Another Hot Mopar Engine Build By Dave Gilliver

Mopar Big Block Talk
User avatar
Grant
Posts: 5173
Joined: Tue Nov 30, 2010 1:11 pm
Location: surrey

Another Hot Mopar Engine Build By Dave Gilliver

Post by Grant »

Well as some of you already know I cannot support Dave Gilliver enough with his superb talent and knowledge of Engine Building...Dave has specialised in Mopars for years and has built many many Engines that are fitted into Interceptors. His work is second to none, I know this as I have spent many hours at his place with him, he does all his own engineering there concentrating specifically on his own there, so nothing goes missed like it does when you employ staff!!Image. I first sat with Dave & we talked about what I wanted, which, was all the power I could possibly have from right at the bottom of the rev rangeImage..I luckily had a spare Mopar V8 400ci blockImage in the corner of the barn so I wizzed it up to DaveImage and put it on his desk!!Image. as you know I am Manual (on a Stick) Mad and so took a 4 Speed Hemi Alloy Bellhousing up with me too and shoved that in his PocketImage
So, the 1st thing Dave done was made up some "Off-Set Dowels to centralise the bellhousing onto the rear of the engine block, this is something I've never even thought of, I would have just bolted the bellhousing to the block, but Dave insisted if it wasn't perfectly centralised to the crank then there would be no unnecessary ware to the crank main bearings from the input shaft of the Stick Shift UnitImage, this is how he does it >>>
>>
400.jpg
400.jpg (109.66 KiB) Viewed 4253 times
>>>
400 block 1.jpg
400 block 1.jpg (75.49 KiB) Viewed 4269 times
>>
And these are Dave's figures working out the central position which is now laminated and on the wall in my Barn,...........but what it actually means remains a mystery to meImage >>>
>>
DSC08489.JPG
DSC08489.JPG (42.47 KiB) Viewed 4269 times
Last edited by Grant on Wed Jan 27, 2021 7:26 am, edited 3 times in total.
Manual Int&Rag-TopImage
"Monkey Man"sig RegistrarImage
Image
User avatar
Grant
Posts: 5173
Joined: Tue Nov 30, 2010 1:11 pm
Location: surrey

Re: Another Hot Mopar Engine Build By Dave Gilliver

Post by Grant »

The next stage was to take the block and check it for squareness and carry out the necessary alterations to make sure the deck heights were correct in relation to the crank, in other words to make sure the deck heights were completely parallel to the crank, this ensures that every cylinder is running the same chosen compression, this was obviously not that crucial back in the days of mass production at the Mopar Factory and had tolerances that can be much improved on, some poorly machined blocks can range from eg 8:1 at one end and 9.5:1 on the other if the decks are not parallel to the Crank and also 90deg to the other bank. Dave insists on doing this and has the jigs to carry this out, something that other builders wouldn't even bother with, but he stands by his work and wants this for his piece and mind and so that he can stand beside it knowing it is at his best and 100% correctImage >>>
See here, this is the block being mounted onto the swivel Jig in preparation for the milling the decks >>>
>>
400 block 8.jpg
400 block 8.jpg (97.4 KiB) Viewed 4255 times
>>>
400 block 8.jpg
400 block 8.jpg (97.4 KiB) Viewed 4255 times
>>>
This pic here is the Jig that Dave uses for 90deg squareness of the deck faces before milling them as described above, it is set up using this brand new Chevy block which has been trued and squared and then just sits there for setting the Jig up before the "Work Block" is placed on the plate ready for milling..Very clever!! >>>>
>>>
400 block 9.jpg
400 block 9.jpg (87.77 KiB) Viewed 4022 times
Now here the block is being passed across the front of the milling machine making a pass on one of the deck facesImage >>>
>>>
400 block 7.jpg
400 block 7.jpg (85.41 KiB) Viewed 4255 times
>>>
You can now see here, Dave marked the deck faces with a marker pen making hatchings, then once squared and a pass over the milling face cutter you can see that the block wasn't square as only a part of the face has come into contact with the cutter >>>
>>
400 block 6.jpg
400 block 6.jpg (103.1 KiB) Viewed 4255 times
>>>
Image
Attachments
400 block 5.jpg
400 block 5.jpg (118.74 KiB) Viewed 4255 times
Last edited by Grant on Sun Jan 31, 2021 10:27 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Manual Int&Rag-TopImage
"Monkey Man"sig RegistrarImage
Image
User avatar
Grant
Posts: 5173
Joined: Tue Nov 30, 2010 1:11 pm
Location: surrey

