Crusader Project

Last Mohecian

Administrator
Take your parts to Calvert and let them assemble it.  They did the machine work.  Let them check the clearances.  There is no reason to rush it.  The piece of mind it will give you is worth way more than what they will charge you for assembly.  Just my .02
 

blazeracer

New member
All the even numbers were in backwards! As soon as the caps were loosened the motor freed up. Like mentioned above, the dots on the piston DO NOT MATTER on a big block Ford. There are valve reliefs cut on both side of the piston. The rods being in correct is what really matters. I have all the confidence in the world that Calverts did their part right and everything is within spec. All parts are new and look great. Ken Sr. came by and feels the same. Calvert did a fine job on their part, bad assembly job. In addition to what was already found, the two oil galley plugs under the intake were left off so there would have been zero oil pressure. Also the cam had none of that black zinc break in lubricant paste on it at all. Luckily the motor was never fired so no damage done other than a ruined gasket set.

It's down to the bare block now. Me and Edward (he's been scraping gasket material off all morning) are gonna go get lunch then pick up the new gasket set and some cam break in lube and start putting it all back together.
 

Last Mohecian

Administrator
You better check those bearings rods & crank really close. With them being put in backwards and torqued there is a chance of bearing damage or even rod and crank damage to the chamfered edge.  Did you check ring gap on all the rings?  Did you plastigauge the bearings?  I would just hate for Cliff to blow that thing up because of something that could be prevented.  Sometimes it is better to let the people who do it everyday put it together.  At least let someone who has had good luck with that platform look it over.
 

Gold Member

New member
I'm trying to help as much as I can over the phone. I plan on stopping by after work to help him out. Another set of eyes never hurts.
 

blazeracer

New member
I smell a guy afraid to build his own motors.... Hahaha...

Main Journal specs.

journal 1 @ .0021
journal 2 @ .0015
journal 3 @ .0016
journal 4 @ .0019
journal 5 @ .0018

Factory specs is .001 to .002

Gonna remeasure #1 real quick to verify, but .0021 should work in a basically stock rebuild. Some guys loosen up race motor to .003

EDIT: Second measure on journal 1 torqued, .0018.... GTG. Crank installed. Next is cam with proper lube.
 

Gold Member

New member
Good job James!  clap.gif I like a little more on my jet boat motors but it should be fine in a cruiser that won't be turning high rpm
 

Last Mohecian

Administrator
Sounds like you are on the way.  I sure hope it holds together.  Your track record with BBF is not soo....  how should I say this...  stellar.  :smile28:
 

spd500

New member
It's awesome that you were willing to step up and help him out with getting the motor ready to go , and great thing y'all caught the issues before it ended up doing some real damage . It sounds like the guy building the motor is not real familiar with Fords , but he was trying to help Cliff out on the deal . Good thing it didn't end in disaster , I am sure he already feels pretty bad having made the mistake in the first place .
 

boatlessbrett

New member
can you turn it now don't forget the ring gap...wish i was there helping again but have to get my pile running as well broken bow is just a few days away...
 

spd500

New member
Last Mohican said:
Sounds like you are on the way.  I sure hope it holds together.  Your track record with BBF is not soo....  how should I say this...  stellar.  :smile28:

It's not him  , it's Fords track record across the board . But some guys have to blow a few of them up to learn thier lesson  think.gif :smile30:
 

blazeracer

New member
Alright.. First one was MAYBE my fault. I didn't put the oil pump drive rod in and it MAY have lost contact with the pump causing oil starvation followed by one rod coming out the side of the block and oil pump broke in half. Based on that, I knew when I saw that oil pump rod in the bolt bin things were NOT as they should be.

The second one is still together and will back in action in the Enforcer very soon. That motor had a LUNATI lifter grind itself down till it had a hole in the bottom of it. All 15 of the others are just fine as well as the cam still has it's lobe on it. I'm almost tempted to just drop a stock lifter in that hole and let er rip. BUT, I have a new cam and if Cliff's old D0VE heads come back good they'll be on that motor kicking your A$$. LOL I fact, I might try running my other VooDoo cam with the D0VE heads. It's already broken in.

If anything, I sure as hell know what NOT to do with a 460 now. Anyway, back to Cliffs motor.

Plastiguaged a few of the rods and they were all coming in at .0015 and .0016. One of the pistons has a chipped moly top ring Bobby caught that will have to be replaced. I know Blaine's has those in stock so I'll get it in the morning when I take those old D0VE's down there.

There was also some concern of either a number 2 or number 6 rod bolt not torquing correctly. We were guessing for the mid step torque with the wrench set on 45 the whole way. What I will do in the morning is loosen those two and let them rest while I run down to the machine shop and when I get back I'll use the wrench to torque to 35, then torque to 45 and measure the rotation. If ANY of the four turns over a 1/8th more turn than the other three from 35 to 45 I'll take it down and get the bolts replaced. That will be a one day turn around to get it pressed and resized. If all four rotate the same we'll go with it.
 

blazeracer

New member
Here's a few pics.

1. The oil galleys under the intake with no plugs in them. The motor came apart this way.

2. A view of the cam through the oil drain. The journals had assembly lube on the but the lobes were bone dry. The motor came apart this way.

3. What should be all over this cam. I stole this from my new cam, so Cliff owes me a pack of cam break in lube.

4. Cliff's new cam and lifters all lathered up in camshaft peanut butter.

5. Timing chain was dry too, so  Edward took care of it using a door pocket for a Whirlpool fridge and a some motor oil.

A few peeps came by the shop today to check it out and all agreed that this thing would have eaten the cam or crank within 5 minutes or less had it been able to fire.
 

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Devilman

Well-known member
You gotta disregard pretty much anything Spd sez about Fords... hell, any running boat engine for that matter. Its been a period of years since he had one so he is nowhere near to being in the position to make an accurate judgement of any sort about one... lol :cheesy: :grin:
 

KONA77

New member
i got to give it to Blaze, way to step brother,  sure is a good bunch here  :smile16:  and i hope for the best on this....
 

blazeracer

New member
KONA said:
i got give it Blaze, way to step brother,  sure is a good bunch here  :smile16:  and i hope for the best on this....

I gotta get this done before the wife pulls back on the reigns. LOL This is all being done on work time with her blessing.

After seeing the interest this generates with all the people coming by the shop, she's asking why I don't do this for a living...
 

Crusader

Moderator
I have to chime in here.

I have never, in my life, been so blessed with the top notch quality friends I have here helping me with this motor. Words cannot express how grateful I am (not being gay at all. Lol. ).

Hope to be on the water on Sunday and ready for broken bow next Wednesday.

 
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