Hello everyone,
Many of you will know this engine and truck as you most certainly followed the progress in the past.
I am creating this thread at
@Don Jacks 's request to serve any new comers as a sort of heads up in preventing possible negative outcomes with their build.
Note, that I am not a motor guy and came here in the first place for guidance and advise which I received and more.
The story:
I purchase a Canadian 348 (872 block) with 971 heads that headed straight for a full rebuild at what I believed to be a pro shop referred to me by a few people. They had a good reputation for building race motors and street rod engines.
The motor was built, dyno'ed and came in at 275hp and 325 foot lbs torque. New everything except for the crank.
It was installed in the truck and I drove it home. Life was good
A week went by and I was ready for my first outing and trouble came knocking at my door immediately.
I will spare you the long drawn out story, but essentially they had to motor on 2 occasions to make it right. And both times I had to chase them to make it happen and both times it was never made right!!!
Some of the symptoms:
-Leaking oil profusely, most probably somewhere around the rear main seal. I was told: "These old motors always leak oil"
-High crank case pressure, lots of smoke coming from the oil fill tube. I was told: "The rings need to set" - 400 miles later.....still smoking.
-Did a pressure and leak down test (twice by 2 different people), #6 came in @ 70, the others around 150
-Plugs were always wet and black
-And something was off after a while with the way she idled and sounded.
After a few more attempts at contacting them and getting the bs run around, I called it quits. A friend approached me and offered help. I accepted.
His place of work is connected with one of our top shops here in Canada, province of Ontario. If I had only known him then!!!! Argghhhh....
Helped me pull the motor and had the head shop guy take it down.
The motor was taken apart and what we discovered wasn't so good !!!!
-The valves were hitting every single piston.
-The motor had never been tanked!!! and was filthy from 50 years of dirt.
-The tabs at the rear main seal never installed.
-The manifold splash guard never installed.
And a cracked and broken piston!!!
Overall assessment from the new guys, verdict: very poor quality work from the other shop!!!
And to think that they are considered a pro shop dealing with racing motors all day long. Inexcusable.
Needless to say I'm going after them for compensation.
See for yourselves: