Crate engine disaster
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2001
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From: Watkinsville, GA and Glen Cove, NY
Crate engine disaster
I was up visiting my engine builder today and he had a 615 cube Bill Mitchell crate on the dyno while I was there that he was running in to get ready for some dyno pulls. He told me that his customer bought the shortblock from Bill Mitchell and the heads from Sonny Leonard, some big Brodix 5's and had Mitchell assemble it. Well the engine never really ran right for a 12.5 to 1 615 with a big solid roller so he broght it to my guy to look over. Along with alot of other little problems they had put the wrong thrust button in and the cam was walking forward and had almost eaten through the timing cover and the lifters had actually bumped the next cam lobe to the front. So all that metal in the engine although luckily none of it seemed to make it through the filter because the bearings were fine. I guess it is a good idea to give these crates a little going over huh. Unfortunately I had to leave before they made any pulls but he expected around 900 horsepower. It sure sounded sweet. :seeya
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2001
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From: Living in the Hartland
Re: Crate engine disaster (69ttop502)
Many like myself have found that just cuz some so called pro builds it doesn't mean it will run right. Granted if a part fails through no fault of the builder then how can you blame them? But they should stand behind their work even if it was a componant part failure. Sounds like that was a hell of an eng, lucky they caught it before it really let go.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2000
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From: Semper ubi, sub ubi
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Re: Crate engine disaster (69ttop502)
That's the second Bill Mitchell horror story this week on the Forum. Sounds like BM has some employee problems.
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Re: Crate engine disaster (69ttop502)
I think you hit it on the head. Just 'cause someone gets paid for it doesn't automatically make them "professional"!
These type engines are ungodly labor and detail intensive. A very good engine builder has to try to anticipate every concievable issue during assy. and try to head it off. Everything you install either needs massaging or something to fit right. nothing every actually bolts on.if it does..you missed something!
Good to hear it didn't get hurt too bad. Should be a sweet piece.
I recently heard of another big time builder seling high end crate deals. It was a 572 that was supposed to make 775 hp in street trim. Well it made 680 hp! It was sent back and the replacement was also dyno'd. It made 690! The customer was a less than happy camper!
It's a lot tougher to generate honest big HP numbers than the magazines would lead you to believe. They make it look easy!
JIM
These type engines are ungodly labor and detail intensive. A very good engine builder has to try to anticipate every concievable issue during assy. and try to head it off. Everything you install either needs massaging or something to fit right. nothing every actually bolts on.if it does..you missed something!
Good to hear it didn't get hurt too bad. Should be a sweet piece.
I recently heard of another big time builder seling high end crate deals. It was a 572 that was supposed to make 775 hp in street trim. Well it made 680 hp! It was sent back and the replacement was also dyno'd. It made 690! The customer was a less than happy camper!
It's a lot tougher to generate honest big HP numbers than the magazines would lead you to believe. They make it look easy!
JIM
