A short note on Nick’s wrenching by hand. You can find out much information when disassembling by hand. The feel of the bolt or nut as it brakes loose, the feel it has during the loosing and removing process. These things will tell you what needs to be looked at before assembly. No surprises or delays then. Also during assembly you can feel if any threaded hole, nut, or bolt has damaged threads.
I developed a feel for wrenching by hand from an early age, disassembling engines in auto junkyards. In many a tight space under the hood or beneath the car I couldn't see what I was doing and had to rely on my sense of touch to get parts on and off and assembled correctly. I later transferred that skill to my job as a purchasing agent in a large hospital, where I would evaluate the fit and feel of specialty medical/surgical instruments to evaluate their quality and suitability for use in certain procedures.
You’re exactly right. The only stuff I do now is replace brake pads and rotors and I do it all with hand tools. I can’t twist the head of a frozen bolt off by hand, but a big air ratchet can! I don’t think it takes any more time, and I’m not stripping out or scoring threads.
lol, hearing Nick talk about exercise and using manual tools, made me think of something my father used to say. He always smirked at those who went jogging or to gym that then rode around mowing their lawns on lawn tractors....He stated "buy a push mower and you'll get the exercise"
You´re fantastic Nick. My only achievement is putting a 355 Chevy in a Triumpmph Spitfire with a 9 inch Ford rearend, sure spun the tires and was uncontrollable. Love your channel
A friend of mine and myself bought two 1969 Boss 429 Mustangs from the Adolph Coors collection so many years ago I can't remember. This is the first guy I ever thought of trusting those Cars to bring them back to life. Nick is incredible.
Years ago I bought a used 340 for a Duster I was building. It had a rod that looked just like the one on the pic on your video. Basically, I was able to save one head, and the windage tray which I still have. I sold the head for the core value when I had to sell the Duster one christmas when a lady friend of mine found herself and her kids with no place to stay at Christmas. I sold the car thinking I'd pick up another one later and rented her a trailer, bought her some groceries and set her up with utilities. Well, I never found that car and 30 yrs later I'm still trying to build my dream race car.
Yes, absolutely a Ford 427, and a side oiler at that. The dead giveaway is the cross bolts on the main caps you can see in the block skirt. I'd give my left leg for that one. The 3x2 setup was only stock on the 390/406 from 61-64 and was Holley. Ford liked to use 2x4bbl on the big Cobra Jet engines. So far as I know you couldn't get a 427 with a six pack setup factory. 6:51 I hear him mention the "M" code engine - that was a 2x4bbl. EDIT: 13:59 I thought this guy was a Ford guy that came over, still guessing about a 428 - one look at the side of that block at the cross bolts for the mains (right above the oil pan) and you KNOW it's a 427, no disassembly required. The only engine that ever had those. Also in the lifter valley there should be a clearly cast "427" just below the deck surface.
You can see "427" cast into the inside valley cylinder wall under the intake, side bolt mains are also obvious as another commenter also mentioned below. Im more of a GM guy but ive seen a lot of engines since the 70's so have some Ford experience mainly small blocks and 390's, but I have to admit its the first time ive ever seen a 427 side oiler marine engine with screw in plugs and cross bolt mains, just never ran into one - what a great rare thing to see for the first time in my life so long after its day.
With regards to the 340: These days I always purchase an aftermarket set of rods. Seems that 90% of the time its either a valve/keeper or rod that lets go. Modern rods are a cheap insurance anymore, and metallurgy has come a long way since the 60s/70s!
Stock A motor rods have a limit, and it's not very high. OK for a stock motor, but don't use them in a serious build. The rods are known to break near the heads of the rod bolts.
The factory rods are good to about 350 hp, above that they need a lot of work and it gets expensive. After market rods are the only way to go. Inexpensive and alot stronger.
@SuperDave Miorgan None of the old cars will outrun the new stuff? Take a look at the record holders in the NHRA stock eliminator classes! One of the reasons the "new stuff" does so well is because they use superior internals, such as better rods, cams, etc.(and electronics that few of us want anything to do with). If you choose not to be a "Ricky Racer", then no, you USUALLY can't hang with the new stuff. Do a few upgrades and take advantage of modern technology like the new stuff, and you're still a contender!
