I dont suppose this is any better news than blowing the head gasket by not completely bleeding the cooling system. I am sad to report that for a brief moment there was a loud knocking coming from the number one cylinder. I guess I am hoping that it is related to the blown head gasket...maybe water in the cylinder. Would piston slap or wrist pin issues just go away. I restarted the car and again the noise was gone completely and the engine ran fine. The block was decked and punched .060. Obviously new pistons were installed, crank was turned and new camshaft and bearings were installed. Could this be related to the blown head gasket or is it more likely this is a wrist pin, piston issue. The noise sounded too high up in the block to be a rod knock. I put a couple g's into this rebuild and the shop has been around forever. I was told that my break in rpm should have been 1800 to 2300 rpm for 15 mins...I only did 1300 rpm for 15 mins. I am getting a sinking feeling in my stomach about the noise and though the shop has been around the guy who assembled this was relatively new, but supervised most of the time. I am pulling the head Saturday to repl the head gasket, is there anything topside to look for that would be a clue to the come and go knocking? Thanks again

This is where the virtual experience falls down.

While we could guess, the only way to find out what is wrong is to put hands on parts. If you've got an intermittent knock, I would highly recommend taking the engine apart to find the problem.
If it was a hydro, there are a lot of things I'd have carefully inspected. That sort of thing can screw up a crankshaft, bend rods, break rings, damage bearing surfaces, and screw up blocks.

What head gasket was installed, and what was it torqued to?

Camshaft run in RPM has nothing to do with head gasket sealing. If you find bent pushrods, then that very well could be directly related.

CJ

_________________
Part of Tyrde-Browne Racing

I'm not convinced the head gasket has blown, but maybe. Have the head pressure tested when it's off and look very closely as the new exhaust seats to make sure there isn't rust around the #4 exhaust seat or any of the others. The break-in RPM is for the life of the camshaft and lifters. It's tough to say the source of the noise especially since it didn't happen again. If there was water in a cylinder and it hydro locked you'll have piston and/or rod damage.

_________________
Joshua

Look real close when you get the head off and see if there was a piece of trash on top of the piston. It probably ejected after start up if it was there.

_________________
Official Cookie and Mater Tormentor.

Any reason why you can not pull the engine and return it to the shop, so they can do the inspection?
DD

okay head torqued 65ft lbs w\ felpro gasket, head gasket is blown at #4 hole and water port, very little water in cylinder after pressure test. Quite sure not hydro locked as it still runs great but for the steam out the pipe. The noise was clearly a knocking sound and yes I can take the motor back to the shop under warranty. Les than 20% leakdown in #4 overnight, but verified popped gasket. I will pul the head this weekend and try to see if I can determine the source of the knock. I will take the shortblock back to the shop just to be sure though. It sounded like a rod knock to me.

Don't pull head unless you installed it!

Richard

_________________
Part of Tyrde-Browne Racing

If you pull it apart and the machinist assembled it, you void the warranty and get to live with buying a whole 'nother rebuild...let them tear it down and figure out what they F'd up on...

If the deck was a little off then the Victor Reinz gasket would be my next domestic choice over Fel-Pro...

Make sure it isn't something simple like a loose alternator bracket, but that wouldn't be a loud knock.

the machine shop has no problem with me pulling the top end off, he has acknowledged a beginner putting together the bottom end and has no problem honoring the warranty on the rebuild. We are still not sure what the knock was, and will know a little more when head is pulled. I know noises like that do not fix themselves and though the noise is gone for now, I am not taking a chance on seeing a rod poking through the pan at a stop light. He promised it back to me by the following Friday and offered me 250.00 back for the extra labor involved to pull the sb back out. I say that's pretty fair. Could have it back on the road in two or three weeks.

If you get it running, you should bring it up to Mason Dixon next month. We'd love to have you and you would meet some really great people. You are just around the corner.

Rick

_________________
2 Mopars come with Spark plug tubes. One is a world class, racing machine. The other is a 426 CI. boat anchor!

12.70 @ 104.6

it will be running Rick...I have another motor from a 65...just smokes a little.

That would be great! Plan on racing with us if you can.

Rick

_________________
2 Mopars come with Spark plug tubes. One is a world class, racing machine. The other is a 426 CI. boat anchor!

12.70 @ 104.6

okay great news...pulled head, replaced blown gasket, re adjusted valve lash, all is well and running fine. Knocking noise was probably dieseling from water in cylinders, small exhaust leak to deal with but other than that sounds great. Gasket was blown in three places and 3 of 6 cylinders had half ounce or so of water in them. Final check for leaks tomorrow, bolt the hood back on and take a spin around the block. Thanks again for all the support, now how do you post pics here?

Here you go http://www.slantsix.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4434
You can open free account on Photo bucket and link to them here

[Dave

_________________
86 Miser 170,000+
2 1/4" exhaust
Holley 1920 #55
HEI MSD BLaster 2
17.8 mpg