[Formulajones]

Originally Posted by TRADERMIKE 2012

Mikes reply:

I have to ask, why would a Piston being installed as long as it has and under my own torture that I put on this Engine endure to 130 mph where I found all the internal problems and solved them over time. In the beginning the Rocker stud nut was cracked and I replaced them with 7/16" screw- in studs. While there, we installed the Johnson Hydraulic Lifters, a new oil pump and HD Chrome moly Push Rods, had a new timing Gear and dual chain.

The # 886 Cam was worn out, but who knew at that time. I had the Tri-power Carbs. completely rebuilt, by us OfCourse, using genuine Rochester parts that would have come in these Carbs. from the factory. We installed the 1/2" spacers under the Rochester's too. We had Air Induction as well and the Carbs. are up-jetted to a 428 ci Motor. So, this combo. at 70 mph, stomp on it the secondaries come in with the kickdown gear and I launch from 90mph to 120 mph throwing me back into the seat and moves slowly to 130 mph tops. Now you all tell me that I need to build the bottom end today, now?

I tell you this Engine is a monster and I still carry extra weight in the trunk due to the posi-traction W/ four-wheel Disc Brakes.

Mike, How fast you think the car is doesn't really pertain to the state the engine is in. Everyone's perception of a fast car is different. It may run well enough in your eye's, and if that's satisfying for you then so be it. Piston slap doesn't have a huge detrimental affective on engine performance other than poor ring control, which may or may not be showing itself at this time. What it does do though is make an annoying noise that changes with rpm, sometimes goes completely away as higher rpm is reached and/or warmer temps. You'll just have to decide if ya want to live with it or rebuild the engine with a fresh overbore.

There has been a bunch of good advice given. Unfortunately some have told you what you wanted to hear and going down that path so far has not fixed your issues. It costs money, but eventually you'll have to bite the bullet and fix this thing right.

[TRADERMIKE 2012]

Originally Posted by Formulajones

Mike, how fast you think the car is doesn't really pertain to the state the engine is in. Everyone's perception of a fast car is different. It may run well enough in your eyes, and if that's satisfying for you then so be it. Piston slap doesn't have a huge detrimental effect on engine performance other than poor ring control, which may or may not be showing itself at this time. What it does do though is make an annoying noise that changes with rpm, sometimes goes completely away as higher rpm is reached and/or warmer temps. You'll just have to decide if ya want to live with it or rebuild the engine with a fresh overbore.

There has been a bunch of good advice given. Unfortunately, some have told you what you wanted to hear and going down that path so far has not fixed your issues. It costs money, but eventually you'll have to bite the bullet and fix this thing right.

The whole point that I was trying to make is, at that time, in those years, this engine had no noise and ran like a raped- ape. So, why should it be different today? I truly think that each and every issue that I am experiencing today is because of all the different changes that I have made over the years. This is not even close to the Engine that I started with, that I tested in, the first four years of my ownership. As I had then, I have to do today and just get past the auto curves thrown at me.

Deep inside the lower end is still the same Crank, Pistons, Rods etc..., strong and waiting to be unleashed like a Tiger in the Pontiac commercial. Unless the accident affected the Engine more than I think, that is why I have a question out to Cliff about the Trans. as we speak. I truly believe that there is nothing wrong with the bottom end of this motor. Unless I caused it, with the Transmission build, causing Thrust toward the Crank, by not having the exact tolerances at the front of the TH 400 that I should have, yet to see that answer, Cliff where are you? Mike out.

[MatthewKlein]

Originally Posted by TRADERMIKE 2012

The whole point that I was trying to make is, at that time, in those years, this engine had no noise and ran like a raped- ape.

I truly think that each and every issue that I am experiencing today is because of all the different changes that I have made over the years .

Take a moment to read what you wrote.

YOU are the author of your own destruction. YOU are making random changes that don't make sense. People have pointed it out. YOU have ignored the criticism.

Everyone here wants your car to run strong!

