Quote:
Originally Posted by GregWeld
Brandon -- just asking... why would you suspect it to be a spun bearing? New rebuild? Wrecking yard motor? Oil pressure okay? Where you on it or just cruising etc? Just wondering is all.  |
Well, I don't really know what happened. I was cruising down I-71 about 70mph and the motor just started to sound a little different, still had 50psi oil pressure when I glanced down. I signaled to Dad to get off the next exit and by the time I changed lanes it started sounding worse and I looked down to see 0psi -- -I hit the key and coasted to the side. It all happened so quick, that I'm not sure whether the oil pressure went (ie: oil pump, pickup?????) or if potentially a bearing went which kept it from holding any pressure. I let it sit for a minute and hit the key - -it started right up, but had a pretty good bottom end knock.
I called a few of the local machine shops and they are swamped with upkeep on race engines. I would like to get it back together for Indy GG, so I don't want to wait a month or two to get it fixed. I was able to find a good deal on a ZZ4 crate engine and will probably take a day off work on Thursday and go pick it up. I will tear the 327 down and assess the damage and potentially rebuild it for a future project.
I was pushing the limits with the family on working in the shop recently so the engine swap may take a little while - chipping away one or two nights a week. We have baby #2 on the way and have to get the house prepared for that -- ie: turn my office back into a bedroom for our 2 year old!
I had several people tell me that this was a great opportunity to do an LS swap, but not in this truck. I don't really have the cash for all of the fuel system, new accessory drive and so forth...... The good ole ZZ4, 700R4 combo will be just what the doctor ordered for the old Chevy truck. If I were starting from scratch, I would probably have gone with a 5.3, 4L60E combo.......
Thanks again to everyone for the encouraging words and compliments on the truck. It has turned out pretty good for a project that I started when I was 15 -- - -I'm 31..........It has been and continues to be a learning process. There are always things that you realize you would do different afterward, but all-in-all I'm pretty pleased. I will plan to drive it to Indy and then send it to the interior shop this Fall/Winter.
Oh, and yes Greg - it was a pretty nice tow truck.
Brian Hobaugh SCCA National Tour June 2014
First Hemi 'Cuda Convertible Ever Built
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