I would pull the valve cover and use your dril and confirm oil is reaching the top end.
Builds My 40 build (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Rusty 72
- Start date
This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.
- Thread starter
- #282
Already have done that. Oil on top of valve spring keepers and sprayed on side of cover. No dropped valves or anything unusual. Almost has to be a bearing somewhere. Pulled dist and oil pump pumps oil.
Last edited:
U can get a cheap boroscope that hooks up to a smart phone. Maybe look through the plug holes with a boroscope and check for any big issues. U could also look through the drain plug hole too at the bottom end. Worst case pull the pan and check the bearings. I would be surprised if any severe damage happened in that short of run time.
- Thread starter
- #284
Already done the bore scope. Everything looks normal in the cylinders. Crappy picture.
Last edited:
This sucks.
I agree that a minute of idling does not damage the engine as much that it won’t turn anymore.
Unless someone really F”ed up with the rebuild.
I get your frustration but scrapping it ...........?
I agree that a minute of idling does not damage the engine as much that it won’t turn anymore.
Unless someone really F”ed up with the rebuild.
I get your frustration but scrapping it ...........?
thebigredrocker
SILVER Star
Hang in there rusty. Do you think a different starter would help turn the engine over? Your starter looks different, what’s the skinny on it?
- Thread starter
- #287
Cannot turn over the engine with a 2' breaker bar on crankshaft nut. The spark plugs are out and the transmission turns over easily. Something in the engine is seized up. Starter is a later gear reduction unit. When I first started the engine the starter spun it without any problems.
There is nothing left to hang onto. Was something like 2 years getting the engine rebuilt. Was an extremely horrible nightmare all the way. Any enthusiasm about this 40 is gone. It's worth more in parts than trying to sell everything together. Right now there is no energy to part it out.
If you saw the volume of car and truck parts I have to do something with before I retire you would understand my problem. My father was a lifetime mechanic. He grew up when nobody had anything and everybody saved everything. Remember the late 70's GM 5.7 diesel engines? He pulled lots of those engine and converted them to gas. There was 29 junk 5.7 engines laying in a pile. Over 4000 square ft of garage space my wife and I had to move when we sold the house. 2 garages were packed to the ceiling. Lots of good usable parts that I have sold. Still have tons of stuff to move. It's to the point that's it's not worth dealing with the flakes that send texts saying they are on the way to buy stuff and never show up. A few have shown up and complained about something not brand new when it was taken off a 1985 pickup years ago. Then they want to get it for free. I have been close to the breaking point on the 40 for a long time. Several times in the build I have been so mad and frustrated that it's just beyond understanding. There comes a time in a persons life when they know they had enough and it's time to walk away. I really think I am there.
Here I set looking at the 40 just thinking. Just useless random thoughts. Looks like the doors are the only thing left from my original purchase. The first 40, my buddies and I were still in school I think, was the early 1980's for sure. We got a pair on 3/4 ton axles from an old farm truck. We cut and welded brackets to mount the new axles under the 40. I am sure our welding skills were top notch. Can't remember which engine came first. Might of been a 5.7 diesel. That all seems like a different life now. Is this a mid-life crisis? Dont think so. Just wanted to get it running and have something to puddle with in Finland. What a death trap it would of been if it every got on the road. All of these years of owning it I never got to drive or even ride in one. I could of bought a new jeep for what I have spent on this pile of crap. At least I got to hear it run. The licenses are about to expire on the truck. This garage is a mess. Somebody needs to clean it up. I am tired. Should go to bed. Got to work later today.
There is nothing left to hang onto. Was something like 2 years getting the engine rebuilt. Was an extremely horrible nightmare all the way. Any enthusiasm about this 40 is gone. It's worth more in parts than trying to sell everything together. Right now there is no energy to part it out.
If you saw the volume of car and truck parts I have to do something with before I retire you would understand my problem. My father was a lifetime mechanic. He grew up when nobody had anything and everybody saved everything. Remember the late 70's GM 5.7 diesel engines? He pulled lots of those engine and converted them to gas. There was 29 junk 5.7 engines laying in a pile. Over 4000 square ft of garage space my wife and I had to move when we sold the house. 2 garages were packed to the ceiling. Lots of good usable parts that I have sold. Still have tons of stuff to move. It's to the point that's it's not worth dealing with the flakes that send texts saying they are on the way to buy stuff and never show up. A few have shown up and complained about something not brand new when it was taken off a 1985 pickup years ago. Then they want to get it for free. I have been close to the breaking point on the 40 for a long time. Several times in the build I have been so mad and frustrated that it's just beyond understanding. There comes a time in a persons life when they know they had enough and it's time to walk away. I really think I am there.
