306 install, ran into a issue.

[SVTHAHA]

So let me start by explaining what happened to the car. My wife bought the GT in July 09. She was driving it when the engine shut down and she heard loud clanking in the motor. From there we had the car towed home.

Well after removing the valve covers, I uncovered a interesting issue. Whoever installed the AFR heads on this car decided to use non-hardened push rods with guide plates. :idiot: The pushrods wore themselves down so much that one of them snapped which in turn broke the rocker stud, sent that rocker kicking around taking out a couple other rockers in the process. I removed that cylinder head and bam! We have piston to valve contact, one of the pistons is completely gone, rod just sitting in the cylinder. Needless to say, the head is at CAMs getting repaired and I need a new shortblock.....

Well I purchased a newly built 306 off of a member on here, engine looks great! It came with a camshaft in it but it is a very agressive nitrous cam and we just don't need that in the wifes car. I am wanting to just reuse the cam that is in her car (seller said it is a Steeda #19). Today, I took the cam out of the blown motor, inspected it, all of the lobes and journals look nice, zero visual damage to the cam. I cleaned it up real good, applied the assembly lube and attempted to put it in the new shortblock. This cam will not go in for the life of me. It goes all the way in up to the last journal and will not go any farther. I tried it in both shortblocks and neither will take the last journal. The cam that came with the shortblock will install just fine in either shortblock....

Is it possible that this cam got bent? Is there a way to have these inspected/repaired if that is the case or am I looking at buying a new cam?

[gearhead]

buy a new cam.

[SVTHAHA]

Any reccomendations on a cam? Car has AFR 165 heads, Trickflow TrackHeat intake, 1.7 RR's, won't be seeing more then 6k rpms and would like it to idle ok. Should I stick with the steeda?

[TrickFlowGregg]

Chris if this is for the wifes car use our stage I cam.

[gearhead]

what gregg said..or a anderson cam

[SVTHAHA]

Fair enough. Thanks!

[TIDyno]

Don't chance it, buy new. Cheaper in the long run.

[SCHMUCKINGHAM]

Run the one thats in the new motor:twisted:

[SVTHAHA]

Run the one thats in the new motor:twisted:

Ha, then the wife would hate the car. lmao

[---jc---]

sounds stupid................BUT did you remove the lifters? I had the same issue with mine and i didn't remove the lifters(i know i'm a dumbass) and one fell down and wouldn't let the cam pass...it took me about 20 mins and alot of swearing & throwing stuff to figure it out...........just thought i'd share that (me):laughat:(everyone)

[SVTHAHA]

sounds stupid................BUT did you remove the lifters? I had the same issue with mine and i didn't remove the lifters(i know i'm a dumbass) and one fell down and wouldn't let the cam pass...it took me about 20 mins and alot of swearing & throwing stuff to figure it out...........just thought i'd share that (me):laughat:(everyone)


lmao, the engine never had lifters in it to start with. It's a fresh short block. Like I said before, the other cam goes in just fine. I did figure out that the cam is bent for sure. When you lay it on a flat surface, it wobbles from end to end. Barely noticable, by the eye you'd never know. It's bent just enough to make it impossible to install without F'n up the bearings.

[95_Stang_GT]

i have E cam and a trickflow satge 1 cam for sale let me kno chris

[---jc---]

lmao, the engine never had lifters in it to start with. It's a fresh short block. Like I said before, the other cam goes in just fine. I did figure out that the cam is bent for sure. When you lay it on a flat surface, it wobbles from end to end. Barely noticable, by the eye you'd never know. It's bent just enough to make it impossible to install without F'n up the bearings.


like i said ."sounds stupid"..........(lol),.........glad u figured it out!!! Just sounds strange to me that it would be removed fine but won't install??? you'd think it would be just as hard to remove if it was bent! just my stupid thought process!!!

[SVTHAHA]

It was pretty snug to remove as well.

[LX2NV]

sounds like the motor had some metal shavings and particulates circulated through it by running the non hardened pushrods. not good.

[SVTHAHA]

If only you guys knew who installed the heads...... :wtf:

[El_Diablo]

we're listening... lol

[SVTHAHA]

Well lets put it this way, it was done at a shop around Akron that is no longer in business. We'll leave it at that....

[SCHMUCKINGHAM]

If only you guys knew who installed the heads...... :wtf:


ooohhh i know I KNOW

[SVTHAHA]

Thought you all would like to see some pictures of the destruction....


