454 questions

[f_inscreenname]

Is the thunderbolt ignition worth fixing? I am not sure if it even works but just by the looks of it, its sure is a mess now. Would a aftermarket ignition system be better? I plan on using all the rest of the stuff that is in my boat now (senders, single wire alt, etc). I also have to replace the distributor. I‘m trying to make things simple and by the looks of this ALT it’s the furthest thing from simple.

The second thing is. I don’t have to use a pilot bearing do I? The whole in the crank is way to big for a bearing.

Also everything looks good so far but is there anything I should be looking for while I rip it down? i.e.; Like these motor are prone to break here if freeze damage has occurred or the are known for damage here if they been run to hard. For overheating look here, etc, etc.

Last the flywheel is 14”. Anyone have a small block Chevy / Volvo bell housing?

 

[f_inscreenname]

Re: 454 questions

Another thing. Are all Chevy V-8's the same distributor?
Thanks again folks.

 

[Autotech1]

Re: 454 questions

Same distrubutor.

specific flywheel.

 

[Autotech1]

Re: 454 questions

Same distrubutor.

specific flywheel.

Sorry I dont know much else about 454s besides they use the same belhousing as all the other chevys.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: 454 questions

You ask about ignition and show a picture of an alternator...why?

No pilot bearing needed.

 

[Bondo]

Re: 454 questions

Well,.........
The T-bolt Ign. is a Great System,... It'll provide reliable Spark well beyond the rpm limits of the Motor......

As stated,.... No Pilot Bearing needed,.... The Coupler does that Job,+ is bolted to the Flywheel.......

And that Mando Alt. isn't that Bad of a unit,..... That Hicky on the back of it is the Regulator.....

If there was Freeze Damage,.... You'd have been Looking at it when you pulled the Intake.........

Anndd,..... Still No Bellhousing..............

 

[Don S]

Re: 454 questions

Depending on the bellhousing you get, you may need a pilot bearing. The newer bellhousings for the 14" flywheels usually have only a single bearing and require the pilot bearing in the end of the crankshaft. It's not a big deal, Volvo carries both the bushing or the bearing depending on the diameter of the hole in the crankshaft.

We had another shop up here go thru 2 bellhousing and flexplates because they tried to use it without a bearing.

 

[Bondo]

Re: 454 questions

Oooops,...... I was thinking Merc. again........... Sorry......

 

[f_inscreenname]

Re: 454 questions

Learned that the hard way. Installed my first Chrysler to a Volvo (single bearing bell housing) without a pilot bearing. Because of the space between the Volvo bell shaft and the cranks hole that thing rattled like a SOB. For this build I will make sure I have it right before I put the crank back in the motor.
Hey Don do you have a source for these bearing just in case its needed?
As for the ALT picture;
I was trying to show how the wiring is a mess and overly complicated for what I am doing. If the thunderbolt ignition is just average then I would get rid of the whole rats nest and start over. But now bond-o says its a good system, I will have to think about it some more. The elect system thats in the boat now (its home built) is very simple and effective. Single wire ALT, couple wires for senders and elect choke and a simple points distributor (hiding the Pertronix kit) and coil. This 454 has 6 wires to the Distributor alone and who knows if any of it works. If I do fix it and there is something wrong with that box in the picture I could be up a creek without a electrical system. Sometimes simple is good but its not like me to throw away something that would be a major improvement just because its very complicated but if a Pertronix kit will do the same thing a whole lot easier then its gone.

Then there is this mess on top of the fuel filter.

 

[Don S]

Re: 454 questions

The bushing or bearing which ever you need is just a standard VP off the shelf part. Any VP dealer will have them or can order one.
That wiring in the bottom photo is the main circuit breaker for the engine and inst. panel. The solenoid is a slave start solenoid.

The pertronix is nothing more than a giant step backwards compared to the TB4 distributor you have.

I also enlarged the picture of your flywheel. It has a bushing already in it and may be the one you will need.

 

[f_inscreenname]

Re: 454 questions

Man what mess a motor can be when taken apart. :$

How about another question?
Why are these numbers on the bottom of the pistons and the same corresponding numbers on the oil pan rail?

 

[f_inscreenname]

Re: 454 questions

Also about the pilot bearing. The whole in the crank is about 1 1/8" to 1 1/4" wide. My Mopar pilot bearing is only a little over 3/4" OD. Does that sound right?

 

[Reel Poor]

Re: 454 questions

How about another question?
Why are these numbers on the bottom of the pistons and the same corresponding numbers on the oil pan rail?

I can't really see the #'s on the pan rail so I'm going to assume that they are stamped into it (typically). That is the way GM identifies slightly different/odd bore deminsions in their blocks. They then install a matching piston into those holes (pistons to fit within specific tolerance). They will do the same thing with bearing also, ex .0001 or .0002 oversized bearings.

Other manufacturers do the same thing on their blocks/pistons but they use letters.

 

[Reel Poor]

Re: 454 questions

Also about the pilot bearing. The whole in the crank is about 1 1/8" to 1 1/4" wide. My Mopar pilot bearing is only a little over 3/4" OD. Does that sound right?

Possable, but irrelivent, as the outside diameter is only relivent to the specific engine. Inside diameter is what is going to be the important factor to your application. And as Don said it is probably a shelf item from your local Volvo dealer.

Also, didn't I read that Don wrote that you would have to change the flywheel to a 12 inch to get a coupler for the course spline, or, change the input shaft to a fine spline shaft to fit the coupler for a 14 inch flywheel?

 

[f_inscreenname]

Re: 454 questions

I can get a universal coupler for the 14". Not a problem.

[colour=red]They will do the same thing with bearing also, ex .0001 or .0002 oversized bearings. [/colour]
They do? How can you tell and then buy a set for it?

 

[Don S]

Re: 454 questions

You don't even want to think about trying to change flywheel sizes. Use the one that is there. Then remove the bushing that is there if it has a different id than the shaft in the bellhousing you end up buying, then take it to a Volvo dealer along with the shaft (and bellhousing) that you finally end up with.
Just match up what you need.
Don't go crazy with questions about it, it's not a big deal.

 

[Reel Poor]

Re: 454 questions

Check the back of the bearing. it would be stamped into one end. Check the crankshaft journels with a micrometer and compare to specs. When installing bearing you can check the clearance with plastiguage.

I recommend doing all the above.

 

[f_inscreenname]

Re: 454 questions

Sorry 8)
Just want it right and getting ready to buy some stuff.

 

[Don S]

Re: 454 questions

No since buying stuff if you don't know what you need.
You can't buy a bushing for the crankshaft till you find out what kind of bellhousing you end up with.
Just one step at a time
Find a Volvo bellhousing for a 290 style drive, (NOT an SX or DPS style) that will fit on a 14" flywheel engine.
Don't be one of those "The hurrier I go the behinder I get" Type guys. It'll cost you big time in the long run.

 

[f_inscreenname]

Re: 454 questions

I know, I know d
Just want to get the master kit so I can start working on the heads (need the seals out of the kit).
The connection to the Volvo is just part of the story I am not sure of. Not being sure scares me.
Things I know will work some how but still have to figure out are;
My old cooling system (and some of it has to be reused) is nothing like the one thats on the 454 now or what I should say was on it. So I will have to make it work some how. Then there is the elect system. Some will stay and some will be changed. Exhaust. I don't think I am going to reuse the old. Got to come up with new. Etc, etc.d