H-I-J '76 Nova re-fit.

[Rich Biebel]

I can't really tell from the picture....can't see the area that would be a parting line if its cast.....

Is it a steel crank or cast ?

A manual trans with a cast crank was never a good idea in my mind.....

Not sayin it cant be done or if that has anything to do with this failure but if I'm letting a clutch out at 5000-6000rpm and maybe on a 2 step I'm a lot happier with a steel crank in there....

I have used cast cranks and had one in my LT-1 stocker.....automatic trans though...…

Dial bore the rod big ends to see if they might be tapered.....Unless they were cut and rehoned that's pretty unlikely.....

Is the thrust OK....? I assume it was....

Looks like most of the trash was soft bearing material fortunately....

[Nmbr1GMfan]

Originally Posted by FED 387

put it back together with new bearings put the CORRECT amount of oil in it fire it up on the dyno then after a few minutes shut it off--- pull the pan see if it has foam--- then turn it over and pop off the rod caps from 5 & 6 see if they look bad --while you are at it may as well check the others too maybe use a "regular" filter instead of that new fancy one you have see if that makes a difference---- might want to check your oil pressure from that small plug front of the engine on top of the block near the timing cover thats the last place that sees oil

I already know what happened, the volume drop at the end of the line (rods) was the cause. I had no idea the solid lifters would pump so much more oil to the top coupled with the pressure drop from the EDM holes AND the block being machined for cam oiling in the lifter bores just didn't leave enough volume for the rods, my fault. The filter used was a "regular" filter, and yes checking oil at the front of the block would have been more ideal.

[Nmbr1GMfan]

Originally Posted by Rich Biebel

I can't really tell from the picture....can't see the area that would be a parting line if its cast.....

Is it a steel crank or cast ?

A manual trans with a cast crank was never a good idea in my mind.....

Not sayin it cant be done or if that has anything to do with this failure but if I'm letting a clutch out at 5000-6000rpm and maybe on a 2 step I'm a lot happier with a steel crank in there....

I have used cast cranks and had one in my LT-1 stocker.....automatic trans though...…

Dial bore the rod big ends to see if they might be tapered.....Unless they were cut and rehoned that's pretty unlikely.....

Is the thrust OK....? I assume it was....

Looks like most of the trash was soft bearing material fortunately....

Crank is a steel one. Rods were fine when checked before assembly, I will check again. Thrust is fine.

[Rich Biebel]

Good...…

I think you have it right.....to much oil up top maybe and volume being bled off various places......starved the bottom end for enough oil....

I've used the lifters with the oil holes on a bracket engine and had no problems using them.

The race filters are less restrictive than a std filter...usually....

Luckily you caught it before it ended up real bad...….

[Nmbr1GMfan]

Originally Posted by Rich Biebel

Good...…

I think you have it right.....to much oil up top maybe and volume being bled off various places......starved the bottom end for enough oil....

I've used the lifters with the oil holes on a bracket engine and had no problems using them.

The race filters are less restrictive than a std filter...usually....

Luckily you caught it before it ended up real bad...….

I really want to keep the EDM lifter, I think restrictors and a step up from the std volume pump will do it.

[Hacksaw]

Originally Posted by Nmbr1GMfan

I really want to keep the EDM lifter, I think restrictors and a step up from the std volume pump will do it.

Understandably you are trying to correct a problem but stepping up the oil pump will also take more hp to drive it. Controlling the volume is the answer.

[Rich Biebel]

The lifter bore cam oiling modification I am not clear on what was done. If it is possible to undo that ? If a slot or channel was machined I assume it could not be returned to stock. If a hole was drilled you might be able to plug those holes. The direct feed lifters bleed off a lot by themselves right on the cam.

[Glenn Briglio]

You said there was a lot of oil coming up thru solid lifters. How did you verify that? If so you might need restricted oil hole pushrods. Or oil restrictors in block

[Nmbr1GMfan]

Originally Posted by Hacksaw

Understandably you are trying to correct a problem but stepping up the oil pump will also take more hp to drive it. Controlling the volume is the answer.

At this point, I'll give up some power to stop destroying stuff.

[Nmbr1GMfan]

Originally Posted by Rich Biebel

The lifter bore cam oiling modification I am not clear on what was done. If it is possible to undo that ? If a slot or channel was machined I assume it could not be returned to stock. If a hole was drilled you might be able to plug those holes. The direct feed lifters bleed off a lot by themselves right on the cam.

Lifter bores are machined with a slot, I could bush them but I'm done spending $$$ on a junk block. I thought about returning to a non EDM lifter but I'm worried about the cam with high spring pressure.