[Judge273]

Awesome thread! Keep up the great work!!

[Jason67]

Ram Air IV SR block all checked out good at the machine shop, Standard bore, deck flat, magnaflux good. Installed freeze plugs and oil galley plugs, did the hole on the pass. lifter galley for the distributor gear. Cast flashing all removed in lifter valley. Cam bearings installed. Installed the dipstick tubes, mocked up 60 psi oil pump, installed pick-up screen.

Just received the viton valve seals for the NOS 614 heads!

Looking at two different options on the build:

1) Use all of the NOS IV components Cam, lifters, pushrods, rockers, springs, valves. Install 10.5:1 compression pistons, H beam rods, and forged crank. 100 octane needed

-or-

2) Use NOS bare IV heads, 9.2:1 pistons, H-beams, forged crank, New valves, new springs, new pushrods, New roller rockers, and a new roller cam. Pump gas friendly and plenty of ponies.

Decisions, decisions.

[Jason67]

Got the rolling chassis complete and the bottom end assembled on the motor.

[Jason67]

These are the saw horses I made for supporting the body off the frame:

[Jason67]

This is the front frame all stripped, pretty much needed a good cleaning. Had to blast the front control arms in my cabinet, put in new bushings after paint. This thing had orginal ball joints, tops were riveted, so I figured for safety, go with new. When I pulled the original springs, they still had the paper tags on them up under the control arms. Iv'e saved and documented everything. I lightly sanded the firewall and found the grease pencil marks for paint and interior. I still think the best part was finding TWO buildsheets!

[Jason67]

Got my cam degreed and pushrods measured. My NOS IV pushrods are 9.2, ended up needing 9.5 to get the geometry right. Checked piston to valve clearances, none under .207". Got the windage tray and oil pump on.

[getmygoat]

I see you chose a roller cam - do you mind if I ask which one did you pick and why? - and do you know your static compression?

Thanks - I'm selecting a roller cam for my judge as I type this.

[Jason67]

I went to Jim Lehart, Central Viriginia Machine(MrPbody), and purchased my entire valve train through him based on my 614 heads and stroker motor. Its a comp cams custom solid roller, .565 Int .570 Exh gross lift, 110 lobe separation. The reason I went with it was mainly his advise, and he has done this combo in a stroker with 722 heads and runs well on 91 octane. My compression ratio is 9.4:1. Ken Keefer, Ken's Speed and Machine (PDude) supplied my rotating assembly, forged crank, forged rods, custom pistons.

Believe me, I fought a battle with myself on using the original RA IV guts I have, or going with a stroker and roller cam. This isn't an original IV car anyway, and I didn't bore the SR block or alter the 614 heads, so I went with more power and torque. I plan on restoring the original numbers drivetrain after the car is finished and DRIVING this one!

Anyway, its mind boggling the amount of cam info and opinions, my advise would be to talk to Jim or Ken, they both sell custom hydraulic and solid rollers that they've used in their builds. Both are great guys and an absolute wealth of knowledge.

[Jason67]

Installed the engine and transmission, still waiting on rockers to complete. Starter is in and started the engine wire harness.

[Jason67]

Got the pushrods and rockers in, set the valve lash, installed the windage tray and original IV intake, put all the original accessories on from my III car. Thats the original restored carb. I'm also using my original 2010 distributor, but with the BOP nylon gear. Got the original radiator re-cored, now I have the temptation to fire it up!

Question is, if I put the core support on, will it be ridgid enough to hold the radiator without the fenders? Guess I could make brackets or something to hold it steady. Also have to figure out how to start it without a key, all the wiring is setting on the motor (no oil pressure guage either) Need to figure out what the break in proceedures are too. Any suggestions/ideas?

[JLHarper]

Hi Jason,

Looking good!

Its come a long way.

BTY...the Choke Pull Offs on your carb are available in metal correctly plated. CLIFF RUGGLES PERFORMANE CARBS sells them. I bought one for one of my Judge cars and left the others white plastic.... I recall a change over date or model change....though.

