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What a Revoltin' Development THIS Is!

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Mickey Richaud

Mickey Richaud

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The thread title is a nod to those of us who remember "The Life of Riley" - although it's about the TR8, not a Riley!

I've had issues with the number 7 cylinder burning oil since the rebuild. Thought it might just need to be broken in, but after 800 or so miles, it seemed to be getting a bit worse. Did a compression check Sunday afternoon, and all cylinders except 7 were between 150 & 160 psi. Number 7 was 145... nothing out of the ordinary there. Took the head off Sunday afternoon to have a look-see, and number 7 was at the top of its stroke. It was getting late, and I decided to pack it in.

Yesterday, came home early and rotated the crank so I could see the number 7 cylinder wall. YIKES! /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/eek.gif - two perfectly formed grooves cut into the rear of the wall, starting about two inches down from the top. Wrist pin must have walked! Called the machine shop that did the work and gave them the bad news. Will be pulling the engine asap, so I can get it over to them to assess. They did all the machine work, including matching the pistons to the cylinders and pressing the pins on the rods; I assembled it. Their work was really very good (witness the compression numbers!), and they're excellent to work with. But I sure don't want to have to pull this thing out again. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/frown.gif

Anyone want to come play?
 
I know a guy who might be able to help you out!

PedroScam.jpg
 
/bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/lol.gif Cute, Dale!
 
Wish I knew enough to help ya ...

But it was great to learn I'm not the only one who remembers The Life Of Riley (William Bendix! Digger O'Dell! Pabst Blue Ribbon beer!) on 1950s TV.

Tom
Free old time radio: https://www.freeotrshows.com/
 
Revoltin'?

Isn't that charging a battery?
 
UPDATE: ALL FOUR sleeves on the driver's side are scored - DOUBLE-YIKES!!

Haven't looked at the passenger side yet. Machine shop ain't gonna want to see me drive up!
 
That sucks Mickey. I'd help you with the pull if you were like 500 miles closer. Curious that it happened to all 4 cylinders on one side and the other side is untouched. Keep us posted.

Tom
 
Haven't looked at the other side yet (almost afraid to!).
 
Really sucky turn of events, I assume it's under warranty?
 
Mickey.
There is a guy in Ontario who had a TR8 for sale on E-bay. In his ad he showed a second motor (3.5 block) that was an extra. If you are in a spot, PM me and I will see if he still has this. The car never reached his reserve.
Dave
 
Mickey Richaud said:
UPDATE: ALL FOUR sleeves on the driver's side are scored - DOUBLE-YIKES!!

Haven't looked at the passenger side yet. Machine shop ain't gonna want to see me drive up!
Click to expand...

Mickey, I suspected that when I PM'ed you, sorry to read I was right. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/cry.gif

But 4 scored cylinders? Yeow!! The engine builder forgot something for sure, and I bet the opposite side are scored too.

You have 13 weeks to get it all together and put a few throwing a rod doing some unlawful speed on I-81. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/lol.gif

While you are in there, do a new performance cam and lifters, some roller rockers, and some headers! /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/cool.gif
 
HAD a brand new cam, etc. (not the roller rockers, though). I suspect it's all trash now! At least, that's what I'll be telling the shop.

Hate it when this happens!
 
Have you got an idea how deep the scores are? Maybe a bore job and oversized pistons will fix it up.
Dave
 
Nope - too deep, and the pistons were already .020 over.
 
Time for a 3.9 rover engine and FI? It sounds to me as if the piston pins walked sideways for some reason, but haven't seen this kinda thing in 30 years or so.
Dave
 
Mickey, can the block be sleeved? Aluminum block, right?
My TR6 block (iron) is bored 20 over <u>and</u> sleeved.
Beats over-boring.
 
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:] UPDATE: ALL FOUR sleeves on the driver's side are scored - DOUBLE-YIKES!!
[/QUOTE]

Just be glad that they're sleeves and not cylinder walls in a block.
 
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:]It sounds to me as if the piston pins walked sideways for some reason, [/QUOTE]

Just a wild guess and I'm not at all familiar with that engine, but since it was all one bank, could they have been installed incorrectly on the rods? Like reversed and engine torque drove out the pins? Again, just a wild guess.
 
According to Woody at the Wedge Shop, my source for all the engine innards, installation of the pins onto the rods is critical. If they fail, they do so right away (these did!).

Again, don't know about the other side, as I haven't pulled that head. But since all four on the left side are toast, I'm sure I'll find the same thing on the right side.

Also, again, the machine shop guys are stand-up. Just have to get it over to them and see what we find out.
 
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