Hi All, Long, sad, expensive story here about things that "cannot
possibly be." Double and triple check the wristpin circlips in ALL new
pistons you purchase from ANYONE. Make absolutely certain the circlips
are the proper fit before the piston-wristpin-connecting rod assembly is
installed. In 2005, after only 1,130 miles on my freshly rebuilt 6
cylinder AH engine a "just a tad too small" circlip worked its way out
of the groove and got caught between the piston and cylinder wall. This
happened simultaneously on two cylinders. The engine damage was
awesome...two bent rods, one rod journal heavily damaged, and much more.
Anyway, five months and $1,850 later I have the resurrected engine back
from the machine shop. There's much more I could tell but I'll spare
the gory details. I remember what my Dad used to tell me ....boy,
measure once-cut twice, measure twice-cut once...
Jack
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-spridgets@autox.team.net
[mailto:owner-spridgets@autox.team.net] On Behalf Of Ron Soave
Sent: Friday, May 12, 2006 10:23 PM
To: Spridgets
Subject: Today's engine assembly tip
If you get a 4 bolt center main cap via one of the big-box LBC
suppliers, bear in mind that, while it does come from the distributor
with incorrect directions that a good machine shop will catch and
correct (what they say is "forward" for the cap cannot possibly be), it
does not come with the tapped hole for the oil pickup screen to mount
to. While not a showstopper, you might want to take note of this before
you bolt everything together and think you're done, except for bolting
on the oil pickup and oil pan (don't ask me how I know...).
Soave
Done for the night with the never ending engine assembly
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