ROD ANGLE BECAUSE OF WHERE THE VALVE IS PLACED IN THE COMBUSTION CHAMBER. WE'RE GOING TO MARK EVERY PIECE OF THE VALVE TRAIN SO IT GOES BACK WHERE IT BELONGS DURING REASSEMBLY. TO DO THIS WE'LL USE OUR DREMEL, WHICH IS MUCH MORE GENTLE ON THE PARTS THAN HITTING THEM WITH A STAMP AND HAMMER.
(PAT)>> OH SHEEZ, THAT IS NOT SUPPOSED TO HAVE A
HALF INCH OF LASH AND ANY DISCOLORATION. SO WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO INVESTIGATE THAT FURTHER.
(MIKE)>> COME ON WITH IT.
(PAT)>> WE'RE GONNA REMOVE THE ROCKER ARMS IN PAIRS
AT EACH INDIVIDUAL CYLINDER WHEN THEY HAVE NO SPRING PRESSURE. THIS APPLIES TO EVERY ENGINE.
THEY COME APART IN A FAIRLY UNIQUE WAY. BY REMOVING THE ALLEN BOLT, THE SHAFT SLIDES OUT OF THE ASSEMBLY AND THE ROCKER ARM CAN BE TAKEN OFF. NOW THAT THE STAN BOLT IS ACCESSIBLE, WE CAN REMOVE IT FROM THE HEAD.
(MIKE)>> I JUST BENT THE END.
(PAT)>> OR SO WE THOUGHT. IT SEEMS 20 YEAR OLD LOCTITE IS A FORCE TO BE RECKONED WITH. I'M GONNA MESS SOMETHING UP RIGHT THERE. SO THE ARMS AND THE RODS, OUR PRIORITY, AGAIN KEEPING THEM ORGANIZED. WE ALSO FOUND THE CULPRIT OF ALL THAT EXCESSIVE VALVE LASH. THE NUMBER EIGHT INTAKE VALVE IS HUNG OPEN INDICATING IT SEIZED IN THE GUIDE.
(MIKE)>> WITH A LONG BREAKER BAR, WE CAN REMOVE THE MASSIVE NINESIXTEENTHS INCH HEAD STUD NUTS IN THE REVERSE ORDER THEY WERE ORIGINALLY TORQUED TO. WITH ONLY 10 IN THE HEAD, THEY HAVE TO BE LARGE TO KEEP THE HEAD CLAMPED DOWN TO THE BLOCK UNDER HIGH CYLINDER PRESSURE SITUATIONS. YEAH BUDDY, THERE IT WENT. WITH A FEW SWATHS OF THE RUBBER DEAD BLOW, THE 20
YEAR OLD SEAL HAS BEEN BROKEN AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEAD CAN BE REMOVED.
(PAT)>> AND IT LOOKS GOOD. THERE'S NO SIGNS OF BURNS, LEAKAGE, IT WAS DOING ITS JOB.
(MIKE)>> AND IT LOOKS LIKE THE PASSENGER SIDE DID ITS JOB TOO. NOT BAD FOR A 29 YEAR OLD AUTOMOTIVE ARTIFACT.
(MIKE)>> WE'RE BACK AND CONTINUING WITH
THE ORIGINAL BIG FOOT'S POWER PLANT. NOW JUST LIKE US, YOU'RE DISCOVERING RACING TECHNOLOGY FROM OVER 20 YEARS AGO.
NOW A LOT OF PARTS ON THIS ENGINE ARE OBSOLETE AND
JUST FLAT OUT UNABLE TO GET. SO WE'LL BE CALLING ON SOME OF THE TOP GUYS IN THE INDUSTRY WHO WOULD HAVE HAD THEIR HANDS ON ENGINES LIKE THIS BACK IN THE DAY TO HELP US REVIVE THIS PIECE OF HISTORY.
(PAT)>> THIS MILODON CRANK DRIVEN WATER PUMP IS ONE OF THOSE LONG LOST PARTS. IT'S A CAST ALUMINUM PIECE THAT WAS FOUND PERFORMANCE ENGINES IN CARS AND BOATS. NOW THE PUMP CAN BE PULLED OFF THE COUPLER AND IT CAN BE REMOVED. NEXT THE CRANK BOLT IS TAKEN OUT TO REMOVE THE COUPLER DRIVE. THESE COUNTER SUNK BOLTS RETAINING THE BLOWER PULLEY ARE BEING STUBBORN AND WON'T COME OUT. SO A LITTLE BACKYARD INGENUITY IS IN THE WORKS. THAT'S A PROPER TERM FOR A TORCH, WD 40, AND AN IMPACT. DIRECTLY HEATING THE HEAD OF THE COUNTER SUNK BOLT WILL HELP LOOSEN THE LOCTITE. DUE TO THE HEAT THE WD 40 IS DRAWN INTO THE VOID FOR
EXTRA LUBRICATION UNDER THE HEAD OF THE BOLT. AND THE SHOCK OF THE IMPACT IS DOING ITS JOB TO REMOVE THEM.
(MIKE)>> WEEE!
(PAT)>> SUCCESS!
(MIKE)>> WOW, THAT WAS A LITTLE NERVE RACKING.