Re: Another Hot Mopar Engine Build By Dave Gilliver

Post by Grant »

I wanted a good strong compression ratio and wanted a "0" Deck height, I am sure I remember Dave looking at me when I said this and was probably thinking why is a short bearded clownImage telling me how and what he thinks is bestImage, he just walked over andImage and then off I went Image but once the bottom end was bored and assembled I was a happy clown seeing my pistons level with the deck facesImage
>>>
IMG_20200115_135318.jpg
IMG_20200115_135318.jpg (70.68 KiB) Viewed 4257 times
>>>
IMG_20200103_144424.jpg
IMG_20200103_144424.jpg (87.01 KiB) Viewed 4257 times
Manual Int&Rag-TopImage
"Monkey Man"sig RegistrarImage
Image
User avatar
ajc9415
Posts: 586
Joined: Sat Jun 11, 2011 8:10 am
Location: Sutton, Surrey, UK

Re: Another Hot Mopar Engine Build By Dave Gilliver

Post by ajc9415 »

Thanks for all the detail Grant. I find this type of work fascinating and just hope that this skill and knowledge gets passed down the generations. If he hasn't got one he needs to get an apprentice!
Adrian
1974 Interceptor Mk III 2240-9415
JOC Member 9648
User avatar
Grant
Posts: 5173
Joined: Tue Nov 30, 2010 1:11 pm
Location: surrey

Re: Another Hot Mopar Engine Build By Dave Gilliver

Post by Grant »

I had a good rummage underneath our bed here & found a pair of Alloy HeadsImage they had been fitted to an engine of a friend of mines and then removed as he wasn't happy about the combustion chamber size and so removed them and I bought them, so off I went again up to Dave's(this time in air balloon as the traffic was heavyImage, bearing in mind these heads had only been run for around an hour or so Dave stripped them and found wear marks on the valve guides, this is because of the agricultural design rocker valve train gear in these old engines...Dave has moved away from this set-up and uses a roller rocker set up that he modifies to create a good reliable set-up. The reason why the old agricultural set up wears the valves is because it pushes the valve stem at an angle,..no good, so the "Dave Gillivers Roller Rocker Valve Train" set up is the way to goImage >>>
>>
Oh hang on a minute >> Excuse me Image, right, I'm back, so here is a pic of the roller rocker valve train >>>
>>
IMG_20200210_181349.jpg
IMG_20200210_181349.jpg (102.21 KiB) Viewed 4249 times
Image
>>>
IMG_20200210_181421.jpg
IMG_20200210_181421.jpg (103.41 KiB) Viewed 4249 times
Image
>>>
IMG_20200210_181446.jpg
IMG_20200210_181446.jpg (81.35 KiB) Viewed 4249 times
Image
Very ImageCool ImageAye
===================
Manual Int&Rag-TopImage
"Monkey Man"sig RegistrarImage
Image
User avatar
Grant
Posts: 5173
Joined: Tue Nov 30, 2010 1:11 pm
Location: surrey

Re: Another Hot Mopar Engine Build By Dave Gilliver

Post by Grant »

