More investigation of the crime scene commenced this evening.. I removed my crappy old leaky water pump to gain easier access to the crank bolt. The only accesories left connected to the block right now are the power steering and the starter. I attempted to rotate the bottom end and it spun fairly easily. I applied some shell rotella i had laying around to the cylinder walls and faces of the pistons and mating surface of the block so it wasnt dry. Then i pulled the #8 lifters out with a magnet. They slide out pretty smoothly(and dropped back in well also) All the lifters cycled smoothly as well. The one area of concern is I think the #8 exhaust lobe had like a small nick on it? Might have been oil but I tried to get a couple good pics of it. I dunno. Its a mystery.
My uncle thought it was weird that both push rods go in one cylinder at the same time. He thought the wrist pins let go. I only spoke with him on the phone and he hasnt seen the engine. I feel like the bottom end is fine
Other theories are that I floated a valve and screwed up the valve train but it took a couple weeks/drives for it to manifest itself in the bent PRs
Option 1..My friend at work knows a cylinder head shop that does good work but I'm torn spending like $2-400 fixing 1 old iron head. I need to call for an official estimate. This would be the fastest cheapest option. Maybe add another $150 for a new flat tappet cam that matches the existing springs
Option 2. I'm also conflicted on spending money on aluminum heads and guide plates and roller rockers and push rods ands a new cam. My engine leaks from the front and the rear and maybe the trans also? Not alot of fluid but enough to make a mess of my fancy suspension and annoy me in general
I guess $1500 isnt terrible to be back up and running and with like 75 more hp..
option 3
Get another engine. Definitly the long road and most exspensive. The LH6 i found on craigslist sold..Dammit. I would of had to refresh it anyway but the long block sold for $750. An aluminum 5.3 with 243(LS6)heads would have been sweet.. The GMPP carb intake manifold and MSD LS controller are about another $700. I need a flex plate to adapt the trans to an LS. Headers that work with an Art morrison front sub $800ish, the AME engine mounts. Anything else Im missing?
Ive got some decisons to make. In the mean time I put the passenger side head back on with 2 bolts and put the valve covers and manifold back on to kind of seal the motor up.
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