(PAT)>> USING OUR MATCO BALANCER REMOVER WE CAN PULL OFF THE TIMING WHEEL, REMOVE THE SUPPLY LINE TO THE OIL PUMP, AND THE ORIGINAL AVIAID PUMP COMES OFF, FOLLOWED BY THE MAGNETO DRIVE HOUSING. NOW THE DOOLEY ENTERPRISES OIL PAN COMES OFF TO EXPOSE THE CYLINDER CASE. AND AT FIRST GLANCE WE'RE REALLY IMPRESSED.
(MIKE)>> BACK UP FRONT, THE BLOWER BELT TENSIONER AND BRACKET CAN GO, FOLLOWED BY THE TIMING COVER SPECIFIC TO THIS ENGINE DESIGN.
(PAT)>> OH YEAH, THAT'S COOL!
(MIKE)>> WHICH REVEALS THIS HIGHLY SPECIALIZED GEAR DRIVE. NOW TIMING GEARS ARE VERY ACCURATE BECAUSE THERE IS NO CHAIN TO STRETCH. FOR REFERENCE DURING REASSEMBLY WE'RE TURNING THE ENGINE TO TDC AND DOCUMENTING EXACTLY WHERE THE ALIGNMENT MARKS ARE. NOW THE ENTIRE GEAR DRIVE CAN BE REMOVED. THE CAM SHAFT IS THE NEXT ITEM TO BE DISTURBED. IT'S A SOLID ROLLER FROM HOWARD'S. NOW IT'LL BE UPGRADED TO A MORE MODERN LOBE DESIGN TO GIVE US MORE POWER AND TORQUE WHERE IT'S NEEDED IN THE POWER BAND. THE ROTATING ASSEMBLY IS THE FOUNDATION EVERYTHING IS BUILT UPON WE WERE LUCKY ENOUGH TO GET HANDED A FOLDER CONTAINING THE ORIGINAL BUILD SHEET, GIVING US THE SPECS AND MANUFACTURES OF ALL THE PARTS IN THIS ENGINE.
(PAT)>> THE RODS WERE BUILT BY CROWER, SO WE KNOW THEY'RE STRONG. THEY'RE A FORGED AND MACHINED IBEAM DESIGN. THE BIG BLOCK CHRYSLER ROD BEARING, WHICH IS SMALLER THAN A STOCK BIG BLOCK FORD TRANSLATES TO MORE STRENGTH AT THE BIG END AND LESS BEARING SPEED, WHICH REDUCES FRICTION. THE PISTONS ARE CUSTOM ARI'S FLAT TOPS WITH TWO SMALL VALVE RELIEFS. THESE GAVE THIS ENGINE A SEVEN POINT FIVENINE TO ONE COMPRESSION RATIO WITH AN 84cc COMBUSTION
CHAMBER IN THE HEADS. THE RING PACK IS .043 TOP, SIXTEENTH SECOND, AND THREESIXTEENTHS OIL RING. IF YOU'RE NEW TO THE ENGINE BUILDING SCENE, INSTEAD OF SPIRAL LOCKS OR ROUND WIRE LOCKS, THESE WRIST PINS ARE HELD IN PLACE BY A FREE FLOATING ALUMINUM BUTTON. THIS IS NOT COMMA PRACTICE ANYMORE AND WILL BE REPLACED. THE CUSTOM FORGED 4750 STROKE CRANK IS HELD IN PLACE BY EXTRA BEEFY SPLAYED FOUR BOLT MAIN CAPS. PLUS A BOLT HOLE IN THE CENTER FOR THIS, AN EASY AND SAFE WAY TO REMOVE THEM WITH A SLIDE HAMMER. THEY'RE MADE OF ALUMINUM AND HARD ANODIZED. THEY NOT ONLY KEEP THE CRANK IN PLACE, THEY ADD STRUCTURAL RIGIDITY TO THE BOTTOM OF THE BLOCK. HERE'S AN OOPS WE DISCOVERED. TOO LONG OF FLYWHEEL BOLTS WERE INSTALLED AT SOME POINT AND THEY SELF CLEARANCED ON THE BACK OF THIS CAP AND BLOCK. THE FIX AFTER THESE BOLTS WERE REMOVED REQUIRED HELICOILS TO THE CRANK.
(MIKE)>> THE CRANKSHAFT IS A UNIQUE PIECE FROM ARNOLD FORGINGS AND HAS A COOL STORY BEHIND IT. LARRY ARNOLD DESIGNED THE DYES AND HAD THE FORGINGS ALL DONE IN JAPAN. THE FORGING WEIGHED 156 POUNDS RAW AND COULD MAKE A BIG BLOCK CHEVY, BIG BLOCK FORD, AND A HEMI CRANK BETWEEN A THREE POINT SIX AND A FOURSEVEN-50 STROKE. THE QUALITY OF THIS FORGING WAS SO FAR SUPERIOR THAT THEIR COMPETITION FADED AWAY FROM PRO STOCK AND TOP FUEL, MAKING THIS THE BACKBONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL ENGINES IN ITS DAY.
(PAT)>> SO DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTION WHAT WE'RE DOING WITH THIS ENGINE?
NOPE, JIM'S ORDERS MADE IT PRETTY CLEAR.
(JIM)>> I REALLY WANT TO SEE IT RUN REALLY BAD.
I WANT TO SEE IT GET BACK IN THE TRUCK. I KNOW BOB CHANDLER WOULD LOVE TO HAVE THIS
THING IN THE TRUCK. AND I'D LIKE TO SEE THAT HAPPEN FOR HIM. TO GET THIS THING GOING AND GET IN THE TRUCK AND MAKE THE TRUCK COMPLETE LIKE IT WAS, LIKE IT SHOULD BE AGAIN. AND THIS IS THE PIECE RIGHT HERE THAT'S GONNA MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
(MIKE)>> IN THE WEEKS TO COME THAT'S WHAT WE'LL DO, SEE YOU THEN.
