Glad to hear you're back it, Frank. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

Update:

Some progress was made today swapping parts over to the original Montero block - should finish it tomorrow. The cams and heads were ok.... a few scratches, but nothing so bad as to throw away a porting job....... but the camera might be going south :



Frank

Aahhh...I thought perhaps Fasteddy was over there helping you out, and had passed in front of the camera as you took the pic. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Nah. I'm faster than the shutter speed. I learned it from "flying rods"...

Frank won't let me near the truck now. I'm the one who broke it, drivin' it like I stole it...

I'll give you another chance - should put the engine back in this weekend if the Honey-do list ain't too long. After I get it tuned you can drive it again anytime - wasn't you who broke it.

A confession:

The first complete sentence my parents heard me utter was......... "I broke the old thing".

Nothing's changed in 65 years..... I still have enjoyment and curiosity in fixing the things I have even more fun and curiosity breaking. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />

Frank

My first sentence was "The dog did it"...

I'm lookin' forward to breakin' it again...

My grandad told this tale as true:

He (his name the same as mine) had a younger brother who didn't talk. Keeping in mind this is in the 1920's. They all figured his brain just didn't work right and couldn't talk. As the story goes, my great grandmother walked past the smokehouse one day and heard a strange voice. It was the non-talking brother talking to himself. So, she clued in the rest of the family and instructed them not to pass him any food at dinner until he asked properly.

So, at dinner, my great-uncle pointed at the bread and tapped my grandfather on the shoulder. No response. Again, he pointed and tapped. No one paid any attention.

Finally, he spoke: "Pass the damn biscuits, Ed."

First words anyone had heard him speak in public. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />

Frank,
It's been some time since I read on this thread. My God, man. That engine's given you a run for money, hasn't it?

I'm glad to see you're homing in on the problem. I wish I could make the time to come help. I know I'd learn from it.

...another baseball tournament this weekend... <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" />

Thought I was the last one besides Frank to drive it before it broke <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
It was a hoot!

I'll take blame being the second one behind the wheel after getting it running the last time! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/scared.gif" alt="" />

No go - assuming there was nothing wrong with the original block except a blown head gasket proved the axiom wrt assumptions. It started and ran pretty well, but the pressurized sump issue is still there - likely a broken ring and/or piston ring land.

So, it's time to build the next engine.

I keep doodling the numbers on the 3000GT TT engine and am intrigued by the final CR achieved at the higher factory boost level of 12psi - somewhere between 12.41:1 and 12.86:1. I've considered building a test engine with cheap 10:1 pistons to see if I could get away with going that high on the static CR with a boost limit of 7 psi which would give me a final dynamic CR of 12.22:1 - discussed the idea with Charlie a bit. We both think the only way to find out is to try it, but I keep reminding myself that:

1) The 3000GT TT has dual intercoolers and I don't have any at all.
2) Custom engines are expensive.

So - I'll keep it on the conservative side for now until I find out what the cams will do for a 9.1:1 static CR when set at 59? intake closing.

I'm still waiting for a Diamante SOHC block and a DOHC crankshaft, but have started collecting parts for the next build. Here's the first parts selection arrival of what I hope will be an engine that will last for a while:





Those are from 3SX (for the 24v DOHC TT engines) and probably not worth what they charge, but I did get a small discount.... and by the time I have the necessary machine work done to a stock set, I would spend more than half the price and still not have the nice ARP bolt style. I'm hoping I don't have to have them rebushed for full-floating pins, but I might.

In the pictures, you can see the main differences - the drilled hole at the small end to improve wrist pin oiling and the lack of the bleed hole in the big end. I always thought the OE rods used the bleed hole for oil mist to lubricate the wrist pins, so before I use these I need to make sure that the next pistons can accomplish the same to a sufficient degree through the oil scraper ring ports.

Frank