So,...as is the norm for me..too much idle time usually results in me deciding to change something that's either not right, or improve something else thats needing improving.
Up for consideration today is the whole freakin engine......again.
There has got to be something wrong with the pistons as a result of the initial first assembly. The machine shop improperly machined the cylinders initially, resulting in too much taper at the bottom, and left tool marks in a couple of cylinders that required that I tear it back apart, and had to force the machine shop to re-do the sleeves, and provide a new bore and finish hone.
Which they did.
I then put new rings in the engine that I meticulously gapped slightly tighter in order to control or eliminate the blow by from last time.
What I didn't check was whether or not the cylinder taper that was in the initial build had damaged the piston skirts, causing them to collapse slightly, which in turn would allow them to rock more than normal,..and as a result, compromise the ring seal,...allowing for greater than normal blow by, and be much noisier than it should be.
Which I think I have.
Add to that the excessive top end noise related to the solid roller, and you have this entire rock concert sound level noise under the hood that masks potential damage related noise(s) that you would normally be able to hear if all this racket wasn't going on.
The fix for this is obvious...new pistons, a hydraulic roller, or flat tappet cam, new lifters, new rings, a re-balance, new head gasket and some machine work.
probably 3k-4k. maybe less.
OR....
I sell the thing and leave it alone and in the car until some rat rodder dude buys it...(maybe I could get what??? 3-4k for it) and pull it.
There's' a Barra in the US. A complete 2011 factory refurb the guy wants 6k for. It doesn't have a guarantee though. and it don't fit. And it wont bolt up to my trans,...but I have the ECU to run it,...and I am the king of making sht fit.
I put another Chinee turbo on the thing,...it makes 400-500 hp easy, and I have the only Barra powered Monster in the US.
And it's quiet,....and Its reliable,...
OR...
I buy one of the multitude of F150 pull out coyotes that are out there w/ like 40k miles on them for w/ an attached 6r80 for 4200 shipped..
and I leave the turbo out of the equation, because I'll have a 425hp NA engine and a 6 speed auto that the ecu in the monster will control, and I'll only need a trans controller for the other.
And it'll be just as quiet,...and just as reliable,...probably faster,......and........ it fits
Why is this almost like writing on a chalkboard?