My Build: The Good, The Bad & The Progress
Holy crap....is that a chunk missing from you exhaust valve? WOW......you have issues in every area of your motor. about the only thing that didn't happen was for a rod to punch a ventilation hole in the block.
.I found this out when I called Frank because I had a similar reaction to the head pics.
These were my mystery cams. The original seller (POS) told me they were Tomei 25?/262's, but they had no markings on them to identify them at all. They were definately not stock though - those bad boys had some lope to them. I tried to have them spec'd, but apparently not many shops have the capability to do this and its not cheap. Its too bad they cracked, I was happy with them.
Cams
Gaskets
Pistons and Rings
Rods - not sure the can be trusted to still be round
Bearings - All of them
Oil Pump
Heads - pending evaluation - over $2K in headwork + full Ferrera Valvetrain
Turbos - Pending evaluation
Crank
Oil Squirters - pending evaluation
Block - pending evaluation - already bored .20 over may be able to hone it and ceramic coat the new pistons to get fitment correct
Re-machining all surfaces with either the old block or a new one
Basically starting over from scratch and replacing everything that is expensive
. I will be most upset if the heads are shot, so much time, money and effort put into making those heads absolute killers and they may not be able to be used now. Also, its possible that I am missing parts in my list, but those are the highlights.
Gaskets
Pistons and Rings
Rods - not sure the can be trusted to still be round
Bearings - All of them
Oil Pump
Heads - pending evaluation - over $2K in headwork + full Ferrera Valvetrain
Turbos - Pending evaluation
Crank
Oil Squirters - pending evaluation
Block - pending evaluation - already bored .20 over may be able to hone it and ceramic coat the new pistons to get fitment correct

Re-machining all surfaces with either the old block or a new one
Basically starting over from scratch and replacing everything that is expensive
Yes, it does suck donkey d1ck. I have an appointment to have everything evaluated by Justice Racing Engines in VA next week. They will be doing the machine work if I decide to go fully built again. Hopefully I will have some good news, Lord knows I could use some, and I will have a better idea of where I stand at that time.
Best of luck I hope some **** can be saved...like the heads at least when guys cheap out you an always say well if you wouldnt have cheaped out on the oil pump or this or that it might not have broke but in your case you seemed to have done it all right and still things didnt work out thats when I think **** just sucks.
Cams
Gaskets
Pistons and Rings
Rods - not sure the can be trusted to still be round
Bearings - All of them
Oil Pump
Heads - pending evaluation - over $2K in headwork + full Ferrera Valvetrain
Turbos - Pending evaluation
Crank
Oil Squirters - pending evaluation
Block - pending evaluation - already bored .20 over may be able to hone it and ceramic coat the new pistons to get fitment correct
Re-machining all surfaces with either the old block or a new one
Basically starting over from scratch and replacing everything that is expensive
. I will be most upset if the heads are shot, so much time, money and effort put into making those heads absolute killers and they may not be able to be used now. Also, its possible that I am missing parts in my list, but those are the highlights.
Gaskets
Pistons and Rings
Rods - not sure the can be trusted to still be round
Bearings - All of them
Oil Pump
Heads - pending evaluation - over $2K in headwork + full Ferrera Valvetrain
Turbos - Pending evaluation
Crank
Oil Squirters - pending evaluation
Block - pending evaluation - already bored .20 over may be able to hone it and ceramic coat the new pistons to get fitment correct

Re-machining all surfaces with either the old block or a new one
Basically starting over from scratch and replacing everything that is expensive
Didn't realize you were gonna have to replace that much.
I tend to agree with the other guys who are saying that you might be better off and it might be more cost effective to find a package deal on a short block and/or longblock. Kudos for trying something different with the extensive powdercoating... But next time around, I'd just paint/powdercoat the valve covers and polish the front of the motor.
Yes, it does suck donkey d1ck. I have an appointment to have everything evaluated by Justice Racing Engines in VA next week. They will be doing the machine work if I decide to go fully built again. Hopefully I will have some good news, Lord knows I could use some, and I will have a better idea of where I stand at that time.
They did my motor for me and it was phenomenal the difference in 1st start of my motor vs. 1st start of another (will remain nameless) built motor right next to each other.













