I'll bring my camera
Engine is out...let's try again!
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 2,152
Likes: 243
From: Northern VA
Engine is out...let's try again!
Well, after living with my rough running 434 for a couple of years, I decided to pull it myself and have somebody go through it and see why it never ran right. I found a shop near me that has a good rep and will hopefully be able to give me a diagnoses and suggestions for improvement. Hopefully the parts are ok and this will be more or less a "freshening". However, I think I am going to replace the miniram with something else. This shop has a superflo engine dyno with the capability to run it with Accel DFI which is what I run my car on. Once we are all satisfied that it is broken in correctly and everything is running right, I'll put it back it and bring it back to them for a final tune on their Superflo chassis dyno. Stay tuned and I'll take some video of the engine running on the stand. My best #'s were 480+ rwhp with the current combo and tune. I am hoping for more streetability with similar numbers.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 12,772
Likes: 17
From: Indianapolis IN
Must be something in the water, 
I am pulling mine this weekend, I think I might have bent or twisted my crank, sounds far fetched but above 3k rpms, it vibrates, very predictable, always the same.
Let us know what you find !
I am pulling mine this weekend, I think I might have bent or twisted my crank, sounds far fetched but above 3k rpms, it vibrates, very predictable, always the same.Let us know what you find !
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,443
Likes: 4
From: Grand Rapids Mi
Hope neither of these turns out to major. When your as far in as you guys, you want it right!!! I remember one HP motor I built in the 70's spun a rod bearing after 30 miles. After that went 65,000 miles no problems. Will be waiting to hear what you find.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 2,152
Likes: 243
From: Northern VA
. Motor's out, tranny's out, and I'm going to take the rear out to have it re-sealed. Maybe I should gut the interior too Are you sure your vibration is that clutch system? Whoops, forgot you went with the Tremec
Last edited by jerkyboy; Jan 20, 2009 at 07:17 PM. Reason: wrong info
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 1,146
Likes: 2
From: Albuquerque NM
Boy I hope everything is okay. I kept to a formula fairly close to you guys. Please post with latest findings.
Wood NM
<a href="http://s494.photobucket.com/albums/rr307/gamewood/afghan/corvette/?action=view¤t=SANY0212.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i494.photobucket.com/albums/rr307/gamewood/afghan/corvette/SANY0212.jpg" border="0" alt="yes it is a 427!"></a>
Wood NM
<a href="http://s494.photobucket.com/albums/rr307/gamewood/afghan/corvette/?action=view¤t=SANY0212.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i494.photobucket.com/albums/rr307/gamewood/afghan/corvette/SANY0212.jpg" border="0" alt="yes it is a 427!"></a>
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 3,525
Likes: 2
From: Houston TX
Best of luck,
Aaron
Race Director
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 12,772
Likes: 17
From: Indianapolis IN
Sorry to hear about your set up Larry. This whole thing started out with a clutch change. That RAM set up didn't last long . Motor's out, tranny's out, and I'm going to take the rear out to have it re-sealed. Maybe I should gut the interior too Are you sure your vibration is that clutch system? Whoops, forgot you went with the Tremec
. Motor's out, tranny's out, and I'm going to take the rear out to have it re-sealed. Maybe I should gut the interior too Are you sure your vibration is that clutch system? Whoops, forgot you went with the TremecI have checked everything possible looking for the vibe, last spring I took the FW and PP off and had it rechecked and the balance was dead on. I rebuilt the heads and the swapped out the balancer and sent the Fuel Injectors to Rich at Cruzin Performance to be checked, and replaced a faulty HEI module and checked the distributor runout and swapped the plug wires and the plugs
so unless it is the oil pump bent or something like that , it only leaves a bent rod which I doubt or the crank,,, once I get it on the engine stand I hope to know more.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 2,152
Likes: 243
From: Northern VA
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Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 2,152
Likes: 243
From: Northern VA
Well, I have an initial diagnosis:
All 8 exhaust valve guides are gone. The valves were basically floating in mid air. I have 2 spun main bearings and the head gasket on two cylinders were just about blown out.
The good news is that the pistons are ok as are the cylinder walls. I'll have the pistons coated to bring back the clearance. I'll hopefully be able to take pics tomorrow. Got the flu today
All 8 exhaust valve guides are gone. The valves were basically floating in mid air. I have 2 spun main bearings and the head gasket on two cylinders were just about blown out.
The good news is that the pistons are ok as are the cylinder walls. I'll have the pistons coated to bring back the clearance. I'll hopefully be able to take pics tomorrow. Got the flu today
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 12,518
Likes: 19
Well, I have an initial diagnosis:
All 8 exhaust valve guides are gone. The valves were basically floating in mid air. I have 2 spun main bearings and the head gasket on two cylinders were just about blown out.
The good news is that the pistons are ok as are the cylinder walls. I'll have the pistons coated to bring back the clearance. I'll hopefully be able to take pics tomorrow. Got the flu today
All 8 exhaust valve guides are gone. The valves were basically floating in mid air. I have 2 spun main bearings and the head gasket on two cylinders were just about blown out.
The good news is that the pistons are ok as are the cylinder walls. I'll have the pistons coated to bring back the clearance. I'll hopefully be able to take pics tomorrow. Got the flu today
I am curious as to why you have cylinder bore wear on such a fresh combo? Unless your bores were honed to the loose side of spec. My builder likes to stay on the looser side of the piston to wall spec for a safety margin in an overheat situation.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 1,146
Likes: 2
From: Albuquerque NM
Sorry to hear about your set up Larry. This whole thing started out with a clutch change. That RAM set up didn't last long . Motor's out, tranny's out, and I'm going to take the rear out to have it re-sealed. Maybe I should gut the interior too Are you sure your vibration is that clutch system? Whoops, forgot you went with the Tremec
. Motor's out, tranny's out, and I'm going to take the rear out to have it re-sealed. Maybe I should gut the interior too Are you sure your vibration is that clutch system? Whoops, forgot you went with the Tremec
Race Director
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 12,772
Likes: 17
From: Indianapolis IN
Well, I have an initial diagnosis:
All 8 exhaust valve guides are gone. The valves were basically floating in mid air. I have 2 spun main bearings and the head gasket on two cylinders were just about blown out.
The good news is that the pistons are ok as are the cylinder walls. I'll have the pistons coated to bring back the clearance. I'll hopefully be able to take pics tomorrow. Got the flu today
All 8 exhaust valve guides are gone. The valves were basically floating in mid air. I have 2 spun main bearings and the head gasket on two cylinders were just about blown out.
The good news is that the pistons are ok as are the cylinder walls. I'll have the pistons coated to bring back the clearance. I'll hopefully be able to take pics tomorrow. Got the flu today
Wow, I would have thought you would have some big time valve cover pressure/blow by
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 3,270
Likes: 26
From: Winchester VA
Cruise-In V Veteran
Well I'm glad you found some obvious stuff Dave. I think I know exactly what you just went through. I couldn't believe my eyes when I walked into the engine room of the shop that dismantled mine.
My valve seals were riding at the top of the stems, no woder our cars smelled exactly the same!!
Are you interested in a lightweight crank or Aluminum block?
My valve seals were riding at the top of the stems, no woder our cars smelled exactly the same!!
Are you interested in a lightweight crank or Aluminum block?
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 2,152
Likes: 243
From: Northern VA
The motor is about 4 years old and he said the crank was "old school" crossed drilled. They don't normally install those anymore. Anybody have insight on that??