• When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.

The Willomet Charger

Great thread here, David. Glad to see you're a thick skinned individual and that the criticism hasn't dissuaded you from taking the time to take pictures, upload, explain, and teach how you are doing all this work. I know I'm learning a lot from this thread! My only gripe with LS engines is that my daily 5.3 Tahoe is having (in my opinion) premature lifter ticks! :BangHead:
Do you know yet what lifters you're going to use on this build?
 
Great thread here, David. Glad to see you're a thick skinned individual and that the criticism hasn't dissuaded you from taking the time to take pictures, upload, explain, and teach how you are doing all this work. I know I'm learning a lot from this thread! My only gripe with LS engines is that my daily 5.3 Tahoe is having (in my opinion) premature lifter ticks!
Do you know yet what lifters you're going to use on this build?
Hey, thank you for the kind words. The vast majority of what I’m working on translates to any car build, and I’m glad to be able to share what I’m learning along the way. Turns out, I’m pretty thick headed, too.

For lifters, I haven’t jumped into the engine build just yet. The friends I’ve talked to at HPTuners like to run the full Comp Cams setup that comes with the grinds they specify, and I would be likely to do something along those lines.

David
 
Catching up - it’s been a busy summer: hiking, off-roading, getting the shell prepped for new rockers.

With all that done, it’s full ahead on the car.
291BA000-F89E-4240-BC13-2B7A0FAE2B61.jpeg


All that 4x2 is going to piece together very soon.
A0B98650-8219-4AD3-8077-58AE3C1D4317.jpeg


The “birdcage”
91D39363-2045-4ADF-B1A8-D3242ABC68E6.jpeg


Harriet, supervising
66C8E859-D332-4642-BCD3-3883585B98B3.jpeg


Rockers are cleared, cleaned, hammered and dolley’ed, and ready to accept the Rev2 plating.
43801241-4614-4459-AEE6-478D4B4BAAC2.jpeg


49EB6C83-F483-41EC-8E13-A00B8C46B026.jpeg


These inner rocker plates are off at the sheetmetal shop for laser and bend.
9175315E-A257-426F-955F-3C8A8F75F1CF.jpeg


470A4C57-8268-42E6-90B1-08AA0111FD3C.jpeg


F9823CCE-6822-4F2F-8ECE-5BD418A515DC.jpeg


Meanwhile, there’s plenty of rust repair to see to.
67E8518A-60CF-4387-ACD5-5F1C759D53E2.jpeg


Glad to be back on it.

David
 
This is gonna be an epic build! I like what your doing.
 
Thanks for the update, it's been a little hot down here to spend much time in the workshop.
 
Chipping away during mornings, and evenings.

I used high frequency DC, 33%\33%, 120Hz, 90A-110A (never matted the pedal at 120A).
4AEEE6C2-F8F9-44D8-82AE-359232210284.jpeg


D8290582-EE7E-480E-9AA4-15794B05277A.jpeg


Low current silicone bronze follow up.
B8806F23-E149-4448-A569-64DB9B73294C.jpeg


3B773BF1-3DE8-4CEB-BCF9-BE03E295CE84.jpeg


A553EEA5-2B67-4DFE-B40A-5456F48D83B1.jpeg


3AE543C3-5E57-4F94-A2AB-4D970D92047F.jpeg


8E049ED7-2251-4EB4-9FA1-A657F4A6D1AC.jpeg


Next up:
67D80D44-DE14-4FDA-A70A-F10364F9B7CC.jpeg


Meanwhile, the laser shop should have the rockers done Friday.

David
 
Rocker plating was done early. I only had a minute to test fit, but they’re perfect.

34608618-FC6F-4AF3-BD40-D246C48CFCD0.jpeg


21A56300-9311-436E-A133-F7D52E59D027.jpeg


I’ll head over to my buddy’s shop and use his iron worker to run the dimple die through those larger holes.

David
 
That is the shiz nit for filling holes. It has a lower melting point than steel so it’s a great tig rod to use.
 
Last edited:
so the silicone bronze weld kinda fills in? Teach me.
That is the shiz nit for filling holes. It has a lower melting point that steel so it’s a great tig rod to use.
He’s right.

A couple of things are at play. The AMD steel is fine and clean, but the original ‘70 stuff is varied and corroded, and it’s tricky to get full and clean welds in steel alone when merging the two. Silicone bronze helps fill those minor craters, and without putting too much heat into the work.

David
 
Interior brace repaired.
D8DBF469-5951-4AE7-B759-5E146A101C64.jpeg


Patch finely fit and (pretty much) ready for welding.
6912D22E-D6B2-4CF0-B679-E9355BC2FB3C.jpeg


Also, went to my buddy’s shop and ran the dimple die though the rocker plating. I want to get to that tomorrow, but only if this patch is done and blended.

David
 
Chevrolet Performance LS7 lifters are really good and the most affordable. I put them in my 01 Supercharged Corvette.
Gm lifters came with my comp cam for my 6.0 ls build.
 
Not everyday is a hero day. Today was all about steady progress - no getting around the hours.

FE6734F6-71AC-4A16-9730-C6DD8C8D9A80.jpeg


More pulse TIG
BC298503-B871-4A82-844D-533FA2A421B6.jpeg


Weld thru and punched for plugs
16620B61-FA80-460E-947F-F48A929FC56C.jpeg


Just a zoom in if the fine fitting required to make this patch fit in the same plane as the original
5487F821-FCC5-4072-974D-7B6B1D5FE19F.jpeg


Time to light this candle
7B3A4A79-3995-4CB5-988A-06A58F94AF80.jpeg


About where I wrapped up this segment. I swept up and reset my tools for the coming weld sesh’
61B03412-1D97-4012-B156-9914FE131DD2.jpeg


Also, fit check on the Rev2 rocker plating
92B1D050-06DC-4FDF-9A5D-4B0A8AF7500A.jpeg


Hardly any distortion from the die - the iron worker is the way to go
A6489453-BABA-4D67-A7A7-67900EA36751.jpeg


Up next, a full week of work.

David
 
Not everyday is a hero day. Today was all about steady progress - no getting around the hours.

View attachment 838859

More pulse TIG
View attachment 838860

Weld thru and punched for plugs
View attachment 838861

Just a zoom in if the fine fitting required to make this patch fit in the same plane as the original
View attachment 838862

Time to light this candle
View attachment 838863

About where I wrapped up this segment. I swept up and reset my tools for the coming weld sesh’
View attachment 838864

Also, fit check on the Rev2 rocker plating
View attachment 838865

Hardly any distortion from the die - the iron worker is the way to go
View attachment 838867

Up next, a full week of work.

David
Nice work David. You are a real craftsman with metal. Being meticulous shows in the fit of the parts you work with. Very nice.
 
Auto Transport Service
Back
Top