Here I set looking at the 40 just thinking. Just useless random thoughts. Looks like the doors are the only thing left from my original purchase. The first 40, my buddies and I were still in school I think, was the early 1980's for sure. We got a pair on 3/4 ton axles from an old farm truck. We cut and welded brackets to mount the new axles under the 40. I am sure our welding skills were top notch. Can't remember which engine came first. Might of been a 5.7 diesel. That all seems like a different life now. Is this a mid-life crisis? Dont think so. Just wanted to get it running and have something to puddle with in Finland. What a death trap it would of been if it every got on the road. All of these years of owning it I never got to drive or even ride in one. I could of bought a new jeep for what I have spent on this pile of crap. At least I got to hear it run. The licenses are about to expire on the truck. This garage is a mess. Somebody needs to clean it up. I am tired. Should go to bed. Got to work later today.
Last edited:
- Thread starter
- #288
Could not sleep so I drained the oil. Nice metallic color. Removed the pan and proceeded to remove the rod caps. All rods looked good. Removed the main caps. Rear bearing is spun.
And the rear bearings.............look on the bright side, it turns over easy now.
And the rear bearings.............look on the bright side, it turns over easy now.
Last edited:
Glad you took it apart, at least you know what is wrong now.
I understand your feelings as this is no longer a fun project to work on.
Keep it up the end is in sight.
I understand your feelings as this is no longer a fun project to work on.
Keep it up the end is in sight.
S4Cruiser
SILVER Star
Dang, that’s a bummer for sure. When I find myself in a situation where frustration hits a point of saying ‘**** it, I’m done’, I leave it and spend time on something else. Passion / interest always returns!
Tech questions - what causes this? Low oil clearance, bearing not being pinned in the journal, out of round journal, s***ty luck, etc.?
Tech questions - what causes this? Low oil clearance, bearing not being pinned in the journal, out of round journal, s***ty luck, etc.?
How does the crank look underneath that bearing? Have u replaced main bearings with just the pan off before? It's not too tricky to do. Were the bearing holes lined up with the galley holes? My concern would be a plugged oil galley.
- Thread starter
- #292
Engine was bought with low compression on #4 cylinder. Had a bent valve. Then it was sent to machine shop. Bored, crank turned, cleaned etc.
Before starting I did turn the engine by the crankshaft nut. Only had a sparkplug in #1 cylinder. I did this to get the distributor in the correct place. The only time it had any extra resistance turning was when it was on compression stroke.
The bearing is welded on the crank. I have talked with the engine builder and we also think the oil galley is plugged.
I have a 350 vortec setting here. Already have the custom chip from another project. Just need the transmission adapter and mounts. Oh, its should be cheaper.
Before starting I did turn the engine by the crankshaft nut. Only had a sparkplug in #1 cylinder. I did this to get the distributor in the correct place. The only time it had any extra resistance turning was when it was on compression stroke.
The bearing is welded on the crank. I have talked with the engine builder and we also think the oil galley is plugged.
I have a 350 vortec setting here. Already have the custom chip from another project. Just need the transmission adapter and mounts. Oh, its should be cheaper.
Shouldnt that be the engine builders fault and thus repaired on his dime?
- Thread starter
- #294
He assembled it for free and has offered to rebuild it again at no cost. He is a good friend and I will not let him pay for it.
Makes sense. I've never seen a bearing weld itself to the crank. Not sure that's possible being that it's made from a dissimilar material. If u loosen the rest of the Main bearing caps a few threads u might be able to massage it out along with spinning the crank.
- Thread starter
- #296
The rods and mains are finger tight now. I did rotate the crank while using a pick on the bearing. Had no luck in getting the bearings off. Going to pop the engine out in the morning. Thinking I will just remove the crank and look for the reason of no oil or is it something else.
- Thread starter
- #297
Popped the engine out this morning. Found this after using hammer and punch to remove to bearing. No oil.
bummer. sorry to see that.
while it is frustrating, a wise man once told me..."a problem is not a problem if it can be solved with a bit of money"
Point being, you can't buy health but you can make more money. (to buy a new crank and bearings).
Hang in there.
Merry Christmas
hOOter
while it is frustrating, a wise man once told me..."a problem is not a problem if it can be solved with a bit of money"
Point being, you can't buy health but you can make more money. (to buy a new crank and bearings).
Hang in there.
Merry Christmas
hOOter
- Thread starter
- #299
One thing I have learned about the 40's, better have lots of money to throw away because it takes a butt load of green backs to do anything to them.
- Thread starter
- #300
Been investigating why no oil. Done a bit more measuring of the oil pump to distributor engagement. There is 7/32" which just a little short of the 1/4" minimum. Next to the oil pump.
