4.2L Stroker Build

No sound when engine is cold, only shows up when engine has fully warmed up.

I think I'm going to try to pull the oil pan and check the rod bearings to see if anything is going on down there. (I think a bearing is being / has been destroyed)

 

Well I spun a rod bearing.






I'm thinking this was caused by a blocked oil passage or something similar. All of the other rod, and main, bearings looked fine and dandy. Could also have been miss-assembly, this was my first engine build after all.

Very slight scoring on the crankshaft. Going to take it into the shop when I get some time and money to see if the crank and rod are salvageable.

Looks like the car is sitting for a few more months.

 

Sorry for the lack up updates, kind of got side tracked in life for a bit.

The bearing didn't actually spin, just shifted a bit. After talking to the machine shop we think I just messed up the install on one bearing somehow (or there was a defect that I didn't notice).
Machine shop measured everything and they just had to polish the crank and install new bearings.

I got the engine back in the car, it seems to be running great! (even with the stock tune still loaded)

Currently having a problem with a transmission leak. I think it's coming from one of the transmission cooler line connections on the transmission.

Once I have the leak figured out I'll start tuning the car, once I learn how to tune the car that is...(I have all the hardware for it)

 

From my limited experience I would offer up these tips:

Be as clean as possible during the assembly process.
Inspect each and every bearing very carefully (replace even if you see a speck of a defect, this is likely what caused my first build to fail)

I think the biggest problems I ran into while assembling / installing the engine for the second time were the trans and oil dipstick tubes. I forgot to install them on the engine before installing.
Oil wasn't bad to get back on just had to pull driver side exhaust manifold off.
The trans dipstick tube I had to modify to install, I couldn't reach where it bolts to the back of the engine. (just install it back on trans before putting trans back in car)

 

From what I remember my machinist said the springs were too strong, and there was risk of damaging the head or valves.
He was also taking into account which camshaft I'm using. (which is a very mild cam), and the fact I'm reusing stock valves, and non hardened pushrods.
My machinist did all the math and found that the new springs were the right spring for my specific setup.

I'll see if I can get some more info for you in the next few days.

 

Short update!

So you know how I took the engine back out a second time to fix that bearing?...

Well I had to take the engine back out for a 3rd time. Had a transmission leak that I just could not fix for the life of me. After I got the engine out I found out I broke the trans dipstick tube...pulled an engine to fix a dipstick tube. I will say that I don't know if that trans dipstick tube is replaceable inside the car though.

Got that done last weekend. got the engine dropped back in the car 2 days ago. and I plan on actually putting it back together over the next few days. Hopefully I'll get to take it for a drive soon, and not spew trans fluid all over the streets. Then I can finally do something about the inside of the car.