Well...that was interesting!
It's been a month, definitely time for an update. Unfortunately the bug hasn't moved in that month...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6IOZP9C_3ikI put 2500 miles onto the car before the Spring Thaw Classic Car Adventure started. We made it through day one, but mushroomed a pushrod playing with a 356 4-cam on the way to our lunch spot. A quick change in the vinyard parking lot, and we were back up and running. Day two was uneventful, at least as far as the new engine is concerned. But day three, well, that was quickly roasted in the first few km's as we spun rod-bearing number 4 coming down the hill from Sun Peaks. I think you can see it in the following photos, but the colour change on the big end is significant. The end is completely black.
Tear down of the motor revealed a pressure relief valve which is lightly sticking in the bore. Definitely don't recall that while building it, and I was sure I checked it a few times. Otherwise everything checked out. Roasted the rod, rod bearings and decided to swap out the crank due to heat damage. The journal has blued, and the crank isn't deathly expensive...so I'm replacing it.
Also found exhaust #1 lifter was pitted, just a little, but enough that it was a problem waiting to reveal itself. So, added to the list was lifters...and a cam due to some marks I wasn't stoked about on the lobes and bearing surface. Hmmmm...I've almost got a whole new motor going here!
Big thanks to Art and Rob, who once again took care of me in the parts department.
Not being one to sit back and do nothing, I did find some time to squeeze in a few chores in between coaching in Quebec & Whistler, Traveling to Toronto for a week and my 'real job'. Oh yeah...and the weather has been good for Mountain Biking too
. Anyways...
Carbon Gravel Guards:
Took care of the Wheel-wells and inside of the fenders with POR-15. Haven't used it before, but we're using it on the Mustang so I thought why not.
Installed some new Eccentrics for greater camber adjustment...and then finally got around to popping the new rubber and wheels on the car. 205/60/15's on 15x6" wheels. No sway bar on the front to make them work, and it definitely limits the turning radius over the 195's, but it's a work in progress!
Tonight I finally started on the rebuild of the engine. Checked the rod bearing clearances (even at .0015), installed the timing gears and started cleaning off the pistons. Anyone have a quick method for cleaning the carbon off? Usually I use injector cleaner and soak them, but doesn't seem to be working this time. Tomorrow it's off to the balancing shop, and I should be assembling this weekend.
-Dave