[HWYSTR455]

I had a Romac once. Once. I had to hone the inside in order to get it to install on the crank snout, and when I called Butler about it, they said that's common with those. Ok, I said, and threw the thing on the bench and ordered a different one.

Think the last one I bought was a Pioneer, but have used Powerbond and PRWs before with no issues.

EDIT: I only use SFI balancers. Can't recall which one it was, but I had an issue with one brand that didn't seat all the way with an OE A/C pulley.

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[Formulas]

What you might do for a test is change out the balancer all together beg borrow or steal a good old sticker throw it on for a test and remember to torque properly

Or warm up engine take off balancer start engine for a very short time just idle and listen

You could do this with a cold engine as well it would idle more steady warm is all

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[chiphead]

I don't think you want to run it without a balancer. The bottom timing gear might walk, since its held in place by the balancer snout.

[Formulas]

It will work for a short time enough time to hear the noise or not, I have already done it in 1976 watched oil spurt out from front bearing parting line
The chains go over the teeth so the chain doesn't walk same thing will keep bottom gear on some common sense goes along way here no reving to the moon just turn key listen 4 or 5 seconds turn it off

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[TedRamAirII]

Might as well pull it, and have it ready for pick up. Maybe I was close, with my Cam/Distributor gear guess? I hope that's all it is. ; )

[Va68goat]

In speaking with guys that worked on and diagnosed my engine, it's believed that the piston skirt collapsed while on the original / failed dyno run. when #5 spun the rod bearing and the piston hit the head. There was a small mark on the cylinder head. This was the conclusion of two guys that worked on the engine that not only do this is a hobby, one of them is a machinist that currently works on very high end cars. The other had his own shop for many years and is a forum member.

Unanimously, the guys that diagnosed my engine said that this should have been caught when the motor was sent back to Arizona, if this engine was really completely disassembled the obvious scuffing of the piston skirts should have been noticed. If the scuffing of the piston skirts had been observed while it was disassembled, it should have been measured. They said if the engine was really apart and the piston skirts were mic'd, it would have been easily discovered as it was in my garage. I'm only adding this information because the last time I withheld information on this thread, it came back to haunt me.

[pastry_chef]

Originally Posted by Va68goat

They said if the engine was really apart and the piston skirts were mic'd, it would have been easily discovered as it was in my garage

Agree.
I could not remember the parts replaced on the trip back, looks like the piston rings were.

Originally Posted by gtofreek

Also looked like the distributor jacking the timing up may have been causing some detonation as some of the top rings showed signs of the Moly coating starting to flake off. Just buying top rings from Total Seal was more money than just buying a whole set, so we bought a whole set.

[Va68goat]

Well this isn't a dramatic video but you have to remember, I havent driven a car with this kind of power before and the last thing I want to do is put it in a ditch after waiting two years. To me, this power is just insane and I have a great deal of respect for the power. I'll get better with time behind the wheel.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQLOgtlFTSk


mgarblik
I agree with 100% of what you said. Paul and Jeff made made this motor right. The rest is just business. I'm so damn pumped to finally get behind the wheel.

[Va68goat]

67gtospud,
We never tried another cam. I don't know what the next step is but I don't think me and my friends installing another cam is not part of that step. I guess I'll find out soon.