Show Full Transcript
(MIKE)>> THIS YEAR MARKS THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ORIGINAL MONSTER TRUCK. THERE CAN BE ONLY ONE BIG FOOT.
(PAT)>> AND IT'S UNHEARD OF THAT THE ICONIC MACHINE WOULD EVER PULL INTO YOUR DRIVEWAY IN NEED OF A LITTLE HELP. THAT'S RIGHT, THE TRUCK THAT STARTED IT ALL, BIG FOOT ONE, IS BEING DROPPED OFF BY NONE OTHER THAN THE GREAT BOB CHANDLER AND BUSINESS PARTNER AND LONG TIME DRIVER JIM KRAMER.
(MIKE)>> THAT THING LOOKS AWESOME.
(RYAN)>> I WANT TO SEE IT WITH THOSE BIG TIRES ON THERE.
(MIKE)>> SHE DOESN'T RACE ANYMORE, BUT OUR TEAM IS
GONNA GET THE CHANCE TO FRESHEN HER UP, CLEAN UP THE CHASSIS, AND DO SOME MUCH NEEDED MAINTENANCE. AND MORE IMPORTANTLY FOR US, WE GET TO REBUILD THIS MASSIVE BLOWN BIG BLOCK FORD THAT WAS STATE OF THE ART BACK IN THE DAY.
(PAT)>> FIRST THINGS FIRST, GET RID OF THESE SKINNY TIRES.
(MIKE)>> ALRIGHT BOB, WE HAVE BIG FOOT ONE HERE, THE ORIGINAL TRUCK. IT'S RETIRED FROM RACING BUT STILL DOES ALL THE PARADES.
BUT THE RUMOR IS THIS WAS YOUR ORIGINAL TRUCK BACK IN '74, PERSONAL VEHICLE.
(BOB)>> YES, I ORDERED IT FROM THE DEALERSHIP. AND OF COURSE BACK THEN THEY DIDN'T HAVE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLES. SO IT TOOK SIX, SEVEN MONTHS TO GET IT. AND MY WIFE AND I USED TAKE IT, WE'D GO CAMPING WITH IT. I PUT A CAMPER ON THE BACK OF IT AND TAKE DOWN THE RIVER. BUT IT WENT FROM THE DEALERSHIP TO MY HOUSE AND THE TIRES GOT CHANGED IMMEDIATELY. THAT WAS THE FIRST THING THAT GOT CHANGED. IT ENDED UP BEING A VICIOUS CYCLE CAUSE I'D PUT BIG TIRES ON IT AND THEY WEREN'T BIG ENOUGH FOR ME, SO I'D PUT BIGGER TIRES ON IT. THEN I'D START BREAKING AXLES, SO YOU PUT BIGGER AXLES IN IT. AND THEN YOU RUN OUT OF POWER, SO YOU'VE GOT TO PUT A BIGGER ENGINE IN IT.
THAT'S WHY I WENT TO A 460 IN IT. IT WENT THAT WAY FOR PROBABLY THREE OR FOUR YEARS WHERE I JUST KEPT CHANGING IT.
(PAT)>> FOUR DECADES LATER BIG FOOT IS STILL A WORLD WIDE PHENOMENON, RUNNING SIX RACE TRUCKS AT A TIME,
THREE MORE JUST FOR DISPLAY, AND EVEN AN ALL ELECTRIC BIG FOOT. BUT THERE WILL NEVER BE ANOTHER ORIGINAL.
(MIKE)>> A TRUCK OF THIS STATURE DESERVES A LOT OF CREDIT. SOMETHING LIKE THE SMITHSONIAN, IS THAT SOMETHING COULD BE IN THE FUTURE?
(BOB)>> I WOULD WELCOME IT. WE'RE STILL USING IT RIGHT NOW. YEAH WE HOPE, IT'D BE GREAT TO DO.
(JIM)>> I THINK IT WOULD BE THE HIGHEST HONOR, I REALLY DO, BECAUSE IT IN FACT STARTED THE WHOLE INDUSTRY OF MONSTER TRUCKS, WHICH HAS BECOME A GREAT FORM OF RACING AND FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT. THE TRUCK RIGHT HERE, THERE WAS NO OTHER TRUCKS PERIOD BEFORE THIS TRUCK CAME ALONG AND THIS MAN DEVELOPED IT.
I MEAN IT'S TIME, IT DESERVES TO BE IN THE SMITHSONIAN.
(PAT)>> WELL NOW THAT WE'VE SEEN THE TRUCK, FOR
US AS ENGINE GUYS, WE WANT TO SEE THE IMPORTANT THING. LET'S TAKE A PEAK AT THE ENGINE AND SEE WHAT WE HAVE. ( )>> LET'S GET A LOT OF HANDS ON THIS BIG BOY.
(PAT)>> THIS IS A PIECE OF MACHINERY RIGHT HERE.
(MIKE)>> LOOK AT THIS THING. WELL THERE SHE IS THE ORIGINAL HUH?
(PAT)>> TELL US A LITTLE HISTORY. THIS IS AUTOMOTIVE ARCHEOLOGY FOR US CAUSE
THIS THING'S BEEN AROUND A WHILE.
