I’m happy to see the ole Atlas, in my opinion the Atlas builds are so cool because for the last 20 years, hardly anyone gave these monsters a chance lol.
Cletus might exist but Calvin is true grass roots and far more informative. Thanks for sticking to cars Calvin and for the love of God stay away from any political bullshit. Keep it to racing !
You are a very bright and talented young man Calvin. What really impresses me is the fact you're NOT running an LS and you're not afraid to take on new challenges. I'm not very knowledgeable about your choice of engine, so every time I see one of your videos I learn something new. It's young guys like you that are going to help keep this motorsport alive. With your "can do" attitude, you have a very bright future ahead of you.
This car is off the charts cool Calvin. Your fabrication skills on the intake are excellent. I never thought I'd see the day a Fairmont Wagon runs 9's with an SUV engine in it. Way cooler than the zillions of LS builds on RUclips.
I think the same way as you. Some people would look and see an old truck pipe, but to me it looks like aluminum material waiting for a new life. Just like rusty steel stock, it's still shiny and new underneath when you turn it, very satisfying. I enjoy your channel, you definitely work hard towards your vision.
Yanking that block trying to move it reminds me of my late 20’s dragging 302/351 Cleveland’s around my yard with a heavy duty 2 wheeler 😂 Just watching that made my back hurt and memories of breaking down and grabbing a lawn tractor to finish the pulling tasks 😂😂😂
Any kind of homemade lower valance will really help. It creates a low pressure area behind it and will force more air through the intercooler and radiator. All of us Grand National guys in Phoenix learned that the hard way when we removed the small lower valance on our cars and they started to run hot.
So good that you don't just do what everyone else is doing. Love all the tech. The heads up video of the engine vitals is super cool. Thanks. Rex here in NZ.
I really hope you're atlas builds wake people up to the 4.2. I have a BARE BONES. 2002 Trailblazer that used to be a OCFD fire vehicle in CA i want to make a sleeper out of. The piatons, the cam and getting this stuff made is intimidating. No lie but knowing it can be done is priceless
Get and under tray on there and duct the grill openings to the radiator and block the other openings. You want all the air entering the front of the car to go through the radiator and none to bypass it. And the under tray will also help lower the air pressure in the engine bay which also helps the air go through the radiator. You’ll also reduce drag as a side benefit.
Hey Calvin so proud to watch your videos you and your dad are true Pioneers in developing the atlas platform they don't make the parts no problem we'll make it ourselves LOL please keep up the good work love your videos hope you catch the guys that stole your stuff still on the lookout
The 4200 is looking better and better every time Calvin, a whole bunch of little things is what makes a great big difference. And yeah, my new Northstar engine block is sitting in my front foyer and I just keep glareing at those three broken off main brearing bolts. But every time i walk past it I'm loving it more and more. A small problem is, is I'm REALLY slow at getting my projects finished, i think it's got something to do with a thing called "fundage?"😂 Thanks and great to here from ya again.
Your videos are always awesome. Zero filler, always interesting, just the right length, technical and enjoyable. Would love more content, have followed you and your dad since the early GRM challenge days
That's so bizarre that they snap that easy but it looked like the broken bolt shanks came out easy. That's so cool that's the cylinder head you have I remember when he did that head!
I just love the way you use stuff you have in the workshop. I work the same way. I dont afford buying every metal thickness i need for every part i build so i often have to go watch in the pile of spare metal parts to find something usable. I really enjoy your projects. Very like-minded to how i like to build as cheap as possible but still keep a very good quility🙏🤙🙂
It's a talent all on It's own. Being able to look at something and think "what can I make with this" ? I like going to yard sales just to find metal objects that I know can be made into something different. I remember buying a meat tenderizer, "spikey hammer" to use as a brake pedal in one of my offroad trucks. There is a very fine line between brilliant and crazy. I don't know which side of the line I'm on.
Is there a knows reason and or fix for the head bolts seizing and snapping? I'm looking into an NA 4200 build for my '53 Bel Air, any advice would be much appreciated. Keep up the great work!
The 4 and 5 cylinders don't do it. It's like GM put a designed break point in the bolt. I would assume that it provides a more consistent clamping load. It really is not a big deal. Everyone is scared of it. They're super easy to get out.
