Sigh.... Machine shop called..

[SuperSix]

Fix yours, then you will know what you have rather than wondering if  you have a pig in a poke waiting to bust out.

Do you think I should spend that much on a .040 block?

[Steve Wood]

sure, you are not trying to make 700 hp and many have gone .040" over without a problem. 

[Nasty Wendy]

Fix the Buick and replace the Caddy with it.

[Charlief1]

Fix the Buick and replace the Caddy with it.

Not a bad idea at all. This would let you get rid of the caddy before it looses more value.

[gordyzx9r]

$150 for a used stock location intercooler? 
$185 for a used stock starter?

[daveismissing]

So a chebby can be built with 4 or 5 thou but a buick will blow up with 3 thou clearance?

[Steve Wood]

piston wall clearance is dependent upon the piston composition.  Stock pistons are cast and must be fit tight otherwise the rings will be worn out very quickly from rock...Forged can be fit more loosely depending upon the particular alloy used...but, they still wear the rings faster as they rock until warmed up.

[Pyro6]

Are you in a hurry to get the car together? I wise man once told me, walk away, tomorrow look at it with fresh eyes, and he gave me permission to drink heavily. He might not have put it exactly like that but that's how I took it(I wish I could put an icon here). Cars in general try your patience, these cars just excel at it.

[Just a Six?]

Cars in general try your patience, these cars just excel at it.

I think these cars with their age drive most owners close to the "Very Edge" at times. When they run good they are Great! But when they start breaking stuff they can make all of us at some point consider selling or torching the car! The summer I went thru 3 GM fuel pumps I was very close. One year I did put an ad in the paper for 1 day & overpriced it. I had some calls & one tire kicking test pilot but that was the only time it ever made me that frustrated.
Hang in there & you will work it out in time. Just ignore it for a week & go have some family time or whatever makes you unwind.

[Scoobum]

Mark, I assume everything else checked out ok on the block. If that's the case...and it were me...then I'd sell the .030's and grab a set of .040's. If you grab another block...then you're gonna have to have it bored and honed to fit the .030's anyway. As Steve stated...you ain't gonna be making a shitload of horsepower...s o .040 will be just fine. You're other alternative is to sell everything and pack the project in...and get your money back out of it.

[Top Speed]

$9K including the cost of the car?  Is that it?  You have $20k more to catch me!

[Steve Wood]

yeah, he has nothing into it so far

[SuperSix]

Called the machine shop on Friday and gave the go ahead. Still tons of shit to do, and I decided I'm not going to kill myself physically or financially to get it done quickly.

I wouldn't say I have "nothing" into it. I have more into it than it's worth, but I don't plan on selling it.

Chris - this car will be nowhere NEAR as nice as yours when it's done..

[daveismissing]

$9K including the cost of the car?  Is that it?  You have $20k more to catch me!

I know, he's quite the whiner isn't he? We wi$h we had hi$ problem$....

[Charlief1]

Don't have near the money but I've got a heck of a lot more time in mine. Several hundred hours doing repairs but only like 3K in all the parts so far.   Car included.