(JIM)>> IT ACTUALLY STARTED OUT LIFE AS A BOAT MOTOR, AND CONVERTED TO WHERE WE COULD USE IT. 640 INCHES, I FORGET THE HORSEPOWER ON IT NOW, BUT HAD THE NOS ON IT AND EVERYTHING.
(MIKE)>> HOW LONG HAS IT BEEN SINCE IT'S RAN?
(JIM)>> PROBABLY 20 YEARS.
(MIKE)>> GOOD RUNNING ENGINE WHEN IT WAS PULLED?
(JIM)>> YES IT WAS. I THINK YOU'RE GONNA ENJOY THIS BECAUSE WHEN YOU DIVE INTO THIS THING, IT'S LIKE DIVING INTO THE PAST. YOU'RE GONNA SEE HOW ENGINE BUILDERS DID IT MANY YEARS AGO. I MEAN YOU GUYS ARE UP TO EVERYTHING RIGHT NOW. YOU KNOW ALL THE NEW TECHNOLOGIES AND THE METALLURGY AND EVERYTHING ELSE. WELL THESE GUYS HAD WHAT THEY HAD.
(PAT)>> SO IT'LL BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHAT'S IN THERE.
I'M VERY EXCITED TO GET INSIDE IT.
(MIKE)>> AND WE'VE GOT ONE OF THE BEST IN THE BUSINESS.
(JIM)>> AND I WANT TO SAY THIS TO. I THINK BOB YOU'RE KINDA SAYING THIS. IF YOU'VE GOT A GOOD IDEA, SOMETHING TO MAKE IT A LITTLE BIT BETTER. YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT OPPOSED TO MAKING A CHANGE HERE AND THERE, WE'RE REALLY NOT.
(PAT)>> WE'LL BE VERY KIND TO IT. LIKE MIKE SAID, WE'LL TREAT IT LIKE ITS OUR OWN. AND WE'RE JUST VERY FLATTERED AND HONORED TO BE PART OF GETTING ABLE TO WORK ON SOMETHING LIKE THIS.
(BOB)>> OKAY, BUT TALKING ABOUT THIS. WHY DON'T WE JUST QUIT TALKING AND GO TO WORK.
(MIKE)>> WE NEED TO ROLL IT TO OUR SHOP. SAY GOODBYE!
(ANNOUNCER)>> NEXT WE CRACK OPEN THIS ENGINE BUILDER'S TIME CAPSULE.
(MIKE)>> IN CASE YOU MISSED IT, THE ORIGINAL BIG FOOT ENGINE IS HERE AND READY FOR A COMPLETE REFRESH BEFORE IT AND THE ORIGINAL BIG FOOT TRUCK GO ON DISPLAY FOR GOOD. LUCKY FOR US THEY TRUSTED THE POWERNATION CREW TO FRESHEN UP AND UPDATE THIS AWESOME PIECE OF HISTORY. PAT AND I GET THE ENGINE, THE ORIGINAL ALLEN ROOT 640 CUBIC INCH BIG BLOCK FORD.
BEING ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS PIECE OF AUTOMOTIVE HISTORY IS WAY MORE THAN AN HONOR. IT WAS A DREAM JUST AS A YOUNG CHILD TO MAKE IT TO THE LOCAL STADIUM TO SEE THOSE BIG BLUE TRUCKS SOARING THROUGH THE AIR AND CRUSHING WHATEVER
GOT IN THEIR WAY. NOW TO BE A PART OF THE REFRESH OF THE ORIGINAL ONE THAT STARTED IT ALL MAKES THAT DREAM A LOT LARGER THAN LIFE. NOW BEFORE WE GET STARTED, JIM AND BOB NEED A FEW MORE MOMENTS WITH THE POWER PLANT THAT SET THE PERFORMANCE STANDARD ON 66 INCH TIRES.
(JIM)>> IT WAS ACTUALLY DESIGNED FOR A BOAT. I HAVE NEVER SEEN AN ENGINE LIKE THIS ONE. WHEN THIS THING ROLLED IN I GO, OH MY GOD!
WHAT THE HELL IS THIS? I HAVEN'T EVER SEEN AN ENGINE LIKE THIS. ALL ALUMINUM BLOCK, ALUMINUM HEADS, LOOK AT THE MANIFOLD, TALL DECK, YOU DON'T SEE STUFF LIKE THIS AROUND THE MIDWEST. WE JUST DIDN'T HAVE THAT, AND THE GUYS THAT WE RAN WITH DIDN'T HAVE THAT EITHER. THEY HAD BIG BLOCK CHEVYS OR SMALL BLOCK CHEVYS, OR FORDS. NOBODY HAD A SPECIALIZED ENGINE AT THAT TIME, NOBODY DID.
(BOB)>> IF WE GET IT BACK IN THE TRUCK IT'S
GONNA BE A KICK FOR ME. JUST TO SEE IN THERE NUMBER ONE, BUT JUST TO BE ABLE TO DRIVE IT AROUND IS GOING TO BE SPECTACULAR. I KNOW WE'VE HAD PEOPLE COME IN THE SHOP THAT WANTED TO BUY IT. IF IT WAS UP TO ME, IT'S NOT GONNA BE SOLD. THERE'S TIMES WE NEEDED MONEY WHERE WE MIGHT HAVE THOUGHT ABOUT IT.
BUT YOU KNOW, THAT'S BIG FOOT, THAT'S BIG FOOT ONE RIGHT THERE. IT'S GOT TO GO BACK IN BIG FOOT ONE. THAT'S THE ONLY PLACE IT CAN GO AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED.
