Big Motor, Little Truck. The BBR... aka "Tooth and Nail"

[tiresmoke!]

Re: Big Motor, Little Truck. The BBR is broke

:o :o :o :o :o

poop......that's gotta be a heartbreaker.

[HoosierGTA]

Re: Big Motor, Little Truck. The BBR is broke

What would be the plan now,sleeve it? Sorry to see that.

[BBR]

Re: Big Motor, Little Truck. The BBR is broke

Yep. Unless there are 7 other timebombs awaitng me.

[milner351]

Re: Big Motor, Little Truck. The BBR is broke

Dangit!

What's the history of this engine?

I thought you'd just rebuilt it?

Dang - that stinks!

[BBR]

Re: Big Motor, Little Truck. The BBR is broke

This block was a low mileage motor I bought from a local guy. It had been sitting in the corner of his shop for years. I had it cleaned, decked and bored 0.030" and never thought twice about magnafluxing it. I've never messed with that in the past and never had a problem.

So, now I'll pull it (driver's side headers.... please kill me now) strip, sleeve and poke it back in. Maybe I've learned a thing or two about putting it all together, so maybe it will go faster this time.

[milner351]

Re: Big Motor, Little Truck. The BBR is broke

would you be better off getting another block?

You might as well have it sonic checked before you sleeve it to see if any of the other cylinders are thin.

By the time I had my 428 block sleeved it cost about $350 -- I'd think you could get another 460 block pretty easy for that kind of money.... I hope you can get yours done cheaper.

[CTX-SLPR]

Re: Big Motor, Little Truck. The BBR is broke

I got quoted $125 to sleeve a hole on a Stage II V6 once but I decided that with the cost of a sleeve then the possiblity of loosing the fit of the rest of the pistons it was better to find a new block since I didn't want to pay to have all 6 holes sleeved as either insurance or standardization to use the high dollar custom forged pistons again. Passed on the whole package.

[BBR]

Re: Big Motor, Little Truck. The BBR is broke

I was quoted $75 to do a sleeve. I have to haul it about 45 miles, but that's no biggie. These guys' bread and butter is repairing/rebuilding well motors so they do plenty of sleeves. They even have a proven technique to install a sleeve without total engine disassembly, but I think I will just tear it all the way down to be safe.

It shouldn't run too much $$$$. Full gasket set $70, Sleeve $75. The only kicker is if the piston in that hole is damaged. I don't know if I can just buy a single.... may have to buy a full set. If that is the case, I will probably upgrade to a forged piston just for kicks.

[milner351]

Re: Big Motor, Little Truck. The BBR is broke

Good luck
My sleeve was $85 for the part, plus labor to install it (heat the block, cool the sleeve with liquid nitrogen)
Then they also decked the block / head surface slightly, sonic checked it and hot tanked it....

Most of that you don't need.

Man - what a bummer! Hopefully this will be the last of your major hurdles on this thing...

[BBR]

Re: Big Motor, Little Truck. The BBR is broke

Yeah I'm getting tired of jumping!

[dhondagod]

Re: Big Motor, Little Truck. The BBR is broke

Older pics in the thread dont work. Would love to see some more of this thing!



Chris 8)

[BBR]

Re: Big Motor, Little Truck. The BBR is broke

I fixed the pics. For some reason cardomain decided to switch from .net to .com Arrrrrg.

[BBR]

Re: Big Motor, Little Truck. The BBR is broke

Looks like my hypotheses is probably correct. Something was in there when it started. I think it might have been something like a piece of larger gauge wire with the plastic insulation on it. I did quite a bit of wiring after the motor was assembled and certainly could have dropped a piece in a port. There is a little smile on the bottom side of the chamber where the piston crown contacted when it cocked in the bore. Something else isn't right because there is an obvious area of piston to head contact. I know for a fact all 8 were zero deck, so it might have turned a bearing too.

Pics of junk:





Nothing that can't be fixed. I pulled the motor yesterday and have it partially torn down. Hopefully it won't be down for too long.

[TheSilverBuick]

Re: Big Motor, Little Truck. The BBR is broke

That sucks, I just went through the same thing in January, but I only lost a crank and some connecting rods.

[milner351]

Re: Big Motor, Little Truck. The BBR is broke

that totally stinks.

I admire your tenacity and patience.

Keep at it - it will roar again!

Hopefully you have room to mill the heads a little without putting yourself in the race gas only compression ratio range.