Quote:
Originally Posted by Cliff R
This thread continues to drag on and at this point there is no place.
I have lost sight of what the purpose of the thread was exactly, and where it is headed.
All I know is that the engine was taken apart because it had issues, noise was one of them. Multiple issues found and several modifications/repairs made to correct them.
I believe the worst issues were a cracked harmonic balancer and some loose valves in the guides. It was also discovered that 7 out of 8 pistons are facing the WRONG direction. BIG flag goes up there as when you install pistons with factory pin offset in them backwards the pistons are wandering all over the place in the bores. Far as I know after 625 responses, I'm the ONLY one with direct experience in that area actually having done it. I told Mike very clearly that my DIRECT experience running an engine for an extended period of time, which was approx. 10,000 miles with 8 pistons installed in the wrong direct REQUIRED removal of the engine to correct noise and other issues with it like too much oil consumption for my liking. Plus, the engine just never sounded or ran right, but I hate to use vague blanket statements like that, but for sure I knew something was fundamentally wrong with it. It bothered me enough to remove it as it just wasn't making the grade.
I also stated that once the problem was found and the pistons installed the right direct any and ALL issues with that engine were corrected and it went on to lead a very good life in my main mode of transportation (1979 K-5 Blazer) for many years. At the time the engine was removed I was commuting from Williamsburg VA to Portsmouth VA approx. 100 miles round trip 5 days a week. This put a LOT of miles on that engine in a hurry so it was nice to have discovered the pistons in backwards deal and correct that issue. By the time I sold the K-5 Blazer I'd logged almost 200,000 miles on that engine as it frequently made 1200-mile round trips from Va to Ohio and nearly every weekend in the summer months from Williamsburg to the outer banks camping and surf fishing. It also made trips to Florida many times for vacations, and out to Colorado Elk hunting more times than I can count.
After putting the pistons in the correct direction no engine noise and oil consumption was next to nothing between oil changes.
I noted the problems with that engine and the solution but for some reason it went on deaf ears. Even worse some very knowledgeable folks came on and pretty much told Mike it's OK to reverse factory pistons in the bores which only muddied the water here and gave him the "out" he was looking for (my opinion).
So, this ill-fated engine goes back together with knurled valves guides (another HORRIBLE repair that I have a lot of DIRECT experience with) and thick head gaskets with a new harmonic balancer hanging on the front of it. It has more issues when placed back in service and even after the cam was put back somewhat close to where it should be IT STILL MAKES NOISE!
A REALITY CHECK is needed here. When you go into an engine, or anything else as you move through your life and you find problems, they need to be corrected or you just might continue to have problems.... .DUH?
|
Cliff, you were 100% correct with the Transmission, when you told me to rebuild it and the diagnostics of the metal "O"-rings were damaged behind the pump, this kept the oil from reaching the three clutch packs, but in my case, going the long way taught me a lot and gave me the confidence to go ahead and build my first Trans. Bonus: it actually works great!
Moving on, this is the same thing at another time, stay with me, please, I am almost there, moving in a positive direction at my own rate.
(1) We pulled the Windage Tray and found no issue.
(2) We inspected the oil filler inner tube and found no issue.
(3) My roommate explained to me how the Windage Tray works on this Motor with the built in scrapers, I have seen the race Windage Trays so I was intrigued by the Pontiac Engineers prowess.
(4) The good news is that the Rods are in correctly, fillet to fillet and round to round, Lou had to feel with his finger, each one, to come to that conclusion. The pictures he took were NFG.
(5) The new Flexplate arrived and I suspect, using my time-honored detective Enginuity, that the thin shim being out of round, at the bolt hole circle x 6 holes is moving along with the Flexplate and the 1/8" reinforcement plate, they too are without centricity or centricalness. If you multiply 6 holes x 3 parts = 18 movement areas that I intend on eliminating, most of it. First, I will use brake quiet behind the Shim and plate. Second, I will use new ARP hardware with Loctite on the threads. The ARP kit comes with ULTRA-TORQUE "fastener assembly lubricant used to precisely replicate all ARP fastener clamp load specification's", part # (100-9908). A picture of part # (100-9908) is in the attachments below with the instructions for its use in this application. New ARP bolts are coming for the Flexplate to Torque Converter soon.
It is my hope and wish that this humble detective puts another problem to rest as he has done so many times before with this second-hand machine, that has been a nightmare for the past 10 years or so. Two steps forward and three steps back it seems.
This repair, being the least of the two repair evils, VS. You're insisting on rebuilding the motor now, today and already! You ever think that I could be right or just plain lucky. Please give me the room to grow with this hobby as you have done, it's the only way that I am going to learn and Mabe save time and money at the same time.
A tribute to your knowledge, it has been very valuable and if I had it to do over again, I would have kept this Vehicle in the drive way, instead of putting another 300 miles on the broken Trans.
On the other hand, this is another story, this is a strong Engine with a few auto-curves to get around, especially when you're starting with a fresh build, which this Motor project essentially is.
Even if this current day repair doesn't fix this latest noise, it is a necessary repair, at this time, IMO. Mike out.
P.S. As was the replacement of the Harmonic Balancer...The long saga goes on, "how do you think I feel?". God, please give me a break with this project, so that I can enjoy it, AMEN.