[78w72]

Originally Posted by TRADERMIKE 2012

Unless I caused it, with the Transmission build, causing Thrust toward the Crank, by not having the exact tolerances at the front of the TH 400 that I should have, yet to see that answer, Cliff where are you? Mike out.

Originally Posted by Cliff R

Transmission endplay will have nothing to do with applying thrust to crankshaft as the torque converter is in between. You just need some on both ends of the TH400. The range they will run in is really wide and not a problem area. Even so I shim mine down on the lower end of the range and have never had an issue either way.

This assumes that you correctly shimmed the new converter (if it needed it). Basically as that needed to happen was that you correctly engaged the converter in the stator, input shaft and oil pump inner gear and shoved it all the way back during installation. At that point a quick gap check between the converter and flex plate, then decide if it needed any shims or not. You don't need much clearance in that area as the converter isn't going to "grow" much in use. Too much is not a good thing as you are pulling the notched portion of the converter out of the oil pump inner gear. It still has a LOT of wiggle-room there and you've got to pull one forward quite a ways before it comes too far out of the gear and shears something off.

Your strange noises are no doubt piston "slap" from having most of them installed in the wrong direction. Had the EXACT SAME ISSUE with my fresh SBC 400 build when I pulled that dumb move. I had other issues which included more oil consumption than I was happy with for a fresh build with less than .002" piston to wall clearance and hand fitted Speed Pro oversize rings. As I told you several times on your long running thread that engine just never ran right and after 10,000 miles I couldn't deal with it anymore and pulled it out for inspection. Found the issue, put it back together the right way, noises gone, power restored and on to bigger and better things.

I tend to learn some pretty valuable lessons when I made blunders like that, so do my very best NEVER repeat them, plus pass on the info to others. Sadly in this case all the advice and DIRECT experience I provided to you went on deaf ears. You'd rather buy into some BS regurgitated theory (wives tale IMHO) that "racers" WAY back in the day reversed all their pistons so they could pull bigger wheelies and end up with the trophy at a bit event they were racing in. That moves makes no sense whatsoever then or now. You need to get back into this build and get ALL the pistons and rods in correct orientation. Only then can you move forward and accurately troubleshoot engine "noise" and other issues it's throwing at you.........IMHO.......

Question was answered...

[Formulajones]

Originally Posted by TRADERMIKE 2012

The whole point that I was trying to make is, at that time, in those years, this engine had no noise and ran like a raped- ape. So, why should it be different today? I truly think that each and every issue that I am experiencing today is because of all the different changes that I have made over the years. This is not even close to the Engine that I started with, that I tested in, the first four years of my ownership. As I had then, I have to do today and just get past the auto curves thrown at me.

Deep inside the lower end is still the same Crank, Pistons, Rods etc..., strong and waiting to be unleashed like a Tiger in the Pontiac commercial. Unless the accident affected the Engine more than I think, that is why I have a question out to Cliff about the Trans. as we speak. I truly believe that there is nothing wrong with the bottom end of this motor. Unless I caused it, with the Transmission build, causing Thrust toward the Crank, by not having the exact tolerances at the front of the TH 400 that I should have, yet to see that answer, Cliff where are you? Mike out.

The question you have to ask is, Why would any engine change how it's acting and be different today than it was years ago, or even yesterday?
Fact is, there is no certain time frame when an engine starts doing what ever it does. Parts wear out and things can break at any point in time. Trying to apply logic won't fix it and can lead you down the wrong path. A car is a mechanical device, logic doesn't always work.

[TRADERMIKE 2012]

Originally Posted by Formulajones

The question you have to ask is, why would any engine change how it's acting and be different today than it was years ago, or even yesterday?
The fact is, there is no certain time frame when an engine starts doing whatever it does. Parts wear out and things can break at any point in time. Trying to apply logic won't fix it and can lead you down the wrong path. A car is a mechanical device, logic doesn't always work.

"Like a women"