[gtobully]

Meaning? This morning on my way to a car show, my motor likely spun a bearing only 253 miles after it was repaired last year, due to a spun thrust bearing. A year or so before, it went only about 950 miles after it was rebuilt after two bearing and a rod went. So, the same very reputable builder after it "went south" last year paid for the labor and I picked up the parts cost. What should I ask for this time when I call his shop tomorrow?
My Buddy who's rebuilt quite a few motors over the years said there's nothing I could have done to the motor to make this happen unless I was racing it, hardly the case. This sucks. Thoughts?

Rob in Nor-Cal

[johnta1]

Sorry for all your problems.



Time to learn how to rebuild it yourself, I'd say?

[Gary H]

Is it a manual or automatic transmission? Sometimes thrust bearing issues can arise from improper clutch adjustment or other trans related issues.

[Half-Inch Stud]

Yea i got a thought on oil pressure: did the oil gauge reading chatter at any RPM?

i lspun a rod bearing due to low of an oil level. My remedy was a deep sump pan, a crank scraper & lots of oil.

[JD311]

I've never had a bearing let go in any of my Pontiac's or even sbc's. Broke some rods in honda motors, I was young and ran the pi$$ out of everything haha.I still do, not my commuter anymore lol.

[hurryinhoosier62]

Originally Posted by gtobully

Meaning? This morning on my way to a car show, my motor likely spun a bearing only 253 miles after it was repaired last year, due to a spun thrust bearing. A year or so before, it went only about 950 miles after it was rebuilt after two bearing and a rod went. So, the same very reputable builder after it "went south" last year paid for the labor and I picked up the parts cost. What should I ask for this time when I call his shop tomorrow?
My Buddy who's rebuilt quite a few motors over the years said there's nothing I could have done to the motor to make this happen unless I was racing it, hardly the case. This sucks. Thoughts?

Rob in Nor-Cal

Something is amiss. Do you happen to know what spec he used for the main saddle size? The book says 3.188-3.189, but I keep mine at 3.188-3.1885. What was your oil pressure?

[JSPONT]

Get what you can from that engine builder and find a guy who knows Pontiacs better. Something has to be way wrong.

[Jack Ferris]

Only failure's I've had or seen were due to lack of lubrication.

[tom s]

Pontiacs really are not a issue!A machinist that screws up one make will screw up another.Some of the best chey and ford builders have built some of the most powerful pontiacs.If the person that builds it does not check and double check the machine work that is a problem.All builders can make a mistake as they are human.With yours something is really amiss.Tom

[tom s]

I have had 2 failures on the dyno with breakins.One the builder did not check ALL the side clearance on ALL the rods as one was tight and the other the builder did not check the clearance on the rear main.Both very highly respected engine builder.**** happens even thou it should not.That is one reason I like putting fresh engines on the dyno.Usually find a problem before they break.Tom

[77 TRASHCAN]

Originally Posted by tom s

Pontiacs really are not a issue!A machinist that screws up one make will screw up another.Some of the best chey and ford builders have built some of the most powerful pontiacs.If the person that builds it does not check and double check the machine work that is a problem.All builders can make a mistake as they are human.With yours something is really amiss.Tom

X2!
There's been talk here about builder's knowing what they are doing concerning specific Pontiac builds...BUT a real engine builder will know what to do to a Pontiac, IF he's legit!
My builder friend is a Chevy guy, and aluminum hemi's...but everything he touches is better than could be imagined...no details spared..

I'd tell the builder what happened, see how he responds, go from there, possibly another shop...

[Simple Man]

This isn't a Fulper build, is it?

[trailwing]

I had two newly built 455s in a row eat bearings, with few miles on either. I blame the quality of the machine work and the builders lack, or inability, to check clearances for both. It's cheaper in the long run to pay for quality work up front. Many builders just slap the new parts together. The result is poor ring seal, poor deck height and assembled bearings diameters that don't match the specified journal diameters and chamfers.

I do believe that a quality builder can build any brand engine but there may be a little truth to "Pontiac" guys.

1. They know what to watch out for in terms of main and cam journal alignment, oiling, funky freeze plugs and combustion chambers.

2. They've developed a good reputation for years of quality work.

[tom s]

Fulper actually uses a REALLY good machine shop!Tom

[Overkillphil]

Originally Posted by Simple Man

This isn't a Fulper build, is it?

I was pondering the same.

[Chris65LeMans]

After 950 miles, the "you buy the parts, I'll do the labor" arrangement doesn't sound very fair to me. I'd find a new builder and tell everyone on here who to avoid.

[NBF823]

Sorry to hear all of this. I hope you get it sorted out.

Not isolating just pontiacs I've owned; but I never had a crank, head, or block break, nor have I ever "windowed" a block, but I had Whole bunch of other stuff go wrong. Spun several bearings, scored cranks, blew head gaskets, bent stuff, etc.

Once had a transmission manage it self into second and third simultaneously.
Once thought the grinding sound was a bad throw-out... There went that crank.
Fun getting home with no clutch pedal.
Bad wheel bearing I thought - nope someone tried to kill me.
Lots of unwanted attention from a rad hose popping
balancing the fear of grenading the engine vs crashing of a stuck throttle
A pro a starting with no starter
One could not only find shattered glass under my carpet, but also halon
And there's more - lots more

[hurryinhoosier62]

Originally Posted by tom s

Fulper actually uses a REALLY good machine shop!Tom

Joe Sherman?

[tom s]

Joe Sherman does not have a machine shop.Fulper uses a guy in or around the Riverside area.Dugan is the shop.Tom

[b-man]

Dougan's in Riverside did all the machine work on my recent 421 HO build.

Top-notch work and great to work with.