I've been pretty busy with work lately, and have just a smaller update today. That has to do with the fuel rail. The fuel rail on these engines is "U" shaped, with fuel flowing in just behind the injector for cylinder #8. #8 winds up having the bulk of any problems in these engines, and the thought is that it goes lean under high loads, for some unknown reason related to the U shape starving it. Personally, I do not subscribe to that theory (I believe it is coolant flow related). However, it's fairly easy to see where #1 & #5 could have problems. The solution is known as 'looping the fuel rail'. What this means is to add fittings to the end of the legs of the "U", and make a piece of fuel line to tie the two sides together. This makes a big loop, rather than a U. There are two basics ways to get this done. First, shell out $600-1100 for a modified fuel rail, or do it yourself. Choosing the latter, but still lacking an measurable TIG welding skills, I set to work. On the shelf was another stainless steel fuel rail for a Dodge SRT-4, and so it became the guinea pig. After gaining reasonable enough proficiency in the practice of ruining a fuel rail with a torch, I got the hack saw out, and in a few minutes, the ends were lopped off the M113K fuel rail, and the stainless steel flat bungs to -6 AN fittings were positioned in their place. After an excruciating amount of time, and not so pretty looking welds, it was complete. I built a temporary fuel line using "normal" AN line, but there is some PTFE type line coming, and will build a replacement with those fittings soon. Real Welders: Please be kind, K? Thx.


I measured the line length for reference, and am placing it here for posterity.


This same day, the intake "tanks" or plenums, and the valve covers were powdercoated. The powder on one valve cover came out terribly. Bad enough that the chemical powder stripper (read: REALLY nasty acid stuff) was broken out, and the valve cover was stripped, re-blasted, and re-coated. This last sentence was about a 5 hour ordeal. Interesting side note is that the acid seems almost benign when working with aluminum, but it reacts fairly aggressively with the magnesium of these valve covers. They got hot!

Today it was also realized that RockAuto sent me valve cover gaskets for a V6. An Advance Auto Parts 45 minutes away had the right ones, so those have been picked up. The hope for tomorrow is to have the engine bolted to the trans, and everything dressed out.