Oh buddy -- we share some motor stories.... I'm on the SECOND rather expensive rebuild of the ORIGINAL motor I had built but a illustrious racing engine builder...
The original 427 small block was a complete unmitigated disaster from the start. The builder - long time local shop - closed 3 days after I picked the engine up... it lasted a few months before I realized what a pile it was...
REBUILD #1 - Good local shop - well known - 30 years plus in biz... problems here were piston too sloppy in the bore - and too far down the bore - and the wrong # on the spring. They chose to use flat tappet springs on a roller cam...
The cam is toast... and the metal in the oil looked like metallic paint.
REBUILD #2 - just finished with it.... motor sounds fantastic - #'s were good - I watched as they cleaned the oil filter (mesh type cleanable) - looked great. So far so good...
40 grand later I might have a motor I can use for a couple of years.