Just a heads up....not sure of the details specific to the RAIV from metal to plastic.

Jeff

[Jason67]

Hi Jeff! Thank you for the compliments and the info on the choke pull off, I'll get in touch with Cliff and find out about his metal ones.

I appreciate the comments on what I'm doing with this, some of the stuff I know about, and alot of it I dont know, like the choke pull off I didn't know about.

So good, bad, or ugly, go ahead and let me have it

[dxeven]

Originally Posted by Jason67

Question is, if I put the core support on, will it be ridgid enough to hold the radiator without the fenders?

Yes, the core support is ridgid enough to hold the radiator. That's how I did my break-in on my '69. I bolted the battery tray to the core support and used a jackstand to support the side that would bolt to the inner fender. Good luck, looking great!

[Jason67]

Thank you dxeven! I'll start working on getting the core support on.

For wiring, I imagine it'll need the voltage reg., I'll have to see if I have an oil pressure guage somewhere I can wire. I still need to figure something out for a key. The body is quite high on sawhorses, I suppose I could make extensions from the engine wire harness plug to the bulkhead connector and use the body key.

[Jason67]

Got the core support assembled and headlamp harness installed. Also changed the choke pull off to metal with 2 ports. Some say all 70s had the 2 ports, some say that no RA cars had them, I dont know for sure since mine was plastic. It is the original carb, but it was restored when I purchased the car, so metal with 2 ports it is.

[Jason67]

Brought the Z06 in the shop, about as far as I can go on the chassis and motor, getting ready for the cold winter. Have rechroming to do, stainless polishing to do, and master cylinder needs to be restored.

Also got the carb choke figured out, thanks for everyones help determining what was original and helping find one that can be used.

Looks like I have no excuses but to get going on the body Can't wait to have this car running so I can roast those vintage Eagle STs. Funny thing is I have a poster I bought new in 87 that is of Tiemann's cardinal red Judge with the exact same tires on it.

[trishieldchief]

Jason
Is your 70 Judge a factory Mint turq car ram air III 4 speed car originally?
What is factory color combo and option load?
Was the RAIV engine already in your Judge or have you upgraded it ?

[Jason67]

Hi Rich, The Judge is a factory Cardinal Red RAIII car. Options are safe-t-track, L & R visor mirrors, Power disc brakes, underhood lamp, 4 spd, power steering, all soft ray glass, trunk lamp, and rally clock. The hood tach was added very early, and I'm adding an 8 track and either formula or sport steering wheel (maybe).

I bought the car with its original drivetrain, and removed it to restore after the car is done. I figured if I built the IV and put it in this car, I'd actually drive it. Dont have to worry about hurting the original drivetrain, and if I ever decide to show the car or sell, I can swap everything back to original. I gathered all the pieces for the IV motor except for crank, rods, and pistons. Had all remaining NOS pieces (Except for intake, thats an original) then decided to build the stroker using the block, heads, and intake. It looks like a IV on the outside

[OVERULD]

Hey Rich -
Love those 04 Z16 Z06s. That LeMans blue with the silver/red striping is killer, especially with the carbon fiber showing through on the hood. I've got one on my wish list.

BJ

[trishieldchief]

Originally Posted by Jason67

Hi Rich, The Judge is a factory Cardinal Red RAIII car. Options are safe-t-track, L & R visor mirrors, Power disc brakes, underhood lamp, 4 spd, power steering, all soft ray glass, trunk lamp, and rally clock. The hood tach was added very early, and I'm adding an 8 track and either formula or sport steering wheel (maybe).

I bought the car with its original drivetrain, and removed it to restore after the car is done. I figured if I built the IV and put it in this car, I'd actually drive it. Dont have to worry about hurting the original drivetrain, and if I ever decide to show the car or sell, I can swap everything back to original. I gathered all the pieces for the IV motor except for crank, rods, and pistons. Had all remaining NOS pieces (Except for intake, thats an original) then decided to build the stroker using the block, heads, and intake. It looks like a IV on the outside

Thanks Jason
Good luck with your build it looks great!