[johnta1]

The color difference must be from lack of combustion / proper ignition???

Lack of color is from not firing because of the closed gap.

[Singleton]

Oil Galley plug contacting cam gear?

["QUICK-SILVER"]

That main cap doesn't look tight against the block.

And does look like the bearing turned.



Clay

[Baron Von Zeppelin]

Originally Posted by KEN CROCIE

take a look at the thrust bearing (#4). "weird feeling in the clutch when downshifting"

Originally Posted by wbnapier

Attached are close ups of #4 from one side.

Originally Posted by "QUICK-SILVER"

... does look like the bearing turned.

That's what i was seeing too - looks like the parting line of the bearing shell has turned about 1/2" - if the picture isn't playing tricks.

[mgarblik]

Now that I have had a chance to see some pics, I think you will find a bunch of spun bearings when you open it up all the way. Looks like the thrust main may be spun some based on parting line position. The plugs are not smashed as I suspected, just kissed by the pistons once the rod bearings went away. The entire bottom end looks "tight" visually from the pics. Rod side clearance to cylinder wall wear, you name it. An engine will only live on the tight end of the tolerances if all the machining is dead nuts on, which is rarely the case unless every part is verified, especially aftermarket stuff. Good luck with the outcome. It can probably be fixed without too much expense. Looks like everything stayed attached.

[geeteeohguy]

Originally Posted by johnta1

Lack of color is from not firing because of the closed gap.

I agree. And the plugs look like they have no impact damage at all. They look like they were dropped on the ground and installed with the gaps already closed or near closed. If they were hit by a foreign object, they would be torn up.
Agree with the others that the thrust looks suspect and it could be spun bearings. The crank stopping with the cam still moving would account for the chip in the cam gear. To me, that is an awful lot of cylinder scuffing for a new engine, IMO. When I did the heads on my '67 GTO after 75,000 miles, I didn't have that much wear or scuffing. (Sealed Power Forged pistons installed during a 1988 rebuild). Good luck....it doesn't look catastrophic, so hang in there.

[Formulajones]

Originally Posted by geeteeohguy

I agree. And the plugs look like they have no impact damage at all. They look like they were dropped on the ground and installed with the gaps already closed or near closed. If they were hit by a foreign object, they would be torn up.
.

Yep, that's what I mentioned back early on, if the plugs were closed by a foreign object there should be some witness to that on the plug itself.