Need Engine Help

[DK1]

I am having problems with my engine and engine builders. 421SBC Alum heads, STOCK 400 block, 5 stage wolfe pump (3 pan, 1 intake)

Long story short the motor had excessive crankcase pressures, kept blowing oil out of the tank catch can since I got the motor. Then I tested the motor after 3 nights (maybe 20-30 laps, never made the main) and had 80-100% leak down in each cylinder.

The ppl who built the motor put some sleeves in the block. I was then told by another engine builder that you could not sleeve a STOCK 400 block bc when you bolt the heads on it distorts the cylinders.

The guys who originally did the motor were going to "fix the problem" by sleeving all 8 cylinders bc they said I washed the cylinders bc it was flooding and that i had my dry sump hooked up wrong. I have since asked for the block back and they won't return it. I believe in order to have that much leak down after so few laps the cylinders aren't round.

I'm at the point where I'm going to have to take legal action so if anyone has a info that would be helpful I would truly appreciate it!!!!

[perfconn]

You take legal action when you use a stock 400 block and you will lose.

[DK1]

They told me it was perfectly fine to use. If it wasn't ok to use they should of told me so and advised me on a different block. Not take my money for something that was never going to work in the first place.

[sj valley dave]

Sorry to hear of your problems...I can not believe anyone would recommend to you that you use a stock 400 block for a 3.875 crank to build a 421" sbc...I have a friend that has a stock block 406 injected on alky in a pavement Supermodified. It has 1 cylinder sleeved...Because it's injected alky, he has it 1/2 full of hard block with a 4 stage dry sump...If you hooked up your dry sump wrong, you could have caused major issues with ring sealing...Do you have the .043/.043/3mm ring package?? How did you have the system hooked up and how is it now?

[DK1]

Sorry to hear of your problems...I can not believe anyone would recommend to you that you use a stock 400 block for a 3.875 crank to build a 421" sbc...I have a friend that has a stock block 406 injected on alky in a pavement Supermodified. It has 1 cylinder sleeved...Because it's injected alky, he has it 1/2 full of hard block with a 4 stage dry sump...If you hooked up your dry sump wrong, you could have caused major issues with ring sealing...Do you have the .043/.043/3mm ring package?? How did you have the system hooked up and how is it now?

It had the low tension rings in it. I had the pump plumbed to pick up 3 off the pan and one out of the valley. I verified Peterson's diagram to make sure I had it set up right. You could spin the pump by hand and feel it sucking. I can see if it had 40-50% leak down there being a ring seal problem but I can not see how that would lead to 100%. My buddy's motor last season had 1000+ laps on it, couple pistons even had the ring gaps lined up, and it only had 50% leak down.

Currently the motor is apart bc the guys who did the motor orginally won't return the block to me.

[DaveBauerSS6]

I wonder how that motor can run with 100% leak down? That would be zero cranking compression? Even at 80%, I don't see how it can run. I know a motor needs 90# plus to fire on gas.
I have ran a 400 sleeved block with no problems, but a few HP than what you may be at.
Sounds like the builder didn't do the break in. I don't leave that as a option for this reason. That much blowby should have seen at the initial firing and not run.
Whats the difference between a Wolfe pump and a Peterson drawing? Is a Wolfe pump the same as a Peterson pump?? Or is a Wolfe pump plumbed the same as a Peterson??

BTW, more than 10% leak down, my motors are pulled apart for repairs.
Good luck.

[jsf74]

Their has to be more to this story. Why would he not return your block?

[CNC BLOCKS]

I am having problems with my engine and engine builders. 421SBC Alum heads, STOCK 400 block, 5 stage wolfe pump (3 pan, 1 intake)

Long story short the motor had excessive crankcase pressures, kept blowing oil out of the tank catch can since I got the motor. Then I tested the motor after 3 nights (maybe 20-30 laps, never made the main) and had 80-100% leak down in each cylinder.

The ppl who built the motor put some sleeves in the block. I was then told by another engine builder that you could not sleeve a STOCK 400 block bc when you bolt the heads on it distorts the cylinders.

The guys who originally did the motor were going to "fix the problem" by sleeving all 8 cylinders bc they said I washed the cylinders bc it was flooding and that i had my dry sump hooked up wrong. I have since asked for the block back and they won't return it. I believe in order to have that much leak down after so few laps the cylinders aren't round.

I'm at the point where I'm going to have to take legal action so if anyone has a info that would be helpful I would truly appreciate it!!!!

You must not be dealing with good performnace engine builder !! Sleeving a 400 block for the most part is a big waste of time as the sleeved cylinders distorts the cylinder on each side!!

Plus where they leave the step at the bottom of th cylinder they will crack from the step down through the mains.

Sounds like you don't spend much money. Cut your losses it would be a waste of time to go to court when you dealing with a 40 year old block.

Time to step up to a Dart block!!!

[Rodz]

80-100% leak down in each cylinder?????


You could never get it started with that. It would be easy on your starter.

[sj valley dave]

Hey DaveBauer...The Peterson diagram just shows how to plumb it and it is pretty much the same...#12 Scavenge lines from pan and #10 from lifter valley to the scavenge stages...Our Wulff pump has an internal manifold, so (1) #16 through a filter to the tank....#16 from tank to intake of pressure stage, #12 to 2 qt filter, then cooler, then to engine feed...24/40 tooth pulley combo...good to go...

[sj valley dave]

I agree, and I would think that if they allow 421" SBC with aluminum heads and dry sumps, aftermarket blocks would be OK...If not, the sanctioning body needs to re think their rules...IMO

[DK1]

The motor did run with that much leak down. Never did a running compersion test. When you shut the engine off you could hear a hissing noise for a couple of seconds afterwards which was the same sound it made while doing the leak down tests. Spent 2 hrs on the phone with Ed Wolfe who walked me through what to test. He even said it was a piston to cylinder wall issue.

I was put under the imperssion that I was dealing with a performance builder. I spent $4650 for the work and I provided most parts (crank, block, heads, valvetrain, ect).

I used the stock block bc I was told by them that I wouldn't have any issues with it. I go to a engine builder bc they are suppose to know more about it than me. Guess I was wrong on this one.

They still won't return the block to me which is pretty much the "smoking gun" in this hole mess.

I just need proof to show in court that bc they sleeved the block that the cylinder walls were distorted which would explain the high leak down and worn piston skirts. I don't have the money to up and buy a new block so wasting time really isnt an issue. Assuming I win I would then buy a dart block.