[dataway]

Originally Posted by torqhead

Not that I have any say, but if I had a vote I would recommend sending it to Paul, he more than deserves an award for his unwavering support through this challenge!

Yep.

[Va68goat]

STEELCITYFIREBIRD,

You make a good point because everyone here is a potential customer but at this point, I think I'll let Paul discuss that if he wants to. I'm in a pretty awkward position because I've spent a lot of money on a motor that has less than 200 miles on it and it's almost 2000 miles away from me.

[promptcritical]

Originally Posted by Va68goat

STEELCITYFIREBIRD,

You make a good point because everyone here is a potential customer but at this point, I think I'll let Paul discuss that if he wants to. I'm in a pretty awkward position because I've spent a lot of money on a motor that has less than 200 miles on it and it's almost 2000 miles away from me.

Have you approached MSD? Their product seems to be the source of your problems, not the engine builder. He seems to be taking excellent care of you.

[Va68goat]

promptcritical,
Hahaha..I'm not going down that path.

mgarblik,
This filter was suggested by a lot of guys here. That's why I went with it. I've tried googling problems with this distributor and didn't see much of the same problem. Of course I'm pretty new to cars and I certainly don't have the experience or knowledge to even have a thought on this. I know I'm learning a lot though!

Formulajones,
I don't know about the bypass. I know I've changed the oil 3 times with less than 200 miles.

[tempest1964]

Keep at it. Perserverance will prevail. Good luck.

[TedRamAirII]

The oil pump should turn smooth, no bumps, hard spots or clicking. Was the oil pressure gauge steady, it may be dampened too much to pick up small fluctuations. Did it make noises when turning with the drill? If I remember the noise video, it was at half speed.

[STEELCITYFIREBIRD]

Piston slap is usually most pronounced on a cold engine and then quiets down as expansion equalizes .
With that I assume it possible, like Paul said; collapsed in service. But when you fit the pistons, they are either in spec or not, and this builder is noticeably obsessive compulsive for detail!! (good for you!)

A good test would of been to kill a cylinder at a time and see if the noise goes away or lessens. Wrist pin and piston slap noise are most prominent on the power stoke.

Condition that could be a contributing/casual factor for collapsed skirt in service;
Running the engine high rpm or hard under load or unloaded/free rev it high/hard... COLD. Commonly done to show your buds what your hot rod sounds like.

These long stroke motors usually have comparably short skirts, don't know if that amplifies this condition, but I theorize it would.

[Will]

RE: Ballooning torque converters.

Is it possible for a torque converter to expand/balloon while in operation but "shrink" back to normal when not rotating?

[1967Tempest]

I bought my cam based on GTOFREEK's recommendation, and I love it!!!! Keep at it, these things have happened to all of us. I adjusted my lifters 100'2 of times to find out it was an exhaust leak.

This is what happened to my friends Mustang last year from a failed lifter that was adjusted incorrectly..

[Va68goat]

Does anyone here remember the guy on the forum that makes and sells the Pontiac engine cradles?

[Joe's Garage]

http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...d.php?t=824217

[craigs69]

Originally Posted by Joe's Garage

http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...d.php?t=824217

Those are nice. I purchased one a few years ago.

Va68goat, if you have any trouble getting one, let me know and mine is available. I am in Wisconsin, so I would have to ship it to you. PM me if you are interested and we can work out the details.

[STEELCITYFIREBIRD]

Do you plan to run it Paul, or dig right in??

[gtofreek]

Originally Posted by STEELCITYFIREBIRD

Do you plan to run it Paul, or dig right in??

I'm tearing right into it. We have to pay to use a dyno to run it, and without mufflers, I'm not sure we'd even hear it on the dyno. Looking back at the dyno video's I made, you cannot hear any noise.

[gtohunter]

Originally Posted by Will

RE: Ballooning torque converters.

Is it possible for a torque converter to expand/balloon while in operation but "shrink" back to normal when not rotating?

My son had a Tbird Supercoupe and he dropped a replacement crate motor in it (supercharged V6). Around 20K on it, and it started knocking, so we pulled it. Found the thrust brg killed and upon looking, found the torque converter to have a very nice imprint of the flex plate bolts ! So, yeah, I'd have to say they do.

[dataway]

In my exhaustive study of the sound file extracted from the original movies you posted ... the sound was half engine speed ... but no one believed me.

[dataway]

VA68 ... my last post was meant to be more humorous than serious. From my analysis it did appear the sound was half engine speed ... to me. But I certainly would not expect any competent engine builder or mechanic to take that as a fact. I was just trying to add some info to the mix.

I am however a true believer that a good sound tech, a couple of programmers and a half dozen good builders could develop software that could analyze an engines exact problem merely by the sounds the problem produces. An RPM sensor, couple of transducers on the engine and a database of known sound profiles.

But that is a discussion for another time.

[tooski]

I thought that when you found that the clicking occurred when you turned only the oil pump that no one suggested removing the oil pump and investigate that before shipping the whole engine back n forth. Of course easier done with engine pulled (but you would have to do that anyway to send it back).

[tom s]

Guys,on the engine dolly,they are for sure the best.James is a one man show so sometimes the demand gets a little ahead of his production.Worth waiting for.Tom

[Skip Fix]

They are the best. I have 2 Pontiac and 2 Chevy ones. Best casters also.