Leaderboard

A friend gave me this engine that I assume the balancer gears let loose first and broke the rod. What's interesting is I am finding no damage on the camshaft Or anywhere on the block other then maybe a few scuffs. The bottom apron of the cylinder walls are all good no cracks or broken pieces and the oil pan is good as well. The crank shaft is very galled up with aluminum from the rod, hoping that cleans up good. I was half thinking I could convert the block back to a K series but there is one thing preventing that and that is there is no hole (not even plugged) for the points plunger and no threaded holes for the points or cover either. And I am about 95% sure that the camshaft has a lobe for the point, I can feel a machined surface behind the gear. But honestly the magnums ignition system are way better anyway the only thing is I would like the K series tins better, might be able to work a tin to fit. One other thing I thought I read that the Magnums had 3 balance gears this one had 2, with no place for a 3rd one to even go.

Great point! There is no way the crank got like that because the gears broke. They used the wrong brand of oil, "lack of"

I've never done a bunch of forensics on failures but it looks like the rod was destined to fail regardless of what might have been going on with the balance gears. I'm wondering if the oil had ever been changed or occasionally checked.

Sure do! Key is to stay humble enough to know you will never know everything, and someone will always know more then you.

@ebinmaine Makes sense, would have never figured that out on my own.

Starting to reassemble my Electrical repair area. This is the front corner of the barn. Got this cool bag of trinkets from @peter lena a few years ago at Zagray. It has a permanent place.

Over the past two weeks the 854 got new Firestone Town & Country rear tires. Very pricey but so far they are just what I was hoping for. I took the opportunity to strip and repaint the wheels using the Cottage White (formerly Navajo White). Mounting always leaves marks, so in anticipation of the Big Show, I even did the touchups. Looked so good I got out the can of Regal Red and touched up a bunch of the scratches and scrapes that a worker acquires over time.

Science is learning a LOT in recent years about aging and our lifetime possibilities. The US health system is very good at keeping us alive..... and sick. It is not very good at making us healthy. Be happy you're getting tested. Heed the results and recommendations. Do your own research. Remain healthy.