(PAT)>> THIS IS A RARE OPPORTUNITY TO STEP BACK IN TIME AND SEE WHAT WAS STATE OF THE ART IN PERFORMANCE TECHNOLOGY BACK IN THE MID 1980'S. IT'S AUTOMOTIVE ARCHEOLOGY AT ITS FINEST. PLUS THIS COMBINATION HAS SOME UNIQUE PARTS SPECIFIC TO THE APPLICATION, LIKE THE PREDATOR CARBS, THE BDS BLOWER, THE MSD MAGNETO, AND AN EXTERNAL OIL PUMP, AND WE'LL COVER THOSE AS IT COMES APART.
BEFORE MONSTER TRUCKS SWAPPED OVER TO INJECTED ENGINES, THEY ALL RAN PREDATORS. THEY'RE KNOWN TO BE THE BEST OFF ROAD CARBURETOR AND HAVE GREAT CHARACTERISTICS LIKE THROTTLE RESPONSE, EXCELLENT LOW END TORQUE, AND A UNIQUE LOOK THAT SAYS PERFORMANCE. THE ONLY PROBLEM THAT AROSE FROM THEM WAS FROM
INEXPERIENCED TUNERS.
THESE THING HAVEN'T SEEN THE LIGHT OF DAY IN 20 YEARS. WE'RE GONNA BE AS CAREFUL WITH DISASSEMBLY AS WE ARE WITH REASSEMBLY OF THIS ENGINE. WE ALL KNOW IT HAS SERIOUS HISTORIC VALUE AND WE WANT TO PRESERVE EVERY BIT OF THAT. THAT IS NOT YOUR TYPICAL FOUR BARREL RIGHT THERE.
(MIKE)>> I'VE NEVER SEEN THE INSIDE OF ONE.
(PAT)>> THESE PLATES, THEY DON'T PARTICULARLY MOVE. IT'S A VARIABLE VENTURI TYPE DEAL, WHICH IT JUST
GOES ON AIR DEMAND. IT'S A UNIQUE SETUP. THERE'S NOT A LOT OF STUFF THAT FLOPS AROUND IN THERE, NOT A LOT OF MOVING PARTS IN IT.
(MIKE)>> VERY COOL.
(PAT)>> TO KEEP TRACK OF WHERE EVERYTHING GOES, WE'RE TAKING PHOTOS SO WE KNOW WHAT THE UNTOUCHED PIECE LOOKED LIKE.
(MIKE)>> ALRIGHT, GOT ALL THE LINKAGE.
(PAT)>> VERY GOOD, THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT. THIS WILL INSURE US THE ORIENTATION OF THE PLUMBING AND THE EXTERIOR OF THE ENGINE WILL GO BACK THE SAME WAY.
WE'RE ALSO BAGGING ALL THE PARTS AND PIECES FOR EACH COMPONENT. THIS KEEPS THE HARDWARE FROM GETTING MIXED UP AND COSTING US TIME LATER TRYING TO FIGURE
OUT WHERE THINGS GO. WHERE IN THE OLE ONE, TWO, THREE HERE.
THESE PREDATORS ARE EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO BOB, US TOO. THEY LOOK GREAT ON THE OUTSIDE AND ALL THE LINKAGE FUNCTIONS PERFECT, BUT WE WILL GIVE THE INTERNALS A REFRESH.
(MIKE)>> THING'S A LITTLE DRY ISN'T IT?
(PAT)>> YEP, SURE IS, 20 YEAR OLD DUST IN THERE TOO.
(MIKE)>> THAT'S COOL THEY'VE GOT THE CATCH SCREEN FOR ANY PARTS THAT COME OFF UP TOP CAN'T GET INTO THE BLOWER ROTORS. THE CARB BASE IS A TWO PIECE DESIGN AND WE HAVE TO REMOVE THE UPPER CARB PLATE FIRST TO GAIN ACCESS TO THE FASTENERS THAT SECURE THE BASE TO THE BLOWER. NOW THE CUSTOM NOS NITROUS ASSEMBLY CAN BE REMOVED. WE'RE NOT SURE WHAT THE HORSEPOWER LEVEL WAS ORIGINALLY. NOW THIS ENGINE WILL MAKE GOBS OF POWER BLOWN. SO AT THIS POINT THE NITROUS IS JUST FOR LOOKS.
(PAT)>> WITH THE BLOWER BELT REMOVED, WE'LL FEEL HOW WELL THE BLOWER TURNS OVER. IT FEELS GOOD BUT THERE ARE A COUPLE OF SPOTS ON THE ROTOR THAT CONCERN US, AND IT'S AN OBVIOUS SIGN OF REPAIR. THE BLOWER STUDS ARE ALUMINUM AND MADE TO BREAK AWAY DURING AN ENGINE FAILURE. IF THAT HAPPENS, THE RESTRAINT PLATE STRAPS KEEP THE BLOWER FROM LEAVING THE ENGINE BAY.
BDS HAS BEEN IN THE SUPERCHARGER BUSINESS FOR DECADES. THIS IS ONE OF THEIR 871 UNITS, WHICH IS STANDARD ON A MONSTER TRUCK, AND WE'LL BE SENDING THIS ONE BACK TO THEM FOR A COMPLETE REFRESH.
(ANNOUNCER)>> THE HISTORY LESSON CONTINUES COMING UP!
(MIKE)>> WE ARE BACK AND READY TO DIG DEEPER INTO OUR AUTOMOTIVE ARTIFACT.
NOW THIS IS THE ORIGINAL ALLEN ROOT 640 CUBIC INCH BIG BLOCK FORD THAT SET THE MONSTER TRUCK WORLD ON FIRE BACK IN THE '80'S. NOW WE'VE GOT IT DOWN TO LONG BLOCK FORM BUT IT'S NOT GONNA STAY THIS WAY FOR LONG.
(PAT)>> THE TALL DECK CAST ALUMINUM MANIFOLD WAS BUILT FOR PERFORMANCE, WITH NITROUS BUNGS FOR A WET KIT AND A BLOW OFF PLATE IN CASE OF A LEAN BACKFIRE. THIS THING WAS READY FOR SERIOUS POWER. NOW WE'RE STARTING TO SEE THE EFFECTS OF IT SITTING FOR 20 PLUS YEARS. THE CYLINDER HEAD WAS GROUND FOR PUSH ROD CLEARANCE.
THEN EPOXY WAS ADDED TO INSURE WATER WOULD NOT LEAK INTO THE ENGINE FROM THE THIN SPOTS. IT'S OBVIOUSLY SHOWING ITS AGE BY SEPARATING FROM THE ALUMINUM. ASIDE FROM THAT EVERYTHING ELSE LOOKS PRETTY GOOD UP HERE. NOW WE CAN REMOVE THE DRY ROTTED PLUG WIRES AND THE NGK SPARK PLUGS. FINALLY THE MSD MAGNETO CAN BE REMOVED.
(MIKE)>> A MAGNETO IS A COMBINATION OF A DISTRIBUTOR AND GENERATOR BUILT INTO ONE.
UNLIKE A REGULAR DISTRIBUTOR, A MAGNETO CREATES ITS OWN SPARK ENERGY
WITHOUT EXTERNAL VOLTAGE. THEY'RE USED IN ENGINES THAT REQUIRE HIGH SPARK ENERGY AND CAN PRODUCE UP TO 20,000 VOLTS. THIS ENGINE CAME TO USE WITH THE UNIQUE ALLEN ROOT VALVE COVERS THAT SPECIFICALLY MADE TO FIT HIS CYLINDER HEADS. NOW THE HEMI STYLE IS AN EYE CATCHER AND WE'RE LEAVING THEM UNTOUCHED. IT'S THEIR TIME TO BE REMOVED AND WE CAN'T WAIT TO SEE WHAT'S UNDERNEATH THEM.
(PAT)>> OH MAN, THAT'S COOL!
(MIKE)>> WONDERFUL!
(PAT)>> THE GASKET CAME OFF IN ONE PIECE. THIS IS A GASKET YOU CANNOT BUY AT AUTO PART STORES. UNIQUE TO THE ALLEN ROOT SETUP. THIS IS A FORD PART NUMBER BUT IT'S ALL ALLEN ROOT AND IT'S VERY UNIQUE, BUT IT ALL LOOKS GOOD.
(MIKE)>> THE VALVETRAIN IS SPECIFIC TO HIS DESIGN AS WELL. LET'S START WITH THE INTAKE SIDE. IT'S A SHAFT MOUNTED ROCKER THAT RIDES ON A NEEDLE BEARING FULCRUM AND HAS A LARGE DIAMETER ROLLER TIP TO HANDLE THE HIGH VALVE
SPRING PRESSURES. NOW THAT LARGE DIAMETER ROLLER ALSO HELPS DISTRIBUTE THE LOAD DUE TO THE LARGE AMOUNT OF SWEEP
ON THE LASH CAP BECAUSE OF THAT BIG CAM.
(PAT)>> WHAT THAT MEANS IS THERE ARE MORE NEEDLE BEARINGS RIDING ON THE ROLLER TIP'S AXLE TO DISTRIBUTE LOAD. THAT EQUATES TO LESS FRICTION AND GREATER DURABILITY. THE ROLLER TIP HAS A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF MOVEMENT ON TOP OF THE LASH CAP, AND IT'S UNDER AS MUCH AS 1,000 POUNDS OF SPRING PRESSURE. KEEPING THAT BIG WHEEL ROLLING ALSO KEEPS THE VALVE GUIDES FROM WEARING OUT BY NOT PULLING ON THE VALVE AND BENDING THE STEM INSIDE THE GUIDE.
(MIKE)>> THE STANDS ARE BILLET ALUMINUM AND MADE TO A CUSTOM HEIGHT, WHICH SETS THE VALVETRAIN GEOMETRY FOR THIS RATIO, WHICH IS ONE POINT
SEVENTWO TO ONE. THE ROCKERS ARE ALSO OFFSET TO ALLOW PORT PLACEMENT IN THE CYLINDER HEAD. THE EXHAUST SIDE USES THE SAME TYPE OF SHAFT MOUNT BUT THEY HAVE A SLIPPER FOOT ON THE VALVE TIP BECAUSE THERE WASN'T ENOUGH MATERIAL DOWN HERE
TO PUT A ROLLER AND RETAIN THE STRENGTH. NOW THE REASON THEY'RE SO LONG, IT'S THE ONLY WAY TO GET PROPER PUSH ROD ANGLE BECAUSE OF WHERE THE VALVE IS PLACED IN THE COMBUSTION CHAMBER. WE'RE GOING TO MARK EVERY PIECE OF THE VALVE TRAIN SO IT GOES BACK WHERE IT BELONGS DURING REASSEMBLY. TO DO THIS WE'LL USE OUR DREMEL, WHICH IS MUCH MORE GENTLE ON THE PARTS THAN HITTING THEM WITH A STAMP AND HAMMER.
