Well done! Now go and enjoy the heck out of it!

So, first things first, out with the "old".....

Attachment 291931

Attachment 291932


The original M20 Muncie....
Attachment 291933


I really didn't know it was that "dirty" under all the "components"! It's kind of embarrassing!!
Attachment 291934


Now it's beginning to get real.....
Attachment 291935

So, a few of the things I was going to provide for the engine were, new AFR heads #1040, 195cc, 65cc chambers with angle plugs, new Doug's headers #D323B (this is before I had them coated), the existing Comp stainless roller rockers, the existing MSD distributor, the existing Holley 750 double pumper carb and other miscellaneous parts.

Attachment 292101

Attachment 292102

Attachment 292103

Attachment 292104

Attachment 292105

I decided too not reinstall the smog pump this time around but thought I would have the alternator refurbished by Ken Bruno.

Before.......

Attachment 292117

Attachment 292118

Attachment 292119

And after....

He did an amazing job and it looks great!!

Attachment 292120

Attachment 292121

Attachment 292122

While the engine was out I had other things to contend with. I thought, if I was going to have 500 horsepower, I’d better refresh/upgrade a few things. I went with solid aluminum body mounts from Global West (#800) along with their tubular upper (#CT-79A) and lower (#CT79L) control arms and subframe connectors from Competition Engineering (#C3116).

Attachment 292123

Attachment 292125

Attachment 292124

Just read the whole thread Joe.Looks like you're doing her right.Keep up the good work and good luck! Following!!

Control arms going in.....


Attachment 292386

Attachment 292387

Attachment 292388





I even took on the task of “rebuilding” and detailing the calipers, which, after a bath in Evaporust, turning out looking pretty good!!

Attachment 292379

Attachment 292380

Attachment 292381

Attachment 292382

Attachment 292383

Attachment 292384

Attachment 292385









One thing that was brought to my attention about the lower control arms was that they might not have a “bump stop” to prevent the steering from going too far. After bolting everything up, that was exactly the case!! When moving the wheel to full lock, the tire would hit the frame!! I called Global West and was told that, sure, I could just drill and tap the lower arm to accept some sort of stop!! Since I really didn’t want to do that, I asked my neighbor for some help. We came up with the solution of drilling and tapping the steering arm instead and it worked perfectly.

Attachment 292376

Attachment 292377

Attachment 292378

Since everything was looking better, I thought I’m now committed to detailing most everything!! I ended up painting the springs a few times before I was okay with the color!!

Attachment 292389

Ended up with this....It might not be the "correct" color, but I like it!!

Attachment 292390

The steering box was seeping oil for some reason, so I had that rebuilt also!!

Attachment 292391

I guess I got a little “out of sequence” with the pictures!! Here are the spindles before, during prep and after painting, along with the steering arms.

Attachment 292421

Attachment 292422

Attachment 292423

Attachment 292424

Also notice the new Hotchkiss sway bar....

Attachment 292425

I had the backing plates and caliper brackets replated also.

Attachment 292426

Attachment 292427

Here are the subframe connectors going in. I made the mistake of undoing both sides at the front leaf-spring location and had a heck of a time getting them back together!!! Notice the "come-a-long" around the rear axle tube !!!!

Attachment 292428

Attachment 292429

Back to the engine. I had the block cleaned, masked off and painted good old Chevy Orange and then received a text message, with a picture and nothing else, from my engine builder. Who can guess what this is, why it’s bad and whose block it is?? No points for guessing correctly, just know that you’re knowledgeable in things mechanical....

Attachment 292430

I wish he would have waited until after he was working on the block to have me paint it, but that sometimes happens in the world of engine building?????? He just happened to have another small block laying around from the ‘70’s, had already sent it off to have it machined, and we were back in “business!”