So now we are all together and looking stunningly Dandy it was time to run it up on the Dyno, Dave uses a Chap near him for this service, here is the finished Engine all buttoned & bolted upImage >>>
>>>
IMG_20200617_181434.jpg
IMG_20200617_181434.jpg (123.76 KiB) Viewed 4247 times
>>>
IMG_20200617_181425.jpg
IMG_20200617_181425.jpg (126.07 KiB) Viewed 4247 times
================
Well down the road it went, a 20 minute run to run the cam in, >>>
>>>

https://youtu.be/IBOVt6T4yN8
>>>
A power run, Dave puts these quick access rocker covers on for the Dyno runs as they are easier to get on and off for quick access to the rockers to prime the oil to them & check everything is getting oil as they should :P , there was a slight weep of oil as normal from the corner of the rocker cover which is the puff of smoke you see, very sadly I couldn't be there due to the Covid restrictions which was extremely sad but I understand these rulesImage >>>>
>>

https://youtu.be/FVdnH-szzNg
============
Well..Hats off to Dave..here's the figures.. 393BHP with a whopping 438 FtLb of torque at 3000rpm , which is more or less constant right across the board..it's Torque you need in these Cars and look at my figures!!Image
So..if you want an engine built to light your tyres up and push you back in that seat, with a personal helpful service from someone who is in my opinion the best..then Call Dave on 07866060498..He is the Man!!! >>>
>>
2021-01-21_094758.jpg
2021-01-21_094758.jpg (68.4 KiB) Viewed 4247 times
>>>
2021-01-21_094842.jpg
2021-01-21_094842.jpg (58.47 KiB) Viewed 4247 times
Manual Int&Rag-TopImage
"Monkey Man"sig RegistrarImage
Image
User avatar
Fishyboy
Posts: 855
Joined: Wed May 17, 2017 5:25 pm
Location: Andover, Hampshire

Re: Another Hot Mopar Engine Build By Dave Gilliver

Post by Fishyboy »

Hi Grant
Fantastic looking work.
Which car is this going in?
Phil
Joint Southern Area Rep
J.O.C. Member 10659
1956 Jensen 541 95-5633
1961 Austin Healey 3000 BT7
1961 Volvo 131 Amazon - a Survivor
1968 Volvo 1800S
1969 Mk II Interceptor 123/3588
User avatar
RayR
Posts: 286
Joined: Mon Mar 05, 2018 4:43 am
Location: New Zealand

Re: Another Hot Mopar Engine Build By Dave Gilliver

Post by RayR »

Looks and sounds great Grant.

If I am reading it right the numbers are corrected crank HP and Tq?

Would be great to see what that means in the car - a trip to Santa Pod, or your favorite smart phone App.
MkIII Interceptor (140 8488)
User avatar
Grant
Posts: 5173
Joined: Tue Nov 30, 2010 1:11 pm
Location: surrey

Re: Another Hot Mopar Engine Build By Dave Gilliver

Post by Grant »

ajc9415 wrote: Tue Jan 26, 2021 8:38 pm Thanks for all the detail Grant. I find this type of work fascinating and just hope that this skill and knowledge gets passed down the generations. If he hasn't got one he needs to get an apprentice!
HiYa Ade :P ...I also find it the most fascinating thing too and am really in awe of his work , this is just an art, the tolerances are so high and it's such a skill, sadly though it is a dying trade as people just buy CNC machined crate engines these days and when they explode they just get scrapped and another one bought, this makes people like Dave really just a dinosaur, but for the likes of me I (and you obviously) and probably most on here we see it a different way :D ..Wicked stuff..it's such a shame we just don't live for ever :lol:
Manual Int&Rag-TopImage
"Monkey Man"sig RegistrarImage
Image
User avatar
Grant
Posts: 5173
Joined: Tue Nov 30, 2010 1:11 pm
Location: surrey

Re: Another Hot Mopar Engine Build By Dave Gilliver

Post by Grant »