I disagree. In my youth I had a used 72' Dodge Demon with a 340 in her. That car was run extremely hard every day for 5 1/2 years. Even made a few runs on drag strips for fun. The mechanics of it never let me down, but electrical problems drove me nuts.
New Zealander here! Nic you rock. American muscle rocks and so does Australian. I’m traditionally a Ford guy but whatever is good is good. Good to see the HSV jumper and the shout out to us down under.
Of all of Nicks staff I like Vasili the best ..he can work any engine blind folded with a hand tied behind his back. An irreplaceable member of Nicks team.
Mark Sheridan & Roger Marshall - Jeez, can’t a guy pay a compliment anymore without some keyboard commandos chiming in? Who pee’d in your corn flakes this morning?
keith black,ed pink,don garlits,don prudomme,dick landy,shall I go on,there are people in the world with special skill sets,unequaled, rethink you statement
Nick great video, I am surprised that the customer does not want to replace all of the rods, when the motor seized, the other rods experienced the shock and stress.
I've had my own shop for awhile and learned from some of the best in the world. I would love to work with you in an everyday scenario Mr Nick. You have so much wisdom anyone could be fit from just listening to you. Thank you for the awesome videos!
I really appreciate that Nick and his men regard every vehicle as special, not just Mopar stuff. Seeing a Ford motor on an engine stand and then a Chevy truck pulling in for work tells me that the shop is focused on the client, first and foremost. That is truly a rare commodity today. Good job guys!
Manny it is good to see you supporting HSV and Australian Motor Sport. A big g'day to Nick and the crew, It is great to see a good old school fashioned tradesman doing what he does best.
Nick, I just started watching your videos two days ago, and I like the way you move around the engine's. I recently sent you a comment on a 1999 Dodge Ram 1500 5.2 liter engine. With the pistons burnt out, and it was only the top of the piston and not the pistons' arm far as I can see. So, if you can, please point me in the right direction, I would surely appreciate it with honor, Sir! Yours truly, Moses
Hi Nick and Manny from Australia. I am a Holden man as Manny mentioned in this video. Holden made 2 V8s, 253ci from 1968 to 1984 and 308ci from 1969 to 1999, although the 308 was destroked to 304ci after 1984. HSV (Holden Special Vehicles) made a stroked 308 (355ci) for the last few years of production. Thanks for the awesome videos Nick.
I love that 427 engine..can't wait to see what can do on the dyno..the 340 must have had a little wear on it ..lol..the 340 was a pretty powerful engine for its displacement. Looks like the guy will get a new nick built 340.he will be very pleased..Happy thanksgiving to Nick all in Nicks garage..Cheers friend's 🍻🍻🍻
That's not a 427. The block started as a 390. The valve covers overlap the intake like a 390. 427 has a 3.85 stroke, that's why it's called the "385 series". That is NOT, I repeat not a real 427. Get a new ford man or just google it. I'd never let you near any of my fords.
FORD 385 series engines are 370, 429 and 460 based on the 429. The 370 was predominately a truck and bus engine. The 427 FORD is an FE series engine, in the same family as the 352, 360, 390, 406, 410 and 428. Last time I ordered a service block from FORD to replace a 428 they sent me a 360. Take it or leave it. You can build it as a 360 or bore it out and make whatever you want. It has more integrity as a 360. Thicker, stronger cylinder walls. 385 series 370 and 429 have the same stroke at 3.59". 460 has a stroke of 3.85". 427 FE has stroke of 3.784"; same as a 406 and a 390.
Great Point, Nick! I like using wrenches and ratchets over power. It makes me feel more connected to my work. Oh, my arms are strong because I worked on Field Artillery equipment that 'Gun Bunnies' would break. Lol. I still love my Red Legs.
Nick's friend said only the Thunderbird had 3- 2 barrel carburetors. I remember at a car show in San Rafael California I saw a 1961 Ford Sunliner convertible with a 406 ci engine and 3- 2 barrel carbs and a 4 speed manual transmission.
I had a friend who had a really sweet 53 chev pickup it blew up on the test drive when he was going to sell it the guy still bought it since he was planning on swapping it anyway!!! Crazy part was the pickup was basically his daily driver and it decided to pop that days
Hello nick I'm the person who ask you about the bolt that was embedded in the piston.I just want to say the people Who film you their are doing a FANTASTIC JOB.
