Project Fuggly - No Longer Fuggly And Splashed!!!!!!

[Sea18Horse]

Hmm! A conundrum wrapped in an enigma surrounded by a riddle!

I hate to say it but I think if it were mine I would have to get a new set of bearings and put the caps in the proper order and then re-plastigauge them and see if they turn out more consistent than they were. They would probably be just fine if you switched the caps and went ahead and finished assembly but I think it would bug the hell out of me to know I might have torqued them down switched and slightly over stressed a bearing shell in some way. I presume you had already pulled the crank out and lubed it with assembly lube and put it back together? In which case you would have to take it apart to clean up the assembly lube if you put the caps on in the right order and re-plastigauge them anyway right? As I recall my main bearing set was not that much money. It would be worth it I think for my peace of mind. Sucks though! I feel for ya! Good luck!

Cheers.............................Todd

 

[chevymaher]

Yep it has been apart before. Just remember dont panic. Put it on and feel where the cap and block meet are they smooth there. It be fine. My 3 liter was the same way. 2 were wrong. Well not wrong just in a different order than they were. It had oil pressure and it never failed there. It was freeze cracks that was what was wrong with that one. Crank was great coming back out.

She be fine take a deep breath. Either way you go with them it gonna run just fine.

 

[sphelps]

This kind of stuff is the reason I hate trying to do any mechanical work ! :lol:
I doubt I would have ever caught something like that ..

 

[archbuilder]

Yeah one wrong thing and everything goes to hell Sam!

Chevy / Seahorse I have been thinking along the lines of what both of you have recommended. At this point I am going to clean up all the assembly lube, and take a step back / think through things. I have never checked them without the bearings Chevy, It will be interesting to see what that shows me if anything. And for sure going to swap them and re-plastiguage Seahorse.....not looking forward to torquing things AGAIN! Lol. I cringe just thinking about hearing that SNAP noise . I'm going to clean things up tonight. Ok lunch, is over back to work!

 

[archbuilder]

I cleaned up the caps, bearings and block tonight. I swapped the caps back and forth.....of course this is subjective but I number 6 main seems to mate slightly better with the cap stamped 6. Almost perfect to the touch. The other cap on number 6 seems to have just a slight mis-match where they come together. So tomorrow I am going to clean up the crank and redo the plastiguage on those two. If it looks good with the caps in the numbered order, I am going to run with that.

 

[Sea18Horse]

Nice! Well you can take some solace in knowing that the whole broken bolt-wrong stud oil pump pick up debaucle happened for a reason. It allowed you time to find the switched main caps. So you see, this engine is on your side. This engine loves you! Smooth sailing from here on out. I can feel it! Knock on wood.

Cheers.....................Todd

 

[archbuilder]

I sort of feel like I am trapped in a cross between Groundhog Day and an episode of Roadkill lol!

 

[nurseman]

It's not roadkill until you drive it with the hood off...

 

[archbuilder]

I have, we didn't have the dog house on when we splashed it

 

[archbuilder]

I cleaned up the crank tonight and actually worked on swapping out part from the culprit of this entire fiasco....the Intake Exhaust Manifold.....maybe I should make some kind of wall art out of it, or maybe just blow it up lol! I figured out a gasket and some studs that I didn't have for the new one and rummaged around on evilbay till I found the "haven't made since 1980" parts. I also took a few items I have picked up for the build out to the hanger. I found a low oil pressure switch and replacement engine mount bushings for it on evilbay a while back. Tomorrow I am going to clean up the crank and a few odds and ends. Should be ready for attempt 3 on night Friday / the weekend!

 

[GA_Boater]

op2::ranger: Waiting for the next installment of "Will This Thing Ever Run Again", Arch.

By now I would be picking up parts in the backyard and cleaning up broken glass when the parts left the shop through the window.

I'm

and hoping for the best! Good luck!

 

[chevymaher]

I can't believe your having as much trouble as I did.

 

[archbuilder]

It will get there, just apparently require me to poke it a lot!

 

[archbuilder]

I also ordered a new magnetic base and dial indicator.....apparently mine is stored with the plastiguage.....looked for it for an hour last night. Doesn't really matter, calling the base on that one "magnetic" was being generous. I really need a 10 thousands indicator, but a thousands will have to do. I want to put in the end bearings and caps then check the runout on the middle bearings. Seemed tight when I had it together, hopefully it was just the swapped caps.

 

[AShipShow]

If its not too late, order one of the Noga style indicator bases... they are soooo much better than the old post/clamp style bases... I got one for my lathe and I absolutely love it

 

[archbuilder]

thanks Madprops.....of course the new one is sitting on my porch lol! I didn't spring for a lot of bucks, just a grizzly unit. I don't use indicators much at all, but I will keep that in mind. I would love to get into machining, but that is a expensive proposition. For now I just hit up one of my friends when I need machine work done. His "hobby" shop has everything from a bridgport mill, to a lathe that is 6' between centers......everyone needs a 5' offset radial drill press right lol! I always enjoy looking at his toys, not much he can't make! Funny how his hobby shop requires 3 phase power lol!

 

[Sea18Horse]

I feel for ya, I think I mentioned the fuel pump mounting plate I couldn't find? I was tidying up in the boat house the other day and clearing out all of the un-needed engine work paraphernalia and there on the floor under the anchor fare-lead was the bag with the plate and all four bolts. Right where it was supposed to be. Dave and I both looked all through that stuff a couple times. But there it was! I have no explanation.

And good luck with the run-out checks. I'll bet the swapped caps was it.

Cheers.....................Todd

 

[archbuilder]

Here is an update sort of. I had time last night to tinker with the crank. I put the front and back bearings in, snugged them down. I had about .0015 or so of run out with the dial indicator in the middle journal. I went ahead and put the caps on as numbered and torqued things down. I am just not really happy with this thing, it is really hard to turn. I am taking a few days off from bouncing around in the house and heading to the lake to vegetate and think about this. Any thoughts or suggestions? I am thinking either have the crank turned or have the crank turned and find a new block....we are getting to the point of that is the only thing I haven't updated. The bores are ok on this one, but If I turn the crank I am almost thinking why not find another block and spring for the bucks to have he machined? I think I will call my local machine shop tomorrow and see if they can source one. Boats are a cheap hobby right lol!

 

[GA_Boater]

Are the main crank journals standard or undercut? Maybe in a prior rebuild the block was line bored with those two main caps swapped and that's the reason for a tight crank when in the factory spots?

Yeah, boats are a cheap hobby if you like to burn money.

 

[archbuilder]

Nope GA the bearings are all standard. And the backs of the one's I took out were stamped that way. It really doesn't look like they did a lot on the last rebuild other than bore it. The deck wasn't surfaced, and the crank was standard, I think they just bored it and called it good. Which is sort of why I am leaning towards just finding a new block and building a all new short block. More $ but I also hate doing things twice.