Rockers are in

Took a drive down to Valley Balancing to check out the Rockers. Very Nice!!!

Now comes the fun part seeing if they fit!

We had to send the prototypes back 3 times to correct some issues. The final product was awesome

Installed on the heads

What a thing of beauty!

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Update on progress

Hi all,

Well I have a new addition to my parts list. I just received my R & D IDI Intake from Justin!! Nice

Total Seal Rings are in YEA... BUILD TIME

Hi all just a quick update. Steve from Valley Balancing called and said my Rings are back!! YEA!! ran down and took a look at them. Justin from R&D IDI Performance just sent me an email saying my BAD ASS intake is on the way. If you have not seen Justin's Stuff.. Check it out at  http://idiperformance.com/intakes.php


More to come!!

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Work in Progress

It’s been a while for my blog and I have a lot to catch up on. The block is at Valley Balancing  & Auto Machine shop in Ceres, CA.

First I want to thank a new Friend Jerald also known as 88 Ford on Oilburners who has helped me out over the last few months on the design ideas and parts I should be looking at. Also thank you for Your Service In The US NAVY!! You have been a GREAT wealth of Information and friend to talk with!!

Most of all THANK YOU, Craig Montague for all the help and our friendship. You know your shit man!

Thanks to Steve from Valley Balancing & Auto Machine in Ceres, CA. for talking the time to listen, ask questions and actually become a part of the engine building process.  From the very beginning Steve took the time to understand what my goals are and has been very open minded to my ideas. Without a doubt this machine shop is filled with Quality Machinist that gets involved with the build. Thank you all at Valley Balancing & Auto Machining.

Big Shout out to Justin Anderson at R&D IDI Proformance! We have gone a long way together on my journey and created a great friendship! Keep up the AWESOME work and products! You are the King of the IDI Performance industry!
https://idiperformance.com/

I finally have all of the parts for my build. Here is where I am.

Block Prep

1.       Hot tank block and new freeze plug
2.       Block Line hone
3.       True up the deck to pistons
4.       Remove casting flaws

Block Build

1.       Balance the rotating assembly
2.       Clevite Main, rod and cam bearing (Dry Film coated Main and Rod Bearings (Clevite 77)
3.       Total Seal rings 2^nd grove sealed. 

4.       Crank nitrided, polished and coated
5.       Rods sent and had cryo from 300 Below 

6.       Pistons are Seal Power  H729CP sent to have Cryo from 300 Below and Ceramic Coated tops By EMBEE Coatings

7.       R & D Performance Stage 1 Camshaft

8.       Melling Oil Pump
9.       ARP +625 Head studs

10. Victor Rains Head gaskets

Head Work

1.       4 Angle valve grind
2.       Exhaust valves From Stellite
3.       Comp 910 Spring
4.       New lifters

5.       Custom roller rockers from Harland Sharp. http://www.harlandsharp.com/STYLES.html  

6.     Smith Brothers Custom Push Rods
7.      R&D IDI Performance for the Injectors and Pump

8.       R&D IDI Performance Intake

Now pictures of the build

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Pistons are HERE!!!

Hey all. I know its been a while and not much has changed. My engine has been sitting at the machine shop for about four months now. I have been really busy working and the shop has been waiting on me to deliver the pistons. I spend a few months looking at different pistons and talking with the manufactures of each piston and really what the differences are between each. From all the information I found they are really about the same. I was going to use Mahle however they didn't offer a piston I wanted anymore. so I finally have purchased seal power pistons. I will be dropping them off to get started with this build at last. The first thing is to have them cc the heads. I need to drop the compression to 19.5 to 1.
These pistons are a direct replacement to Mahle and have the added benefit of skirts coated that Mahle did not offer. the part number is  H729CP. I will be listing all parts used Picture of all the process and videos of the install.

Now its time for the BUILD... Get-er DONE!!!!

Ok so reading everything I can on the Internet, Books, People and the Stars.. lol I have found some great ideas and not so great. I know a lot of people say I should have started with s different engine, well I am here to say if you build it right it should have surprising results. Here is the basic run down I have so far. All input is always welcome and encouraged.

I have had the heads rebuild with 7.3 rockers and quality valve parts and ARP head studs

The crank has been polished and waiting for balancing.

The block is ready to drop off at the machine shop; however I am not ready yet. Why, because I am not sure if I should just replace all the sleeves and leave it a 6.9, or bore it to a 7.3. I really have not found any answer to that question yet. Will I have a thin wall problem? What I have read is that my block is one to have if you want to rebuild for the 6.9, however what will happen if I cut them out? I did not see anything about doing this, does anyone know?

Mahle pistons and pins. I am sending the piston to Swain Tech coating for the best coating they have.

 All the engine bearings will be Hypermax.

The cam and lifters are still on the thinking block, if anyone has a recommendation please let me know and I will research it.

The machine shop is going to balance the engine, clean the deck, line bore cam and crank.

I am still looking for a GREAT oil Pump and if possible a baffled oil pan for Off-Road

This block will be Turbo Charge and Inner cooler setup.

Joined Oil Burners

Finding what I call performance parts is like looking for gold in the polar ice caps. Everyone asks what I mean by performance parts, well can I get an oil pump that flows better then stock? Can I find better valves then stock? Can I find a better oil pan with baffles in it for off-Roading? You know better than stock.

So searching on the Wild Wild West has really came up nothing in real good part. However a lot of great ideas in builds. A lot of people asked why I don't just dump the 6.9 and install a 7.3 or Bt Cummings, well two reasons 1. I don't want to major modify for the cumming 2. The 6.9 is a direct fit. I am not sure what the difference will be in the swap, but it sure will be better then what I had.

I really like Oil Burners http://www.oilburners.net/ if you want to find an answer and many different ideas go here and read.