Nick i looked it up. That Episode it was called SELLING MY HEMI. You called it THE KEEPER. A picture with that gorgeous 426 that reads the keeper would be a tremendous seller.Thanks for reading my comments.
@@scalejedi3849 Scale. If you see the the display in person, it is impressive to look at. I was hopping that someone with a car collection buys it and puts it on display. Too much detail to hide in a car body.
Nick:I feel it for the '72 Dodge 340 owner. I too suffered this unfortunate mishap in my '72 Plymouth Satellite Sebring w a 318. Was going home from work ready to go on the freeway(the US terminology for highway) and next thing I heard is a loud bang. It turned out to be an oil pump failure due to the oil pump driveshaft from the distributor being damaged by the rear of the camshaft "wobbling" in the block. I found out its a weak point of Chrysler small block V8's of that era. There seems to be an oil pressure distribution problem which is what I think causes this problem. I'll bet any money that's what happened to this guys engine. The only cure is a complete rebuild or as in my case another engine. From what I'm seeing here you'd be better off starting with another engine and doing a complete rebuild. Don't try to rebuild the present engine, It's too far damaged for a rebuild. Just my two cents worth. Have a blessed day.
Nick, you comment on the gym is SO true! I can remember working in my pal's garage when I was a teenager - I only lasted two years and every night I was so shattered, I could hardly ride my bike home, never mind go to the gym!!!
HEY guys, Nick I love your detailed analysis on the engine rebuilds. I have learned tons, just watching your program for a couple years. Fantastic job!
Nick, I'm a Ford guy & I can tell u that your Ford guy is alil slow. When u see a bore size on a FE engine that is 4.23 or bigger u only have a 427 block. The mains are cross bolted. A 428 has a bore 4.130. Same as a 406. 410 & 428 share cranks & they are the only external balanced FE's. Thank u Nick.
Hey Nick I got a 340 sitting in the shop. It was built 30 ish years ago and been sitting ever since. .030 over speed pro forged pistons, all balanced. Forged crank. I might even have a spare crankshaft and I know I have plenty of 340 rods.
The video starts off with a "Welcome back!". A great way to start off another quality video from Nick and his crew. Visa vi the 340 - at Nick's Garage - "We bring back the dead!" Thanks Nick! Plate C
MIKE THE PISTONS when you get them out because you have skirt clearance to deal with . It has a mechanical cam , cross bolted mains ,screw in freeze plugs internal balance and looks like a medium riser head but I can't be sure without a good look at the exhaust side or combustion chamber . It's a real 427 65 or newer . Use marine head gaskets like dead soft copper because they only have a 10 bolt head and may blow between cylinders .that Fel Pro stuff is not made for marine use It looks like around 11 to one pistons with those heads . Those carbs are some wierd Marine deal along with the odd ball intake .
In 1962 Ford advertised and sold the 406 6 barrel- 405 advertised hp. They still sold the 406 in 63 for a short time but replaced it with the 427 2x4 half way through the model year with the fastback roof line body.
A .040 over bore on a 427 is pushing it. The 427 had the same stroke as the 390, but with a forged crank, so the extra cubes were all in the bore, which was pretty well maxed out for the bore centers; giving thin bore walls. It's not a total deal breaker, though, as the sonic check will determine if it's still in acceptable spec. The 427 was famous for its' ability to blast to 7K RPMs quickly and safely, but I'd think twice about doing that with this engine. But a good romp through the gears to 5,500-6,000 would be fine.
Alot of fellow members of the BMC in here! That intake on the IROC gave me shivers lol...my cousin had a ball drive 350 ROC back in the day with that huge intake it was a major pain-I remember we had to take the wiper motor completely off the car for it to fit lol.
It's never good to have an engine blow up. But if your customer was able to use that as a negotiation piece to get the car at a much lower initial cost then he can hopefully afford the engine work and upgrades to come. Good on him for buying a 340 4-speed Duster. I'd have bought it too :) Especially if I had Nick to put it back together again.
