Hi everyone. I have a 86 that about 11 years ago I put a set of afr 180 heads, a comp cam flat tappet cam and a super ram intake. Also full exhaust and headers. Did all this on a bone stock bottom end. At the time the engine had about 75k on it. I guess I put 10 to 12k on it since doing all the work. I also had a mail order tune done for it back when this was all done. It's always ran strong never smoked burned oil or strange noises. So last weekend I drove it to go top off the fuel tank for winter. I have had the oil pan gasket leaking for a while. So I drained the oil removed the pan and found several pieces of piston skirts in the pan. I was pretty shocked. Like I said no strange sounds of rough running that I had ever noticed. I have a million questions on how to go about getting it running again. Also what went wrong. Some guys that I know said it was probably detonation. I have been running it with the timing at 6. Did I screw up on just getting the chip done based on the mods and not data logging it. I had asked some questions on the forum years ago. Got the heads trough a guy on here. Got the tune done by a well known place. I am not in any way blaming anyone but myself. I will not say any names cause it's not their fault. I am not really that upset cause I know that won't fix it. Just want to move forward with fixing it right. So at this point I got the engine almost apart. The block is still in the car with the heads on it. Hopefully the heads are fine. Would think so it ran fine up until discovering the problems. I want to keep the heads and super ram. The cam is a flat tappet. Thinking of going to a roller. I went to one local machine shop. They will only do the machine work not assembly. I don't have the tools or knowledge to assemble a bottom end myself. I know a few guys older than me that have the tools and experience and offered to help. I just feel like it would be a burden to them. Then I found a company on line that sells all different level engines. They show a short block you put together for a fair price or they can put it to gether for extra price and send it to you. The block they sell is a 4 bolt set up for a roller cam, forged name brand pistons. The rods and crank aren't forged nut known name brands. At this point the only other change I was thinking was going with a roller cam and forged pistons. I don't really have a budget. Just want a street engine that has atleast the same power it had. I want it done right. I don't want problems again. It seems these engines on line a at a pretty good price is that cause thats strictly their business. I get the feeling the local shops are more interested if just the high dollar full race engines cause that's ware the biggest profit probably is. I haven't posted on here for years cause I can usually find answers to my questions by searching. Any help or advice is appreciated. Thanks in advance Jim

 

Piston skirt broken shouldn't be detonation, sounds like piston rock maybe....You need to post up pictures (as many as you can) of the damage.

And you can get a short block from many reputable places. As far as the machine shop not doing assembly, i get it, but thats a new one to me.. never heard that before. If anything they have all the tools to do it right.

 

Is your forum name accurate? If so we're twins as I have a red 86 (convertible) and a Silver anniversary 78. Small world.

If you don't have the skills to assemble your own bottom end, buy an assembled short-block. You will need to determine what piston type and match it to get the same compression ratio when you re-assemble.

The 86 block was a bit of a one-off with it having a one-piece rear main seal, but not being able to accept a factory hydraulic roller cam, so you would need to make sure the short-block you get is factory roller compatible. All short blocks that are factory rollers should have the passenger side dip stick, so I believe your oil pan will work fine.

No idea on what might have caused your damage.

 

Yes I also have a 78 silver anniversary red interior 4 speed. So I got ahold of this other shop and he wasn't interested. Said he does more older stuff and full race engines. Thinking more and more I will just have to order a short block. The place that really seems like a good price has 4 bold main one piece rear main with wiseco forged pistons. Scat crank and rods for 2550.00. Shipping is 375.00. You have to assemble it. I called to ask if they have a option to buy assembled. It was just under 400. It's also a factory roller block. Also clearance for making it a 383 or they have the same package for I think it's a few hundred more and you get a 383. Options on going that route? The company is Skip White in Kingsport Tennessee.