Also, check and see if the timing chain didn't jump a tooth or two. Had mine jump and the valves tapped the pistons, "luckily" just bent a few valves.
SFLA, is that south Florida? Start a post looking for a buick rebuilder near you. There are a few in Ga. Yeah, you may have to ship it. But, the other choice (non buick builder) has been shown to cause headaches - usually.
Likely the block will need a sleeve and the head is junk. If it's the #s motor I'd put it on the shelf. Otherwise it seems like you are looking for a nice stock motor. I'd look for a decent used 400-430-455 and run it.
Hello all. So I visited the shop today along with a mechanic friend. He looked at everything and he agreed that this was not caused by detonation, but from a sloppy engine rebuild. As you can see from the pictures, the valves were not seated correctly, one valve is totally different then the rest, the head and pistons are .060 over, pistons are unknown brand. From all documentation that I have from original owner, he does mention .030 over, but the restore shop he sold it to might have changed it. From the pics, you will see the damage on other pistons, especially #1, caused by the valve hitting the piston grove. The cylinder wall might need the sleeve as mentioned on this thread, but was awaiting for the machine shop tech to go by and take a look. So overall I am either faced with rebuilding or going after another motor. What do you all think?
Find a new motor and start over. It will probably cost as much to rebuild a 400 if not more than a 455 to build. find someone with the experience required to build a Buick motor.
I have 2 430's that were running when I removed them from the car. I'm in the Tampa area pm me or call 813/928-0373 if I could help. Also have plenty 455 cores. Fernando
Not that this has anything to do with the cause of the issue. I once pulled out of an exhaust shop onto US19 and had the same sort of failure. A piston just randomly broke for no apparent reason. So it does happen.
If you were getting water in the cylnder, water does not compress. You would also have clean piston tops and or head. If you have clean lookin piston tops that would be a sign. Does your radiator when you open it smell like gas? Oohhh. Wow. I have seen valves bend. But not disspear halfway without melting. Time for 455. Are those TA pistons?.
I have no idea what pistons they are. Original owner back in 2014 said they were TA .030 over. The ones in there are .060. So someone along the line change them.
Amazing the motor lunched a piston and valve at such low rpm. Imagine if you were on the freway 5000 rpn 2nd gear.
Hi all... So I am on the fence here... Keep in mind that I just spent close to $2k during the recent repairs before engine blew which pretty much went down the drain now. Now I need to decide if to: 1. Find another 400 or 455 engine and rebuild. I have been in talks with Dave as he is local and brainstorming a bit 2. I know a buick fan that has a 560ci from TA performance still in the crate, along with balanced crank, rods and heads, all sitting never been used over at Scotty's racing engine shop. 3. Find a motor already built that I can purchase and just get it installed. Money is of a concern as I cannot turn around and drop $10k or more to build an engine. Again, I am not racing this car, just cruising but I do want whatever the future engine to have a large cam as the one that was in the present engine. Thoughts? Recommendations?
A 560? That has to be a Tomahawk block. I'd expect that to be a 20K engine, so if you can't drop 10K on an engine rebuild, why even mention the Tomahawk?
He says he paid around $9k for the items I mentioned above. Waiting to see what he will sell the parts for as he has had them sitting around for around 2 years now. Of course, I would have to buy the remaining parts to build the full engine.
9K, hard to believe for a Tomahawk block, crank, rods, and heads? What heads? The block itself is 5K +, Aluminum heads are 3K.