Fishyboy wrote: Tue Jan 26, 2021 10:44 pm Hi Grant
Fantastic looking work. Which car is this going in?
Phil
HiYa Phil, it really is fantastic isn't it, well I and you and Ade above ^^ does too, ...it's going in the late Mk2 that you saw when we were in Cornwall, I have a an Alloy 4 speed Mopar Manual gearbox to bolt onto it with an overdrive 4th gear..should be real fun :lol: ..You should treat yourself Phil..Dave and us won't be around for ever, we only live once..treat yourself Phil and travel half hour in 20 minutes :lol:
Manual Int&Rag-TopImage
"Monkey Man"sig RegistrarImage
Image
User avatar
Grant
Posts: 5173
Joined: Tue Nov 30, 2010 1:11 pm
Location: surrey

Re: Another Hot Mopar Engine Build By Dave Gilliver

Post by Grant »

RayR wrote: Wed Jan 27, 2021 2:14 am Looks and sounds great Grant.

If I am reading it right the numbers are corrected crank HP and Tq?

Would be great to see what that means in the car - a trip to Santa Pod, or your favorite smart phone App.
HiYa RayManImage, I am not really sure what "Corrected" means.. it can't be the average as all the variants are on there..I will ask Dave today as he often rings me to moan about the "MaCorona" pandemic and "Brexit"..so I shall change the subject and ask him :lol:..You pop round then and we shall wizz up to the Pod together :D
Manual Int&Rag-TopImage
"Monkey Man"sig RegistrarImage
Image
User avatar
DPP
Posts: 1759
Joined: Thu Sep 29, 2011 12:03 pm
Location: Cornwall

Re: Another Hot Mopar Engine Build By Dave Gilliver

Post by DPP »

Lovely to read about Dave's work and see the videos, his attention to detail looks amazing.
Its so nice to see someone going the extra mile to make something the best it can be.

The engine sounded lovely on that power run, bet you cant wait to drop it in the car now.
Dave Pearce
Oily Rag Classics
Jensen FF 119/133
Jensen FF 119/182
Jensen Interceptor III 128/4430
User avatar
RayR
Posts: 286
Joined: Mon Mar 05, 2018 4:43 am
Location: New Zealand

Re: Another Hot Mopar Engine Build By Dave Gilliver

Post by RayR »

Hi Grant,

A trip to the Pod would be nice, but a little impractical from Auckland! I used to go there as a teen on a moped from Lincoln.

My understanding is that corrected means the data is corrected to a standard temp and pressure of the air, which your chart seems to confirm - STPPwr - CHp - which I presume is crank Hp. Just wondering if there has been any correction for transmission losses to get to rear wheel Hp. I would guess you would be getting 0-60 in very low 5 secs and mid 12 second 1/4 mile which is genuinely quick for a 70's car.

Ray
MkIII Interceptor (140 8488)
User avatar
ajc9415
Posts: 586
Joined: Sat Jun 11, 2011 8:10 am
Location: Sutton, Surrey, UK

Re: Another Hot Mopar Engine Build By Dave Gilliver

Post by ajc9415 »

Just out of interest can the standard gearbox and diff cope with this or do they both need upgrading?
Adrian
1974 Interceptor Mk III 2240-9415
JOC Member 9648
User avatar
Grant
Posts: 5173
Joined: Tue Nov 30, 2010 1:11 pm
Location: surrey

Re: Another Hot Mopar Engine Build By Dave Gilliver

Post by Grant »

ajc9415 wrote: Wed Jan 27, 2021 8:47 pm Just out of interest can the standard gearbox and diff cope with this or do they both need upgrading?
No problem what-so ever Adrian :wink: ..But if you were tempted to go down this route then it would be best to have the box overhauled too, you loose alot of direct power with a Auto box as they slip because that is how they work, and an old one would slip even more unless it has been done already, I didn't choose Manual for that reason I just think all cars should be Manual as you drive properly with a Gear Stick and Clutch, but others will see different, and, a good Auto Box can change gear quicker than we can manually, but look Adrian and anyone reading this, we only live once, pull your engine and get Dave to work his stuff on it, you'll never look back..and if you do all you will see is 2 big black lines down the road behind you :lol:!!
Manual Int&Rag-TopImage
"Monkey Man"sig RegistrarImage
Image
Post Reply

Return to “V-8 Engine Tech”