GM Performance Crate Engines

[LVCamaro]

I was always of the understanding that ALL GM High Performance CRATE ENGINES were test fired/ran before crate. I surfed around the Net a bit, trying to find some sort of confirmation of that rumor without success. Can the experts here about GM Performance Parts Div. confirm or deny whether these HIPO GM engines are fired before crate?

We installed and briefly test fired/ran the new Ram-Jet ZL1 crate engine last Monday in my 69 Chevelle inside the shop...without a load, everything seemed fine. Then, last Friday, we pulled the Chevelle outside the shop under it's own power to set up for a road test mile or two. At high idle RPM while in gear doing a clutch/shift test in the parking lot, we suddenly heard rod noise! We immediately shut it down and yanked the engine to find EVERY rod cap nut was only speed wrench tight [less than 10 TQ] and the mains held less that 45 TQ. The rod/main bearings appear to be the only damage, but with the Memorial Holiday weekend, it'll be Tuesday before new bearings/gaskets arrive for another test run Tuesday evening.

This debacle is now in my spine, so when/if I can confirm whether GM test ran the engine...I'll backtrack until I find and expose the responsible moron.

SS