Awesome fab work and it goes good now. Can only imagne it will be better. Cool to hear norwegian music (Edward Grieg, In The Hall Of The Mountain King or I Dovregubbens hall) as a norse 🙂
Bro....... You are such an inspiration !! INSANELY AWESOME Kickin ass Calvin.. sick AF the car was making way more steam but seemed to lose it at the converter perhaps, thats what it sounded like.. i think that car is High 7 second low 8s bro.. That thing is gona make some steam...holy mackerel...The power is strong , just need to dial er in...Thing hooks like a banshee...lol you can hear the engine making the power and sustaining power, its just not delivering it... shes gona fricken Hammer....Quick Work your magic, and i think its going to blow your socks off, Its doing great but it will do way better...it was holding the rpms strong. Great stuff guys, Love it
For the overheating try VP stay frosty. It is a water-based coolant. It does not have glycol so it will not help you against freeze protection, but it absolutely helps against overheat and it helps prevent corrosion so it’s better than adding just water and water wetter.
A lot of surface area on the new plenum… Might want to add some reinforcement ribs to it to help with expansion, and blowing apart at some point lol. Nice work! 👍🏻🤘🏻👏🏻 Can’t wait until she goes to the moon!
Yeah. It's pretty thick material and it's all curved surface. Your boost tubing is usually made out of 0.060". I think we will be alright, but I'll keep an eye on it.
Thinking of getting the calvin in me and stroking my l83. 363ci.. 4.000 stroke with 3.800 pistons. Haven't seen anyone doing a hod ball l83. My other option is using the l8t crank(3.8xx stroke) but id need custom pistons and rods. And for the 4" stroke the only piston squirter i can find are katech($$$$). The 3.8 can resuse the original ones.
@Calvin-Nelson from what I've read, they all unfortunately need mallory added to balance, which puts the price in the new crank range by the time you're done.
Thats a nice, VERY nice, looking plenum Cal. BTW love the automation direct? 22mm pilot light shift lights. Go go gadget industrial electrical components!
What part of the block ends up the hottest usually it would be number 6 on your engine as the water pump needs to push the water along way while absorbing a awful lot of heat as its a turbo engine. Stand the intercooler vertically with short connecting pipes rather then horizontally & exhaust wrap all pipe work from the exit side of your intercooler to your manifold Kiwi Rod
Bolt knockers how to use. Ensure that there’s enough air pressure to properly drive the knocker. Do not try to undo the bolt while knocking. Apply torque that is insufficient to undo or break the bolt while knocking and be patient . If there’s more than one bolt knock each one first before applying torque. Then apply torque in sequence. Then give up and get the big breaker bar and a nice set of ezouts.
Mine didn't come with instructions. I don't think it is going to help. I tried a variety of techniques. If it was going to snap it snapped. Didn't matter. Ezouts are the way. Super easy
@@Calvin-Nelson . I was being humorous but that is the instructions, you want the hammering to break the seal not the torque. But in all likelihood you are absolutely right that if they’re destined to break no technique and save them.
I was going through some of the older videos, and I saw the one with Northstar build. In it, you mention the stud kit from Northstar Performance. I got curious and saw that they also have a kit for the Atlas family. I borked up one of the threads while doing an extraction, so I'm debating biting the bullet and getting the kit while the engine is on the stand. Do you have any experience as far as that kit goes?
I'm hanging on for the first 8 second pass!! I need that to make up for a V8 with a bumpy cam!! I've always thought that I didn't really care about the sound but I'm finding that is no longer the case!!
What core is that you used on the IC? Loks great. have you looked into the volvo brushless fans? They are monsters. Have a 14x14x3.5 radiator completely blocked by the IC and it cools plenty.
look into upgrading your fans to the GM Brushless fans found in the new sparks, trucks, and camaros. My Camaro 19" fan moves an insane amount of air and I no longer even look at my coolant temps as they just don't rise anymore.
When it comes to intercoolers the rule of thumb is 70% of the cubic inch of the core is your power level recommendation. So if you have a 1000 in.³ core 700 hp is the recommended limit to the wheels. the only core that I know of that can perform that is Garrett intercooler cord, which will easily do one wheel horsepower per cubic inch. This goes for running gas cars went running ethanol. You can’t get away with a smaller core.
Can you give some quantitative measure of the performance difference between the long(er) runner Artec intake manifold & the shorter 3" billet runners? I'm considering going a similar route on a turbo I6 revving to 8100rpm. Current runners are just over 5", and was thinking of making runners half as long...
They're 4 inch runners, and it is more than just intake runner length. My manifold has more plenum and more cross sectional area in the port. It's probably 70-100hp difference
Just a thought Does Mercury or any other marine manufacture have anything in there catalogues which is a large air to water or glycol to saltwater intercooler that you can utilize, you may need to attach a assembly with a vortex in it to control the heat transfer then butcher a truck air conditioning unit & drive the compressor using the motor from electric power steering unit & use refrigerant for your cooling. could be a winter project
Anybody else patiently waiting for a north star vid
Sorry man. Just been busy
I’m happy to see the ole Atlas, in my opinion the Atlas builds are so cool because for the last 20 years, hardly anyone gave these monsters a chance lol.
@@FLINTmitten810flash in the pan for gm is why they were overlooked, just like northstar
This project will get done. Months of progress has been lost when the truck trailer tools and Stude were stolen.
Hell yeah I am. Haven't seen one done before and the motor seems like a capable layout with the right parts.
Cletus might exist but Calvin is true grass roots and far more informative. Thanks for sticking to cars Calvin and for the love of God stay away from any political bullshit. Keep it to racing !
I can't stand the political stuff, so no risk there
You are a very bright and talented young man Calvin. What really impresses me is the fact you're NOT running an LS and you're not afraid to take on new challenges. I'm not very knowledgeable about your choice of engine, so every time I see one of your videos I learn something new. It's young guys like you that are going to help keep this motorsport alive. With your "can do" attitude, you have a very bright future ahead of you.
Thanks! That's very kind
I love how it sounds. Plus nothing says sleeper like the chute on the back 😊
This car is off the charts cool Calvin. Your fabrication skills on the intake are excellent. I never thought I'd see the day a Fairmont Wagon runs 9's with an SUV engine in it. Way cooler than the zillions of LS builds on RUclips.
That intake manifold looks amazing. Great work Calvin!
Thanks bud!
I think the same way as you. Some people would look and see an old truck pipe, but to me it looks like aluminum material waiting for a new life. Just like rusty steel stock, it's still shiny and new underneath when you turn it, very satisfying. I enjoy your channel, you definitely work hard towards your vision.
That intake manifold is actually incredible hahaha. Awesome video. Great updates.
Great job getting the wagon done for the event. The data from running the two cars is going to be very helpful developing the engine.
oh yes sunday night entertainment from my favorite car dood
Yanking that block trying to move it reminds me of my late 20’s dragging 302/351 Cleveland’s around my yard with a heavy duty 2 wheeler 😂
Just watching that made my back hurt and memories of breaking down and grabbing a lawn tractor to finish the pulling tasks 😂😂😂
Any kind of homemade lower valance will really help. It creates a low pressure area behind it and will force more air through the intercooler and radiator.
All of us Grand National guys in Phoenix learned that the hard way when we removed the small lower valance on our cars and they started to run hot.
These videos genuinely make my day better. Keep having a positive impact Calvin🙂
So good that you don't just do what everyone else is doing. Love all the tech. The heads up video of the engine vitals is super cool. Thanks. Rex here in NZ.
You have some great skills I love your videos I still feel terrible for you losing your car keep up the good work.
I really hope you're atlas builds wake people up to the 4.2. I have a BARE BONES. 2002 Trailblazer that used to be a OCFD fire vehicle in CA i want to make a sleeper out of. The piatons, the cam and getting this stuff made is intimidating. No lie but knowing it can be done is priceless
Great work Calvin. Glad to see you and your dad making great progress in the Atlas builds.
Get and under tray on there and duct the grill openings to the radiator and block the other openings. You want all the air entering the front of the car to go through the radiator and none to bypass it. And the under tray will also help lower the air pressure in the engine bay which also helps the air go through the radiator. You’ll also reduce drag as a side benefit.
Your Tig welds are looking Great!
Thanks. Lots of practice.
Good to see your dad moving around as good as he is!!!
Hey Calvin so proud to watch your videos you and your dad are true Pioneers in developing the atlas platform they don't make the parts no problem we'll make it ourselves LOL please keep up the good work love your videos hope you catch the guys that stole your stuff still on the lookout
Thanks for keeping an eye out! Means a lot
Holy moly that run in the intro was insane!
