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Re: Combining a 77 and 78 engine to make one.

Posted: Wed Oct 18, 2017 9:44 pm
by CYBORG
I/we do agree. I have been around wings a long time, and I was smart enough to learn from those who came before me. You WILL do what you want, and should. But finding a donor engine with a kick start would be the tried and true method to resolve this problem. Or install the 78 engine

Re: Combining a 77 and 78 engine to make one.

Posted: Thu Oct 19, 2017 5:54 am
by elslimdiablo
:) Thanks Delling3. I'm not measuring the crank bearing clearances to replace the bearings, I'm measuring to see where they are at. I have had the 77 apart before when it had a blown head gasket and low compression on #4. I measured them out then to basically check the health of the internals and they were fine then, that was about 10k miles ago. Having a ring fail on #2 is a complete bummer but I'm going to venture the guess the crank and rod bearings are still fine. The new block is the unknow right now and it will get pulled apart, cleaned, and be measured out in the same way. I'll also have to check the block markings to see if I can transfer bearing/ crank assemblies from one block to the other. I know the dimensions can change, but without checking, I wont know. I haven't opened up th 78 yet, so I'm not sure if it is any good. It was a free turning engine sitting on a shelf. We'll have to stay tuned for the next episode of " As The Goldwing Turns" to find out! :-D

Re: Combining a 77 and 78 engine to make one.

Posted: Thu Oct 19, 2017 6:09 am
by elslimdiablo
Sorry guys, I'm not questioning anyones experience here, or I wouldn't have asked the question in the first place. I do appreciate all the replys and will update you when I get things rolling. If it comes to a 78 short block with the 77 top end, thats just what it will be. My heart is not set on having the kicker, just a cool trinket to have. Thanks guys!

Re: Combining a 77 and 78 engine to make one.

Posted: Thu Oct 19, 2017 7:47 am
by pierce
I have used good cranks with matching rods and bearings as a unit. It is tirelessly difficult to find cob rod bearings. Not just matched, but any new ones within reason. If a crank is good. Best option is to keep everything matched. Even the Piston rods are marked for balance so should be swapped in pairs. Just use new rings.

If the kicker is important, as it is to me. You can convert the crank. I detail how to do it in my engine thread. Just will need to remove the end of the 77 and attach it to the 78. Then use rear case of the 77.

Like Robin said, mark the crank. It's literally half way between marks. Either way you are fine

Re: Combining a 77 and 78 engine to make one.

Posted: Thu Oct 19, 2017 9:11 am
by elslimdiablo
Hey Pierce, I went to your 40 build. Is that all I really need to do to convert a late crank to an early crank for the kick start gear? So if I am seeing this right, I should be able to remove those parts from my 77 crank and bolt them to the 78 crank? Please correct me if I'm wrong! Seems too easy- I never get that kind of luck, that's why I questioned it!

Re: Combining a 77 and 78 engine to make one.

Posted: Thu Oct 19, 2017 1:52 pm
by pierce
It really is that easy!

Re: Combining a 77 and 78 engine to make one.

Posted: Thu Oct 19, 2017 1:55 pm
by elslimdiablo
Well that will save me a lot of time! Thanks

Re: Combining a 77 and 78 engine to make one.

Posted: Thu Oct 19, 2017 7:42 pm
by Whiskerfish
Got to agree with pretty much what has been said. Keep as many of the rotating parts the same with the same cases if you can. Remarking the crank is simple and the older cases did have some changes for the better. I am currently running a 77 engine with 78 carbs and that took me a couple weeks to get the tune right when I first set it up. I had to split the 77 block to investigate a small score in one of the jugs but everything stayed in the same short block. Just a lot easier and more economical.

Re: Combining a 77 and 78 engine to make one.

Posted: Thu Oct 19, 2017 8:02 pm
by elslimdiablo
From looking at Pierces' build, it looks like I wont have to do much to the 78 bottom end other than just a check over and a few updates (1200 tensioner, dampener plate removal).

Re: Combining a 77 and 78 engine to make one.

Posted: Sun Oct 22, 2017 7:29 pm
by elslimdiablo
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I busted my butt all weekend taking care of the yard and finally this evening I managed to take the heads off of one of the later engines. The pistons and cylinder walls look stellar, no ridge and still shows cross hatching. New question, are these head bolts look normal? I dont remember the 77 head bolts having machined groves cut in them.

Re: Combining a 77 and 78 engine to make one.

Posted: Sun Oct 22, 2017 7:40 pm
by CYBORG
not sure what engine they came from, but I have several like that. Came from, what I believe, was a stock engine, not previously dismantled.

Re: Combining a 77 and 78 engine to make one.

Posted: Sun Oct 22, 2017 9:13 pm
by elslimdiablo
They came off of the 78' engine

Re: Combining a 77 and 78 engine to make one.

Posted: Sun Oct 22, 2017 11:38 pm
by wingrider
I’ve had the same bolts...can’t recall if it was on my 77 or the 84...but at least one of them had those bolts in it.

Re: Combining a 77 and 78 engine to make one.

Posted: Mon Oct 23, 2017 6:02 am
by robin1731
All the heads I've taken off had those head bolts. One thing I do see "wrong" though. Not a good idea to set the head down on a bench with the cams installed. It is possible to bend the valves like that.

.

Re: Combining a 77 and 78 engine to make one.

Posted: Mon Oct 23, 2017 6:39 am
by Oldewing
Nice catch on the valve on the bench Robin, bet your not much fun on a "seek and find" puzzle.... lolol lolol lolol