Fall 2019

The original plan was to buy another block and build a fresh 5.0, but since the car is not being driven in the winter, I decided to pull the motor and build up this block.

I’ve been stockpiling parts ever since the beginning of this project. To date I have new Flotek aluminum heads, a Tom Moss ported GT40 lower manifold with an Explorer upper, Ford Racing 65mm throttle body and a few other small items.

While the block was in to get cleaned, bored and decked, I took the upper and lower manifold, valve covers and a few other engine parts in to Sam at SHQE to get powdercoated a metallic silver. Everything looks great. Pic to come.

Spring 2020

Engine is back in the car and driving as of Mar 2020.

Then Covid 19 happened.

I ordered Moates Quarterhorse tuner hardware. I figure I’ll have a lot of spare time this summer as all my festival work is cancelled for the year, so I’ll take the opportunity to learn a bit about tuning the EEC, since I won’t be able to afford to buy upgrades this year.

Noticed that with some reopening of businesses, Grand Bend will be resuming lapping nights.

I fabbed up a radiator header cover and a air intake enclosure to keep the intake from sucking in hot engine bay air. She lookin’ pretty.

Fall 2020

Rant

Well, this year has certainly been a shit show. Besides all the fun stuff related to covid, I lost this engine after a short few hundred miles. I was getting serious amounts of copper in the oil filter when I changed oil. Soon after, a bad knock developed and the engine had to get pulled.

In July I took it back to the shop that did the machine work and they went over it again. Badly worn thrust bearing was the culprit. They redid new bearings, gaskets, polished the crank, new oil pump etc. I also had them install a Comp Cams XE264-14. Also had some noisy lifters, so installed some Sealed Power HT2205. The shop was cool. We couldn't really figure out what the issue was, though they assumed it was an incorrectly installed clutch. They charged for parts but covered the machining and assembly.

Before reinstalling the engine I made sure to check thrust clearances. Everything was good. Installed engine, clutch, trans etc. About 150 miles later the knocking started again and the filter was once again filled with copper bearing material. This is now officially frustrating me. Out she goes again to the shop.

September I get the engine back. Once again, bearings, gaskets, crankshaft grinding, etc was done. Reinstalled everything, fired it up, and it immediately started knocking AGAIN. I didn't even get it off the jack stands this time.

I figure after the shop has rebuilt it 3 times and I'm still suffering thrust bearing damage, maybe it's time I pull this apart myself and see what's up.

I drained the fluids, and this is what the oil looked like. That's about a total of 10 minutes running time. It's loaded with copper bearing. WTF?

Next was to pull the bottom end apart to check the crank. Uhh, this might be something. That is the rear thrust face, and yes that is rust on the thrust surface, and yes, it is rough, and yes, it tore through that friggin' thrust bearing in no time flat. That was some pretty crappy machine work that I paid for. I know if I took it back to the shop they'd probably offer to machine it again for me n/c, but that crankshaft is now an anchor and there's no way I'm giving that shop any more of my business. Time for a new plan.