540ci W Motor
- Thread starter BOSSMAN
- Start date
John Beck
Member
When testing a new combination it is important that the engine repeats back up pulls and also responds to changes. It is also vary important to keep an eye on valve lash as it is a window to how the valve train is settling in and will tell you if something is not right.
Four pulls into the session between doing cartwheels in the parking lot we were seeing 830+ HP and 680+lbs. ft. with promise of more to come with some timing sweeps. Not bad on my dyno with virtually no corrections to fluff up the numbers.
We pulled 3 degrees out of the total timing and she fell off a little bit so we put it back and she did not repeat. Pulled the valve covers and checked lash. Found some loose ex. valves and upon further investigation found loose ex. seat in number 1 cyl.
Things could of gone a lot worse had we not checked and I don't think anything got hurt.
The heads will come off this afternoon and go back to the cyl. head guy that was supposed to change the seats when he did them. Everybody was aware of the inherent problem with these heads and Jack and I were told that it was addressed.
I have a lot of time in this engine making sure everything clears properly and was a little upset at first but I am sure the owner is even more disappointed .
We will fix it and get back to testing soon.
Never underestimate the importance of testing and tuning your engine no matter if its a stock resto engine or a one off beast like this one.
Four pulls into the session between doing cartwheels in the parking lot we were seeing 830+ HP and 680+lbs. ft. with promise of more to come with some timing sweeps. Not bad on my dyno with virtually no corrections to fluff up the numbers.
We pulled 3 degrees out of the total timing and she fell off a little bit so we put it back and she did not repeat. Pulled the valve covers and checked lash. Found some loose ex. valves and upon further investigation found loose ex. seat in number 1 cyl.
Things could of gone a lot worse had we not checked and I don't think anything got hurt.
The heads will come off this afternoon and go back to the cyl. head guy that was supposed to change the seats when he did them. Everybody was aware of the inherent problem with these heads and Jack and I were told that it was addressed.
I have a lot of time in this engine making sure everything clears properly and was a little upset at first but I am sure the owner is even more disappointed .
We will fix it and get back to testing soon.
Never underestimate the importance of testing and tuning your engine no matter if its a stock resto engine or a one off beast like this one.
WOW,830 and counting!!
Well, my first thought is that was a nice save. You guys really dodged a bullet by finding the problem before it did any real damage. Way to go! 
This just re-enforces the importance of running an engine like this in on the dyno.
I know this is disappointing but on the brighter side, the engine is making great power and it shouldn't take too long to fix the seats.
This just re-enforces the importance of running an engine like this in on the dyno.
I know this is disappointing but on the brighter side, the engine is making great power and it shouldn't take too long to fix the seats.
I hate to hear ya'll had the trouble. I wonder how many engines are going to have a failure before LWA decides to start correcting the valve seat issue BEFORE they allow heads to leave their shop?????
CDNpontiac409guy
Banned
Not a catastrophe. good news actually.
Somehow, I bet the only people more upset about the setback, are Lamar and Rob Waldon.
They'll get it.
Somehow, I bet the only people more upset about the setback, are Lamar and Rob Waldon.
They'll get it.
Hell of a save! Sucks to have issues like this but I'm sure it will all get sorted out.
Out of curiosity what are the issues with the seats falling out? Not enough interference fit? Aluminum going soft or quality of aluminum in general? Just trying to understand better is all.
Out of curiosity what are the issues with the seats falling out? Not enough interference fit? Aluminum going soft or quality of aluminum in general? Just trying to understand better is all.
I agree on the great save. My hope would be not enough interference fit since that would be the easiest fix. Anyway, good starting numbers. can't wait to see it back on the dyno again.
Awesome build!
Thanks for sharing.
Mike
Thanks for sharing.
Mike
Brian had the same issue with his walden heads!
LWA congratulate you on the 540 build. Sounds like good numbers. Sorry to hear about the seat trouble! Its too bad that Jack Gibbs has not came on here to tell everybody the whole story about those seats. Our shop did not install the seats in the heads Jack had them installed by the guy who ported them for him. More than likely the ported them and undermined the seats like the other set that was mentioned. When that is the case the seats will heat up and cannot dissipate the heat and this will make them fall out. Or they just were not installed tight enough to begin with. Just wanted to set the story straight since we were the ones getting thrown under the bus.
John Beck
Member
No these heads did not come out of your shop this way Rob. At least I was told another cyl. head guru whom I will not name was supposed to have checked and changed the seats. I didn't mean to point the finger at anyone and I will stay with that policy. I am looking forward to finish testing on this combination.
It's about time Walden made a statement about the heads. Wonder why in took so long.
Thanks John sounds like you are going to have a very nice engine setup. I cant wait to see the tube chassis car. I talked to Jack earlier today and I told him I don't mind taking a beating 
if it was something we did but I hate to if it was not our fault. I thank you for clearing it up. If we can help you just give us a call and we would be glad to assist in any way possible.
if it was something we did but I hate to if it was not our fault. I thank you for clearing it up. If we can help you just give us a call and we would be glad to assist in any way possible.