8T1-7T9 BIONIC VETTE

I removed the Dart Iron Eagle Heads off the Max Velocity Plus 383 Beck Racing Engine today. Found the tops of piston 3 and 4 broke off at the compression ring lands....It broke right in the same area for both pistons....seems they machined those piston tops too much on the intake valve side....it was very thin....no more than an 8th of an inch....just below the top you can see the compression ring....the rest of the pistons looked okay....the slivers that broke off must have gone through the exhaust because there was no pieces in there. It's amazing this thing raced and ran firing on that compression ring....I hope the block is salvageable....The Dart Iron Eagle Heads looked good....just required a good cleaning.... What's the most I can bore before it's in the water jacket or should I just use block for boat anchor? :seeya Cappy

89gta383

Almost the same thing happened to mine, and the cylinders cleaned up with a hone, no damage to the bores.

8T1-7T9 BIONIC VETTE

89gta383,
I saw your other post.....number 3 cylinder wall is smooth, however number 4 cylinder wall I can feel where the piece of piston rubbed the wall...it's not gouged, just smooth indentations. I can't catch my finger nail in it. Do you think honing will make it right? Maybe I should bore it out to .40 over? Just to clean it up.... :seeya Cappy

vader86

Just have it honed and checked thoroughly to see if theres any block damage, going .030" more will require some custom parts that are way more expensive than the 383 parts.

8T1-7T9 BIONIC VETTE

vader86,
After a good look.....I don't think this is salvageable.....Deeper down the bore it's gouged out pretty bad....I'm amazed by the thinness between the top of the piston and the valve indentation....maybe 1/8th inch. It appears Beck Racing Engines had zero clearance, so they machined the tops of the pistons with valve reliefs....where the valve pocket is on the top of the piston, to the compression ring, there's only 1/8th inch of piston material. They both snapped slivers of piston right at the valve relief. This engine will be going where it should have gone long time ago..... :mad :seeya Cappy

WashingtonRacer

How are those Iron Eagle heads working for you? I have a set of World Products S/R heads on my car at the moment, After wasting money getting them O-ringed and porting a polishing them "FOREVER" I decide to go to a roller cam, and that requires a 1.50 spring seat. Well, There is not enough material on the end seats for a 1.50 spring so I looks that I might just have to throw them out. I am doing everything on a budget, and I noticed those Iron Eagle heads. I want to know more.

8T1-7T9 BIONIC VETTE

WashingtonRacer,
The Dart Iron Eagles are great Heads....In fact after close inspection, they appear to be CNC and Ported.......They were immediately snatched up by a friend for his race car. The Cam Sprocket and Timing Chain, Edelbrock Air Gap Manifold, Roller Rockers, and possibly the Crank, if it's Forged.....will be used in another 383 or sold. Pistons/Rods and the block go straight to the bone yard....... :seeya Cappy