You need to incorporate a torrington thrust bearing to the front main , this will stop thrust bearing wear.
We just upgrade to a 360 thrust. Problem solved.
dude this thing is SICK, excellent work
Awesome progress Calvin, stoked for you brother. ✌ 🇦🇺
The 4200 is looking better and better every time Calvin, a whole bunch of little things is what makes a great big difference. And yeah, my new Northstar engine block is sitting in my front foyer and I just keep glareing at those three broken off main brearing bolts.
But every time i walk past it I'm loving it more and more. A small problem is, is I'm REALLY slow at getting my projects finished, i think it's got something to do with a thing called "fundage?"😂
Thanks and great to here from ya again.
That's some beautiful fabrication ❤😊
Your videos are always awesome. Zero filler, always interesting, just the right length, technical and enjoyable.
Would love more content, have followed you and your dad since the early GRM challenge days
Thanks. I try not to waste people's time
That's so bizarre that they snap that easy but it looked like the broken bolt shanks came out easy. That's so cool that's the cylinder head you have I remember when he did that head!
Amazing looking intake good work. So cool how the car looks stock. But pop the hood and...
Exactly! This guy gets it
I totally agree on the center feed intake. The air distribution should be better than a front feed.
I'm a sucker for performance wagons, always have been, cannot explain why?!!
Some of the best teenage memories happened in the back of station wagons !
I'd take a vista cruiser ANY day of the week 😂
I enjoyed your effort in building that intake 😊
Lets gooo that wagons ripping
I just love the way you use stuff you have in the workshop. I work the same way. I dont afford buying every metal thickness i need for every part i build so i often have to go watch in the pile of spare metal parts to find something usable. I really enjoy your projects. Very like-minded to how i like to build as cheap as possible but still keep a very good quility🙏🤙🙂
Yep! Seeing random metal laying around always gets the gears turning. Lol
It's a talent all on It's own. Being able to look at something and think "what can I make with this" ?
I like going to yard sales just to find metal objects that I know can be made into something different. I remember buying a meat tenderizer, "spikey hammer" to use as a brake pedal in one of my offroad trucks. There is a very fine line between brilliant and crazy. I don't know which side of the line I'm on.
Is there a knows reason and or fix for the head bolts seizing and snapping? I'm looking into an NA 4200 build for my '53 Bel Air, any advice would be much appreciated. Keep up the great work!
The 4 and 5 cylinders don't do it. It's like GM put a designed break point in the bolt. I would assume that it provides a more consistent clamping load. It really is not a big deal. Everyone is scared of it. They're super easy to get out.
+1 for romantic classical music in your videos
+1 for fast wagons
I love it when a plan comes together
IT was super cool seeing you guys at the event and i am looking forward to next year :D
Awesome fab work and it goes good now. Can only imagne it will be better.
Cool to hear norwegian music (Edward Grieg, In The Hall Of The Mountain King or I Dovregubbens hall) as a norse 🙂
Bro....... You are such an inspiration !! INSANELY AWESOME
Kickin ass Calvin.. sick AF
the car was making way more steam but seemed to lose it at the converter perhaps, thats what it sounded like.. i think that car is High 7 second low 8s bro.. That thing is gona make some steam...holy mackerel...The power is strong , just need to dial er in...Thing hooks like a banshee...lol you can hear the engine making the power and sustaining power, its just not delivering it... shes gona fricken Hammer....Quick
Work your magic, and i think its going to blow your socks off, Its doing great but it will do way better...it was holding the rpms strong. Great stuff guys, Love it
So good to see you back in action! The main problem is it is a Ford heheheh....OFC it will be broken down all the time.
Might be onto something there.
Big gainz 💪 Congrats to you and your family, Calvin. All that hard work and engineering pays off
Your faster than a Harley now!
That intake looked great my man for a diesel part.😂
glad its back together :-) all the best to you and your family... I drift but am considering building a drag car... I may go atlas T400 🙂
For the overheating try VP stay frosty. It is a water-based coolant. It does not have glycol so it will not help you against freeze protection, but it absolutely helps against overheat and it helps prevent corrosion so it’s better than adding just water and water wetter.
