I'm not sure why this became a bash on others banter. I asked about whether this looked to be a fluke issue or the builder funked it up. I do appreciate those shoe gave input to help with what they know.

Not that it truly means a whole lot to me, but why in the world would one ditch the actual block, short of obvious flaws? The first issue I had with the cam losing a lobe was caused by a rocker not properly locked down, it spun 90 degrees and beat the piss out of it. The end of the push rod broke off and lifter broke and floated down to the end and scarred up the cam. It obviously ran but sounded like an old 7.3 PSD

This latest catastrophe, the cam had been broke in correctly with proper zinc additives and oil change with zinc added again.

Whomever stated "should've started with a new block" why? It was 030 over and was low hours (128 hrs). I'm not a mechanic by any means not even a good assembler but I've raced MX for years and had to do repairs to my bikes. Other then possible resleeved I don't recall ditching my block. But maybe there's a difference between a BBC and 2stroke and 4 stroke bikes? Please help me understand the new block statement. I know I need a new block now as it has a hole and fractured from top to bottom in the #7 sleeve


89' Eliminator
Stroked BBC Berkley Jet

Nowhere in this post do you say 128 hrs.... You said .090 and it wiped out a cam (and lifter) last year and nobody knew why.

As in FACTS NOT IN EVIDENCE. Same thing with the cause, though YOU might have known, you didn't mention any of that in your post... Going on the facts that have been presented to me - I make the statements I make.

I think it's gotten alittle tense in here.  Remember this is the tech section of the site not the war zone.

My mistake when I got the boat it wads 496 I'm guessing that's a 060 over so that was an error with the 030 over, my bad.
My hour meter on my boat is original and read the low hours.
Obviously the block at one time was a 454 stock. The guy I bought it from original owner said he bought it wasn't excited with its power so had it bored, heads, different exhaust, intake and larger carb. Again, not a builder, but he didnt mention multiple builds so is it typical to go stock to a 060 over? Doesn't change the fact the block has under 150 hrs at time I collected it.
My MX bikes when racing, had 100's of hours on them, I've on occasion rejugged (top end/head) but that was rare. But one of my bikes had 3 builds on it still runs like a champ today and competitive. These are 250cc and 450cc very small compared to a 454 block




89' Eliminator
Stroked BBC Berkley Jet

Love working on motorcycles and atv's too - have even welded-up aluminum heads. BUT the big difference between those and the boat is that an engine failure on your motorcycle, or atv sure is a bummer and might be very inconvenient where an engine failure on your boat can be life threatening. If this was an airplane engine and you had to ride in it, would you reuse much?

Oops...I didn't catch the name...just read the post and sounded like the OP being cocky.  Sorry

No problem, I figured as much. 

I have built a few engines in my time.

The problems tend to start when one relies on the recommendations of another without the all important second opinion.

While building a bunch of horsepower is fun, it must be reliable. It had always been my opinion that the ONLY way to accomplish this is to either overbuild the living snot out of it, or de tune it so it can't break itself.

The weak link on the big block Chevy is almost always valve train. That being said, there are parts available now that were not readily available to the average Joe just a few short years ago.

Tough costs money.

There is no reason these days to utilize a flat tappet cam, rollers have come a long way. The amount of impact on the system the roller profiles eliminate is unreal.

Do the research, talk to the pros, get second opinions, even third and you will be fine.

Just remember, a 700HP motor only makes 700HP at wide open throttle. You control your own destiny as far as how hard you run it.

Marathon engines in most cases stay together because of how they are built more than the parts that are used. A build can go bad with just one tolerance left under engineered.

GT

Btw, that was a nice recovery......





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