Broken main cap bolts on a 455

If you're going to play the quench game, get inverted dome pistons(basically a dish piston with a quench pad on it) because a full dish piston would be like using open chamber heads.

 

That article was very informative...thank you!

 

I appreciate the suggestion. I’m definitely going to play the quench game. I don’t mind running 93 and with a good quench I’m hoping I can push the compression up some with the iron heads. The car will be a weekend car and not a daily driver. It seems like most of the off the shelf pistons have a 1.980 compression height with the exception of the KB357 but they are hypers unfortunately.

 

Wiseco is one of the least expensive piston sets coming in about 500 for piston, pins, and rings, but are 1.980. For what they and the price it normally cost to deck a block down you could aset of diamonds or auto tech from JW to fit better

 

If I work on anything that has fluid in it you can bet it's going to end up on the garage floor.

 

Well I’m back to the drawing board finding a machine shop. Original guy who said he’d done Buick motors before is out. I call him today to tell him I was going to bring the motor in this week and he basically told me he thinks the motor is useless due to the broken main bolts and he wouldn’t even use it. He hasn’t even looked at it yet but said it would probably be no good? Also says to bring any parts I want put in the engine with it bc he doesn’t want to call me about him ordering parts and will just put in whatever he chooses if the parts aren’t supplied. I mention that I can’t order pistons until he looks at the bore and he says I can bring it so he can check that but then I need to bring it home after while I wait for the pistons bc he doesn’t want it taking up room in his shop while I wait for them. Plus he can’t start on it for a month due to two motors being in front of me. I don’t know how this guy has any business lol.

Those of you who have a great machine shop at your disposal are blessed!

 

He clearly wants none of your business! Time to find a new shop.

 

I definitely won’t be using them. There aren’t many nearby, probably the only reason this guys in business lol.

 

I would almost honestly get a cheap drill hone and see how the look first. It's totally possable that even though water got in it will cleanup and be able to reuse what you have, unless your plans involves being much bigger to begin with

 

Where are you from

 

I’m in the Myrtle Beach area in SC

 

I'm sure Ethan..... Goes by hugger on here knows a place that can get you done right.

He is from down in neck ofvthe country

 

Unfortunately he’s about 4 or 5 hours from me. SC is a huge state lol

 

Yes good work is for sure worth the drive .....i would drive 12 hrs if I had too

 

When you're dumping thousands of dollars into an engine what's a tank of gas and some of your own time to get it there and back? Is it worth cheaping out over and having a hack machine shop do the work because they were "closer" and have to drop thousands more to fix it again? When it comes time for me to get my block to a machine shop I got 2 choices so far and both are atleast a 2 hour drive one way and I feel that's pretty decent since I've driven farther to buy car parts

 

I’ll start expanding my search. I definitely can see the value in traveling for the right builder. The cost of driving a distance isn’t an issue, it’s lugging an engine there and back when you don’t have a truck that is the problem lol.

 

I used my minivan to haul mine 6 hrs to finishline.

Just had a motor stand to keep it upright on the way home

 

Go to Bobby Warren's shop in Clinton, N.C. Bobby is a former NHRA champion and the oldest winner. He did a 455 engine for Craig Ray, a member here with the Board name "Cray1801". Have them use the same clearances that Craig specified for his engine.

Bobby's son now runs the shop. I guess Bobby's shop is 2 hours north of you on 701 out of Loris.

https://www.warrenengines.com/history

http://competitionplus.com/CPSportsman/bobby-warrens-legacy-intact-for-generations-to-come

 

that’s awesome... i use to have a mini van where the seats were removable but it got stolen years ago. That would actually be a good vehicle to transport. I have a mid sized SUV it may fit but I’m I’ll have to measure it.