Quote:
Originally Posted by RAIV55
The old Targetmaster engines were awful. Had instances with crank woodruff keys and valve cover/timing cover bolts left on pistons before the heads were installed. Got so bad toward the end of my time there we were probably warranting 1 out of every 4 sold.
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I've been in GM parts longer than I like to admit! My brother runs a repair shop. Years ago, I sold him a Targetmaster 350 for a customer of his. He put it in, started it up, ran ok. Shut it off to top up the anti freeze. He was pouring and pouring and pouring in antifreeze, still not filling up like he thought it should. When the antifreeze finally showed up, it was coming out the top of the carb! On teardown, it had exactly as you say, a valve cover bolt (all 8 were already present on the engine) was on top of the piston and on the up stroke had pushed its way right through the head into the water jacket.
Brand new replacement engine came from GM, no questions asked.