Yeah. Most of the racing we do requires water. If it has any color to it, they won't let us run.
Love it bro you’re a true innovator and legend
Use some seafoam deep creep. Should help with freeing up anything. Just let it soak over night. I know the bolts are fragile but it does help some
Outstanding. Love this channel
Nice work!!!
For added cooling, have you looked into brushless fans? They're pretty easy to source and they move a LOT of air. Just some food for thought!
Planning to do just that.
Smart removing the pan before rolling the block upside down.
Yep. That's how Dad taught me. Keeps the junk in the pan so you can see how much there is.
Are you using Valvoline restore and protect oil? Your piston look so clean.
4:45 is my favorite part of the video.
Nah. Just Valvoline VR1
A lot of surface area on the new plenum…
Might want to add some reinforcement ribs to it to help with expansion, and blowing apart at some point lol.
Nice work! 👍🏻🤘🏻👏🏻
Can’t wait until she goes to the moon!
Yeah. It's pretty thick material and it's all curved surface. Your boost tubing is usually made out of 0.060".
I think we will be alright, but I'll keep an eye on it.
Hell yeah. Nice job man.
What dimension are you machining off the piston ?
0.040"
Have you tried time-serts for headbolt thread repair? The other possibility would be upping the stud diameter.
I haven't. I have never had the need.
You know I grew tomato’s this year even though my cars struggled lol
Lol! I'm growing peppers!
Keep up the good work
Thinking of getting the calvin in me and stroking my l83. 363ci.. 4.000 stroke with 3.800 pistons. Haven't seen anyone doing a hod ball l83. My other option is using the l8t crank(3.8xx stroke) but id need custom pistons and rods. And for the 4" stroke the only piston squirter i can find are katech($$$$). The 3.8 can resuse the original ones.
L8T cranks are my new favorite.
@@Calvin-Nelsongood ol W/T DI 400 that runs on 87, no DOD I believe.
@Calvin-Nelson from what I've read, they all unfortunately need mallory added to balance, which puts the price in the new crank range by the time you're done.
Intake manifold....Necessity is the mother of all inventions
Well done 👍
Keep up the great work.
You dont coat the pistons with coating to prevent scratching and carboñ build up on the piston top and the skirts?
Nope
@@Calvin-Nelson why not
I love that Telemetry for us nerds to nerd out on1✌❤😆
Thanks. Honestly I like it too. It takes a fair bit of effort to do, but it's worth it.
Thats a nice, VERY nice, looking plenum Cal. BTW love the automation direct? 22mm pilot light shift lights. Go go gadget industrial electrical components!
Ahhh. Methanol injection for the ol wagon😊
What part of the block ends up the hottest usually it would be number 6 on your engine as the water pump needs to push the water along way while absorbing a awful lot of heat as its a turbo engine.
Stand the intercooler vertically with short connecting pipes rather then horizontally & exhaust wrap all pipe work from the exit side of your intercooler to your manifold
Kiwi Rod
Good job on intake .
Thanks
Bolt knockers how to use.
Ensure that there’s enough air pressure to properly drive the knocker.
Do not try to undo the bolt while knocking.
Apply torque that is insufficient to undo or break the bolt while knocking and be patient . If there’s more than one bolt knock each one first before applying torque.
Then apply torque in sequence.
Then give up and get the big breaker bar and a nice set of ezouts.
Mine didn't come with instructions. I don't think it is going to help. I tried a variety of techniques. If it was going to snap it snapped. Didn't matter.
Ezouts are the way. Super easy
@@Calvin-Nelson . I was being humorous but that is the instructions, you want the hammering to break the seal not the torque.
But in all likelihood you are absolutely right that if they’re destined to break no technique and save them.
Would a smaller air to water intercooler work?
Probably. I just have no place I'm willing to put an ice tank
1st Annual Atlas Nationals: Drag Racing Shootout, were there anyone there taking videos? You're work is amazing, thanks for sharing.
Lots of folks took vids.
bad ass!! i probably won't be able to see you running the cars live until 2026 and man i can't wait
Another awesome video!!
You guys do way more custom work than almost anybody I've seen on the internet, but I guess it's necessary with the platform you are using
line2line coatings is a good options for skirt wear on a cupple pistons like you had.
