Totally forgot, had distributer out to check gear on the BBC Vega, had tightened the hold down stud which has an allen head - then fired it up.

Its pretty bad, Big gauge in cylinder top 1", had been stuck in valve for a few revs I can see then beat the **** out of the piston and chamber.. Actually took a small chunk out of top of cylinder wall, broke allen wrench in multiple pieces.. feeling pretty dumb, great fathers day gift to myself.. Awesome.

 

My dual toilets are always covered when I'm working on the engine.

 

that really sucks man. pics of the carnage?

 

oh, that blows. so what happens now?

 

Hate to hear that....head meet wall. Takes a lot to post something like that, but it will remind us all of how careful we need to be. I know when mine hung the valves in #7 it was a mess, pictures were the last thing I was going to do...

Im going to tell this story, along the same lines. Friend of mine had a 76 trans am 455 4 speed, 13.0 sec car on tiger paws, we were kids, 17-18. Anyhow we put that motor in there from a catalina and after a while it would flicker the oil lite, so we put it on ramps to change the rod/main bearings. So all goes well until hes trying to get the windage tray back in, wont catch enough threads he says to me (i`m up top with his sister flirting with me for the last 20 mins) I say in haste "just force it". His mother yells from the door that he had a phone call which he eventually and mostly unwilling took. Upon returning and crawling back under the car (me still talking to Jezebelle) he shouts YES! , it finally had bolted up. after installing the pan, headers,starter and other misc parts he finally employees me to help once again and clean up tools and what not, once nearly completed with the clean up he says to me " did you see my big channel locks anywhere?" I say no because I have not....he says get in it and start it to me. So on the ramps still I climb in and twist the ignition, firing the big pontiac, all seems well 70 pounds of oil pressure and running smooth, he then signals to back it off the ramps which I do, suddenly the engine start to clank and banter, rocking the car side to side as it made horrible noise and then eventually (within secs) came to a stop on it`s own. Well the only thing visiable from the outside was one of the jaws of the channel locks poking thru the pan like it was taking a bite out of the sheet metal. Hard lesson to learn even when its not your stuff

 

Not sure, I think I can clean up the head and maybe even the piston, Cylinder will need sleeved and probably a valve job on #6 intake alone. The valve looks straight but can see where wrench had hung up in there for a couple.. My biggest fear is that the crank is bent though..

Yeah its pretty embarrassing, but what am I going to do - hope someone learns a lesson from my F-UP.

Tried to upload pics, they are to large right now.

This combo has been running problem and pretty much maintenance free for 3-4 years now, wish it had not stopped like this. Been touced 9.0s a bunch, never hit an 8 yet though.

 

Damn, man, my sympathy goes out to you, i bet the frustration is just so bad you just try to sink it and not get angry...

 

man i hate that so bad for you man...that was a solid motor too

 

oh man, i'm so sorry to hear this. I pray this doesnt happen to me but when changing the oil, i found a small screw laying in the top of the head, just below the fill cap. NO idea how it got in there. Its like it was in the oil bottle when I poured the stuff in. NO damage tho, I hope nothing else happens like that.

 

Thanks Guys, yeah it has been a very solid motor, even the th350 has been living for 2 years now at that pace.. Here are the pics..

Orr, that is scary stuff man! I guess it may warrant putting small screens on the drain holes in head..

 

This just means that when you're done rebuilding you will hit the 8's

 

Not to late to start a turbo project

 

devious thoughts...big block...twin 88's, go fast lol (like it wasn't fast already lol)