(PAT)>> OH SHEEZ, THAT IS NOT SUPPOSED TO HAVE A
HALF INCH OF LASH AND ANY DISCOLORATION. SO WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO INVESTIGATE THAT FURTHER.
(MIKE)>> COME ON WITH IT.
(PAT)>> WE'RE GONNA REMOVE THE ROCKER ARMS IN PAIRS
AT EACH INDIVIDUAL CYLINDER WHEN THEY HAVE NO SPRING PRESSURE. THIS APPLIES TO EVERY ENGINE.
THEY COME APART IN A FAIRLY UNIQUE WAY. BY REMOVING THE ALLEN BOLT, THE SHAFT SLIDES OUT OF THE ASSEMBLY AND THE ROCKER ARM CAN BE TAKEN OFF. NOW THAT THE STAN BOLT IS ACCESSIBLE, WE CAN REMOVE IT FROM THE HEAD.
(MIKE)>> I JUST BENT THE END.
(PAT)>> OR SO WE THOUGHT. IT SEEMS 20 YEAR OLD LOCTITE IS A FORCE TO BE RECKONED WITH. I'M GONNA MESS SOMETHING UP RIGHT THERE. SO THE ARMS AND THE RODS, OUR PRIORITY, AGAIN KEEPING THEM ORGANIZED. WE ALSO FOUND THE CULPRIT OF ALL THAT EXCESSIVE VALVE LASH. THE NUMBER EIGHT INTAKE VALVE IS HUNG OPEN INDICATING IT SEIZED IN THE GUIDE.
(MIKE)>> WITH A LONG BREAKER BAR, WE CAN REMOVE THE MASSIVE NINESIXTEENTHS INCH HEAD STUD NUTS IN THE REVERSE ORDER THEY WERE ORIGINALLY TORQUED TO. WITH ONLY 10 IN THE HEAD, THEY HAVE TO BE LARGE TO KEEP THE HEAD CLAMPED DOWN TO THE BLOCK UNDER HIGH CYLINDER PRESSURE SITUATIONS. YEAH BUDDY, THERE IT WENT. WITH A FEW SWATHS OF THE RUBBER DEAD BLOW, THE 20
YEAR OLD SEAL HAS BEEN BROKEN AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEAD CAN BE REMOVED.
(PAT)>> AND IT LOOKS GOOD. THERE'S NO SIGNS OF BURNS, LEAKAGE, IT WAS DOING ITS JOB.
(MIKE)>> AND IT LOOKS LIKE THE PASSENGER SIDE DID ITS JOB TOO. NOT BAD FOR A 29 YEAR OLD AUTOMOTIVE ARTIFACT.
(MIKE)>> WE'RE BACK AND CONTINUING WITH
THE ORIGINAL BIG FOOT'S POWER PLANT. NOW JUST LIKE US, YOU'RE DISCOVERING RACING TECHNOLOGY FROM OVER 20 YEARS AGO.
NOW A LOT OF PARTS ON THIS ENGINE ARE OBSOLETE AND
JUST FLAT OUT UNABLE TO GET. SO WE'LL BE CALLING ON SOME OF THE TOP GUYS IN THE INDUSTRY WHO WOULD HAVE HAD THEIR HANDS ON ENGINES LIKE THIS BACK IN THE DAY TO HELP US REVIVE THIS PIECE OF HISTORY.
(PAT)>> THIS MILODON CRANK DRIVEN WATER PUMP IS ONE OF THOSE LONG LOST PARTS. IT'S A CAST ALUMINUM PIECE THAT WAS FOUND PERFORMANCE ENGINES IN CARS AND BOATS. NOW THE PUMP CAN BE PULLED OFF THE COUPLER AND IT CAN BE REMOVED. NEXT THE CRANK BOLT IS TAKEN OUT TO REMOVE THE COUPLER DRIVE. THESE COUNTER SUNK BOLTS RETAINING THE BLOWER PULLEY ARE BEING STUBBORN AND WON'T COME OUT. SO A LITTLE BACKYARD INGENUITY IS IN THE WORKS. THAT'S A PROPER TERM FOR A TORCH, WD 40, AND AN IMPACT. DIRECTLY HEATING THE HEAD OF THE COUNTER SUNK BOLT WILL HELP LOOSEN THE LOCTITE. DUE TO THE HEAT THE WD 40 IS DRAWN INTO THE VOID FOR
EXTRA LUBRICATION UNDER THE HEAD OF THE BOLT. AND THE SHOCK OF THE IMPACT IS DOING ITS JOB TO REMOVE THEM.
(MIKE)>> WEEE!
(PAT)>> SUCCESS!
(MIKE)>> WOW, THAT WAS A LITTLE NERVE RACKING.
(PAT)>> USING OUR MATCO BALANCER REMOVER WE CAN PULL OFF THE TIMING WHEEL, REMOVE THE SUPPLY LINE TO THE OIL PUMP, AND THE ORIGINAL AVIAID PUMP COMES OFF, FOLLOWED BY THE MAGNETO DRIVE HOUSING. NOW THE DOOLEY ENTERPRISES OIL PAN COMES OFF TO EXPOSE THE CYLINDER CASE. AND AT FIRST GLANCE WE'RE REALLY IMPRESSED.