Yep. Good tip. Didn't have time to wait
I was going through some of the older videos, and I saw the one with Northstar build. In it, you mention the stud kit from Northstar Performance. I got curious and saw that they also have a kit for the Atlas family. I borked up one of the threads while doing an extraction, so I'm debating biting the bullet and getting the kit while the engine is on the stand. Do you have any experience as far as that kit goes?
I was not aware they had an Atlas kit. I'm not familiar with it.
You need to allow air to get out from the engine compartment. Put some hood vents to improve air flow.
I will not modify my hood. You can actually see how I've started to solve it in some of the shots.
I'm hanging on for the first 8 second pass!! I need that to make up for a V8 with a bumpy cam!! I've always thought that I didn't really care about the sound but I'm finding that is no longer the case!!
Hopefully we will be there very soon. The sound is half the reason I got into them. Lol
Just want you to know that you're my favourite automotive RUclipsr
Wow! That's high praise. Thank you!
Can you install a 16” fan in front of the intercooler? A pusher maybe a hi-volt style?you might have to trim the grille. Or you can do 2 smaller fans.
Not enough room unfortunately
Calvin what kind of k member are you running on the fairmont
I need to make it out to the Atlas Nationals next year.
What core is that you used on the IC? Loks great. have you looked into the volvo brushless fans? They are monsters. Have a 14x14x3.5 radiator completely blocked by the IC and it cools plenty.
It's two CX Racing cores.
Nothing like a woody station wagon on the road or race track.
look into upgrading your fans to the GM Brushless fans found in the new sparks, trucks, and camaros. My Camaro 19" fan moves an insane amount of air and I no longer even look at my coolant temps as they just don't rise anymore.
Nice. I'm looking at Silverado fans.
Your musical choices are classically perfect!
Calvin have you tried welding washers and a nut to the broken head studs to extract them like doing 5.4 exhaust manifold bolts?
I haven't. Left handed drill bits and Easy outs screw them right out. No issues at all.
When it comes to intercoolers the rule of thumb is 70% of the cubic inch of the core is your power level recommendation. So if you have a 1000 in.³ core 700 hp is the recommended limit to the wheels. the only core that I know of that can perform that is Garrett intercooler cord, which will easily do one wheel horsepower per cubic inch.
This goes for running gas cars went running ethanol. You can’t get away with a smaller core.
We've gotten away with smaller cores many many times with lots of success. A larger intercooler can't hurt.
8:39 slightly modified how? Please🙂
I covered it in previous videos. You can see the footage of me shaving 0.040" off the top of the piston.
@@Calvin-Nelson ah, did not realize. I will go back and look closer. Thanks for all the help you put out there
Can you give some quantitative measure of the performance difference between the long(er) runner Artec intake manifold & the shorter 3" billet runners? I'm considering going a similar route on a turbo I6 revving to 8100rpm. Current runners are just over 5", and was thinking of making runners half as long...
They're 4 inch runners, and it is more than just intake runner length. My manifold has more plenum and more cross sectional area in the port. It's probably 70-100hp difference
@@Calvin-Nelson How long were the runners on the Artec?
What motor oil do you run ,I run penn grade green oil 50w in my 383 sbc, the best decision I ever made.
We use Valvoline VR1. It's been treating us well.
@@Calvin-Nelson you won,t be sorry if you which to the green oil.
Great content
I will say it again: I really enjoy watching people make non-V8's go fast.
Did you hone the cylinders, or you just slapped the new slugs in?
Atlas Industries 🥰👍🏾
11.2 is rich, love the channel
That's right where I like to run it. I could lean it up a little, but I'd rather have a little extra cooling.
@@Calvin-Nelson does it heat significantly at say 11.8?
Just a thought
Does Mercury or any other marine manufacture have anything in there catalogues which is a large air to water or glycol to saltwater intercooler that you can utilize, you may need to attach a assembly with a vortex in it to control the heat transfer then butcher a truck air conditioning unit & drive the compressor using the motor from electric power steering unit & use refrigerant for your cooling.
could be a winter project
That's probably not a bad place to look, but I just don't have anywhere to put the ice tank. I refuse to put it in the cargo area.
@@Calvin-Nelson don't use ice use the same gases that you use in your air conditioning unit it used to be freon I can't remember what we use now
This thing would be sweet with a billet valve cover. Need one done up?