not a chance.

 

Well, I don't know what all those guys checked, but going by the "report" it wasn't very through. I would be really hacked if I had paid for a "s..t happens" report. I see they checked ring gap, but did they check wall clearance between piston,ring and cylinder? How much clearance did the pistons have in the holes? Were they .040 over pistons? How much taper in the bores? To the .0002 spec.? If the pistons were grooved wrong diameter or rings wrong cross section there would be a problem but you might be able to assemble anyway. Were any of the rods bent? Was there any indication of valve interference? Could these guys not give a better explanation as to why the two cracks were so low in the bore? Did the gaskets indicate any leakage? Seems like if there was that much hydraulic lock to burst a block the gasket would show blow by and I guarantee a rod would be bent.
What did the builder mean when he told ms. he got someone else's motor or wrong shipping destination or whatever? Was it built in their facility and dyno'd or not? I don't think we have a straight answer yet.
Just a wag but I feel the engine build was outsourced and some corners were cut that Blueprint did not know about. In the end they will make it right. They really only owe him a refund or a dyno'd motor just like he bought. After all, it was his choice to do the extra labor of pulling heads etc. And, at least a little paranoia set in causing him to want some second opinions. I think we all would have wanted another opinion. Good luck, we feel your pain.

 

OMG, I can't beleive I just spent 1/2 my night reading this thread! I guess I missed a couple things since last week.
If this was my purchase,, I would have entertained the request to remove the valve covers to check inside & THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN ALL I WOULD HAVE DONE. Immediately after finding the sludge in there, I would have DEMANDED a return authorization & made them pay shipping. If they declined, simply notify the C/C company to withhold payment until I received the goods that were promised. This has been dragging out WAY too long.
BTW,, GOOD LUCK

 

I've read most of your post - not all, so if I'm repeating anything or anyone, I apologize.

The intake gasket is clearly wrong, and this is the root cause. They are 100% at fault. This allowed water to dump into the crankcase from the start. During the night after the initial start up, the #6 cylinder filled up full of water/oil foam. The piston broke on start up.

You are assuming that because only hot air travels through this port that it will not cause a problem, it will.
I think the only heads GM makes without a heat riser are the full race SB2 heads. Even if the heads do have blocked exhaust passages, it still had the wrong gaskets. Do not let the engine builder tell you anything else. It's obvious to them that they used the wrong gaskets.

If they don't send you a new engine, these photos of the mismatching intake gaskets will support your case in court.

Sorry you have to go through all this, but I think the photos will save you.

 

So..that's what you think of me huh, I buy used?? parts spread them and take pics?? Well, okay..guess I won't be posting pics or updates anymore then.. goddamnit, to think one would get chewed out for trying to be helpful and doing something outside the box..

 

TT - Don't worry about it. Text makes things so impersonnal and it's tough to get the point across. I don't post as much as I used to.

All - The intake gasket issue doesn't appear to affect the water passages since they are at the front and rear of the heads and intake and seem to be properly sealed by the gasket. However It does appear that the heads used have the EGR/riser exhaust ports in them which are not sealed (newer EFI gasket used on older style head). In the mid to late 80's GM went to using the exhaust right after the exhaust manifold for EGR not through the heads and with EFI the exhaust heat was not needed during warmup so the port is blocked off in the heads.

The question is would this exhaust crossover port being exposed cause the problem ie excessive presures causing a gasket to leak? Hard to tell from the pics for sure.

Another possiblity is a dog pissing in the intake (kidding).

 

MsVetteMan, keep something in mind you don't need to prove anything. If it happened due to unexplainable causes they still have to compensate you.

 

i like your posts.....and your theories.....and especially your welds.....you have convinced me to upgrade my gasless mig to a full gas version and as soon as i finish all the wire i have thats what i am going to do...i think your project at home is pretty cool and you definitely are not following any body elses lead....some times these posts can get all screwy

 

You have a realy intricate project car, and I love your suspension set up. Dont let him bother you.
Msvetteman when do we hear what blueprint has to say!

 

thats funny

 

I was just trying to make a point in a humerous way. I think you can put forward your ideas and therories without stomping on someone's elses.

We haven't been seeing eye to eye lately. I don't say anything when you poke fun at me. I think its funny.

 

Vortech heads - like these - do not have a heat crossover passage - in the case of this head the crossover port is still part of the casting but it doesnt go through.... Water only occurs at front and rear on any SBC head that I've ever seen... even if the crossover port was open - it wouldnt explain the water that was the cause of the failure

 

I agree with Turtle AND TT

 

Boy oh Boy,, aint we getting off the crux of the matter here, first it was the dog thing and now its this pi$$in contest,, tell ya the truth I fail to see any humor in telling a guy he's full of $hit about his project and his posting of pictures,,,, lets get back on track here or just dont post. Peace,,,Moosie

 

I was for all this BS until I was against it.

 

I think we should close this post, too much extraneous BS!

msvetteman, start a new post when you hear some results from Blueprint. Everyone wants to hear the outcome, but this thread is becoming difficult.

 

Think most here gave very good input on topic...be very interesting to find out resolution....for msvetteman...hope all turns out good for him...

 

From: MsVetteMan

Picking the motor up around lunch and taking it to an actual performance engine builder (vrs. a machine shop) and going to let them take a quick look at it. Just want to get another opinion before I ship it back to Marshall.

Thanks for the support guys, and I'll let you know what the 4th party inspection reveals.

MsVetteMan

 

Sounds like someone should have bought a low milage cream puff with a CARFAX ........