Quote Originally Posted by DR. FORD
This engine had a great cam-head combo and made 300 to the rear tires. Something wrong here?!!
It is a great head/cam combo...especially would have worked well for its original purpose. But clearly you believe I am to blame for Mark's engine

And I'm sure you're not alone in that or come to that conclusion by yourself...

Quote Originally Posted by DR.FORD View Post
Five rod bearings installed backwards, grinding on the crank chamfer also.
To explain the crankcase pressure issues-
when the top ring (compression) and the second ring (scraper) are overwhelmed with oil, they cannot seat. Then add that the rings were eventually washed out by over-fueling, that was the dagger.
Blame can be placed on the guy that put the parts in the kit, but it doesn't explain the lack of "common sense" that the oil ring package flopped around in the ring groove.
It WILL have a pcv system in it also.
Which all shows an inexperienced builder...nor would it have been improved on if I was the only builder.

Here's the thing, I resent the insinuation that this is *my fault.* It's not that I am totally blameless, since I certainly helped....but:

1. My first offer to help was simply put together a recipe of parts that would work well for the goals he had.

2. Mark wanted to build it himself, and my original intent was NOT to help in that endeavor...figuring he would be better served by any number of more experienced guys. It was unfortunate that the help never materialized in the way he needed it to.

3. One of my first suggestions was to take it to a shop and have someone build the shortblock and go from there. Spoke of the advantages of having someone who *knows* what they are doing and does it *all the time* put it together for you...in a clean room and all the proper tools to boot. Yet Mark's desire was to build it himself.

4. Given the direction he wanted to go, and still in need of help (and with plenty of reservations of my own knowing the shortcomings and risk and having VOICED them) went and purchased a book stating that we'd do the best we can following those directions to a "T" really not straying from it at all. That's right...purchased a BOOK...not the stuff of grandiose expertise.

---it's with that that I am still somewhat surprised that 5 rod bearings were installed incorrectly...I cannot recall if I was there to help with all eight, but taking great care in the ones we did to make sure all bearings were placed correctly per the instructions. Just as we had done with installing the rings, oil and otherwise. I do not recall what you speak of in terms of the oil rings "flop[ping] around" in there groove so I can't recall what in your words should have been obvious or not...all I can say was that we followed the given directions using the supplied parts and nothing seemed untoward at that time, meaning that I recall that the oil rings moved freely, but no necessarily flopping around in it's groove.

5. On the issues involving the rockers, *again* I pleaded ignorance. Familiar with mopar shaft mounted rockers, not pedestal mounted rockers I advised Mark to get someone with experience (even if he had to PAY them) to measure correct length push-rods (I had no experience doing so) and adjusting them, since I was clueless...again, no help was forthcoming, tried best as I could to help Mark.

To try and put this in perspective, more than once I told Mark not tell people I'm "building" or even much helping. I didn't want "shout outs" or anything that would give me credit I thought was undue. Success of not, I stressed that this was his baby through and through. All I could claim was to help him with things that were relatively simple and hope better help would come along at the tough spots. I made what I thought the best recommendations, and followed or not, lead us to here.