The 340 had forged internals and was tough as nails at the stock power level. When raising the power level up one of the weak links were the stock rod bolts. They just weren’t up to the task. The stock balancing wasn’t great either. A true racing balance job of all rotating parts, line bore and stud the crankshaft, add hardened rod bolts to the already forged rods and the 340 bottom end was ready to race.
The cross bolted mains are the giveaway on the big block ford , nice engine . Nick google Holden Special Vehicles , the Aussie version on Shelby,Yenko, Motion etc all rolled into one. Cheers Steve
Yeah that's pretty much the way I've worked on vehicles all my life. Only later have I picked up a few more power tools. Speaking of going for a ride and engines going bad... I had that happen to me one time in a Cuda. Yeah I bought the car anyway and took it home. Like Nick says, some guys and their cars... If you love them you just never give up.
As usual, another day at Nick's garage. I remember the winters... Ok, it not AS cold in Brooklyn as in Montreal... But it was close. That 340 was toast. A pity, he didn't "feel" the spun bearing at all at first. I knows that seems odd, but I could "feel" or "hear" something wrong with an engine. Hopefully BEFORE it blows up. That 440 is beautiful, what's it going to come out to? Ah... The Ford 427. The magic motor, If that's a real marine engine and the blocks sound he bought a winner. How many times did my Boss and mentor say: "Ok, tear it apart kid, let's see what we got" I swapped a .30 over 427, with a single quad 780 modified carb, 10:5 to 1, ( Had better gas back then) with hand made headers out of a tail wrecked 1968 Galaxy in to my wife's 62' Thunderbird. It was running in the high 12s for her. Not bad for a 5000 lb car. I kind of became an "Expert" on the "FE" Ford engines because I built it for my Princess with a lead foot. Umm... Is that a convertible 300 series Chrysler sitting outside your shop? Wow Nick... Every time I hit your show a wave of memories comes back. As you know the Imperial and the 300 series were very close. I swapped out my Dad's Imperial hood for a 300s. Just because he liked them. (I built 3 of them for my Dad) Thank you so much for the memories, It always brings me back to the shop. The way of the muscle car will never die. Tommy.
I haven't watched the whole video yet, but 61 and 62 Fords (390 in 61, 406 in 62) had triple two barrel intakes optionally available. (390 had 401 hp, 406 had 405. These were Super Stock motors. The later Thunderbird triple carb 390 was a street motor with 50-60 less hp. Ford's Super Stock motors went to dual four barrels in 63.) The "expert" is wrong saying that only Thunderbirds had a triple deuce intake, but correct that Ford's triple intake had Holley two barrels, not Rochester or whatever these are. The intake is not a factory triple intake, either.
My friend has 2 of the Marine engines 427 he got out of a wooden 40 footer yacht that he bought for $1,500 And he told me just 1 motor as is ruff but runs is worth 13k...
I let a buddy drive my 340 Road Runner and he put it in low and wound it up and stuck it in reverse. The old 727 didn’t suffer any harm even with 50s out back. He thought it had a ratchet shifter.
A 72 duster is pretty Cool A coupla pistons broke off the spool If he's taken his car to Nick's garage this owner ain't no fool The 340 is still very naughty but it it's got a cracked block Nick's got the logic like Dr Spock to fix it back up like Scotty that's lieutenant Scott It won't run on dilithium crystals but you can shift gears with the grips that are pistols. Building engines in the wintertime not fixing them up properly would be a crime Nick and the team are masters at preventing disasters Word to your fathers!
Nick, Ford FE 3 deuce carb setups; '61 - Dealer install on 390 to make 390/401hp for Galaxie/Starliner '62 - '63 - Factory install on 406/405hp Galaxie /Starliner '62 - '63 Thunderbird factory install 390/330hp Pass that on to your brother. I'm a Mopar guy but I have interests in all muscle cars.
Cheers Nick, that 340 was a mess for sure and he was lucky to by it. That 427 marine motor, never seen any with triple carbs just two four barrels. I remember dad's 65 Thunderbird having only two four barrels and it was running a 401 the same as the Lincoln Continental of that time. Great just the same being interesting to see how both motors develope of time Nick.
That 340 can be rebuilt, & the crack ground down & welded, but I would only use the block for a stock rebuild, for something that's going into a museum (or something to that effect). That 427 Ford looks to be an interesting build!
