Birthday Blues/Advice Needed

[73cudabr]

I've had something similar to this happen to me once. It occurred while doing some tuning so I wasn't driving and was able to quickly shut it down so I never got the clanging. Tried fishing it out with a magnet with no success. Once I pulled the head, found the culprit and looked over the damage, it was minor enough I just buttoned it all back up. I did need to deburr the piston some since it has bolt thread imprints pressed into it. I was lucky and had no damage other than that.

Happy to hear the good news! I hope I'm the same.  Wednesday is my next night free. Hope to be looking at the piston by then.

[YellowThumper]

Fingers crossed that it is relegated to the top items.

[73cudabr]

Fingers crossed that it is relegated to the top items.

Thank you - I'm going back in tonight and hope to have eyes on. Before I pull my headers. For those that have worked with the 440 before. Is it possible to get the lower head bolts out with the header still in the engine bay. Looks tight to me. Thinking I have to pull it.

Also side note. My trunk lock fell out, thus rendering my truck stuck closed unless I can figure out how the cable works. I can get my fingers on the cable through the hole where the locking mechanism used to be, but not sure how to pop the latch with the cable. I ask as my jack is in the trunk. Be nice not to have to buy a new one to get to the bolts that connect the headers to the exhaust pipe.

[Matt70]

Man you can't catch a break......I hope the damage is minimal, good luck!

[73440]

Thank you - I'm going back in tonight and hope to have eyes on. Before I pull my headers. For those that have worked with the 440 before. Is it possible to get the lower head bolts out with the header still in the engine bay. Looks tight to me. Thinking I have to pull it.

Also side note. My trunk lock fell out, thus rendering my truck stuck closed unless I can figure out how the cable works. I can get my fingers on the cable through the hole where the locking mechanism used to be, but not sure how to pop the latch with the cable. I ask as my jack is in the trunk. Be nice not to have to buy a new one to get to the bolts that connect the headers to the exhaust pipe.

I have exhaust studs on my 440 and when I went to remove the headers for starter removal, I unbolted the motor mounts and raised the engine, still did not have enough room , so I cut the cheap headers out with a  Sawzall.
That gave an opportunity to put the Mancini Magmount in on the drivrs side.

[73cudabr]

Man you can't catch a break......I hope the damage is minimal, good luck!

Haha - yeah, I was just thinking the other day that my car has been running so well for so long. It's a good learning experience. Should know the damage shortly. Getting ready to finish the head removal (hopefully). I'm sure something small will come up that will delay me. Being new to this mechanic thing, I'm finding that tools add up quickly, and I usually never have what I need.

[Matt70]

Well good on you for digging right in!    Where are you located?

[73cudabr]

Well good on you for digging right in!    Where are you located?

Raleigh North Carolina. I have pictures to share finally. Just awaiting photo bucket to work. The site seems to be having trouble.

[73cudabr]

Okay I have some pictures. It does not look too good to me. But before we get there. Please note that I've never taken an engine apart before. So you will see some coolant in the cylinders. I was not aware that when I pulled the heads it would drain all over the place. When I watch shows on tv where they take these apart they must edit out the draining of the radiator.

I'll take suggestions on where to go from here. I"m assuming it needs to be pulled. If thats the case, rebuild this one? Order a crate engine? I don't have a ton of money for this as I just bought and furnished a house which pulled my reserve cash that I had. So I may have to let it sit for the winter and save up to have it back on the road in the spring/summer.

Anyways now to the pictures.



Number 8 - I see some pitting on the piston



Number 6 - the culprit based on the busted spark plug. The metal pieces are still in there. right were we suspected.



Number 4 - again some pitting in the cylinder



Number 2 - Can't see in the picture - but it appears to be a nice dig in the cylinder wall.

[YellowThumper]

Engine people  can chime in but is that a substantial amount of pitting on the piston tops? Lots of detination?

One of the pics it looks like some good dents to the top of the piston edge. I would be concerned about ring land damage.

My 2c is I could not just slap on new top half. I would go in all the way.

Sorry my 2c.

[HP_Cuda]

You are gonna have to pull that one out and rebuild.

Just think of all the fun things you can do with it now!!! 

[CUDA JAS]

Yeah that number 6 hole is a whole lot of  .  Regardless of what other issues are there, I think  you need to pull the engine for a rebuild.

Any pics of the head?  How bad is it damaged.

If you don't want to rebuild that engine you could go with a crate engine, I would price out each option and see what make the most sense.

Sorry.

Jason

[73cudabr]

Yeah that number 6 hole is a whole lot of  .  Regardless of what other issues are there, I think  you need to pull the engine for a rebuild.

Any pics of the head?  How bad is it damaged.

If you don't want to rebuild that engine you could go with a crate engine, I would price out each option and see what make the most sense.

Sorry.

Jason

I snapped a pic of the head this morning to send to my buddy who works on cars for a living. He gave me the same options but since he is a chevy guy, he recommended an LS Swap, or a cummings swap because I log more miles in an old car than anybody he's ever known. Pretty much if the suns out, I'm driving it.

 But on a more serious note, we're likely going to weigh our options to see whats a reliable build, that can make safe power. I'd like it more stout than what I had. But again, since I drive it a lot, I need it to last. If I have to redo it, I'd like to do it once, and the right way. Also, I don't want a stock BMW or Honda taking me to task.

[73cudabr]

Yeah that number 6 hole is a whole lot of  .  Regardless of what other issues are there, I think  you need to pull the engine for a rebuild.

Any pics of the head?  How bad is it damaged.

If you don't want to rebuild that engine you could go with a crate engine, I would price out each option and see what make the most sense.

Sorry.

Jason

[HP2]

I've seen worse run without issue. As long as valves and push rods aren't bent, lifter isn't collapsed, and piston isn't cracked, you could button it up and run it.

However, it would be best to go through it, especially if you noticed other damage. Its tough to tell from the pictures. I don't see the same scoring and pitting that you see. To me, most of it looks like carbon flaking off and not actual damage.

If you do decide to go in for a rebuild, I'd recommend cranking up compression to the highest level you can get away with on your local gas.  Squeezing the intake charge is the quickest way to increase efficiency which results in  more power and better mileage.