Lifter wear and conditions it creates

[Nick D.]

Re: Lifter wear and conditions it creates

I thought I would combine a response here to a few replies -

Later update. I've learned that Blueprint sells complete engines, a great alternative. I'll start a new thread since this has evolved to another subject.

I'm looking around at reviews about Jasper and now other options. Big learning curve for me.

No Chevy "Performance dealers" listed for Hawaii. Local Jim Falk Chevy is not answering the phone today lol. They are not listed by Chevy as a performance engine dealer but I guess they could order one.

I see Summit Racing has several options, this one is complete with carb and intake, a better deal than Jasper, who wholesales it to my mechanic, I don't think Summit does

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/mll-bp350ctc?seid=srese1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIpLiU4aeW_wIVjmpMCh2dqgUeEAQYAiABEgIPG_D_BwE

I'll keep looking around.


This "Panther" engine is separate from their individual performance level options, I guess because the 350 is so popular "for Corvettes and Camaros". $4650 Retail. Not sure how they do it for that price but the Jasper facility is huge, likely does lots of volume in all kinds of remanufactured engines. They make it easy to ship to Maui and I return the core in the same crate.This has One piece rear seal, requires 8 bolt intake $4650 Retail, including shipping. 3 year, 100k parts and labor warranty. .pdf attached

https://qms.jasperengines.com/showdoc.asp?sDocFile=4369ca2426525cc4afbde02e4af551c854b196.pdf

Heads are After-Market 64cc Chamber - Vortec "style"
Requires purchase of this intake - has the oil fill in it

https://www.edelbrock.com/performer-...tube-2703.html

Valve Covers
I'm pretty sure James Dann at Jasper said the valve cover bolts were on the edge but I don't see that in the pic.
My existing 350 block accessories do bolt on

[Nick D.]

Re: Lifter wear and conditions it creates

This new thread has the info I've researched so far on crate engines. I learned a lot!!

https://www.forums.ncrs.org/showthre...145#post933145

[Nick D.]

Re: Lifter wear and conditions it creates

Not sure you saw the post updates but there was lots of metal in the engine. Dropped the pan and wiped that out and changed oil and filter twice. I guess I'll run it gently till a new crate engine arrives. Getting mixed reviews about Jasper, today Saturday, my local Chevy dealership isn't answering the phone LOL.

[Nick D.]

Re: Lifter wear and conditions it creates

This is a forensic question. Aparently, I have not been clear.

Looking for professional, mechanical input. I already know the mechanic is beyond incompetent, could be more than that. I need to ask for your patience and read all of this and give it some thought. This problem came 500 miles after a valve job.


I believe the guy messed up bad (not the first time), one way or the other and 500 miles after the valve job and 5 miles after the lifter replacement, this is what I saw. He did not replace the cam after the lifter replacement so that didn’t get Moly Coat.


I know he either did not adjust the valves or did a poor job since I heard tap after the valve job. I asked him what the procedure was to adjust valves and got a brief and inaccurate answer. I think the lash on this valve was so bad that the cam was banging on the lifter and thats how this happened. Looking for comment on this.


Again, there was no valve tap prior. Whenever the fouled plugs were replaced prior, the engine hummed, was perfect.

1. There was no valve tap before the valve job. After, I heard it all over, sounded like rocker arms but not lifter noise. Very audible at the valve covers and more clear when I removed the oil fill cap.

The oil did turn dark too fast and the engine burned a little oil but in a way that suggested valve guides, no more. Oil smoke was not severe and did not last long. Light enough that another pro mechanic suggested that whatever, stuff was in the exhaust and go blow it out. Whatever, oil smoke was not bad.

2. Plugs kept fouling. I wondered if it was valve guide seals. Mechanic sent it out for valve job. Head rebuilder said heads were fine, problem was that the carb put on 1000 miles before was too big (750 on a 350 and the speed limit is low where I live. I can’t race or do sustained high rpm).


3. Mechanic put old plugs back in after valve job, engine was running rough. I said replace the plugs and it ran much better. (He said I told him not to replace the plugs after the valve job…). He said it ran rough due to a bad lifter. I said impossible, there was no valve tap prior.


4. 400 miles after valve job, exhaust manifold gasket replaced. At first I thought that was a lifter problem till I figured out that it was the gasket. Not sure that’s related.


5. When I got home from the lifter replacement, I looked at the old lifters I said that I wanted back I saw this real bad one and flipped out. Checked the oil. Dispstick felt like it had grit. Towed it to another mechanic, dropped the pan and here it is. There was a couple fragments of gasket in there too..something that was pliable, not metal. Strange.


Some said the oil looks like a bottle of Moly Coat in there, perhaps in jest.


The easiest expansion is sabotage of the engine because the guy was covering up his poor job or else his feelings were hurt when I told him he didn’t know how to adjust valves after I heard tap after the valve job (I asked him the procedure and he said he asked the head rebuilder). Regardless. No valve tap prior. and.. oil was not changed at the valve job and lifter replacement, obviously.

[Nick D.]

Re: Lifter wear and conditions it creates

No kidding

[Nick D.]

Re: Lifter wear and conditions it creates

Having trouble getting input on the fact that the valve tap occured after the valve job and I think the lifter failed in the 500 miles since the valve job. That oil is after the valve job and lifter replacement. Cam was not replaced, mechanic said that was the cam before, no difference to use the same one with new lifters (I know, I know...sad). Pls see my re-wording of the original question. Before I go after the guy for a new engine, I need some input. The problem is worse than the above and giving the car back to me with this oil. Does that look like more than metal fragments in dark oil?

[Nick D.]

Re: Lifter wear and conditions it creates

I'm looking for input on how this happened. There was zero valve tap before the valve job and the engine hummed, ran smooth.

I understand about the lifter shape. I don't know why the lifters look like that. Yes, there is a cam problem. When it became a problem, like I say, I think after the valve job. It almost seems to me like the valves were not adjusted after the valve job or adjusted poorly. As in, all of them had excessive lash and the one was banging against the cam.

No, I don't plan to run the engine much at this point and I will replace it. I want this mechanic to pay for it but want to understand more about how this problem happened. No one can answer for sure but I'd like comment on my guess.