Re: Sad 401 story

["Jim Blair" <carnuck@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

A: Chances are the other pistons are gouged up too. What brand pistons? 
(hope they weren't Badgers) Sleeving 1 cyl here cost me $150 and I could 
have all 8 done for $500 (I was looking into doing my 4.6L stroker six with 
slightly longer sleeves to keep the piston from canting at the bottom of the 
stroke with the 4.2L crank) Your bearings probably got a dose of the 
shrapnel when the piston let go and that's what's binding it up.


From: Marty Bricker <mbrickerusn@xxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Sad 401 story
To: northtexasamc@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, AMC List <mail@xxxxxxxxxxxx>

  In 2001 I was driving into work on a Sat morning
(very little traffic) when a BMW blew by me.  Not to
be outdone I hit the gas to catch up...hadn't gone
very far (speed was under 80) when I heard a
clattering noise and the engine just died.  I thought
I'd spun a bearing as I'd been haveing problems with
low oil pressure (even after changing timing covers
and putting in the heavy duty oil spring).
  I'd purchased the motor while up in VT (drove to MD,
installed it and drove it back, then drove the car
from VT to TX when I retired from the Navy).  I was
going to rebuild it so I started saving and purchasing
parts (Indy heads, Air Gap, forged pistons, etc).
  Fast forward to Sat(16 Apr) and after our car club
meeting I was psyched to pull the engine and get the
rebuild started (finally have all of the parts and
money for a professional rebuild).  Got the engine out
and was trying to remove the torque converter and the
engine would only rotate about a half turn.  I thought
maybe there was just pressure building up in the
pistons so I decided to remove the spark plugs...had a
bad feeling when I removed #6 and the electrode was
completely bent over.  Engine still wouldn't turn over
so I dropped the pan...and my heart sank when I saw
the shrapnel in it.
  The connecting rod had completely pulled away from
the bottom of #6 piston (and there are deep grooves in
the piston wall from the pin).  The top of the piston
is broken into three pieces and is lodged at the top
of the cylinder.  I haven't proceeded any further.  I
figure a piece of shrapnel is lodged somewhere,
preventing the crank from turning any further.
  Any ideas on what may have happened or caused this
to happen.  Is #6 piston vulnerable?  The heads look
fine although some of the rockers are loose.  All of
the pushrods were intact and still in their grooves.
  I was going to just put the pan back on and take it
to my engine builder for evaluation...any suggestions
from the list?  I've heard members talk about sleeving
a piston...what does this involve(how much $ do I need
to set aside for this)?  Will I need to purchase a new
set of pistons (I have .030 over ones now)?  Will the
engine be any good if this is done (I'm not building
it to race, just a strong street cruiser).  Obviously
not sure of any other internal damage...can the crank
be blended if it has scoring or deep scratches from
the shrapnel?  Should I try to take the rest of the
engine apart and see what I have before taking it in?
Thanks for any suggestions.

Marty