We'll see... I'm still on the fence.

I'm really liking Roscoe's all black set-up. Definitely growing on me!

I had to go read your head bolt post in the tech section to catch up. I have never experienced that washer spin problem (that I was aware of) . I will be much more wary in th future and I agree with SB that the onus is on ARP if this’s a common problem. Glad that you got it ironed out. The devil is in the details and I know you aren’t the guy that will overlook any. This is a great thread for future DIY’s to reference.

You would definitely know it if the washer started to slip. When you’re cranking down on 50# and the torque wrench all the sudden turns easily, that’s it!

Still lots to do but I’m really enjoying it. The next focus will be dressing the transmissions. They're in good shape though I might throw a rebuild at them along with some upgrades. Probably not needed. I’ll need to look at timing. I could always do them next season (I do not mind pulling engines). We’ll see. I really want to update the cooling lines and get some fresh paint on them.

I hear you on the black, that's what I did!

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...fc98ce85ed.jpg

Going black...


https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...b0ad69a31.jpeg

I was contemplating going with Sniper EFI, but I was approaching 3.5k in parts to do it.

I sent the other Merlin intake out to be blasted so that I can paint. The valve covers also went to the powder coater... going with gloss black. In the end. everything will be a mix of black, polished aluminum, and blue/red AN fittings.

The end still seems so far away!

In other news... we got the steering pretty much done on the Cigarette. That was a project. I think we have maybe two or three Saturday’s left to button things up and then she’s done. Hopefully. I know Wayne would like his boat at the marina.

Hoping to have the 311 back in the water before July 4th. So much to do.

I asked the on the General Tech forum...

Any ideas on how to setup the bypasses on the heat exhangers? Merc uses has a restricted outlet on the thermostat that runs to the exchanger. I’m going to use a single outlet from the manifold. Can I tap into the heater recirculate on the side of the circulation pump? Seems to do about the same thing just at the pump vs the top of the intake. It is on the feed side of the pump. Maybe go from the heater outlet on the intake?

So the heat exchanger operates just like a radiator except that it’s cooled by water, not air. The bypass is constant through the cooler and out of the exhaust, regardless of temperature. The coolant side just circulates inside the block via the pump until the thermostat opens and sends hot coolant into the exchanger. I don’t have any bypass on my system and it works better than raw water. I think you must be trying to plumb this with your existing thermostat housing and that won’t work. The thermostat exit goes straight to the exchanger just like a car. On another note, I think you you are much closer to the finish line than you do. Only 50 more trips to the parts store and you’re done. And Black is beautiful! Good choice.

I just reread your post and realized that I answered the question you did not ask so ....

Figures that I’d use a heat exchanger that makes things more complicated!

My exchanger, the way Merc sets it up, always has coolant circulating from the thermostat housing.

Here’s the parts diagram:


https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...be0356533c.gif

The thermostat housing is split so that there is always coolant flowing even if the thermostat is shut. I’d rather not have the bypass but the connections are on the exchanger.

How should I handle?

There’s nothing I can get from parts stores around here. It’s now the “every other day” order from Jegs. Lol