Re: Navarro six, block weirdness

[Tom Jennings <tomj@xxxxxxx>]

On Sat, 16 Jul 2005, Sandwich Maker wrote:

> " 3.595" diameter, all concentric, no ridge or damage. Weird. Makes
> " for some damn thick cylinder walls though!!
>
> i bet they were aiming at 3L disp for some reason.  indy class regs?
> quick calc - 3.595" x 3" = 182.71 cubes.

I hadn't thought of class issues. It does make for some hefty
walls though. I will measure the crank throw later.

(I'm supposed to be working right now, but this engine is a major
distraction, I'm actually staying up at night thinking about it.
Nerd or what?)

> " So none of the pistons I have are from this motor -- they're all
> " 3.75" (well, they measure 3.735").
> "
> " Can forged pistons be reground? They have practically zero hours
> " on them.  I've got nine stock diameter Venolia forged 199 pistons.
>
> i'd be tempted to keep these original and have new venolias [or ross
> or whatever] made, to the small bore.

True. I want to get all this stuff sorted out, and then I'll
contact the other buyer, after a Suitable Interval (eg. a week or
two for "new toy" to wear off the purchases). I have some random
race car parts (Dzus-fastened red fiberglas duct piece, an air
scoop, these run pistons, etc) I want to trade him for parts he
has with less Indy juju, like those conn rods and unused pistons,
esp. if they are the right diameter.

> " Found all the wrist pins plus a dozen extras (floating type) and
> " 2X solid lifters and adjustable pushrods.
>
> saw your cam notes on the pg.  there -was- a [paul?] winfield in the
> early hotrod days.  maybe he was a big-time indy mech in the late
> '60s.

I thought "WINFIELD" was odd too. It's clearly stamped by the cam
manufacturer, and black-oxide over it.

I'm reasonably certain that this motor was a solid-lifter,
tubular-rocker-arm motor. There is no machine work in the block to
prevent lifters from rotating, etc. Whether that's what's in the
Indy motor, I don't know. The lifters are clearly marked and the
rocker ass'y wired together.

Of course it's entirely possible that Gary's recollection is
wrong; though there are three Indy motors this one could be
anything at all, though he did say Navarro only did one project
for AMC, and it was all based upon the six block.

This AM I found the water pump and thermostat blockoff plates,
with 5/8" or 3/4" pipe fittings for the water pump, and the crud
patterns match the block and timing cover, so it wasn't an
ordinary putt-putt motor (those deep valve clearances and O-rings
too).

> if you do have a roller cam -- you'd have a fun time getting them in
> there, but with custom tiebars you -could- run mopar rollers.

I thought there was some Ford app that fit with little mod in the
six?