You should rent a trailer to haul cars. Peoples would bring you projects,and it would attract customers indirectly,when they see your garage to get the trailer.
nice set of Pontiac carbs for that ford...... if all the bores are the same size they are 1966, 65 on down the center carb had smaller bore on the carb. I built a 68 427 farline. that engine brings back memorys..
Never owned a Mopar...but there are a number of them I kinda like. Mid/late 50's (including Desoto). The 60's (Coronets, Furys, and Imperials, especially). A couple out of the 70's. One of my "dream machines" would be to build up one of the early 2000's 300M units (the roundy one {which, I believe, was a front-wheel drive unit}...before it became that big square shoe-box thing).... Gut the running gear and make it RWD. Build an aluminum block 340 six pack with a nice stout 5-speed and an eight-n-three-quarter posi to back it up. What a sleeper!
427... My favorite FE! As I remember, they all had solid lifters, hence the adjustable rockers. Apparently, the rocker covers on this engine are aftermarket, and possibly will not clear the adjusting screws on the rocker arms. The regular automotive rockers had a flat top, and were quite deep on that side, but will still provide enough clearance even in a '67-'68 Mustang. Been there, done that, when you could buy almost anything at your local dealer!
Welcome all. Hey Nick sir, to your able assistant Mani, love your Holden Special Vehicles Top. HSV was the Tom Walkinshaw owned competition department of General Motors Holden division in Australia. Those guys from 1987 to 2016 won everything worth wining in Australian motor sport and built V8 four door hot rods in a Plain Jane Commodore wrapper. The Rochester carbs can do really good on a GTO or J2 or 442..not sure about a Ford 427...
On a road trip from Detroit to Connecticut my 440 6 Pack Cuda engine launched catastrophically while easing down an Ohio turnpike af 70 mph. Factory engine never opened up nor abused, Torqueflite, 3:55 gear.
Hello Nick !! You are STILL living my dream !! Thank you for all these videos and so much information !! GOD HAS BLESSED YOU SIR, AND YOU DESERVE IT !! HAVE A WONDERFUL NEW YEAR !! ALL YEAR LONG !! Art from North Carolina !!
Yiasou Nikola, Another great video to watch whilst having breakfast with coffee. Gee that 340, to bend the rods like that sure would if tsken some doing. Now it's in the safe hands of Indy Auto time to resurrect it back to life. Your package Nikola has been posted. All the best & stay warm. Hlias from Australia ☺ 👍
Every marine motor I've ever wrenched on operates the opposite direction of an Automotive application. Requiring different main seals and changing the cam and of course the starter so it starts the right direction. Plus correcting be firing order.
The only time they run opposite direction was with twin engines in the inboard configuration, otherwise they all run clockwise. Now days on twins, the outdrive, or gear box runs in the opposite direction, but both motors turn clockwise.
@@POL3INAROW I've worked on several single-engine boats, and except for a few lower-class hydroplanes that I haven't worked on, all of the ones I've worked on, even the single-engine, had reverse rotating engines because there was no gear it was direct drive. I don't remember why it was that way but that's the way it was. If you buy an oil seal for a Chevrolet Marine engine the embossment on the seal itself runs the opposite direction because the engines running the opposite way otherwise it pumps oil out of the seal instead of maintaining the oil inside the engine. The engine doesn't care which direction the crankshaft operates. Furthermore, Automotive engines run in a counterclockwise rotation. As you are supposed to view the rotation from the business end of the engine, not from the front of it. That is an automotive misnomer. All of the Marine engines, admittedly not a hell of a lot of them that I've ever worked on, when viewed from the flywheel, ran in a clockwise rotation. It is possible that this is used so that left turns are more easily made for racing purposes. Because it holds the left side of the boat down under torque.
I used to work on engines when I was younger but now I'm too old to work on engines anymore. But it really doesn't matter because pretty soon I'm not going to be able to drive anymore either.
Having built many mopar small block race engines I would say the crankshaft was oil starved long before the engine took it’s last drive. The crack in the block probably existed for some time before it came apart.
Mike the other journals on that 340 and see how much outta round. And the rod caps for round and taper and rod cap torque looks like the tops of that 427 pistons where machined for deck hight good to see all the cool things you got going on