Car being towed off the highway.
http://c2.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/115/l_883c4c840ee44909a5aff5438e7ecbd5.jpg


The sorce of the problem.
http://c1.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/137/l_a1e38cd8699344debc66ffd64222a7c4.jpg


Smashed chamber.
http://c3.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/126/l_7dec4c96ab4446e0a2d784191ee9c71a.jpg


Piston gone.
http://c3.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/115/l_171f29d48dde447e8769134e05f18116.jpg


Everything all chewed up.
http://c1.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/116/l_1b267320c46841fca53db9b0d8cea330.jpg


Rod punched a hole in the cylinder.
http://c4.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/122/l_ef09e0542717465092e8ebae1f7d7913.jpg


Pieces of piston. The rest is still in the pan. I actually pulled some of these out of the upper intake.
http://c2.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/118/l_5d2eeb9cdd0d4fe1b37040eb82e24da9.jpg


Spark plug that was in the smashed chamber.
http://c3.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/141/l_d7793086799042a0947c08c1080761ae.jpg


Rocker got dinged up.
http://c4.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/135/l_1f103992d84047f28a60b052f9251d9b.jpg


Lifter came apart
http://c3.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/142/l_cc5c7e0457034f78bdd378e1d3f8d2ea.jpg

[6t9MachI]

Ouch!!!

[LX2NV]

looks like factory pushrods were reused. i'm sure they were the wrong length too causing binding and heat issues also. hence the pictures ....

yup. when you run guideplates you MUST run hardened pushrods. the correct length helps too. ;)

[gonemad]

i would def go with an anderson cam they are a bit pricy but the results are outstanding. i have had back to back comparisons with trick flow and anderson cams that appear very simalar on paper...the track tells a different story.

[PoonRacing]

Ouch!!!

+1

[TrickFlowGregg]

looks like factory pushrods were reused. i'm sure they were the wrong length too causing binding and heat issues also. hence the pictures ....

yup. when you run guideplates you MUST run hardened pushrods. the correct length helps too. ;)


:werd:

[sleeping93]

doesn't get much worse then that

[SVTHAHA]

Just got off the phone with CAMs and it looks like since the builder decided to use the stock pushrods, not only were they not hardened, they were not the right length either. Every single valve guide has to be replaced now due to excessive wear. Looking at $750 bucks just to get the heads repaired. Brings the total bill for this up to around $2000. Note to self and everyone here, MEASURE AND USE THE PROPER LENGTH PUSHRODS FOR YOUR APP!!!!

Postive side, new shortblock is in the car happily waiting for its topend.

http://c2.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/114/l_58605046d19b4450bdfb54dd6ff4a725.jpg

[GTkyle]

Ouch, The trickflow heads at least require a 6.75" pushrod. Ive personally seen a lot of their mess ups, yours is the worst though.

[SCHMUCKINGHAM]

Just got off the phone with CAMs and it looks like since the builder decided to use the stock pushrods, not only were they not hardened, they were not the right length either. Every single valve guide has to be replaced now due to excessive wear. Looking at $750 bucks just to get the heads repaired. Brings the total bill for this up to around $2000. Note to self and everyone here, MEASURE AND USE THE PROPER LENGTH PUSHRODS FOR YOUR APP!!!!

Postive side, new shortblock is in the car happily waiting for its topend.

http://c2.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/114/l_58605046d19b4450bdfb54dd6ff4a725.jpg



I see you painted the block black instead of blue :)

[SVTHAHA]

I see you painted the block black instead of blue :)


HaHa yeah, at the wifes request. =P

[vizzle2689]

man u about saved my a**, i looked in this thread i did the same thame, by using my stock and wrong size push rods with guide plates! but i didnt do any damage! good luck with ur car hopefully it works out well for u

[SVTHAHA]

man u about saved my a**, i looked in this thread i did the same thame, by using my stock and wrong size push rods with guide plates! but i didnt do any damage! good luck with ur car hopefully it works out well for u


Glad you caught that before anything major happened. It really sucks to be in this boat! haha Oh well, I'm just using it as a reason to upgrade!

[orodi]

that **** should have buffed right out of that other block. HAHA I had the same push rod issue with my AFRs I just said hell with it and bought a set of pedistal mount 185s

[LX2NV]

looks like factory pushrods were reused. i'm sure they were the wrong length too causing binding and heat issues also. hence the pictures ....

yup. when you run guideplates you MUST run hardened pushrods. the correct length helps too. ;)



http://dmp.name/assets/images/what-would-fonzie-do.jpg

[SVTHAHA]

Anyone want some Beef Stroganoff?

http://c2.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/115/l_fbd3d71e662e4aefa7d1916cd0fbbbcd.jpg



How about some milkshake?

http://c4.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/116/l_06413ce5a63f48dda943a3e34f62cf7b.jpg



Piston Rings

http://c2.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/138/l_95122b26dd1f4b0cb6707939d1ffd4a5.jpg

[95_Stang_GT]

that cam must of worked then huh... =)

[SVTHAHA]

that cam must of worked then huh... =)


Fit like a glove man and degreed right on the money. \\:D/