(MIKE)>> BACK UP FRONT, THE BLOWER BELT TENSIONER AND BRACKET CAN GO, FOLLOWED BY THE TIMING COVER SPECIFIC TO THIS ENGINE DESIGN.
(PAT)>> OH YEAH, THAT'S COOL!
(MIKE)>> WHICH REVEALS THIS HIGHLY SPECIALIZED GEAR DRIVE. NOW TIMING GEARS ARE VERY ACCURATE BECAUSE THERE IS NO CHAIN TO STRETCH. FOR REFERENCE DURING REASSEMBLY WE'RE TURNING THE ENGINE TO TDC AND DOCUMENTING EXACTLY WHERE THE ALIGNMENT MARKS ARE. NOW THE ENTIRE GEAR DRIVE CAN BE REMOVED. THE CAM SHAFT IS THE NEXT ITEM TO BE DISTURBED. IT'S A SOLID ROLLER FROM HOWARD'S. NOW IT'LL BE UPGRADED TO A MORE MODERN LOBE DESIGN TO GIVE US MORE POWER AND TORQUE WHERE IT'S NEEDED IN THE POWER BAND. THE ROTATING ASSEMBLY IS THE FOUNDATION EVERYTHING IS BUILT UPON WE WERE LUCKY ENOUGH TO GET HANDED A FOLDER CONTAINING THE ORIGINAL BUILD SHEET, GIVING US THE SPECS AND MANUFACTURES OF ALL THE PARTS IN THIS ENGINE.
(PAT)>> THE RODS WERE BUILT BY CROWER, SO WE KNOW THEY'RE STRONG. THEY'RE A FORGED AND MACHINED IBEAM DESIGN. THE BIG BLOCK CHRYSLER ROD BEARING, WHICH IS SMALLER THAN A STOCK BIG BLOCK FORD TRANSLATES TO MORE STRENGTH AT THE BIG END AND LESS BEARING SPEED, WHICH REDUCES FRICTION. THE PISTONS ARE CUSTOM ARI'S FLAT TOPS WITH TWO SMALL VALVE RELIEFS. THESE GAVE THIS ENGINE A SEVEN POINT FIVENINE TO ONE COMPRESSION RATIO WITH AN 84cc COMBUSTION
CHAMBER IN THE HEADS. THE RING PACK IS .043 TOP, SIXTEENTH SECOND, AND THREESIXTEENTHS OIL RING. IF YOU'RE NEW TO THE ENGINE BUILDING SCENE, INSTEAD OF SPIRAL LOCKS OR ROUND WIRE LOCKS, THESE WRIST PINS ARE HELD IN PLACE BY A FREE FLOATING ALUMINUM BUTTON. THIS IS NOT COMMA PRACTICE ANYMORE AND WILL BE REPLACED. THE CUSTOM FORGED 4750 STROKE CRANK IS HELD IN PLACE BY EXTRA BEEFY SPLAYED FOUR BOLT MAIN CAPS. PLUS A BOLT HOLE IN THE CENTER FOR THIS, AN EASY AND SAFE WAY TO REMOVE THEM WITH A SLIDE HAMMER. THEY'RE MADE OF ALUMINUM AND HARD ANODIZED. THEY NOT ONLY KEEP THE CRANK IN PLACE, THEY ADD STRUCTURAL RIGIDITY TO THE BOTTOM OF THE BLOCK. HERE'S AN OOPS WE DISCOVERED. TOO LONG OF FLYWHEEL BOLTS WERE INSTALLED AT SOME POINT AND THEY SELF CLEARANCED ON THE BACK OF THIS CAP AND BLOCK. THE FIX AFTER THESE BOLTS WERE REMOVED REQUIRED HELICOILS TO THE CRANK.
(MIKE)>> THE CRANKSHAFT IS A UNIQUE PIECE FROM ARNOLD FORGINGS AND HAS A COOL STORY BEHIND IT. LARRY ARNOLD DESIGNED THE DYES AND HAD THE FORGINGS ALL DONE IN JAPAN. THE FORGING WEIGHED 156 POUNDS RAW AND COULD MAKE A BIG BLOCK CHEVY, BIG BLOCK FORD, AND A HEMI CRANK BETWEEN A THREE POINT SIX AND A FOURSEVEN-50 STROKE. THE QUALITY OF THIS FORGING WAS SO FAR SUPERIOR THAT THEIR COMPETITION FADED AWAY FROM PRO STOCK AND TOP FUEL, MAKING THIS THE BACKBONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL ENGINES IN ITS DAY.
(PAT)>> SO DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTION WHAT WE'RE DOING WITH THIS ENGINE?
NOPE, JIM'S ORDERS MADE IT PRETTY CLEAR.
(JIM)>> I REALLY WANT TO SEE IT RUN REALLY BAD.
I WANT TO SEE IT GET BACK IN THE TRUCK. I KNOW BOB CHANDLER WOULD LOVE TO HAVE THIS
THING IN THE TRUCK. AND I'D LIKE TO SEE THAT HAPPEN FOR HIM. TO GET THIS THING GOING AND GET IN THE TRUCK AND MAKE THE TRUCK COMPLETE LIKE IT WAS, LIKE IT SHOULD BE AGAIN. AND THIS IS THE PIECE RIGHT HERE THAT'S GONNA MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
(MIKE)>> IN THE WEEKS TO COME THAT'S WHAT WE'LL DO, SEE YOU THEN.